Steve Swisher
Born: 8/9/1951 in Parkersburg, WV, USA
MLB Debut: 1974-06-14 | Final Game: 1982-09-26
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 205 lbs
Full name: Steven Eugene Swisher
Biography
Steve Swisher, born in 1951, was a professional baseball player who made his mark as a position player in Major League Baseball from 1974 until his retirement in 1982. Over the course of his career, Swisher played in 509 games, accumulating 305 hits and demonstrating his power with 20 home runs and 124 RBIs. His batting average stood at .216, and he showcased his speed on the bases with four stolen bases. Swisher's performance earned him an All-Star selection, highlighting his contributions during a time when the game was evolving with the rise of powerful hitters and the increasing importance of specialized roles.
Swisher played primarily in an era characterized by a transition from the deadball style of play to a more offense-driven approach, making his contributions noteworthy as teams began to prioritize power hitting. While his batting average may not have placed him among the elite hitters of his time, his ability to impact games through key hits and solid defensive skills allowed him to remain a valuable asset to the teams he played for. Swisher's career, spanning from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s, reflects the changing dynamics of baseball during a pivotal period in the sport's history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 509 | 1414 | 108 | 305 | 49 | 7 | 20 | 124 | 4 | 118 | 322 | 0.216 | 0.279 | 0.303 | 0.581 | -4040.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | CHC | NL | 90 | 280 | 21 | 60 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 27 | 0 | 37 | 63 | 0.214 | -641.0 |
| 1975 | CHC | NL | 93 | 254 | 20 | 54 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 1 | 30 | 57 | 0.213 | -640.2 |
| 1976 | CHC | NL | 109 | 377 | 25 | 89 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 42 | 2 | 20 | 82 | 0.236 | -913.0 |
| 1977 | CHC | NL | 74 | 205 | 21 | 39 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 47 | 0.190 | -1087.8 |
| 1978 | STL | NL | 45 | 115 | 11 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 0.278 | -10.3 |
| 1979 | STL | NL | 38 | 73 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 17 | 0.151 | -503.4 |
| 1980 | STL | NL | 18 | 24 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
| 1981 | SDP | NL | 16 | 28 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 0.143 | 0.0 |
| 1982 | SDP | NL | 26 | 58 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 24 | 0.172 | -244.8 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 481 | 412 | 2274 | 203 | 46 | 24 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | CHN | C | 90 | 85 | 493 | 50 | 7 | 8 |
| 1975 | CHN | C | 93 | 86 | 426 | 36 | 10 | 5 |
| 1976 | CHN | C | 107 | 106 | 574 | 49 | 11 | 6 |
| 1977 | CHN | C | 72 | 54 | 327 | 38 | 9 | 3 |
| 1978 | SLN | C | 42 | 34 | 202 | 13 | 2 | 0 |
| 1979 | SLN | C | 33 | 19 | 105 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| 1980 | SLN | C | 8 | 4 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1981 | SDN | C | 10 | 6 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | SDN | C | 26 | 18 | 93 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 481 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Player of the Week | Week of 1976-05-14 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio University | Athens | OH | 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 |