Larry Herndon
Born: 11/3/1953 in Sunflower, MS, USA
MLB Debut: 1974-09-04 | Final Game: 1988-10-02
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Larry Darnell Herndon
Biography
Larry Herndon, born in 1953, was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball, whose career spanned from 1974 to 1988. Over his 14-year tenure, he played in 1,537 games, compiling a respectable .274 batting average while amassing 1,334 hits and 107 home runs. Herndon was known for his versatility on the field, contributing significantly both offensively and defensively. He recorded 550 RBIs and showcased his speed with 92 stolen bases, making him a well-rounded player during his era.
Herndon's emergence in the league was marked by his recognition as The Sporting News Rookie Player of the Year, highlighting his immediate impact on the game. He played during a transitional period in baseball, navigating through the late 1970s and 1980s, when the game began to see a shift towards more power-hitting players. His ability to combine hitting prowess with base-running skills earned him a respected place among his peers, and he remains a notable figure in the history of the teams he represented.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1537 | 4877 | 605 | 1334 | 186 | 76 | 107 | 550 | 92 | 353 | 793 | 0.274 | 0.322 | 0.409 | 0.731 | 1799.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | STL | NL | 12 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.0 |
| 1976 | SFG | NL | 115 | 337 | 42 | 97 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 12 | 23 | 45 | 0.288 | 134.9 |
| 1977 | SFG | NL | 49 | 109 | 13 | 26 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 0.239 | -272.6 |
| 1978 | SFG | NL | 151 | 471 | 52 | 122 | 15 | 9 | 1 | 32 | 13 | 35 | 71 | 0.259 | -757.4 |
| 1979 | SFG | NL | 132 | 354 | 35 | 91 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 36 | 8 | 29 | 70 | 0.257 | -325.2 |
| 1980 | SFG | NL | 139 | 493 | 54 | 127 | 17 | 11 | 8 | 49 | 8 | 19 | 91 | 0.258 | -819.1 |
| 1981 | SFG | NL | 96 | 364 | 48 | 105 | 15 | 8 | 5 | 41 | 15 | 20 | 55 | 0.288 | 357.4 |
| 1982 | DET | AL | 157 | 614 | 92 | 179 | 21 | 13 | 23 | 88 | 12 | 38 | 92 | 0.292 | 1497.5 |
| 1983 | DET | AL | 153 | 603 | 88 | 182 | 28 | 9 | 20 | 92 | 9 | 46 | 95 | 0.302 | 1814.2 |
| 1984 | DET | AL | 125 | 407 | 52 | 114 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 43 | 6 | 32 | 63 | 0.280 | 265.3 |
| 1985 | DET | AL | 137 | 442 | 45 | 108 | 12 | 7 | 12 | 37 | 2 | 33 | 79 | 0.244 | -460.1 |
| 1986 | DET | AL | 106 | 283 | 33 | 70 | 13 | 1 | 8 | 37 | 2 | 27 | 40 | 0.247 | -237.4 |
| 1987 | DET | AL | 89 | 225 | 32 | 73 | 13 | 2 | 9 | 47 | 1 | 23 | 35 | 0.324 | 825.3 |
| 1988 | DET | AL | 76 | 174 | 16 | 39 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 0 | 23 | 37 | 0.224 | -223.1 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 29 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 0.310 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | ALCS | DET | 3 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.333 |
| 1984 | WS | DET | 5 | 15 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0.333 |
| 1984 | ALCS | DET | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.200 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 1337 | 1116 | 2675 | 76 | 80 | 17 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | SLN | OF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1976 | SFN | OF | 110 | 77 | 226 | 8 | 8 | 4 |
| 1977 | SFN | OF | 44 | 25 | 87 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 1978 | SFN | OF | 149 | 121 | 369 | 3 | 10 | 0 |
| 1979 | SFN | OF | 122 | 81 | 196 | 10 | 8 | 2 |
| 1980 | SFN | OF | 122 | 114 | 247 | 8 | 11 | 1 |
| 1981 | SFN | OF | 93 | 90 | 207 | 8 | 5 | 1 |
| 1982 | DET | OF | 155 | 151 | 328 | 11 | 6 | 3 |
| 1983 | DET | OF | 133 | 129 | 283 | 6 | 15 | 1 |
| 1984 | DET | OF | 117 | 98 | 199 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| 1985 | DET | OF | 136 | 110 | 273 | 7 | 7 | 4 |
| 1986 | DET | OF | 83 | 71 | 156 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | DET | OF | 57 | 39 | 82 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 1988 | DET | OF | 15 | 10 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 847 |
| Center Field | 448 |
| Right Field | 79 |
| Designated Hitter | 119 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Player of the Week | Week of 1982-05-21 |
| 1976 | TSN Rookie Player of the Year |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | DET | AL | $375,000 |
| 1987 | DET | AL | $225,000 |
| 1986 | DET | AL | $687,500 |
| 1985 | DET | AL | $675,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $1,962,500 | ||