Vada Pinson, baseball player, 256 home runs, 1958-1975

Vada Pinson

Born: 8/11/1938 in Memphis, TN, USA

Died: 10/21/1995 in Oakland, CA, USA

MLB Debut: 1958-04-15 | Final Game: 1975-09-28

Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 170 lbs

Full name: Vada Edward Pinson

Biography

Vada Pinson was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball, known for his exceptional hitting and speed on the bases. Born in 1938, Pinson's career spanned from 1958 to 1975, during which he became one of the most consistent offensive threats of his era. Over the course of 2,469 games, he amassed 2,757 hits, 256 home runs, and 1,169 RBIs, showcasing his ability to drive in runs while maintaining a solid batting average of .286. Pinson's prowess on the base paths was highlighted by his 305 stolen bases, making him a dual threat as both a hitter and a runner. A four-time All-Star, Pinson played the majority of his career with the Cincinnati Reds, where he was known for his dynamic playing style and ability to hit for both average and power. He emerged as a key player during a transformative time in baseball, contributing significantly to the game before the onset of the steroid era. His combination of speed and hitting made him a valuable asset, and his legacy endures as one of the great outfielders of his time, remembered for his contributions to the teams he played for and the sport as a whole.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
2469 9645 1365 2757 485 127 256 1169 305 574 1196 0.286 0.327 0.442 0.769 17762.6

Season-by-Season Batting

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
5 22 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0.091

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1961 WS CIN 5 22 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0.091

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
1B 16 1 48 1 0 4
OF 2403 2335 5097 172 101 29

Season-by-Season Fielding

Career Games by Position

Position Games
First Base 16
Left Field 253
Center Field 1680
Right Field 549
Designated Hitter 7

Awards & Honors

Year Award Notes
1961 Gold Glove OF

Award Voting History

Year Award League Finish Points Won Points Max Votes First
1964 Most Valuable Player NL 18th 6.0 280 0
1963 Most Valuable Player NL 10th 32.0 280 0
1961 Most Valuable Player NL 3rd 104.0 224 0
1960 Most Valuable Player NL 18th 6.0 336 0
1959 Most Valuable Player NL 15th 11.0 336 0