Rich Rollins
Born: 4/16/1938 in Mount Pleasant, PA, USA
Died: 5/13/2025 in Akron, OH, USA
MLB Debut: 1961-06-16 | Final Game: 1970-09-26
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Richard John Rollins
Biography
Rich Rollins was a professional baseball player who made significant contributions to the game during his career from 1961 to 1970. Born in 1938, Rollins played primarily as a position player and established himself as a reliable asset on the field. Over the course of 1,002 games, he accumulated 887 hits and recorded a batting average of .269, showcasing his ability to consistently make contact and contribute offensively. His career included 77 home runs and 399 RBIs, reflecting his power and run-producing capabilities. Additionally, Rollins demonstrated speed on the bases, finishing his career with 17 stolen bases.
Rollins was selected as an All-Star twice during his career, underscoring his status as one of the prominent players of his era. He played in a period marked by the transition from the early years of television and the emergence of more powerful hitters, which shaped the game in the 1960s. Known for his solid defensive skills and versatility, Rollins left a lasting impact on the teams he played for, including notable stints with the Minnesota Twins. His contributions to baseball during the 1960s remain a testament to the evolution of the game during that dynamic decade.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1002 | 3303 | 419 | 887 | 125 | 20 | 77 | 399 | 17 | 266 | 410 | 0.269 | 0.328 | 0.388 | 0.717 | 3111.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | MIN | AL | 13 | 17 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.294 | 0.0 |
| 1962 | MIN | AL | 159 | 624 | 96 | 186 | 23 | 5 | 16 | 96 | 3 | 75 | 61 | 0.298 | 1631.9 |
| 1963 | MIN | AL | 136 | 531 | 75 | 163 | 23 | 1 | 16 | 61 | 2 | 36 | 59 | 0.307 | 1845.0 |
| 1964 | MIN | AL | 148 | 596 | 87 | 161 | 25 | 10 | 12 | 68 | 2 | 53 | 80 | 0.270 | 834.0 |
| 1965 | MIN | AL | 140 | 469 | 59 | 117 | 22 | 1 | 5 | 32 | 4 | 37 | 54 | 0.249 | -495.1 |
| 1966 | MIN | AL | 90 | 269 | 30 | 66 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 40 | 0 | 13 | 34 | 0.245 | -128.4 |
| 1967 | MIN | AL | 109 | 339 | 31 | 83 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 39 | 1 | 27 | 58 | 0.245 | -123.7 |
| 1968 | MIN | AL | 93 | 203 | 14 | 49 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 30 | 3 | 10 | 34 | 0.241 | 3.2 |
| 1969 | SE1 | AL | 58 | 187 | 15 | 42 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 21 | 2 | 7 | 19 | 0.225 | -455.1 |
| 1970 | CLE | AL | 42 | 43 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0.233 | 0.0 |
| 1970 | ATL | AL | 14 | 25 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | WS | MIN | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 24 | 16 | 38 | 40 | 5 | 5 |
| 3B | 830 | 793 | 716 | 1582 | 129 | 133 |
| OF | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | MIN | 2B | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 1961 | MIN | 3B | 4 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 1962 | MIN | 3B | 159 | 158 | 137 | 324 | 28 | 33 |
| 1962 | MIN | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1963 | MIN | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1963 | MIN | 3B | 132 | 132 | 121 | 255 | 26 | 22 |
| 1964 | MIN | 3B | 146 | 146 | 134 | 297 | 24 | 17 |
| 1965 | MIN | 2B | 16 | 12 | 32 | 35 | 5 | 4 |
| 1965 | MIN | 3B | 112 | 110 | 112 | 229 | 15 | 21 |
| 1966 | MIN | 2B | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1966 | MIN | 3B | 65 | 59 | 54 | 107 | 8 | 13 |
| 1966 | MIN | OF | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1967 | MIN | 3B | 97 | 90 | 83 | 153 | 9 | 13 |
| 1968 | MIN | 3B | 56 | 44 | 28 | 93 | 9 | 4 |
| 1969 | SE1 | 3B | 47 | 44 | 42 | 103 | 8 | 6 |
| 1969 | SE1 | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1970 | CLE | 3B | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 1970 | ML4 | 3B | 7 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 26 |
| Third Base | 828 |
| Shortstop | 2 |
| Left Field | 1 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent State University | Kent | OH | 1958, 1959, 1960 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 21th | 5.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1962 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 8th | 47.0 | 280 | 0 |