Joe Oliver
Born: 7/24/1965 in Memphis, TN, USA
MLB Debut: 1989-07-15 | Final Game: 2001-10-06
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 215 lbs
Full name: Joseph Melton Oliver
Biography
Joe Oliver, born in 1965, was a professional baseball player who enjoyed a notable career in Major League Baseball from 1989 to 2001. Primarily recognized as a versatile position player, Oliver played a total of 1,076 games and made significant contributions to his teams, particularly as a catcher. His career statistics include 831 hits, 102 home runs, and 476 runs batted in, culminating in a batting average of .247. Known for his strong defensive skills and leadership behind the plate, he was a reliable asset to the pitching staff throughout his tenure.
Oliver's career spanned an era marked by significant changes in baseball, including the evolution of hitting approaches and a growing emphasis on offensive production. He was particularly effective in clutch situations, often delivering key hits in critical moments. While he was not among the most prolific hitters of his time, his overall contributions to the game were underscored by his ability to blend solid offensive output with strong defensive play. Oliver's legacy includes not only his individual achievements but also his role in fostering teamwork and resilience in the clubhouse, making him a respected figure among his peers.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1076 | 3367 | 320 | 831 | 174 | 3 | 102 | 476 | 13 | 248 | 637 | 0.247 | 0.299 | 0.391 | 0.690 | -4509.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | CIN | NL | 49 | 151 | 13 | 41 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 23 | 0 | 6 | 28 | 0.272 | -80.8 |
| 1990 | CIN | NL | 121 | 364 | 34 | 84 | 23 | 0 | 8 | 52 | 1 | 37 | 75 | 0.231 | -440.3 |
| 1991 | CIN | NL | 94 | 269 | 21 | 58 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 41 | 0 | 18 | 53 | 0.216 | -506.7 |
| 1992 | CIN | NL | 143 | 485 | 42 | 131 | 25 | 1 | 10 | 57 | 2 | 35 | 75 | 0.270 | -42.2 |
| 1993 | CIN | NL | 139 | 482 | 40 | 115 | 28 | 0 | 14 | 75 | 0 | 27 | 91 | 0.239 | -1234.7 |
| 1994 | CIN | NL | 6 | 19 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0.211 | 0.0 |
| 1995 | ATL | AL | 97 | 337 | 43 | 92 | 20 | 0 | 12 | 51 | 2 | 27 | 66 | 0.273 | 134.0 |
| 1996 | CIN | NL | 106 | 289 | 31 | 70 | 12 | 1 | 11 | 46 | 2 | 28 | 54 | 0.242 | -427.3 |
| 1997 | CIN | NL | 111 | 349 | 28 | 90 | 13 | 0 | 14 | 43 | 1 | 25 | 58 | 0.258 | -312.6 |
| 1998 | DET | AL | 50 | 155 | 8 | 35 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 22 | 0 | 7 | 33 | 0.226 | -622.4 |
| 1998 | SEA | AL | 29 | 85 | 12 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 15 | 0.224 | -622.4 |
| 1999 | PIT | NL | 45 | 134 | 10 | 27 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 2 | 10 | 33 | 0.201 | -800.3 |
| 2000 | SEA | AL | 69 | 200 | 33 | 53 | 13 | 1 | 10 | 35 | 2 | 14 | 38 | 0.265 | 45.2 |
| 2001 | BOS | AL | 5 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
| 2001 | NYY | AL | 12 | 36 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 42 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0.238 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | ALDS2 | SEA | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.250 |
| 2000 | ALCS | SEA | 4 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.167 |
| 1990 | WS | CIN | 4 | 18 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0.333 |
| 1990 | NLCS | CIN | 5 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.143 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 25 | 6 | 71 | 6 | 0 | 7 |
| C | 1033 | 934 | 6059 | 451 | 71 | 59 |
| OF | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | CIN | C | 47 | 37 | 260 | 21 | 4 | 1 |
| 1990 | CIN | C | 118 | 107 | 686 | 59 | 6 | 8 |
| 1991 | CIN | C | 90 | 78 | 496 | 40 | 11 | 6 |
| 1992 | CIN | C | 141 | 137 | 925 | 64 | 8 | 8 |
| 1992 | CIN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | CIN | C | 133 | 128 | 791 | 68 | 7 | 8 |
| 1993 | CIN | 1B | 12 | 3 | 34 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 1993 | CIN | OF | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | CIN | C | 6 | 6 | 48 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 | ML4 | C | 91 | 87 | 408 | 40 | 8 | 4 |
| 1995 | ML4 | 1B | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1996 | CIN | C | 97 | 81 | 572 | 44 | 5 | 7 |
| 1996 | CIN | 1B | 3 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | CIN | OF | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | CIN | C | 106 | 93 | 667 | 53 | 7 | 10 |
| 1997 | CIN | 1B | 4 | 2 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | DET | C | 48 | 44 | 259 | 16 | 5 | 2 |
| 1998 | DET | 1B | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | SEA | C | 29 | 24 | 174 | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| 1999 | PIT | C | 44 | 40 | 285 | 12 | 2 | 4 |
| 2000 | SEA | C | 66 | 57 | 354 | 18 | 2 | 1 |
| 2000 | SEA | 1B | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2001 | BOS | C | 5 | 5 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 | NYA | C | 12 | 10 | 101 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 1033 |
| First Base | 25 |
| Left Field | 2 |
| Right Field | 2 |
| Designated Hitter | 8 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Player of the Week | Week of 1992-08-15 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | NYA | AL | $1,100,000 |
| 2000 | SEA | AL | $500,000 |
| 1998 | DET | AL | $750,000 |
| 1998 | SEA | AL | $170,000 |
| 1997 | CIN | NL | $375,000 |
| 1996 | CIN | NL | $708,000 |
| 1995 | ML4 | AL | $462,100 |
| 1994 | CIN | NL | $2,500,000 |
| 1993 | CIN | NL | $1,200,000 |
| 1992 | CIN | NL | $260,000 |
| 1991 | CIN | NL | $186,000 |
| 1990 | CIN | NL | $107,500 |
| 1989 | CIN | NL | $68,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $8,386,600 | ||