Pat Putnam

Pat Putnam
First baseman
Born:(1953-12-03)December 3, 1953 Bethel, Vermont,U.S.
Batted:Left Threw:Right
MLB debut
September 2, 1977, for the Texas Rangers
Last MLB appearance
September 20, 1984, for the Minnesota Twins
MLB statistics
Batting average	.255
Home runs	63
Runs batted in	255
NPB statistics
Batting average	.266
Home runs	37
Runs batted in	121
Teams
Texas Rangers(1977–1982) Seattle Mariners(1983–1984) Minnesota Twins(1984) Nippon-Ham Fighters(1986–1987)

Patrick Edward Putnam(born December 3, 1953) is an American former professionalbaseballfirst baseman,who played inMajor League Baseball(MLB) for theTexas Rangers,Seattle Mariners,andMinnesota Twins.Putnam also played for theNippon-Ham FightersofNippon Professional Baseball(NPB).

Career

Amateur

Putnam attendedFort Myers Senior High Schoolthen theUniversity of South Alabama.In 1973, he playedcollegiate summer baseballwith theOrleans Cardinalsof theCape Cod Baseball League.

Texas Rangers

Putnam was selected by theTexas Rangersin the first round of the1975 Major League Baseball draft.He had been drafted a year earlier by theNew York Mets,but did not sign. Putnam batted only.242 hisfirst professional seasonin the Rangers' farm system; however, hisbatting averagejumped to.361 with 24home runsin1976.After batting.301 with 15 home runs and 102runs batted infor the Triple ATucson Torosin1977,Putnam made his Major League debut as thedesignated hitterbatting fourth against theBoston Red Soxon September 2.

Putnam again tore up thePCLwith Tucson in1978,batting.309 with 21 home runs and 96 RBIs. He had only two RBIs with the Rangers that season; however, they were both significant. He managed to drive in the only run in their 1-0 victory over theSeattle Marinerson September 22,and two days later, in the Rangers' 5-3 victory atArlington Stadiumover the Mariners, Putnam hit his first major league home run.

Putnam mostly appeared in the line-up as a designated hitter until May 28,1979,when regular Rangersfirst basemanMike Jorgensenwashit in the headby a pitch fromBoston Red SoxpitcherAndy Hassler.Putnam took over as the Rangers' regular first baseman for the next month. Putnam made the most of the opportunity and batted.277 with 18 home runs and 64 RBIs to finish fourth inRookie of the Yearballoting.

Putnam failed to live up to his early promise, and in1982found himself back in the minors with theDenver Bearsof theAmerican Association.During the off-season, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners forRon Musselman.

Final seasons

After a season and a half in Seattle, Putnam was traded to theMinnesota Twinson August 29,1984.He signed a minor league contract with theKansas City Royalsin1985,and spent the entire season with their triple A affiliate, theOmaha Royals.He played two seasons in Japan for theNippon-Ham Fightersin1986and1987before retiring.

External links

• Career statistics and player information fromMLB,orESPN,orBaseball Reference,orFangraphs,orBaseball Reference (Minors)