Bobby Valentine
Shortstop · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1969-1979)
Bobby Valentine was a shortstop who played in Major League Baseball from 1969 to 1979 for 5 teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, a span of 11 seasons. In 639 career games, he hit .260 with 441 hits, 12 home runs, and 157 RBI.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Shortstop
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 5'10" / 189 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1969-09-02
- Last Game
- 1979-09-30
Full name: Robert John Valentine
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 639 | 1,698 | 176 | 441 | 59 | 9 | 12 | 157 | 27 | 140 | 134 | .260 | .315 | .326 | .641 | -1,907 |
Career AVG .260 vs. league average .256 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career OBP .315 vs. league average .323 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career SLG .326 vs. league average .375 across their career seasons — 13.1% below league average.
Career OPS .641 vs. league average .698 across their career seasons — 8.2% below league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | LAN | NL | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1971 | LAN | NL | 101 | 281 | 32 | 70 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 5 | 15 | 20 | .249 | .249 (avg) | .316 (-9%) | .365 (-15%) | .682 (-13%) | -585.9 |
| 1972 | LAN | NL | 119 | 391 | 42 | 107 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 32 | 5 | 27 | 33 | .274 | .243 (+12%) | .310 (+3%) | .353 (-5%) | .664 (-2%) | -106.2 |
| 1973 | CAL | AL | 32 | 126 | 12 | 38 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 9 | .302 | .256 (+17%) | .325 (-1%) | .378 (+5%) | .703 (+2%) | 0.5 |
| 1974 | CAL | AL | 117 | 371 | 39 | 97 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 39 | 8 | 25 | 25 | .261 | .256 (+2%) | .324 (-5%) | .369 (-11%) | .693 (-8%) | -512.9 |
| 1975 | CAL | AL | 26 | 57 | 5 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 3 | .281 | .257 (+9%) | .327 (-1%) | .374 (-16%) | .701 (-9%) | -91.5 |
| 1975 | SDN | NL | 7 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | .133 | — | — | — | — | -91.5 |
| 1976 | SDN | NL | 15 | 49 | 3 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 2 | .367 | — | — | — | — | 250.9 |
| 1977 | SDN | NL | 44 | 67 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 10 | .179 | .264 (-32%) | .329 (-23%) | .401 (-33%) | .730 (-29%) | -314.2 |
| 1977 | NYN | NL | 42 | 83 | 8 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | .133 | .264 (-50%) | .329 (-42%) | .401 (-55%) | .730 (-49%) | -314.2 |
| 1978 | NYN | NL | 69 | 160 | 17 | 43 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 1 | 19 | 18 | .269 | .257 (+4%) | .323 (+7%) | .378 (-13%) | .702 (-4%) | -39.1 |
| 1979 | SEA | AL | 62 | 98 | 9 | 27 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 22 | 5 | .276 | .265 (+4%) | .329 (+23%) | .397 (-15%) | .727 (+2%) | 143.9 |
| Career · 12 seasons | 639 | 1,698 | 176 | 441 | 59 | 9 | 12 | 157 | 27 | 140 | 134 | .260 | — | — | — | — | -1,660 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (639 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 323 | 830 | 75 | 193 | 4 | 59 | .233 |
| Away | 316 | 868 | 101 | 248 | 8 | 98 | .286 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979-09-30 | SEA | CHW | L | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979-09-29 | SEA | CHW | W | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979-09-28 | SEA | CHW | L | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979-09-27 | SEA | MIL | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979-09-23 | SEA | CHW | W | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979-09-21 | SEA | CHW | L | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979-09-18 | SEA | MIL | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979-09-17 | SEA | MIL | L | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979-09-16 | SEA | KCR | W | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979-09-15 | SEA | KCR | L | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 23 | 14 | 155 | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| 2B | 120 | 96 | 235 | 271 | 14 | 54 |
| 3B | 106 | 94 | 54 | 208 | 31 | 14 |
| C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| OF | 128 | 109 | 218 | 11 | 6 | 1 |
| SS | 161 | 95 | 177 | 332 | 23 | 50 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | LAN | 2B | 21 | 20 | 49 | 45 | 4 | 13 |
| 1971 | LAN | 3B | 23 | 23 | 17 | 50 | 7 | 1 |
| 1971 | LAN | OF | 11 | 9 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1971 | LAN | SS | 37 | 22 | 43 | 80 | 5 | 17 |
| 1972 | LAN | 2B | 49 | 43 | 110 | 132 | 6 | 28 |
| 1972 | LAN | 3B | 39 | 38 | 20 | 81 | 14 | 4 |
| 1972 | LAN | OF | 16 | 8 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1972 | LAN | SS | 10 | 10 | 23 | 32 | 3 | 6 |
| 1973 | CAL | OF | 8 | 7 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973 | CAL | SS | 25 | 25 | 38 | 72 | 6 | 11 |
| 1974 | CAL | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974 | CAL | 3B | 15 | 15 | 5 | 32 | 5 | 4 |
| 1974 | CAL | OF | 62 | 59 | 113 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| 1974 | CAL | SS | 36 | 22 | 42 | 82 | 6 | 6 |
| 1975 | CAL | 1B | 3 | 2 | 23 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 1975 | CAL | 3B | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | CAL | OF | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1975 | SDN | OF | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1976 | SDN | 1B | 4 | 3 | 37 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 1976 | SDN | OF | 10 | 10 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1977 | SDN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1977 | SDN | 3B | 10 | 7 | 3 | 15 | 1 | 2 |
| 1977 | SDN | SS | 10 | 1 | 11 | 14 | 1 | 1 |
| 1977 | NYN | 1B | 15 | 9 | 94 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| 1977 | NYN | 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1977 | NYN | SS | 14 | 8 | 9 | 29 | 1 | 6 |
| 1978 | NYN | 2B | 45 | 33 | 76 | 92 | 4 | 13 |
| 1978 | NYN | 3B | 9 | 7 | 2 | 17 | 2 | 0 |
| 1979 | SEA | 2B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | SEA | 3B | 4 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 2 |
| 1979 | SEA | C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | SEA | OF | 15 | 12 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | SEA | SS | 29 | 7 | 11 | 23 | 1 | 3 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 1 |
| First Base | 23 |
| Second Base | 120 |
| Third Base | 107 |
| Shortstop | 160 |
| Left Field | 86 |
| Center Field | 17 |
| Right Field | 27 |
| Designated Hitter | 19 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Branch Rickey Award |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Bobby Valentine (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Bobby Valentine: the record in brief
September 2, 1969 and September 30, 1979 bracket Bobby Valentine's time in the majors: the debut and the last game on record. The team column moves through the Los Angeles Dodgers (1969 to 1972), the California Angels (1973 through 1975), the San Diego Padres (1975 to 1977), the New York Mets (1977 to 1978), and the Seattle Mariners (1979). Valentine, a shortstop by primary position, both batted and threw right-handed. Height and weight on file: 5'10" and 189 pounds. Valentine was born on May 13, 1950, in Stamford, CT, USA. Bobby Valentine was the playing name; the full given name is Robert John.
Across 639 games at the plate, Valentine's career line reads 441 hits in 1,698 at bats for a .260 average, adding 12 home runs, 157 RBI, and 27 stolen bases. The on-base percentage is .315 and the slugging percentage .326, for an OPS of .641. Valentine hit .260 while the league hit .256 over the same span, a figure close to average. In OPS terms, Valentine's .641 stands 8.2% below the league's .698. Valentine collected a career-high 107 hits in 1972. The RBI column peaks at 39 in 1974.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bobby Valentine
- What years did Bobby Valentine play?
- Bobby Valentine played in Major League Baseball from 1969 to 1979.
- Was Bobby Valentine a pitcher?
- No. Bobby Valentine was a position player (Shortstop).
- How many home runs did Bobby Valentine hit?
- Bobby Valentine hit 12 career home runs with 441 hits.
- What teams did Bobby Valentine play for?
- Bobby Valentine played for 5 teams: the Los Angeles Dodgers (1969, 1971–1972), the California Angels (1973–1975), the San Diego Padres (1975–1977), the New York Mets (1977–1978), and the Seattle Mariners (1979).
- What were Bobby Valentine's career stats?
- In 639 games, Bobby Valentine had 441 hits, 12 home runs, 157 RBI, 176 runs, and 27 stolen bases, with a .260 batting average.
- What position did Bobby Valentine play?
- Bobby Valentine played primarily as a shortstop, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Bobby Valentine and how much did he weigh?
- Bobby Valentine was listed at 5 feet 10 inches and 189 pounds.
- How many home runs did Bobby Valentine hit each season?
- Bobby Valentine's home runs by season: 1 in 1971, 3 in 1972, 1 in 1973, 3 in 1974, 1 in 1975, 0 in 1976, 2 in 1977, 1 in 1978, and 0 in 1979. His most in one season was 3, in 1972 and 1974.
- What was Bobby Valentine's career batting average?
- Bobby Valentine batted .260 over his career, with 441 hits in 1,698 at bats.
- How many RBI did Bobby Valentine have?
- Bobby Valentine drove in 157 runs in his career.
- Is Bobby Valentine in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Bobby Valentine has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.