Butch Hobson
Born: 8/17/1951 in Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
MLB Debut: 1975-09-07 | Final Game: 1982-08-03
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 193 lbs
Full name: Clell Lavern Hobson
Biography
Butch Hobson, born in 1951, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1975 to 1982. Primarily known as a position player, Hobson played a total of 738 games during his career, where he demonstrated a blend of power and determination at the plate. He recorded 634 hits, including 98 home runs, and drove in 397 runs, finishing his career with a batting average of .248. Additionally, Hobson showcased his speed on the base paths with 11 stolen bases.
Hobson's playing style was representative of the transitional era of baseball during the late 1970s and early 1980s, characterized by a mix of traditional power hitting and emerging speed elements. Although he faced challenges in consistently maintaining a high batting average, his contributions were significant in key moments throughout his career. Known for his versatility and tenacity, Hobson left a lasting impression on the teams he played for, reflecting the evolving dynamics of the game during a period of significant change in Major League Baseball.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 738 | 2556 | 314 | 634 | 107 | 23 | 98 | 397 | 11 | 183 | 569 | 0.248 | 0.297 | 0.423 | 0.719 | -145.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | BOS | AL | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
| 1976 | BOS | AL | 76 | 269 | 34 | 63 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 34 | 0 | 15 | 62 | 0.234 | -284.3 |
| 1977 | BOS | AL | 159 | 593 | 77 | 157 | 33 | 5 | 30 | 112 | 5 | 27 | 162 | 0.265 | 692.6 |
| 1978 | BOS | AL | 147 | 512 | 65 | 128 | 26 | 2 | 17 | 80 | 1 | 50 | 122 | 0.250 | 148.7 |
| 1979 | BOS | AL | 146 | 528 | 74 | 138 | 26 | 7 | 28 | 93 | 3 | 30 | 78 | 0.261 | 655.6 |
| 1980 | BOS | AL | 93 | 324 | 35 | 74 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 39 | 1 | 25 | 69 | 0.228 | -729.4 |
| 1981 | LAA | AL | 85 | 268 | 27 | 63 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 1 | 35 | 60 | 0.235 | -177.9 |
| 1982 | NYY | AL | 30 | 58 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 0.172 | -450.4 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 11 | 3 | 37 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3B | 651 | 648 | 558 | 1181 | 138 | 98 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | BOS | 3B | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1976 | BOS | 3B | 76 | 76 | 60 | 146 | 14 | 11 |
| 1977 | BOS | 3B | 159 | 159 | 128 | 272 | 23 | 27 |
| 1978 | BOS | 3B | 133 | 133 | 122 | 261 | 43 | 25 |
| 1979 | BOS | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | BOS | 3B | 142 | 141 | 110 | 251 | 25 | 17 |
| 1980 | BOS | 3B | 57 | 55 | 52 | 109 | 16 | 5 |
| 1981 | CAL | 3B | 83 | 83 | 85 | 139 | 17 | 13 |
| 1982 | NYA | 1B | 11 | 3 | 37 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 11 |
| Second Base | 1 |
| Third Base | 651 |
| Designated Hitter | 67 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Player of the Week | Week of 1978-04-21 |
| 1977 | Player of the Week | Week of 1977-07-15 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa | AL | 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 23th | 4.0 | 392 | 0 |