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, Northโs 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
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | CHC | NL | 8 | 16 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 0.375 | 0.0 |
| 1972 | CHC | NL | 66 | 127 | 22 | 23 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 33 | 0.181 | -492.3 |
| 1973 | OAK | AL | 146 | 554 | 98 | 158 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 34 | 53 | 78 | 89 | 0.285 | 706.4 |
| 1974 | OAK | AL | 149 | 543 | 79 | 141 | 20 | 5 | 4 | 33 | 54 | 69 | 86 | 0.260 | 78.3 |
| 1975 | OAK | AL | 140 | 524 | 74 | 143 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 43 | 30 | 81 | 80 | 0.273 | 396.1 |
| 1976 | OAK | AL | 154 | 590 | 91 | 163 | 20 | 5 | 2 | 31 | 75 | 73 | 95 | 0.276 | 456.0 |
| 1977 | OAK | AL | 56 | 184 | 32 | 48 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 17 | 32 | 25 | 0.261 | 25.2 |
| 1978 | LAD | NL | 110 | 304 | 54 | 71 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 27 | 65 | 48 | 0.234 | -147.0 |
| 1978 | OAK | AL | 24 | 52 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 0.212 | -147.0 |
| 1979 | SFG | NL | 142 | 460 | 87 | 119 | 15 | 4 | 5 | 30 | 58 | 96 | 84 | 0.259 | 475.8 |
| 1980 | SFG | NL | 128 | 415 | 73 | 104 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 45 | 81 | 78 | 0.251 | -95.4 |
| 1981 | SFG | NL | 46 | 131 | 22 | 29 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 0.221 | -1.4 |
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
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | CHN | OF | 6 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1972 | CHN | OF | 48 | 26 | 61 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 1973 | OAK | OF | 138 | 136 | 429 | 14 | 9 | 5 |
| 1974 | OAK | OF | 138 | 134 | 437 | 9 | 4 | 2 |
| 1975 | OAK | OF | 138 | 134 | 420 | 10 | 11 | 1 |
| 1976 | OAK | OF | 144 | 142 | 397 | 8 | 9 | 1 |
| 1977 | OAK | OF | 52 | 50 | 112 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1978 | LAN | OF | 103 | 82 | 232 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| 1978 | OAK | OF | 17 | 13 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | SFN | OF | 130 | 126 | 300 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| 1980 | SFN | OF | 115 | 108 | 313 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| 1981 | SFN | OF | 37 | 35 | 84 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
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 |