Chris Widger
Born: 5/21/1971 in Wilmington, DE, USA
MLB Debut: 1995-06-23 | Final Game: 2006-09-15
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 195 lbs
Full name: Christopher Jon Widger
Biography
Chris Widger was a professional baseball player who played as a position player from 1995 to 2006. Born in 1971, he made his Major League Baseball debut on June 23, 1995, and concluded his playing career on September 15, 2006. Over the course of his career, Widger appeared in 613 games, accumulating 435 hits, 55 home runs, and 222 runs batted in, while maintaining a batting average of .238. Known for his solid defensive skills behind the plate, he primarily played as a catcher, contributing to the teams he played for with both his bat and glove.
Widger played during a transitional period in baseball, where offensive production was becoming increasingly emphasized. His career included stints with several teams, showcasing his versatility and adaptability as a player. In addition to his offensive contributions, he was recognized for his ability to manage pitchers and handle a variety of game situations, which made him a valuable asset to his teams. Widger's journey through the major leagues reflects the experiences of many players who navigated the competitive landscape of baseball during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 613 | 1826 | 180 | 435 | 104 | 7 | 55 | 222 | 10 | 141 | 384 | 0.238 | 0.296 | 0.393 | 0.689 | -3144.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | SEA | AL | 23 | 45 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1996 | SEA | AL | 8 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0.182 | 0.0 |
| 1997 | WSN | NL | 91 | 278 | 30 | 65 | 20 | 3 | 7 | 37 | 2 | 22 | 59 | 0.234 | -540.3 |
| 1998 | WSN | NL | 125 | 417 | 36 | 97 | 18 | 1 | 15 | 53 | 6 | 29 | 85 | 0.233 | -1053.2 |
| 1999 | WSN | NL | 124 | 383 | 42 | 101 | 24 | 1 | 14 | 56 | 1 | 28 | 86 | 0.264 | -168.4 |
| 2000 | WSN | NL | 86 | 281 | 31 | 67 | 17 | 2 | 12 | 34 | 1 | 29 | 61 | 0.238 | -269.8 |
| 2000 | SEA | AL | 10 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.091 | -269.8 |
| 2002 | NYY | AL | 21 | 64 | 4 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0.297 | -44.4 |
| 2003 | STL | NL | 44 | 102 | 9 | 24 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 20 | 0.235 | -394.5 |
| 2005 | CHW | AL | 45 | 141 | 18 | 34 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 22 | 0.241 | -239.8 |
| 2006 | BAL | AL | 9 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0.118 | 0.0 |
| 2006 | CHW | AL | 27 | 76 | 6 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 20 | 0.184 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | WS | CHA | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0.000 |
| 1995 | ALDS2 | SEA | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.000 |
| 1995 | ALCS | SEA | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 4 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 3B | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| C | 574 | 506 | 3205 | 238 | 52 | 28 |
| OF | 5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | SEA | C | 19 | 9 | 61 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | SEA | OF | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | SEA | C | 7 | 2 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1997 | MON | C | 85 | 78 | 516 | 40 | 11 | 2 |
| 1998 | MON | C | 123 | 118 | 752 | 64 | 14 | 12 |
| 1999 | MON | C | 117 | 105 | 662 | 54 | 6 | 6 |
| 2000 | MON | C | 85 | 80 | 503 | 38 | 8 | 4 |
| 2000 | SEA | C | 6 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | SEA | 1B | 2 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2000 | SEA | OF | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | NYA | C | 21 | 18 | 111 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| 2003 | SLN | C | 41 | 32 | 185 | 14 | 1 | 1 |
| 2003 | SLN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | SLN | OF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | CHA | C | 42 | 38 | 252 | 12 | 5 | 1 |
| 2005 | CHA | 1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | CHA | 3B | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | BAL | C | 6 | 5 | 32 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 2006 | CHA | C | 22 | 21 | 102 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 574 |
| First Base | 4 |
| Third Base | 1 |
| Left Field | 2 |
| Right Field | 3 |
| Designated Hitter | 9 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | CHA | AL | $650,000 |
| 2005 | CHA | AL | $500,000 |
| 2001 | SEA | AL | $1,700,000 |
| 2000 | MON | NL | $1,350,000 |
| 1999 | MON | NL | $900,000 |
| 1998 | MON | NL | $350,000 |
| 1997 | MON | NL | $152,500 |
| 1995 | SEA | AL | $109,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $5,711,500 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Mason University | Fairfax | VA | 1990, 1991, 1992 |