Mickey Rivers, baseball player, 1970-1984

Mickey Rivers

Born: 10/30/1948 in Miami, FL, USA

MLB Debut: 1970-08-04 | Final Game: 1984-09-30

Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 165 lbs

Full name: John Milton Rivers

Biography

Mickey Rivers, born in 1948, was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball who enjoyed a successful career from 1970 until his retirement in 1984. Known for his exceptional speed and contact hitting, Rivers played a total of 1,468 games, where he accumulated 1,660 hits and a batting average of .295. A key figure in the league during the 1970s and early 1980s, Rivers' playing style combined a potent offensive presence with an ability to steal bases, evidenced by his impressive total of 267 stolen bases. He contributed significantly to his teams' successes, finishing his career with 61 home runs and 499 RBIs. Rivers was selected to the All-Star Game once, highlighting his recognition among peers and fans alike. His career coincided with an era of evolving baseball dynamics, where speed and batting average were highly valued, particularly in the context of the offensive strategies of the time. Riversโ€™ legacy is marked not only by his impressive statistics but also by his ability to electrify the game with his base-running prowess and consistent hitting, making him a memorable figure in baseball history.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
1468 5629 785 1660 247 71 61 499 267 266 471 0.295 0.327 0.397 0.724 1807.9

Season-by-Season Batting

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
29 120 14 37 4 1 0 4 4 9 0.308

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1978 ALCS NYA 4 11 0 5 0 0 0 0 2 0 0.455
1978 WS NYA 5 18 2 6 0 0 0 1 0 2 0.333
1977 ALCS NYA 5 23 5 9 2 0 0 2 0 2 0.391
1977 WS NYA 6 27 1 6 2 0 0 1 0 2 0.222
1976 WS NYA 4 18 1 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 0.167
1976 ALCS NYA 5 23 5 8 0 1 0 0 1 1 0.348

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
OF 1253 1196 3150 95 61 21

Season-by-Season Fielding

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Left Field 81
Center Field 1144
Right Field 42
Designated Hitter 128

Awards & Honors

Year Award Notes
1976 TSN All-Star OF

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
Miami-Dade College - North Campus Miami FL 1968, 1969

Award Voting History

Year Award League Finish Points Won Points Max Votes First
1980 Most Valuable Player AL 18th 7.0 392 0
1978 Most Valuable Player AL 25th 6.0 392 0
1977 Most Valuable Player AL 11th 59.0 392 0
1976 Most Valuable Player AL 3rd 179.0 336 1