Rich Butler, baseball player, 1997-1999

Rich Butler

Born: 5/1/1973 in Toronto, ON, CAN

MLB Debut: 1997-09-06 | Final Game: 1999-08-04

Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 180 lbs

Full name: Richard Dwight Butler

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Biography

Rich Butler, born in 1973, was a professional baseball player who played as a position player in Major League Baseball from 1997 until his final game on August 4, 1999. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 86 games, showcasing his abilities primarily as an outfielder. Butler finished his career with a batting average of .223, accumulating 56 hits, 7 home runs, and 22 RBIs. Known for his speed on the bases, he also recorded 4 stolen bases during his time in the league. Butler's career unfolded during a transitional period in baseball, marked by the gradual shift towards more power-hitting players and an evolving game style. While he may not have reached the heights of some of his contemporaries, his contributions to the teams he played for reflected the grit and determination characteristic of players striving to make their mark in a competitive era. His time in the majors, though brief, adds to the rich tapestry of baseball history, illustrating the journey of players who contributed to their teams in various capacities.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
86 251 30 56 5 3 7 22 4 19 44 0.223 0.280 0.351 0.631 -661.4

Career AVG .223 vs. league average .268 across their career seasons — 16.8% below league average.

Career OBP .280 vs. league average .339 across their career seasons — 17.4% below league average.

Career SLG .351 vs. league average .425 across their career seasons — 17.4% below league average.

Career OPS 0.631 vs. league average 0.763 across their career seasons — 17.4% below 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
1997 TOR AL 7 14 3 4 1 0 0 2 0 2 3 0.286 — — — — 0.0
1998 TBR AL 72 217 25 49 3 3 7 20 4 15 37 0.226 .266 (-15%) .335 (-17%) .420 (-13%) .755 (-15%) -661.4
1999 TBR AL 7 20 2 3 1 0 0 0 0 2 4 0.150 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
OF 70 64 126 4 0 1

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1997 TOR OF 3 3 5 0 0 0
1998 TBA OF 61 56 113 4 0 1
1999 TBA OF 6 5 8 0 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Left Field 44
Right Field 26
Designated Hitter 1

Salary History

Year Team League Salary
1999 TBA AL $215,000
1998 TBA AL $170,000
Total Career Earnings $385,000