Cito Gaston
Born: 3/17/1944 in San Antonio, TX, USA
MLB Debut: 1967-09-14 | Final Game: 1978-10-01
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Clarence Edwin Gaston
Biography
Cito Gaston was a professional baseball player born in 1944, who played the majority of his career from 1967 until his retirement in 1978. A versatile position player, Gaston appeared in 1,026 games over his eleven seasons in Major League Baseball. He recorded a total of 799 hits, including 91 home runs, and drove in 387 runs, finishing his career with a batting average of .256. While he was not known for his speed on the base paths, he did manage to steal 13 bases throughout his career.
Gaston was selected as an All-Star during his playing days, a testament to his talent and contributions on the field. He played during an era that bridged the late 1960s and 1970s, a time characterized by the rise of power hitters and the evolving strategies of the game. Known for his strong batting skills and steady presence, Gaston's impact extended beyond his playing days, as he later became a successful manager, notably leading the Toronto Blue Jays to back-to-back World Series titles in 1992 and 1993. His legacy in baseball is marked not just by his playing statistics but also by his significant role in the history of the game.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1026 | 3120 | 314 | 799 | 106 | 30 | 91 | 387 | 13 | 185 | 693 | 0.256 | 0.298 | 0.397 | 0.695 | -457.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | ATL | NL | 9 | 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0.120 | 0.0 |
| 1969 | SDP | NL | 129 | 391 | 20 | 90 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 28 | 4 | 24 | 117 | 0.230 | -1223.0 |
| 1970 | SDP | NL | 146 | 584 | 92 | 186 | 26 | 9 | 29 | 93 | 4 | 41 | 142 | 0.318 | 2973.7 |
| 1971 | SDP | NL | 141 | 518 | 57 | 118 | 13 | 9 | 17 | 61 | 1 | 24 | 121 | 0.228 | -701.3 |
| 1972 | SDP | NL | 111 | 379 | 30 | 102 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 44 | 0 | 22 | 76 | 0.269 | 79.0 |
| 1973 | SDP | NL | 133 | 476 | 51 | 119 | 18 | 4 | 16 | 57 | 0 | 20 | 88 | 0.250 | -441.7 |
| 1974 | SDP | NL | 106 | 267 | 19 | 57 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 33 | 0 | 16 | 51 | 0.213 | -864.9 |
| 1975 | ATL | NL | 64 | 141 | 17 | 34 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 15 | 1 | 17 | 33 | 0.241 | 61.3 |
| 1976 | ATL | NL | 69 | 134 | 15 | 39 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 25 | 1 | 13 | 21 | 0.291 | 300.6 |
| 1977 | ATL | NL | 56 | 85 | 6 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 21 | 1 | 5 | 19 | 0.271 | -53.6 |
| 1978 | ATL | NL | 60 | 118 | 5 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 0.229 | -587.4 |
| 1978 | PIT | NL | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.500 | -587.4 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 12 | 10 | 75 | 7 | 3 | 6 |
| OF | 773 | 727 | 1479 | 64 | 48 | 13 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | ATL | OF | 7 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1969 | SDN | OF | 113 | 102 | 243 | 12 | 11 | 4 |
| 1970 | SDN | OF | 142 | 142 | 310 | 7 | 8 | 0 |
| 1971 | SDN | OF | 133 | 127 | 271 | 8 | 5 | 1 |
| 1972 | SDN | OF | 94 | 92 | 158 | 10 | 4 | 3 |
| 1973 | SDN | OF | 119 | 118 | 198 | 16 | 12 | 4 |
| 1974 | SDN | OF | 63 | 57 | 119 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| 1975 | ATL | 1B | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1975 | ATL | OF | 35 | 32 | 72 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1976 | ATL | 1B | 2 | 2 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 1976 | ATL | OF | 28 | 23 | 42 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 | ATL | 1B | 5 | 3 | 30 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 1977 | ATL | OF | 9 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1978 | ATL | 1B | 4 | 4 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1978 | ATL | OF | 29 | 19 | 45 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1978 | PIT | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 12 |
| Left Field | 91 |
| Center Field | 410 |
| Right Field | 283 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 24th | 5.0 | 336 | 0 |