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13. Bert Campaneris

13. Bert Campaneris
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: March 9, 1942 in Pueblo Nuevo, Cuba
  • Weight: 160 lbs.
  • Height: 5'10"
  • Bats: R
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: July 23, 1964
  • Final Game: October 01, 1983
  • Babe Ruth Award - 1973
  • TSN All-Star - 1973
  • TSN All-Star - 1974
  • MVP - 1965
  • MVP - 1966
  • MVP - 1968
  • MVP - 1970
  • MVP - 1972
  • MVP - 1973
  • MVP - 1974
  • MVP - 1975
 
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Bert Campaneris made his debut with the Kansas City Athletics in 1964, and he would secure the starting Shortstop role for the team, which would be a role he had until he signed with the Texas Rangers after the 1976 season.

Campaneris’ calling card was his speed and defensive ability.  A five-time All-Star with the A’s, “Campy” would lead the American League six times in Stolen Bases and once in Triples.  In terms of his base stealing, he was also very intelligent with his selection as he also led the AL twice in Stolen Base Percentage and was in the top five on six occasions.

While he never won a Gold Glove, Campaneris did have eight seasons with Kansas City/Oakland, where he was in the top ten in Defensive bWAR.  He wasn’t the best in terms of On Base Percentage, but he did lead the AL in Hits in 1968 and accumulated 1,882 overall for the franchise.

Campaneris was arguably the first building block that Charlie O. Finley had that would lead to the three-peat Oakland World Series dynasty (1972-74).  He would also have eight years where he received at least a vote for the MVP, and he would finish as high as 10th in 1966.  He would also notably in 1965 become the first player to play all nine positions in a game.  That alone shows how versatile he was a baseball player.

In 2019, the Athletics inducted Campeneris into their franchise Hall of Fame.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Short Stop
  • Acquired: Signed as an Amateur Free Agent 4/25/61.
  • Departed: Signed as a Free Agent by the Texas Rangers 11/17/76.
  • Games Played: 1795
  • Notable Statistics: 983 Runs Scored
    1,882 Hits
    270 Doubles
    70 Triples
    70 Home Runs
    529 Runs Batted In
    566 Stolen Bases
    .262/.314/.348 Slash Line
    49.1 bWAR

    36 Playoff Games
    15 Runs Scored
    35 Hits
    4 Doubles
    1 Triple
    3 Home Runs
    11 Runs Batted In
    10 Stolen Bases
    .243/.290/.347 Slash Line
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    World Series Champion (1972, 1973 & 1974)
    All-Star (1968, 1972, 1973, 1974 & 1975)
    Babe Ruth Award (1973)
    Most At Bats (1968 & 1972)
    Most Plate Appearances (1968 & 1972)
    Most Hits (1968)
    Most Triples (1965)
    Most Stolen Bases (1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970 & 1972)
    Most Times Hit By Pitch (1965)
    Most Sacrifice Hits (1972)
    Highest Stolen Base Percentage (1966 & 1969)
    Most Outs Made (1972)
    Most Putouts by a Shortstop (1967, 1968 & 1972)

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