Bill North, baseball player, 1971-1981

Bill North

Born: 5/15/1948 in Seattle, WA, USA

MLB Debut: 1971-09-03 | Final Game: 1981-06-11

Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 185 lbs

Full name: William Alex North

Biography

Bill North was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball, whose career spanned from 1971 to 1981. Born in 1948, he made a significant impact on the game through his exceptional speed and defensive skills. Over the course of 1,169 games, North compiled 1,016 hits, achieving a batting average of .261. His offensive contributions included 20 home runs and 230 runs batted in, but he was best known for his base-stealing prowess, finishing his career with an impressive total of 395 stolen bases. North played during a transformative period in baseball that bridged the end of the deadball era and the rise of more dynamic offensive play. His ability to get on base and steal was instrumental for the teams he played for, particularly the Oakland Athletics, where he contributed to their success in the late 1970s. Known for his speed and agility, Northโ€™s playing style reflected the increasing emphasis on athleticism and base running that characterized the game during his era. His legacy continues to resonate, particularly among fans who appreciate the art of speed on the base paths.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
1169 3900 640 1016 120 31 20 230 395 627 665 0.261 0.365 0.323 0.688 1350.3

Season-by-Season Batting

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
20 59 8 3 2 0 0 3 7 7 0.051

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1978 NLCS LAN 4 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.000
1978 WS LAN 4 8 2 1 1 0 0 2 1 0 0.125
1975 ALCS OAK 3 10 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0.000
1974 ALCS OAK 4 16 3 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 0.062
1974 WS OAK 5 17 3 1 0 0 0 0 2 5 0.059

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
OF 1066 991 2820 63 57 15

Season-by-Season Fielding

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Left Field 15
Center Field 1023
Right Field 29
Designated Hitter 24

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
Central Washington University Ellensburg WA 1967, 1968, 1969

Award Voting History

Year Award League Finish Points Won Points Max Votes First
1973 Most Valuable Player AL 29th 3.0 336 0