Ken Oberkfell, baseball player, 1977-1992

Ken Oberkfell

Born: 5/4/1956 in Highland, IL, USA

MLB Debut: 1977-08-22 | Final Game: 1992-10-04

Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 175 lbs

Full name: Kenneth Ray Oberkfell

Biography

Ken Oberkfell, born in 1956, was a versatile position player who enjoyed a lengthy career in Major League Baseball from 1977 until his retirement on October 4, 1992. Oberkfell was known for his solid batting skills and dependable defense, primarily playing as an infielder. Over the course of his 1,602 games, he compiled 1,354 hits, a batting average of .278, and drove in 446 runs, showcasing his ability to contribute to his team's offensive efforts. With 29 home runs and 62 stolen bases, Oberkfell demonstrated both power and speed, making him a well-rounded player during an era characterized by diverse playing styles. Oberkfell played for several teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, and Atlanta Braves, and was particularly noted for his contributions to the Cardinals during the 1980s. His tenure coincided with a competitive period in baseball marked by the emergence of power hitters and changing defensive strategies. Oberkfell's ability to adapt to different roles and positions within the infield made him a valuable asset to the teams he played for. His career, highlighted by consistent performance and a strong work ethic, left a lasting impact on the franchises he represented, and he is remembered as a reliable player of his generation.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
1602 4874 558 1354 237 44 29 446 62 546 356 0.278 0.351 0.362 0.713 1895.3

Season-by-Season Batting

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
17 49 6 12 1 0 0 3 5 1 0.245

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1989 NLCS SFN 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000
1989 WS SFN 4 6 1 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 0.333
1982 WS SLN 7 24 4 7 1 0 0 1 2 1 0.292
1982 NLCS SLN 3 15 1 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0.200

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
1B 43 28 261 22 2 21
2B 402 310 683 979 27 192
3B 1046 924 627 1996 96 180
SS 8 0 2 6 0 1

Season-by-Season Fielding

Career Games by Position

Position Games
First Base 43
Second Base 403
Third Base 1048
Shortstop 8
Designated Hitter 5

Salary History

Year Team League Salary
1991 HOU NL $675,000
1990 HOU NL $625,000
1989 PIT NL $725,000
1988 ATL NL $725,000
1987 ATL NL $725,000
1986 ATL NL $825,000
1985 ATL NL $616,667
Total Career Earnings $4,916,667

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
Southwestern Illinois College Belleville IL 1975