Bobby Valentine
Born: 5/13/1950 in Stamford, CT, USA
MLB Debut: 1969-09-02 | Final Game: 1979-09-30
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 189 lbs
Full name: Robert John Valentine
Biography
Bobby Valentine was a versatile position player whose Major League Baseball career spanned from 1969 to 1979. Born in 1950, Valentine played a total of 639 games, accumulating 441 hits and finishing his career with a batting average of .260. He demonstrated a well-rounded offensive game, contributing 12 home runs and 157 RBIs, along with 27 stolen bases, which underscored his speed and base-running acumen.
Valentine's playing style was characterized by his adaptability on the field, allowing him to take on various positions as needed. His career unfolded during a time when baseball was experiencing significant changes, including the transition from the deadball era to a more offensively-focused game. After retiring as a player, Valentine became a notable figure in baseball as a manager and commentator, further solidifying his impact on the sport beyond his playing days.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 639 | 1698 | 176 | 441 | 59 | 9 | 12 | 157 | 27 | 140 | 134 | 0.260 | 0.315 | 0.326 | 0.641 | -2236.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | LAD | NL | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1971 | LAD | NL | 101 | 281 | 32 | 70 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 0.249 | -695.5 |
| 1972 | LAD | NL | 119 | 391 | 42 | 107 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 32 | 5 | 27 | 33 | 0.274 | -129.6 |
| 1973 | LAA | AL | 32 | 126 | 12 | 38 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 0.302 | 0.5 |
| 1974 | LAA | AL | 117 | 371 | 39 | 97 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 39 | 8 | 25 | 25 | 0.261 | -624.0 |
| 1975 | LAA | AL | 26 | 57 | 5 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0.281 | -95.9 |
| 1975 | SDP | NL | 7 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0.133 | -95.9 |
| 1976 | SDP | NL | 15 | 49 | 3 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0.367 | 250.9 |
| 1977 | NYN | NL | 42 | 83 | 8 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 0.133 | -703.0 |
| 1977 | SDP | NL | 44 | 67 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 0.179 | -703.0 |
| 1978 | NYN | NL | 69 | 160 | 17 | 43 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 1 | 19 | 18 | 0.269 | -44.1 |
| 1979 | SEA | AL | 62 | 98 | 9 | 27 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 22 | 5 | 0.276 | 143.9 |
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 | SS | 37 | 22 | 43 | 80 | 5 | 17 |
| 1971 | LAN | OF | 11 | 9 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1972 | LAN | 2B | 49 | 43 | 110 | 132 | 6 | 28 |
| 1972 | LAN | 3B | 39 | 38 | 20 | 81 | 14 | 4 |
| 1972 | LAN | SS | 10 | 10 | 23 | 32 | 3 | 6 |
| 1972 | LAN | OF | 16 | 8 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973 | CAL | SS | 25 | 25 | 38 | 72 | 6 | 11 |
| 1973 | CAL | OF | 8 | 7 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974 | CAL | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974 | CAL | 3B | 15 | 15 | 5 | 32 | 5 | 4 |
| 1974 | CAL | SS | 36 | 22 | 42 | 82 | 6 | 6 |
| 1974 | CAL | OF | 62 | 59 | 113 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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 |
| 1978 | NYN | 2B | 45 | 33 | 76 | 92 | 4 | 13 |
| 1978 | NYN | 3B | 9 | 7 | 2 | 17 | 2 | 0 |
| 1979 | SEA | C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | SEA | 2B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | SEA | 3B | 4 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 2 |
| 1979 | SEA | SS | 29 | 7 | 11 | 23 | 1 | 3 |
| 1979 | SEA | OF | 15 | 12 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by 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 |