1969 American League Batting Leaders

Rod Carew, Twins .332... Tony Oliva, Twins .309... Reggie Smith, Red Sox .309... Frank Robinson, Orioles .308... Boog Powell, Orioles .304... Walt Williams, White Sox .304... Rico Petrocelli, Red Sox .297... Frank Howard, Wash Senators .296

Jim Northrup, Tigers .295... Mike Andrews, Red Sox .293... Don Buford, Orioles .291... Roy White, Yankees .290... Cesar Tovar, Twins .288... Mark Belanger, Orioles .287... Del Unser, Senators .286... Paul Blair, Orioles .285... Horace Clarke, Yankees .285

=================================== =========================

Veteran Player Profiles:

* Willie Horton, Detroit Tigers Outfielder RH - a seven-year major league veteran by the end of the '60s... one of the American League's strongest hitters, the 5ft, 10inch, 200-pounder hit 29, 27, 19, 36 and 28 home runs from 1965 thru 1969... he led the Tigers' team in homers in '69 with 28 and in RBIs with 91... twice the popular slugger drove in 100 or more runs - 104 in 1965 and 100 in '66.

* Jay Johnstone, California Angels Outfielder, Bats LH, T RH - one of baseball all-times flakes, the fun-loving outfielder broke into the majors with the Angels in 1966 hitting .264 in 61 games. Originally a switch-hitter he stopped batting right-handed while still in the minors. In 1969 he led the Angels' team in batting average with .270 and hit 20 doubles, 5 triples and 10 homers, with 59 RBIs.

* Dalton Jones, Boston Red Sox, 3B/2B/1B - a fine athlete, the 6ft, 1inch - 180-pounder finished his 6th season in Fenway... he was brought up from the minors by the Red Sox in 1964 and in 118 games batted .230 with 16Ds, 4Ts, 6Hr, and stole 6 bases. James Dolton Jones hit .270 in '65 and a career-best .289 in '67.

* Tom Matchick, Detroit Tigers SS/2B/3B/1B, Bats LH, T RH - a fine athlete, the good guy played in the minors from 1962 until he was brought up by Detroit in late '67... he hit .208 with 6Ds, 2Ts, 3Hr and scored 18 runs in '68... in 1969, John Thomas Matchick played in 94 games, hit .242 and powered 11 doubles and had 32 RBIs. He was traded to Boston in Dec of '69 for infielder Dalton Jones.

* Duane B. (Duke) Sims, Cleveland Indians Catcher/1B/OF, Bats LH, T RH a six year major league veteran, all with the Cleveland Indians by the time the 1969 ended... Duke Sims Showed flashes of power and was a fine backstop... in 1968 he whacked 21 doubles and 11 homers... in '69 he blasted 18 home runs, 45 RBIs in 114 games.

* Jim French, Washington Senators Catcher, Bats LH, T RH - broke into professional ball in 1963 with Wisconsin Rapids of the Midwest League... played 13 games with the Senators in '65... in '68, James Richard French hit .194 in 165 at-bats and in '69 he batted .184 with 6 doubles, 3 triples, 2 homers in 158 at-bats, 63 games. Rates high as defensive catcher.

* Elrod 'Ellie' Hendricks, Baltimore Orioles Catcher/1B, Bats LH, T RH - born in Charlotte Amalie in the Virgin Islands he played seven years in the minors before joining the Orioles in 1968... the likeable, 6ft, 1inch - 175-pound catcher played three games in the '69 ALCS, and collected 2-hits, both doubles, in 8 at-bats. In 109 games during the regular season of 1969, Ellie Hendricks hit .244 with 12 homers and 38 RBIs.

* George Mitterwald, Minnesota Twins Catcher, RH - broke into professional ball with Wisconsin Rapids of the Midwest League in 1965... debuted with Minnesota in 1968 and played 11 games... was fortunate to have played in the 1969 ALCS with the Twins... after playing in 69 games during the regular season in which he hit .257 in 187 at-bats, the 6ft, 2inch, 200-pounder went 1-for-7 in two games in ALCS.

* Curt Motton, Baltimore Orioles Outfielder, RH - born in Darrell, LA, scouts rated high-speed, fine fielder all thru his minor league years - 1962-1967... after hitting a robust .323 with Rochester in '67, he was brought up to Baltimore in late-'67. For the Orioles in 1968, Curt Motton hit .198 in 217 at-bats... He rebounded nicely in 1969, hitting a nice .303 in 56 games.

* Joe Foy, Kansas City Royals IF/OF, RH - born in the Bronx, NY... he broke into pro ball with Erie as a 19-year old back in '62... played first three major league seasons with the Red Sox - 1966-68 and averaged 20 doubles and 14 homers... was selected by Royals in AL expansion draft of Oct of '68. The fleet-footed outfielder led the Royals' team with 71 RBIs in '69 while batting .262. A fine base-runner Joe Foy stole 26 bases in '68 and 37 in '69. In the 1967 World Series with the Red Sox, Foy collected 2-hits in 15 at-bats and had one RBI.

* Davey Johnson, Baltimore Orioles 2B/SS, RH - an excellent all-around player, the All-Star second baseman debuted with Baltimore in late-1965... rates as one of the league's top clutch-hitters... in 1969 Davey Johnson hit a solid .280, lined 34 doubles, 7 homers, had 57 RBIs in 142 games.

* Tommy McCraw, Chicago White Sox 1B/OF, LH - a speedy base runner with pop in his bat... he broke into the majors with the White Sox in 1963... one of Chicago's most popular stars, Tommy McCraw stole 20, 24 and 20 bases from '66-'68 and averaged around 15 doubles in his first eight full season with the ChicSox. In '68 he hit .235, 16Ds, 12 triples and 9 homers and scored 51 runs.

For more news of 1969 or whatever year you're looking for, simply type in 1969 into our 'Search' located on the lower left-side of our Home Page.

For complete stats of all baseball players, please see Players section on the upper left-side of our home page

For loads of fun reading, type in Yankees, Cardinals, Pirates, Red Sox, Cubs or all other teams in our Search on the lower left-side of our home page  

baseballhistorian.com - The Keeper of The History of Baseball