Al Bumbry, baseball player, 1972-1985

Al Bumbry

Born: 4/21/1947 in Fredericksburg, VA, USA

MLB Debut: 1972-09-05 | Final Game: 1985-10-05

Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'8" | Weight: 170 lbs

Full name: Alonza Benjamin Bumbry

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Biography

Al Bumbry, born in 1947, was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball who made a significant impact during his career from 1972 to 1985. Known for his speed and defensive skills, Bumbry played primarily for the Baltimore Orioles, where he showcased his talent as both a reliable hitter and an exceptional base runner. Over the course of 1,496 games, he recorded 1,422 hits with a career batting average of .281, while also contributing 54 home runs and 402 RBIs. His ability to steal bases was particularly notable, as he finished his career with 254 stolen bases, demonstrating his prowess on the base paths during an era that valued speed and athleticism. Bumbry's career included a memorable All-Star selection, reflecting his status as one of the premier players of his time. He played a crucial role in the Orioles' success during the 1970s and early 1980s, contributing to their championship aspirations. His blend of offensive and defensive capabilities made him a key figure in the Orioles' lineup, and his legacy is remembered by fans and historians alike as one of the influential players of his generation. As a product of the post-Deadball Era, Bumbry's style of play helped bridge the gap between traditional baseball tactics and the evolving strategies of the modern game.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
1496 5053 778 1422 220 52 54 402 254 471 709 0.281 0.343 0.378 0.721 2267.3

Career AVG .281 vs. league average .259 across their career seasons — +8.8% above league average.

Career OBP .343 vs. league average .324 across their career seasons — +6.0% above league average.

Career SLG .378 vs. league average .381 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS 0.721 vs. league average 0.705 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
1972 BAL AL 9 11 5 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0.364 — — — — 0.0
1973 BAL AL 110 356 73 120 15 11 7 34 23 34 49 0.337 .256 (+31%) .325 (+23%) .378 (+32%) .703 (+28%) 1825.4
1974 BAL AL 94 270 35 63 10 3 1 19 12 21 46 0.233 .256 (-9%) .324 (-11%) .369 (-18%) .693 (-15%) -751.6
1975 BAL AL 114 349 47 94 19 4 2 32 16 32 81 0.269 .257 (+5%) .327 (+3%) .374 (-3%) .701 (avg) -5.7
1976 BAL AL 133 450 71 113 15 7 9 36 42 43 76 0.251 .255 (-2%) .320 (-1%) .360 (+4%) .681 (+2%) 84.3
1977 BAL AL 133 518 74 164 31 3 4 41 19 45 88 0.317 .264 (+20%) .329 (+13%) .401 (+3%) .730 (+7%) 815.4
1978 BAL AL 33 114 21 27 5 2 2 6 5 17 15 0.237 .257 (-8%) .323 (+7%) .378 (-3%) .702 (+2%) 76.5
1979 BAL AL 148 569 80 162 29 1 7 49 37 43 74 0.285 .265 (+7%) .329 (+2%) .397 (-5%) .727 (-2%) -199.8
1980 BAL AL 160 645 118 205 29 9 9 53 44 78 75 0.318 .264 (+20%) .326 (+20%) .387 (+12%) .714 (+16%) 2305.2
1981 BAL AL 101 392 61 107 18 2 1 27 22 51 51 0.273 .255 (+7%) .320 (+12%) .368 (-9%) .688 (+1%) 251.8
1982 BAL AL 150 562 77 147 20 4 5 40 10 44 77 0.262 .261 (avg) .324 (-3%) .388 (-13%) .712 (-8%) -914.1
1983 BAL AL 124 378 63 104 14 4 3 31 12 31 33 0.275 .260 (+5%) .324 (+1%) .389 (-8%) .714 (-4%) -289.3
1984 BAL AL 119 344 47 93 12 1 3 24 9 25 35 0.270 .259 (+4%) .322 (-2%) .384 (-12%) .707 (-8%) -474.3
1985 SDP NL 68 95 6 19 3 0 1 10 2 7 9 0.200 .257 (-22%) .323 (-21%) .390 (-33%) .714 (-27%) -456.4

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
22 64 9 9 2 1 0 3 8 10 0.141

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1983 ALCS BAL 3 8 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 0.125
1983 WS BAL 4 11 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0.091
1979 ALCS BAL 4 16 5 4 0 1 0 0 4 3 0.250
1979 WS BAL 7 21 3 3 0 0 0 1 2 1 0.143
1974 ALCS BAL 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.000
1973 ALCS BAL 2 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0.000

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
OF 1241 1140 2975 68 44 10

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1972 BAL OF 2 2 4 0 0 0
1973 BAL OF 86 82 134 2 3 0
1974 BAL OF 67 65 115 7 6 0
1975 BAL OF 39 35 70 2 0 1
1976 BAL OF 116 106 251 9 3 2
1977 BAL OF 130 122 329 7 3 0
1978 BAL OF 28 28 62 2 1 0
1979 BAL OF 146 127 367 7 7 1
1980 BAL OF 160 155 488 7 5 1
1981 BAL OF 100 97 255 6 2 2
1982 BAL OF 147 130 404 9 6 1
1983 BAL OF 104 95 235 3 3 1
1984 BAL OF 99 86 230 7 3 1
1985 SDN OF 17 10 31 0 2 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Left Field 392
Center Field 927
Right Field 33
Designated Hitter 103

Awards & Honors

Year Award Notes
2024 Bob Feller Act of Valor Award - Patriot Award
1980 Player of the Week Week of 1980-05-23
1980 TSN All-Star OF
1973 Rookie of the Year
1973 TSN Rookie Player of the Year

Salary History

Year Team League Salary
1985 SDN NL $160,000
Total Career Earnings $160,000

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
Virginia State University Petersburg VA 1966, 1967, 1968

Award Voting History

Year Award League Finish Points Won Points Max Votes First
1980 Most Valuable Player AL 13th 27.0 392 0
1973 Rookie of the Year AL 1st 13.0 24 13