Jason Kendall
Born: 6/26/1974 in San Diego, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1996-04-01 | Final Game: 2010-08-30
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 181 lbs
Full name: Jason Daniel Kendall
Biography
Jason Kendall was a prominent American professional baseball player known for his exceptional skills as a catcher and his versatility as a position player. Born in 1974, Kendall's career spanned from 1996 to 2010, during which he played in 2,085 games and became a key figure in Major League Baseball. He was recognized for his adept batting ability, finishing his career with a .288 batting average and accumulating 2,195 hits. His offensive contributions also included 75 home runs and 744 RBIs, demonstrating his capability to drive in runs and maintain consistent production at the plate.
Kendall was celebrated for his speed on the basepaths, amassing 189 stolen bases throughout his career, a notable feat for a catcher. His agility and baseball IQ allowed him to excel not only in hitting but also in managing the game from behind the plate. He earned three All-Star selections and was honored as The Sporting News Rookie Player of the Year, establishing himself as one of the standout players of his generation. As a player who navigated the changing landscape of baseball in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Kendall's career remains significant for his blend of offensive prowess and defensive acumen, solidifying his legacy in the sport.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2085 | 7627 | 1030 | 2195 | 394 | 35 | 75 | 744 | 189 | 721 | 686 | 0.288 | 0.366 | 0.378 | 0.744 | 439.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | PIT | NL | 130 | 414 | 54 | 124 | 23 | 5 | 3 | 42 | 5 | 35 | 30 | 0.300 | 174.5 |
| 1997 | PIT | NL | 144 | 486 | 71 | 143 | 36 | 4 | 8 | 49 | 18 | 49 | 53 | 0.294 | 1192.3 |
| 1998 | PIT | NL | 149 | 535 | 95 | 175 | 36 | 3 | 12 | 75 | 26 | 51 | 51 | 0.327 | 2229.5 |
| 1999 | PIT | NL | 78 | 280 | 61 | 93 | 20 | 3 | 8 | 41 | 22 | 38 | 32 | 0.332 | 1274.2 |
| 2000 | PIT | NL | 152 | 579 | 112 | 185 | 33 | 6 | 14 | 58 | 22 | 79 | 79 | 0.320 | 1946.4 |
| 2001 | PIT | NL | 157 | 606 | 84 | 161 | 22 | 2 | 10 | 53 | 13 | 44 | 48 | 0.266 | -921.8 |
| 2002 | PIT | NL | 145 | 545 | 59 | 154 | 25 | 3 | 3 | 44 | 15 | 49 | 29 | 0.283 | -445.4 |
| 2003 | PIT | NL | 150 | 587 | 84 | 191 | 29 | 3 | 6 | 58 | 8 | 49 | 40 | 0.325 | 1350.3 |
| 2004 | PIT | NL | 147 | 574 | 86 | 183 | 32 | 0 | 3 | 51 | 11 | 60 | 41 | 0.319 | 822.3 |
| 2005 | OAK | AL | 150 | 601 | 70 | 163 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 53 | 8 | 50 | 39 | 0.271 | -1131.0 |
| 2006 | OAK | AL | 143 | 552 | 76 | 163 | 23 | 0 | 1 | 50 | 11 | 53 | 54 | 0.295 | -618.4 |
| 2007 | CHC | NL | 57 | 174 | 21 | 47 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 19 | 15 | 0.270 | -83.6 |
| 2007 | OAK | AL | 80 | 292 | 24 | 66 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 3 | 12 | 27 | 0.226 | -83.6 |
| 2008 | MIL | NL | 151 | 516 | 46 | 127 | 30 | 2 | 2 | 49 | 8 | 50 | 45 | 0.246 | -1271.7 |
| 2009 | MIL | NL | 134 | 452 | 48 | 109 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 43 | 7 | 46 | 58 | 0.241 | -1240.6 |
| 2010 | KCR | AL | 118 | 434 | 39 | 111 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 12 | 37 | 45 | 0.256 | -1232.3 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 49 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 0.224 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | NLDS2 | MIL | 4 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.143 |
| 2007 | NLDS1 | CHN | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.250 |
| 2006 | ALCS | OAK | 4 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.294 |
| 2006 | ALDS2 | OAK | 3 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0.214 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 2025 | 1990 | 13019 | 989 | 144 | 148 |
| OF | 29 | 27 | 48 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | PIT | C | 129 | 117 | 797 | 71 | 18 | 10 |
| 1997 | PIT | C | 142 | 139 | 952 | 103 | 11 | 20 |
| 1998 | PIT | C | 144 | 143 | 1015 | 58 | 9 | 10 |
| 1999 | PIT | C | 75 | 74 | 505 | 48 | 7 | 13 |
| 2000 | PIT | C | 147 | 145 | 990 | 81 | 10 | 12 |
| 2001 | PIT | C | 133 | 127 | 739 | 52 | 12 | 7 |
| 2001 | PIT | OF | 27 | 27 | 47 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 2002 | PIT | C | 143 | 140 | 797 | 64 | 9 | 13 |
| 2003 | PIT | C | 146 | 145 | 841 | 48 | 10 | 3 |
| 2004 | PIT | C | 146 | 145 | 998 | 78 | 10 | 13 |
| 2005 | OAK | C | 147 | 146 | 986 | 51 | 7 | 6 |
| 2006 | OAK | C | 141 | 141 | 924 | 54 | 5 | 9 |
| 2007 | CHN | C | 52 | 50 | 362 | 24 | 5 | 2 |
| 2007 | OAK | C | 80 | 80 | 485 | 34 | 4 | 4 |
| 2007 | OAK | OF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | MIL | C | 149 | 149 | 1025 | 94 | 6 | 13 |
| 2009 | MIL | C | 133 | 131 | 882 | 61 | 8 | 2 |
| 2010 | KCA | C | 118 | 118 | 721 | 68 | 13 | 11 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 2025 |
| Left Field | 20 |
| Right Field | 10 |
| Designated Hitter | 4 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Player of the Week | Week of 1998-08-15 |
| 1996 | TSN Rookie Player of the Year |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | KCA | AL | $3,750,000 |
| 2010 | KCA | AL | $2,250,000 |
| 2009 | MIL | NL | $5,000,000 |
| 2008 | MIL | NL | $4,250,000 |
| 2007 | OAK | AL | $12,858,194 |
| 2006 | OAK | AL | $11,492,454 |
| 2005 | OAK | AL | $10,571,429 |
| 2004 | PIT | NL | $8,571,429 |
| 2003 | PIT | NL | $8,571,429 |
| 2002 | PIT | NL | $6,571,429 |
| 2001 | PIT | NL | $5,100,000 |
| 2000 | PIT | NL | $2,250,000 |
| 1999 | PIT | NL | $1,250,000 |
| 1998 | PIT | NL | $600,000 |
| 1997 | PIT | NL | $235,000 |
| 1996 | PIT | NL | $109,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $83,430,364 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Rookie of the Year | NL | 3rd | 30.0 | 140 | 1 |