Lou Piniella
Outfielder · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1964-1984)
Lou Piniella was an outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1964 to 1984 for 4 teams, including the Baltimore Orioles, a span of 21 seasons. In 1,747 career games, he hit .291 with 1,705 hits, 102 home runs, and 766 RBI. Lou Piniella was an All-Star and a Rookie of the Year. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 5,982.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Outfielder
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 6'0" / 182 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1964-09-04
- Last Game
- 1984-06-16
- Awards
- All-Star · Rookie of the Year
Full name: Louis Victor Piniella
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,747 | 5,867 | 651 | 1,705 | 305 | 41 | 102 | 766 | 32 | 368 | 541 | .291 | .333 | .409 | .741 | 5,982 |
Career AVG .291 vs. league average .256 across their career seasons — +13.5% above league average.
Career OBP .333 vs. league average .322 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career SLG .409 vs. league average .377 across their career seasons — +8.4% above league average.
Career OPS .741 vs. league average .699 across their career seasons — +6.1% above league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | BAL | AL | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1968 | CLE | AL | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1969 | KCA | AL | 135 | 493 | 43 | 139 | 21 | 6 | 11 | 68 | 2 | 33 | 56 | .282 | .248 (+14%) | .320 (+2%) | .369 (+13%) | .689 (+8%) | 511.8 |
| 1970 | KCA | AL | 144 | 542 | 54 | 163 | 24 | 5 | 11 | 88 | 3 | 35 | 42 | .301 | .253 (+18%) | .325 (+5%) | .385 (+10%) | .711 (+8%) | 727.1 |
| 1971 | KCA | AL | 126 | 448 | 43 | 125 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 51 | 5 | 21 | 43 | .279 | .249 (+12%) | .316 (-2%) | .365 (+1%) | .682 (avg) | -144.4 |
| 1972 | KCA | AL | 151 | 574 | 65 | 179 | 33 | 4 | 11 | 72 | 7 | 34 | 59 | .312 | .243 (+28%) | .310 (+15%) | .353 (+25%) | .664 (+20%) | 2061.3 |
| 1973 | KCA | AL | 144 | 513 | 53 | 128 | 28 | 1 | 9 | 69 | 5 | 30 | 65 | .250 | .256 (-3%) | .325 (-11%) | .378 (-5%) | .703 (-7%) | -710.1 |
| 1974 | NYA | AL | 140 | 518 | 71 | 158 | 26 | 0 | 9 | 70 | 1 | 32 | 58 | .305 | .256 (+19%) | .324 (+5%) | .369 (+10%) | .693 (+8%) | 654.6 |
| 1975 | NYA | AL | 74 | 199 | 7 | 39 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 16 | 22 | .196 | .257 (-24%) | .327 (-20%) | .374 (-40%) | .701 (-30%) | -936.8 |
| 1976 | NYA | AL | 100 | 327 | 36 | 92 | 16 | 6 | 3 | 38 | 0 | 18 | 34 | .281 | .255 (+10%) | .320 (+1%) | .360 (+9%) | .681 (+5%) | 214.8 |
| 1977 | NYA | AL | 103 | 339 | 47 | 112 | 19 | 3 | 12 | 45 | 2 | 20 | 31 | .330 | .264 (+25%) | .329 (+11%) | .401 (+27%) | .730 (+20%) | 1197.1 |
| 1978 | NYA | AL | 130 | 472 | 67 | 148 | 34 | 5 | 6 | 69 | 3 | 34 | 36 | .314 | .257 (+22%) | .323 (+12%) | .378 (+18%) | .702 (+15%) | 1295.6 |
| 1979 | NYA | AL | 130 | 461 | 49 | 137 | 22 | 2 | 11 | 69 | 3 | 17 | 31 | .297 | .265 (+12%) | .329 (-3%) | .397 (+7%) | .727 (+2%) | 53.6 |
| 1980 | NYA | AL | 116 | 321 | 39 | 92 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 27 | 0 | 29 | 20 | .287 | .264 (+8%) | .326 (+5%) | .387 (-7%) | .714 (-1%) | -31.9 |
| 1981 | NYA | AL | 60 | 159 | 16 | 44 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 18 | 0 | 13 | 9 | .277 | .255 (+8%) | .320 (+4%) | .368 (+16%) | .688 (+10%) | 264.3 |
| 1982 | NYA | AL | 102 | 261 | 33 | 80 | 17 | 1 | 6 | 37 | 0 | 18 | 18 | .307 | .261 (+17%) | .324 (+9%) | .388 (+15%) | .712 (+12%) | 579.7 |
| 1983 | NYA | AL | 53 | 148 | 19 | 43 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 1 | 11 | 12 | .291 | .260 (+11%) | .324 (+6%) | .389 (+4%) | .714 (+5%) | 130.8 |
| 1984 | NYA | AL | 29 | 86 | 8 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 5 | .302 | .259 (+16%) | .322 (+10%) | .384 (+6%) | .707 (+8%) | 114.0 |
| Career · 18 seasons | 1,747 | 5,867 | 651 | 1,705 | 305 | 41 | 102 | 766 | 32 | 368 | 541 | .291 | — | — | — | — | 5,982 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 141 | 15 | 43 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 2 | 10 | .305 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | AEDIV | NYA | 4 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | .200 |
| 1981 | ALCS | NYA | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | .600 |
| 1981 | WS | NYA | 6 | 16 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | .438 |
| 1980 | ALCS | NYA | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | .200 |
| 1978 | ALCS | NYA | 4 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .235 |
| 1978 | WS | NYA | 6 | 25 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | .280 |
| 1977 | ALCS | NYA | 5 | 21 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | .333 |
| 1977 | WS | NYA | 6 | 22 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | .273 |
| 1976 | ALCS | NYA | 4 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .273 |
| 1976 | WS | NYA | 4 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 |
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (1746 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 887 | 2928 | 307 | 861 | 38 | 401 | .294 |
| Away | 859 | 2935 | 344 | 843 | 64 | 365 | .287 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984-06-16 | NYY | BAL | W | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1984-06-14 | NYY | BOS | W | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984-06-11 | NYY | BOS | L | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 1984-06-06 | NYY | BOS | L | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984-05-24 | NYY | SEA | W | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1984-05-22 | NYY | SEA | L | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984-05-19 | NYY | LAA | L | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1984-05-18 | NYY | LAA | L | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984-05-13 | NYY | SEA | W | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984-05-11 | NYY | SEA | L | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 3 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| OF | 1401 | 1318 | 2529 | 105 | 52 | 16 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | CLE | OF | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1969 | KCA | OF | 129 | 125 | 278 | 13 | 7 | 1 |
| 1970 | KCA | 1B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1970 | KCA | OF | 139 | 138 | 247 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| 1971 | KCA | OF | 115 | 113 | 201 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| 1972 | KCA | OF | 150 | 150 | 275 | 8 | 7 | 2 |
| 1973 | KCA | OF | 128 | 125 | 196 | 9 | 3 | 3 |
| 1974 | NYA | 1B | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974 | NYA | OF | 130 | 128 | 265 | 16 | 3 | 0 |
| 1975 | NYA | OF | 46 | 41 | 65 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | NYA | OF | 49 | 44 | 106 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 1977 | NYA | 1B | 1 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977 | NYA | OF | 51 | 47 | 77 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1978 | NYA | OF | 103 | 101 | 213 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| 1979 | NYA | OF | 112 | 102 | 204 | 13 | 4 | 1 |
| 1980 | NYA | OF | 104 | 77 | 157 | 8 | 5 | 1 |
| 1981 | NYA | OF | 36 | 30 | 69 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1982 | NYA | OF | 40 | 33 | 68 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1983 | NYA | OF | 43 | 40 | 67 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 1984 | NYA | OF | 24 | 23 | 40 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 3 |
| Left Field | 1127 |
| Center Field | 4 |
| Right Field | 276 |
| Designated Hitter | 231 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Rookie of the Year |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 21th | 11.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1974 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 23th | 8.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1972 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 32th | 1.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1969 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 35th | 1.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1969 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 1st | 9.0 | 24 | 9 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Lou Piniella (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Lou Piniella: the record in brief
According to the bio, Lou Piniella debuted on September 4, 1964 and played a final game on June 16, 1984. Club by club, the record runs the Baltimore Orioles (1964), the Cleveland Indians (1968), the Kansas City Royals (1969 to 1973), and the New York Yankees (1974 to 1984). Piniella played primarily as an outfielder and batted and threw right-handed. Born on August 28, 1943, in Tampa, FL, USA, Piniella was listed at 6-foot-0 and 182 pounds. The given name on file is Louis Victor Piniella.
Piniella's career batting table shows 1,747 games, 5,867 at bats and 1,705 hits, a .291 average, plus 102 homers, 766 runs batted in, and 32 stolen bases. The on-base percentage is .333 and the slugging percentage .409, for an OPS of .741. The league as a whole hit .256 across Piniella's seasons, which puts the .291 career mark 13.5% above average. In OPS terms, Piniella's .741 stands 6.1% above the league's .699. 1977 was Piniella's biggest home run year, with 12.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lou Piniella
- What years did Lou Piniella play?
- Lou Piniella played in Major League Baseball from 1964 to 1984.
- Was Lou Piniella a pitcher?
- No. Lou Piniella was a position player (Outfielder).
- How many home runs did Lou Piniella hit?
- Lou Piniella hit 102 career home runs with 1,705 hits.
- What teams did Lou Piniella play for?
- Lou Piniella played for 4 teams: the Baltimore Orioles (1964), the Cleveland Indians (1968), the Kansas City Royals (1969–1973), and the New York Yankees (1974–1984).
- Did Lou Piniella win an MVP award?
- No. Lou Piniella did not win the MVP award.
- What awards did Lou Piniella win?
- Lou Piniella won the Rookie of the Year award (1969). He was selected to 1 All-Star Game.
- What were Lou Piniella's career stats?
- In 1,747 games, Lou Piniella had 1,705 hits, 102 home runs, 766 RBI, 651 runs, and 32 stolen bases, with a .291 batting average.
- What position did Lou Piniella play?
- Lou Piniella played primarily as an outfielder, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Lou Piniella and how much did he weigh?
- Lou Piniella was listed at 6 feet and 182 pounds.
- How many home runs did Lou Piniella hit each season?
- Lou Piniella's home runs by season: 0 in 1964, 0 in 1968, 11 in 1969, 11 in 1970, 3 in 1971, 11 in 1972, 9 in 1973, 9 in 1974, 0 in 1975, 3 in 1976, 12 in 1977, 6 in 1978, 11 in 1979, 2 in 1980, 5 in 1981, 6 in 1982, 2 in 1983, and 1 in 1984. His most in one season was 12, in 1977.
- What was Lou Piniella's career batting average?
- Lou Piniella batted .291 over his career, with 1,705 hits in 5,867 at bats.
- How many RBI did Lou Piniella have?
- Lou Piniella drove in 766 runs in his career.
- Is Lou Piniella in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Lou Piniella has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
- How many All-Star Games did Lou Piniella make?
- Lou Piniella was selected to 1 All-Star Game.