Dave Stapleton
Born: 1/16/1954 in Fairhope, AL, USA
MLB Debut: 1980-05-30 | Final Game: 1986-10-05
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 178 lbs
Full name: David Leslie Stapleton
Biography
Dave Stapleton was a professional baseball player born in 1954, who played primarily as a position player in Major League Baseball from 1980 until his retirement in 1986. Over the course of his career, Stapleton appeared in 582 games and recorded 550 hits, showcasing a solid batting average of .271. Known for his versatility on the field, he contributed significantly to his teams with a total of 41 home runs and 224 RBIs. Though not known for his speed, he managed to steal 6 bases during his time in the league.
Stapleton's career unfolded during a transformative era in baseball, characterized by evolving player dynamics and strategies. He was part of a generation that witnessed the rise of more specialized roles within teams, and he adapted well to the changing landscape of the game. His contributions were particularly notable in clutch situations, providing reliable offensive support when needed. As a player who dedicated six seasons to the sport, Stapleton left a lasting impression on fans and teammates alike, solidifying his place in baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 582 | 2028 | 238 | 550 | 118 | 8 | 41 | 224 | 6 | 114 | 162 | 0.271 | 0.310 | 0.398 | 0.707 | -100.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | BOS | AL | 106 | 449 | 61 | 144 | 33 | 5 | 7 | 45 | 3 | 13 | 32 | 0.321 | 832.7 |
| 1981 | BOS | AL | 93 | 355 | 45 | 101 | 17 | 1 | 10 | 42 | 0 | 21 | 22 | 0.285 | 464.7 |
| 1982 | BOS | AL | 150 | 538 | 66 | 142 | 28 | 1 | 14 | 65 | 2 | 31 | 40 | 0.264 | -267.9 |
| 1983 | BOS | AL | 151 | 542 | 54 | 134 | 31 | 1 | 10 | 66 | 1 | 40 | 44 | 0.247 | -929.3 |
| 1984 | BOS | AL | 13 | 39 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0.231 | 0.0 |
| 1985 | BOS | AL | 30 | 66 | 4 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 0.227 | -200.4 |
| 1986 | BOS | AL | 39 | 39 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 0.128 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.500 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | WS | BOS | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 1986 | ALCS | BOS | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.667 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 318 | 280 | 2593 | 201 | 21 | 266 |
| 2B | 151 | 130 | 309 | 459 | 17 | 126 |
| 3B | 34 | 28 | 27 | 60 | 4 | 4 |
| OF | 7 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 60 | 57 | 87 | 166 | 11 | 32 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | BOS | 1B | 8 | 7 | 84 | 9 | 1 | 11 |
| 1980 | BOS | 2B | 94 | 89 | 178 | 327 | 11 | 90 |
| 1980 | BOS | 3B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | BOS | OF | 6 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1981 | BOS | 1B | 12 | 11 | 126 | 4 | 1 | 10 |
| 1981 | BOS | 2B | 23 | 18 | 61 | 58 | 4 | 19 |
| 1981 | BOS | 3B | 25 | 23 | 21 | 49 | 4 | 3 |
| 1981 | BOS | SS | 33 | 32 | 52 | 93 | 8 | 18 |
| 1982 | BOS | 1B | 106 | 105 | 964 | 77 | 9 | 98 |
| 1982 | BOS | 2B | 9 | 6 | 28 | 22 | 1 | 3 |
| 1982 | BOS | 3B | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 1982 | BOS | SS | 27 | 25 | 35 | 73 | 3 | 14 |
| 1982 | BOS | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1983 | BOS | 1B | 145 | 141 | 1242 | 95 | 9 | 129 |
| 1983 | BOS | 2B | 5 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 3 |
| 1984 | BOS | 1B | 10 | 10 | 86 | 8 | 0 | 5 |
| 1985 | BOS | 1B | 8 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 1985 | BOS | 2B | 14 | 12 | 29 | 35 | 0 | 8 |
| 1986 | BOS | 1B | 29 | 5 | 79 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| 1986 | BOS | 2B | 6 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 3 |
| 1986 | BOS | 3B | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 319 |
| Second Base | 151 |
| Third Base | 34 |
| Shortstop | 60 |
| Left Field | 5 |
| Right Field | 2 |
| Designated Hitter | 15 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | BOS | AL | $300,000 |
| 1985 | BOS | AL | $325,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $625,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkner State College | Bay Minette | AL | 1972, 1973 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile | AL | 1974, 1975 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 2nd | 40.0 | 140 | 3 |