Steve Sax
Born: 1/29/1960 in Sacramento, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1981-08-18 | Final Game: 1994-05-08
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Stephen Louis Sax
Biography
Steve Sax, born in 1960, was a prominent American baseball player who made significant contributions to Major League Baseball from 1981 until his retirement in 1994. Known for his exceptional speed and versatility on the field, Sax played primarily as a second baseman and was a key figure in the game during the 1980s and early 1990s. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 1,769 games, amassing 1,949 hits and compiling a batting average of .281. His offensive prowess was highlighted by 54 home runs and 550 RBIs, but it was his base-running skills that truly set him apart, finishing his career with 444 stolen bases.
Sax's career was marked by notable achievements, including being named the Rookie of the Year and earning five All-Star selections. He played a crucial role on several successful teams, contributing to the excitement of the era as baseball experienced a surge in popularity. His ability to blend both speed and skill made him a valuable asset, and he was celebrated for his tenacity and competitive spirit on the diamond. Steve Sax remains a significant figure in baseball history, remembered for his contributions during a transformative period for the sport.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1769 | 6940 | 913 | 1949 | 278 | 47 | 54 | 550 | 444 | 556 | 584 | 0.281 | 0.335 | 0.358 | 0.692 | -2661.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | LAD | NL | 31 | 119 | 15 | 33 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 0.277 | -65.0 |
| 1982 | LAD | NL | 150 | 638 | 88 | 180 | 23 | 7 | 4 | 47 | 49 | 49 | 53 | 0.282 | -240.4 |
| 1983 | LAD | NL | 155 | 623 | 94 | 175 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 41 | 56 | 58 | 73 | 0.281 | -225.6 |
| 1984 | LAD | NL | 145 | 569 | 70 | 138 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 35 | 34 | 47 | 53 | 0.243 | -1603.9 |
| 1985 | LAD | NL | 136 | 488 | 62 | 136 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 42 | 27 | 54 | 43 | 0.279 | -355.6 |
| 1986 | LAD | NL | 157 | 633 | 91 | 210 | 43 | 4 | 6 | 56 | 40 | 59 | 58 | 0.332 | 2094.3 |
| 1987 | LAD | NL | 157 | 610 | 84 | 171 | 22 | 7 | 6 | 46 | 37 | 44 | 61 | 0.280 | -746.3 |
| 1988 | LAD | NL | 160 | 632 | 70 | 175 | 19 | 4 | 5 | 57 | 42 | 45 | 51 | 0.277 | -419.0 |
| 1989 | NYY | AL | 158 | 651 | 88 | 205 | 26 | 3 | 5 | 63 | 43 | 52 | 44 | 0.315 | 1144.3 |
| 1990 | NYY | AL | 155 | 615 | 70 | 160 | 24 | 2 | 4 | 42 | 43 | 49 | 46 | 0.260 | -1149.2 |
| 1991 | NYY | AL | 158 | 652 | 85 | 198 | 38 | 2 | 10 | 56 | 31 | 41 | 38 | 0.304 | 867.5 |
| 1992 | CHW | AL | 143 | 567 | 74 | 134 | 26 | 4 | 4 | 47 | 30 | 43 | 42 | 0.236 | -1535.8 |
| 1993 | CHW | AL | 57 | 119 | 20 | 28 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 0.235 | -426.9 |
| 1994 | OAK | AL | 7 | 24 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 87 | 11 | 24 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 0.276 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | NLCS | LAN | 7 | 30 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0.267 |
| 1988 | WS | LAN | 5 | 20 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.300 |
| 1985 | NLCS | LAN | 6 | 20 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0.300 |
| 1983 | NLCS | LAN | 4 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.250 |
| 1981 | NLCS | LAN | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 1981 | NWDIV | LAN | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 1981 | WS | LAN | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 1679 | 1664 | 3574 | 4805 | 187 | 998 |
| 3B | 7 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 0 |
| OF | 33 | 26 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | LAN | 2B | 29 | 28 | 64 | 93 | 4 | 22 |
| 1982 | LAN | 2B | 149 | 145 | 347 | 452 | 19 | 83 |
| 1983 | LAN | 2B | 152 | 151 | 331 | 399 | 30 | 74 |
| 1984 | LAN | 2B | 141 | 140 | 318 | 450 | 21 | 99 |
| 1985 | LAN | 2B | 135 | 132 | 330 | 357 | 22 | 84 |
| 1985 | LAN | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | LAN | 2B | 154 | 154 | 367 | 432 | 16 | 71 |
| 1987 | LAN | 2B | 152 | 151 | 342 | 420 | 14 | 92 |
| 1987 | LAN | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | LAN | OF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | LAN | 2B | 158 | 156 | 276 | 429 | 14 | 69 |
| 1989 | NYA | 2B | 158 | 158 | 312 | 460 | 10 | 117 |
| 1990 | NYA | 2B | 154 | 154 | 292 | 457 | 10 | 102 |
| 1991 | NYA | 2B | 149 | 148 | 274 | 443 | 7 | 107 |
| 1991 | NYA | 3B | 5 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| 1992 | CHA | 2B | 141 | 141 | 305 | 390 | 20 | 75 |
| 1993 | CHA | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | CHA | OF | 32 | 26 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | OAK | 2B | 6 | 6 | 16 | 20 | 0 | 3 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 1679 |
| Third Base | 7 |
| Left Field | 27 |
| Right Field | 6 |
| Designated Hitter | 26 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Player of the Month | September |
| 1986 | Silver Slugger | 2B |
| 1986 | TSN All-Star | 2B |
| 1982 | Rookie of the Year |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | CHA | AL | $3,475,000 |
| 1994 | CHA | AL | $3,475,000 |
| 1994 | OAK | AL | $109,000 |
| 1993 | CHA | AL | $1,975,000 |
| 1992 | CHA | AL | $3,575,000 |
| 1991 | NYA | AL | $1,650,001 |
| 1990 | NYA | AL | $950,000 |
| 1989 | NYA | AL | $1,150,000 |
| 1988 | LAN | NL | $838,182 |
| 1986 | LAN | NL | $584,624 |
| 1985 | LAN | NL | $465,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $18,246,807 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 21th | 3.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1988 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 18th | 1.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1986 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 13th | 13.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1982 | Rookie of the Year | NL | 1st | 63.0 | 120 | 9 |