Paul Popovich
Born: 8/18/1940 in Flemington, WV, USA
MLB Debut: 1964-04-19 | Final Game: 1975-07-21
Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 175 lbs
Full name: Paul Edward Popovich
Biography
Paul Popovich was a professional baseball player born in 1940, who enjoyed a career spanning from 1964 to 1975. Primarily a position player, he appeared in 682 games in Major League Baseball, showcasing his versatility on the field. Over his career, Popovich recorded 403 hits and accumulated a batting average of .233. He hit 14 home runs and drove in 134 runs, demonstrating his ability to contribute to his team's offensive efforts. Additionally, he successfully stole 4 bases, highlighting his speed and base-running capabilities.
Popovich played during a transformative era in baseball, characterized by the integration of players and shifts in playing styles. Although he may not have achieved superstar status, his steady presence and contributions to the teams he played for were appreciated by fans and teammates alike. He was known for his solid defensive skills and reliable play, which made him a valuable asset throughout his time in the league. Retiring in 1975, Paul Popovich left a legacy as a dependable player who played through a dynamic period in baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 682 | 1732 | 176 | 403 | 42 | 9 | 14 | 134 | 4 | 127 | 151 | 0.233 | 0.286 | 0.292 | 0.577 | -4219.1 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | CHC | NL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.0 |
| 1966 | CHC | NL | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1967 | CHC | NL | 49 | 159 | 18 | 34 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 12 | 0.214 | -589.0 |
| 1968 | LAD | NL | 134 | 418 | 35 | 97 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 25 | 1 | 29 | 37 | 0.232 | -1007.6 |
| 1969 | CHC | NL | 60 | 154 | 26 | 48 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 18 | 14 | 0.312 | 335.3 |
| 1969 | LAD | NL | 28 | 50 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0.200 | 335.3 |
| 1970 | CHC | NL | 78 | 186 | 22 | 47 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20 | 0 | 18 | 18 | 0.253 | -131.0 |
| 1971 | CHC | NL | 89 | 226 | 24 | 49 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 28 | 0 | 14 | 17 | 0.217 | -705.5 |
| 1972 | CHC | NL | 58 | 129 | 8 | 25 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 12 | 8 | 0.194 | -434.0 |
| 1973 | CHC | NL | 99 | 280 | 24 | 66 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 24 | 3 | 18 | 27 | 0.236 | -972.9 |
| 1974 | PIT | NL | 59 | 83 | 9 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 0.217 | -380.3 |
| 1975 | PIT | NL | 25 | 40 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.600 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | NLCS | PIT | 3 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.600 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 358 | 277 | 663 | 939 | 30 | 208 |
| 3B | 49 | 27 | 16 | 50 | 3 | 3 |
| OF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 139 | 89 | 166 | 306 | 13 | 64 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | CHN | 2B | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 1967 | CHN | 2B | 17 | 9 | 26 | 39 | 1 | 11 |
| 1967 | CHN | 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1967 | CHN | SS | 31 | 26 | 40 | 77 | 4 | 12 |
| 1968 | LAN | 2B | 89 | 80 | 172 | 229 | 7 | 48 |
| 1968 | LAN | 3B | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1968 | LAN | SS | 45 | 35 | 59 | 119 | 4 | 20 |
| 1969 | CHN | 2B | 25 | 23 | 50 | 64 | 3 | 13 |
| 1969 | CHN | 3B | 6 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| 1969 | CHN | SS | 7 | 6 | 13 | 23 | 0 | 7 |
| 1969 | CHN | OF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1969 | LAN | 2B | 23 | 12 | 27 | 38 | 1 | 9 |
| 1969 | LAN | SS | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1970 | CHN | 2B | 22 | 17 | 42 | 58 | 1 | 18 |
| 1970 | CHN | 3B | 16 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| 1970 | CHN | SS | 17 | 9 | 24 | 27 | 2 | 7 |
| 1971 | CHN | 2B | 40 | 31 | 74 | 119 | 3 | 26 |
| 1971 | CHN | 3B | 16 | 12 | 4 | 27 | 1 | 1 |
| 1971 | CHN | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1972 | CHN | 2B | 36 | 22 | 59 | 98 | 3 | 22 |
| 1972 | CHN | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1972 | CHN | SS | 8 | 8 | 18 | 29 | 1 | 8 |
| 1973 | CHN | 2B | 84 | 68 | 171 | 247 | 8 | 53 |
| 1973 | CHN | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973 | CHN | SS | 9 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 5 |
| 1974 | PIT | 2B | 12 | 9 | 21 | 30 | 2 | 5 |
| 1974 | PIT | SS | 10 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 4 |
| 1975 | PIT | 2B | 8 | 5 | 16 | 14 | 0 | 2 |
| 1975 | PIT | SS | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 359 |
| Third Base | 50 |
| Shortstop | 137 |
| Center Field | 1 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia University | Morgantown | WV | 1960 |