Larry Biittner

Born: 7/27/1946 in Pocahontas, IA, USA

Died: 1/2/2022 in Pocahontas, IA, USA

MLB Debut: 1970-07-17 | Final Game: 1983-09-29

Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 205 lbs

Full name: Lawrence David Biittner

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Biography

Larry Biittner, born in 1946, was an accomplished professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1970 until his retirement in 1983. Known for his versatility as a position player, Biittner played in a total of 1,217 games throughout his career. He showcased a reliable batting ability, finishing with a career batting average of .273, accumulating 861 hits and 29 home runs. His offensive contributions were complemented by 354 runs batted in (RBIs) and 10 stolen bases, illustrating his capability to both drive in runs and take advantage of opportunities on the base paths. Biittner's career unfolded during a transformative era in baseball, characterized by the increasing emphasis on offensive production and the evolution of player roles. He played for several teams, including the Chicago Cubs, where he became a fan favorite for his consistent performance and work ethic. As a reliable hitter and a presence in the clubhouse, Biittner left a lasting impression on teammates and fans alike, contributing to the rich tapestry of baseball history during the late 20th century. His legacy is remembered as a testament to the dedication and skill required to succeed in America’s pastime.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
1217	3151	310	861	144	20	29	354	10	236	287	0.273	0.324	0.359	0.683	-1379.4

Career AVG .273 vs. league average .258 across their career seasons — +6.0% above league average.

Career OBP .324 vs. league average .324 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .359 vs. league average .379 across their career seasons — 5.3% below league average.

Career OPS 0.683 vs. league average 0.703 across their career seasons — near league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1970	WS2	AL	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.000	—	—	—	—	0.0
1971	WS2	AL	66	171	12	44	4	1	0	16	1	16	20	0.257	.249 (+3%)	.316 (+2%)	.365 (-20%)	.682 (-10%)	-242.9
1972	TEX	AL	137	382	34	99	18	1	3	31	1	29	37	0.259	.243 (+6%)	.310 (+1%)	.353 (-5%)	.664 (-3%)	-188.2
1973	TEX	AL	83	258	19	65	8	2	1	12	1	20	21	0.252	.256 (-2%)	.325 (-6%)	.378 (-18%)	.703 (-12%)	-557.3
1974	WSN	NL	18	26	2	7	1	0	0	3	0	0	2	0.269	—	—	—	—	0.0
1975	WSN	NL	121	346	34	109	13	5	3	28	2	34	33	0.315	.257 (+22%)	.327 (+15%)	.374 (+9%)	.701 (+12%)	825.7
1976	WSN	NL	11	32	2	6	1	0	0	1	0	0	3	0.188	—	—	—	—	0.0
1976	CHC	NL	78	192	21	47	13	1	0	17	0	10	6	0.245	.255 (-4%)	.320 (-11%)	.360 (-11%)	.681 (-11%)	0.0
1977	CHC	NL	138	493	74	147	28	1	12	62	2	35	36	0.298	.264 (+13%)	.329 (+5%)	.401 (+8%)	.730 (+6%)	615.3
1978	CHC	NL	120	343	32	88	15	1	4	50	0	23	37	0.257	.257 (-1%)	.323 (-7%)	.378 (-10%)	.702 (-9%)	-624.0
1979	CHC	NL	111	272	35	79	13	3	3	50	1	21	23	0.290	.265 (+9%)	.329 (+3%)	.397 (-1%)	.727 (+1%)	25.4
1980	CHC	NL	127	273	21	68	12	2	1	34	1	18	33	0.249	.264 (-6%)	.326 (-10%)	.387 (-18%)	.714 (-14%)	-803.2
1981	CIN	NL	42	61	1	13	4	0	0	8	0	4	4	0.213	.255 (-17%)	.320 (-20%)	.368 (-24%)	.688 (-22%)	-236.0
1982	CIN	NL	97	184	18	57	9	2	2	24	1	17	16	0.310	.261 (+19%)	.324 (+14%)	.388 (+6%)	.712 (+10%)	352.3
1983	TEX	AL	66	116	5	32	5	1	0	18	0	9	16	0.276	.260 (+6%)	.324 (-1%)	.389 (-14%)	.714 (-8%)	-163.1

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1.3	5	6	3	1	3	40.50	0

Career ERA 40.50 vs. league average 4.00 across their career seasons — 912.7% worse than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year	Team	Lg	W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	ERA	Lg ERA	Pitcher PIV
1977	CHC	NL	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1.3	5	6	1	3	40.50	—	-

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1B	381	272	2866	269	33	242
OF	490	437	757	41	25	6
P	1	0	0	0	0	0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1971	WS2	1B	3	1	11	1	1	1
1971	WS2	OF	41	40	72	6	5	0
1972	TEX	1B	65	42	410	36	4	36
1972	TEX	OF	65	56	93	5	4	1
1973	TEX	1B	20	15	143	14	0	16
1973	TEX	OF	57	52	91	6	2	1
1974	MON	OF	4	3	7	1	0	0
1975	MON	OF	93	86	166	8	5	0
1976	MON	OF	7	7	17	1	1	0
1976	CHN	1B	33	24	232	33	4	20
1976	CHN	OF	24	18	34	1	0	0
1977	CHN	1B	80	64	713	64	10	50
1977	CHN	OF	52	48	79	1	1	1
1977	CHN	P	1	0	0	0	0	0
1978	CHN	1B	62	50	554	52	8	53
1978	CHN	OF	29	25	47	1	1	0
1979	CHN	1B	32	22	236	20	2	24
1979	CHN	OF	44	36	46	3	4	0
1980	CHN	1B	41	24	250	19	1	14
1980	CHN	OF	38	33	55	4	1	2
1981	CIN	1B	8	4	53	3	0	2
1981	CIN	OF	3	3	4	2	0	1
1982	CIN	1B	15	12	128	12	1	13
1982	CIN	OF	31	28	42	2	1	0
1983	TEX	1B	22	14	136	15	2	13
1983	TEX	OF	2	2	4	0	0	0