Duke Sims
Born: 6/5/1941 in Salt Lake City, UT, USA
MLB Debut: 1964-09-22 | Final Game: 1974-09-26
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 197 lbs
Full name: Duane B. Sims
Biography
Duke Sims was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1964 to 1974. Born in 1941, Sims played primarily as a position player, appearing in a total of 843 games throughout his career. He recorded 580 hits, including 100 home runs, and drove in 310 runs, showcasing his ability to contribute offensively during a time when the game was evolving into a more power-oriented style. With a career batting average of .239, Sims demonstrated his resilience and consistency at the plate, while also adding 6 stolen bases to his record.
Sims’ career spanned a transformative era in baseball, where the dynamics of hitting and pitching were shifting. He played during a time when players increasingly sought power hitting, and his ability to hit home runs placed him among the notable sluggers of his time. After retiring in 1974, Sims left behind a legacy as a reliable contributor who played for several teams, including the Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, and Texas Rangers, leaving an indelible mark on the franchises and fans he represented. His combination of power and tenacity made him a respected figure in the game during a pivotal decade in baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 843 | 2422 | 263 | 580 | 80 | 6 | 100 | 310 | 6 | 338 | 483 | 0.239 | 0.340 | 0.401 | 0.741 | 4930.1 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | CLE | AL | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1965 | CLE | AL | 48 | 118 | 9 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 33 | 0.178 | -214.0 |
| 1966 | CLE | AL | 52 | 133 | 12 | 35 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 19 | 0 | 11 | 31 | 0.263 | 327.8 |
| 1967 | CLE | AL | 88 | 272 | 25 | 55 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 37 | 3 | 30 | 64 | 0.202 | 71.6 |
| 1968 | CLE | AL | 122 | 361 | 48 | 90 | 21 | 0 | 11 | 44 | 1 | 62 | 68 | 0.249 | 1528.5 |
| 1969 | CLE | AL | 114 | 326 | 40 | 77 | 8 | 0 | 18 | 45 | 1 | 66 | 80 | 0.236 | 1262.5 |
| 1970 | CLE | AL | 110 | 345 | 46 | 91 | 12 | 0 | 23 | 56 | 0 | 46 | 59 | 0.264 | 1432.5 |
| 1971 | LAD | NL | 90 | 230 | 23 | 63 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 25 | 0 | 30 | 39 | 0.274 | 508.7 |
| 1972 | DET | AL | 38 | 98 | 11 | 31 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 19 | 0 | 19 | 18 | 0.316 | 677.0 |
| 1972 | LAD | NL | 51 | 151 | 7 | 29 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 17 | 23 | 0.192 | 677.0 |
| 1973 | DET | AL | 80 | 252 | 31 | 61 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 30 | 1 | 30 | 36 | 0.242 | 1.6 |
| 1973 | NYY | AL | 4 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0.333 | 1.6 |
| 1974 | NYY | AL | 5 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0.133 | 0.0 |
| 1974 | TEX | AL | 39 | 106 | 7 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 24 | 0.208 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.214 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | ALCS | DET | 4 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.214 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 61 | 53 | 372 | 37 | 9 | 31 |
| C | 646 | 559 | 3762 | 319 | 58 | 49 |
| OF | 54 | 48 | 72 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | CLE | C | 1 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965 | CLE | C | 40 | 33 | 228 | 22 | 5 | 2 |
| 1966 | CLE | C | 48 | 31 | 260 | 15 | 7 | 2 |
| 1967 | CLE | C | 85 | 77 | 561 | 56 | 7 | 7 |
| 1968 | CLE | C | 84 | 71 | 523 | 41 | 10 | 7 |
| 1968 | CLE | 1B | 31 | 28 | 191 | 19 | 6 | 16 |
| 1968 | CLE | OF | 4 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1969 | CLE | C | 102 | 94 | 634 | 51 | 6 | 8 |
| 1969 | CLE | 1B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1969 | CLE | OF | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1970 | CLE | C | 39 | 38 | 277 | 13 | 2 | 2 |
| 1970 | CLE | 1B | 29 | 25 | 180 | 18 | 3 | 15 |
| 1970 | CLE | OF | 36 | 34 | 48 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 1971 | LAN | C | 74 | 59 | 345 | 33 | 3 | 5 |
| 1972 | DET | C | 25 | 25 | 145 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| 1972 | DET | OF | 4 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1972 | LAN | C | 48 | 41 | 244 | 17 | 3 | 4 |
| 1973 | DET | C | 68 | 62 | 375 | 39 | 9 | 7 |
| 1973 | DET | OF | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973 | NYA | C | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974 | NYA | C | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974 | TEX | C | 30 | 26 | 143 | 21 | 5 | 4 |
| 1974 | TEX | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 646 |
| First Base | 61 |
| Left Field | 35 |
| Right Field | 19 |
| Designated Hitter | 7 |