Richard Larry Green(born April 21, 1941) is an American former professional baseball player.[1]He played as asecond basemaninMajor League Baseballfrom1963through1974,playing for the Kansas City andOakland Athletics.Green played on the "Swingin' A's"dynasty that won three consecutiveWorld Serieschampionships between 1972 and 1974.[1]
| Dick Green | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Second baseman | |
| Born:April 21, 1941 Sioux City, Iowa,U.S. | |
Batted:Right Threw:Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 9, 1963, for the Kansas City Athletics | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 2, 1974, for the Oakland Athletics | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .240 |
| Home runs | 80 |
| Runs batted in | 422 |
| StatsatBaseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Early years
editBorn inSioux City, Iowa,Green was raised in Yankton and Mitchell, South Dakota, where his ability as a baseball player was first noted.[2]
Professional career
editAn outstanding high school quarterback, Green was offered a scholarship by Michigan State University, but did not attend college, and was signed by theKansas City Athleticsbefore the1960season as an amateurfree agent.Green spent a few seasons in the minor leagues before being called up on September 9, 1963. Green played minimally in 13 games, but did pick up 10hits,including his first major leaguehome run.
In1964,his first full year in themajors,Green played 130 games, with 115hits,11 of them beinghome runsand posted a.264batting average.He also committed just six errors atsecond baseand finished the season with a.990fielding percentage.The following season, Green finished with abatting averageof.232 and 110hitsin 133 games.
In1966,Green improved, hitting.250, slapping in 127hitsin 140 games, and also knocked in 62 runs. However, Green struggled the following season. With 69hitsin 122 games, Green coupled his.198batting averagewith 5home runsand 37RBIs.
After the season, theKansas City Athleticsfranchise moved toOakland.Green posted better numbers the following two seasons with theOakland Athleticsand had a career year in1969when he finished the season with a.275average,12home runs,64RBIs,and 61runs scored.
Green was a member of the1972–1974World Serieschampionship teams, and won theBabe Ruth Awardfor his performance in 1974.[3][4]He won the award for his fielding, despite not getting a single hit during the World Series, going 0-for-13.[3][4]Green tied a World Series record in game three by starting threedouble playsin one game.[4][5]He started the first two by catchingline drives,and the third was aground balldouble play to end the game.[4]In game four, Green also started a game-ending double play.[4]In the eighth inning of the clinching game five, Green made a perfect relay throw to getBill Buckner,representing the tying run, out at third base.[4]The six double plays Green participated in during the 1974 World Series tied the record for most defensive double plays in a five-game series.[4]
Before the1975season, Green was released by the A's but decided to retire to run the family moving business, thus ending his 12-year career in the majors. He finished his career with a.240 lifetimebatting average,960hits,80home runs,422RBIsand 427runs scored.
On September 19, 2009, another rare South Dakota Major Leaguer--Mark Ellispassed Green for the franchise record for homers by a second baseman with his 77th home run playing second base for the A's.[6]
In 2018, he was named to the Oakland Athletics' 50th anniversary All-Time Team.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ab"Dick Green statistics".Baseball-Reference.com.RetrievedNovember 19,2019.
- ^Buskirk, Frank (March 8, 1967)."Dark says A's Dick Green just reaching his maturity".Sarasota Herald.(Florida). p. 19.
- ^abBock, Hal (February 3, 1975)."Brock Man of Year".Reading Eagle.(Pennsylvania).RetrievedSeptember 27,2011.
- ^abcdefgMarkusen, B. (1998).Baseball's Last Dynasty: Charlie Finley's Oakland A's.Masters Press. pp.334–340.ISBN978-1-57028-188-4.
- ^"Green is Hopeful of Quick Series".Spokane Daily Chronicle.Associated Press. October 17, 1974. p. 37.RetrievedNovember 8,2011.
- ^"Cleveland Indians vs. Oakland Athletics".CNN.Archived fromthe originalon July 30, 2012.
- 1972 Baseball Register published byThe Sporting News
External links
edit- Career statistics fromBaseball Reference