Matt Nokes
Born: 10/31/1963 in San Diego, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1985-09-03 | Final Game: 1995-09-27
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Matthew Dodge Nokes
Biography
Matt Nokes, born in 1963, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1985 to 1995. Primarily playing as a position player, Nokes appeared in a total of 902 games over the course of his career. He was known for his power-hitting ability, amassing 136 home runs and driving in 422 runs. With a batting average of .254, he showcased a blend of offensive skills that contributed significantly to his teams, particularly during the late 1980s and early 1990s—a period characterized by a burgeoning emphasis on offensive production in the sport.
Nokes achieved the honor of being selected as an All-Star during his career, highlighting his status among the elite players of his time. In addition to his home run prowess, he recorded 695 hits and displayed some agility on the bases with 8 stolen bases. As a player who navigated a competitive era in baseball, Nokes exemplified the transition towards more offensive-minded play, making his contributions noteworthy in the context of the game’s evolving strategies. His career remains a point of interest for fans and historians, reflecting the dynamics of baseball during a transformative period in the sport's history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 902 | 2735 | 310 | 695 | 96 | 4 | 136 | 422 | 8 | 200 | 395 | 0.254 | 0.308 | 0.441 | 0.750 | 2024.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | SFG | NL | 19 | 53 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0.208 | -155.8 |
| 1986 | DET | AL | 7 | 24 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.333 | 0.0 |
| 1987 | DET | AL | 135 | 461 | 69 | 133 | 14 | 2 | 32 | 87 | 2 | 35 | 70 | 0.289 | 1608.0 |
| 1988 | DET | AL | 122 | 382 | 53 | 96 | 18 | 0 | 16 | 53 | 0 | 34 | 58 | 0.251 | 386.3 |
| 1989 | DET | AL | 87 | 268 | 15 | 67 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 39 | 1 | 17 | 37 | 0.250 | -104.4 |
| 1990 | DET | AL | 44 | 111 | 12 | 30 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 0.270 | -6.0 |
| 1990 | NYY | AL | 92 | 240 | 21 | 57 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 32 | 2 | 20 | 33 | 0.237 | -6.0 |
| 1991 | NYY | AL | 135 | 456 | 52 | 122 | 20 | 0 | 24 | 77 | 3 | 25 | 49 | 0.268 | 681.1 |
| 1992 | NYY | AL | 121 | 384 | 42 | 86 | 9 | 1 | 22 | 59 | 0 | 37 | 62 | 0.224 | 82.8 |
| 1993 | NYY | AL | 76 | 217 | 25 | 54 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 35 | 0 | 16 | 31 | 0.249 | -98.9 |
| 1994 | NYY | AL | 28 | 79 | 11 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 19 | 0 | 5 | 16 | 0.291 | 257.9 |
| 1995 | BAL | AL | 26 | 49 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 0.122 | -367.7 |
| 1995 | COL | NL | 10 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0.182 | -367.7 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0.143 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | ALCS | DET | 5 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0.143 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 4 | 3 | 31 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| C | 689 | 598 | 3422 | 262 | 38 | 34 |
| OF | 5 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | SFN | C | 14 | 13 | 84 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1986 | DET | C | 7 | 7 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1987 | DET | C | 109 | 94 | 595 | 32 | 5 | 2 |
| 1987 | DET | 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | DET | OF | 3 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | DET | C | 110 | 100 | 574 | 45 | 7 | 8 |
| 1989 | DET | C | 51 | 45 | 235 | 26 | 6 | 3 |
| 1990 | DET | C | 19 | 15 | 55 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| 1990 | NYA | C | 46 | 37 | 181 | 27 | 1 | 5 |
| 1990 | NYA | OF | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | NYA | C | 130 | 112 | 690 | 48 | 6 | 7 |
| 1992 | NYA | C | 111 | 101 | 552 | 47 | 4 | 6 |
| 1993 | NYA | C | 56 | 47 | 245 | 19 | 2 | 0 |
| 1994 | NYA | C | 17 | 13 | 75 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1994 | NYA | 1B | 4 | 3 | 31 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| 1995 | BAL | C | 16 | 12 | 83 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 | COL | C | 3 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 689 |
| First Base | 4 |
| Third Base | 2 |
| Left Field | 3 |
| Right Field | 3 |
| Designated Hitter | 131 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Silver Slugger | C |
| 1987 | TSN All-Star | C |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | BAL | AL | $700,000 |
| 1995 | COL | NL | $109,000 |
| 1994 | NYA | AL | $2,500,000 |
| 1993 | NYA | AL | $2,500,000 |
| 1992 | NYA | AL | $2,500,000 |
| 1991 | NYA | AL | $887,500 |
| 1990 | DET | AL | $650,000 |
| 1989 | DET | AL | $195,000 |
| 1988 | DET | AL | $165,000 |
| 1987 | DET | AL | $68,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $10,274,500 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 24th | 1.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1987 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 3rd | 32.0 | 140 | 0 |