Roy Smalley
Born: 10/25/1952 in Los Angeles, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1975-04-30 | Final Game: 1987-10-04
Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Roy Frederick Smalley
Biography
Roy Smalley, born in 1952, was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball, whose career spanned from 1975 to 1987. Known for his versatility on the field, Smalley played primarily as a shortstop and third baseman, showcasing both defensive prowess and offensive capability during his time in the league. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 1,653 games, accumulating 1,454 hits, 163 home runs, and 694 RBIs, while maintaining a batting average of .257. His ability to contribute in various facets of the game was highlighted by his selection as an All-Star, reflecting his status as one of the notable players of his era.
Smalley's playing style was characterized by a combination of power and speed, as evidenced by his 27 stolen bases. He was particularly active during the late 1970s and early 1980s, a period marked by an evolving offensive landscape in baseball. His contributions helped teams such as the Minnesota Twins and the New York Yankees, where he played a significant role in their respective lineups. Smalley's impact on the game extended beyond his statistics, as he embodied the spirit of competitiveness and adaptability that defined his generation of players.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1653 | 5657 | 745 | 1454 | 244 | 25 | 163 | 694 | 27 | 771 | 908 | 0.257 | 0.345 | 0.395 | 0.740 | 5734.1 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | TEX | AL | 78 | 250 | 22 | 57 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 33 | 4 | 30 | 42 | 0.228 | -567.0 |
| 1976 | MIN | AL | 103 | 384 | 46 | 104 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 36 | 0 | 47 | 79 | 0.271 | 321.3 |
| 1976 | TEX | AL | 41 | 129 | 15 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 29 | 27 | 0.225 | 321.3 |
| 1977 | MIN | AL | 150 | 584 | 93 | 135 | 21 | 5 | 6 | 56 | 5 | 74 | 89 | 0.231 | -1510.7 |
| 1978 | MIN | AL | 158 | 586 | 80 | 160 | 31 | 3 | 19 | 77 | 2 | 85 | 70 | 0.273 | 1719.5 |
| 1979 | MIN | AL | 162 | 621 | 94 | 168 | 28 | 3 | 24 | 95 | 2 | 80 | 80 | 0.271 | 1270.8 |
| 1980 | MIN | AL | 133 | 486 | 64 | 135 | 24 | 1 | 12 | 63 | 3 | 65 | 63 | 0.278 | 804.3 |
| 1981 | MIN | AL | 56 | 167 | 24 | 44 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 22 | 0 | 31 | 24 | 0.263 | 609.5 |
| 1982 | MIN | AL | 4 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0.154 | 0.0 |
| 1982 | NYY | AL | 142 | 486 | 55 | 125 | 14 | 2 | 20 | 67 | 0 | 68 | 100 | 0.257 | 0.0 |
| 1983 | NYY | AL | 130 | 451 | 70 | 124 | 24 | 1 | 18 | 62 | 3 | 58 | 68 | 0.275 | 1258.1 |
| 1984 | CHW | AL | 47 | 135 | 15 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 22 | 30 | 0.170 | -401.2 |
| 1984 | NYY | AL | 67 | 209 | 17 | 50 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 26 | 2 | 15 | 35 | 0.239 | -401.2 |
| 1985 | MIN | AL | 129 | 388 | 57 | 100 | 20 | 0 | 12 | 45 | 0 | 60 | 65 | 0.258 | 651.1 |
| 1986 | MIN | AL | 143 | 459 | 59 | 113 | 20 | 4 | 20 | 57 | 1 | 68 | 80 | 0.246 | 827.0 |
| 1987 | MIN | AL | 110 | 309 | 32 | 85 | 16 | 1 | 8 | 34 | 2 | 36 | 52 | 0.275 | 199.3 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.500 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | WS | MIN | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.500 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 34 | 26 | 243 | 12 | 2 | 24 |
| 2B | 58 | 55 | 110 | 156 | 11 | 33 |
| 3B | 188 | 171 | 90 | 375 | 30 | 35 |
| C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 1069 | 997 | 1688 | 3274 | 174 | 702 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | TEX | C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1975 | TEX | 2B | 19 | 17 | 28 | 57 | 4 | 14 |
| 1975 | TEX | SS | 59 | 45 | 80 | 175 | 16 | 30 |
| 1976 | MIN | SS | 103 | 101 | 189 | 338 | 18 | 70 |
| 1976 | TEX | 2B | 38 | 38 | 82 | 99 | 7 | 19 |
| 1976 | TEX | SS | 5 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| 1977 | MIN | SS | 150 | 149 | 255 | 504 | 33 | 116 |
| 1978 | MIN | SS | 157 | 157 | 287 | 527 | 25 | 121 |
| 1979 | MIN | 1B | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1979 | MIN | SS | 161 | 160 | 296 | 572 | 29 | 144 |
| 1980 | MIN | 1B | 3 | 2 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 1980 | MIN | SS | 125 | 124 | 210 | 446 | 17 | 100 |
| 1981 | MIN | 1B | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1981 | MIN | SS | 37 | 37 | 52 | 89 | 8 | 14 |
| 1982 | MIN | SS | 4 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 0 | 2 |
| 1982 | NYA | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1982 | NYA | 3B | 53 | 49 | 28 | 113 | 7 | 11 |
| 1982 | NYA | SS | 89 | 81 | 109 | 238 | 8 | 42 |
| 1983 | NYA | 1B | 22 | 15 | 153 | 8 | 1 | 11 |
| 1983 | NYA | 3B | 26 | 22 | 11 | 57 | 5 | 7 |
| 1983 | NYA | SS | 91 | 86 | 125 | 230 | 15 | 40 |
| 1984 | CHA | 1B | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1984 | CHA | 3B | 38 | 35 | 15 | 57 | 4 | 6 |
| 1984 | CHA | SS | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 | NYA | 1B | 5 | 5 | 44 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| 1984 | NYA | 3B | 35 | 35 | 17 | 78 | 10 | 8 |
| 1984 | NYA | SS | 13 | 6 | 5 | 21 | 1 | 2 |
| 1985 | MIN | 1B | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1985 | MIN | 3B | 14 | 13 | 9 | 41 | 1 | 2 |
| 1985 | MIN | SS | 49 | 39 | 57 | 91 | 2 | 16 |
| 1986 | MIN | 3B | 8 | 7 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 1 |
| 1986 | MIN | SS | 19 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 1 | 4 |
| 1987 | MIN | 3B | 14 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| 1987 | MIN | SS | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 34 |
| Second Base | 58 |
| Third Base | 189 |
| Shortstop | 1069 |
| Designated Hitter | 272 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Player of the Week | Week of 1981-05-01 |
| 1979 | Player of the Week | Week of 1979-06-29 |
| 1979 | TSN All-Star | SS |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | MIN | AL | $740,000 |
| 1985 | MIN | AL | $728,571 |
| Total Career Earnings | $1,468,571 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles City College | Los Angeles | CA | 1971 |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles | CA | 1972, 1973 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 16th | 16.0 | 392 | 0 |