Julio Cruz

Born: 12/2/1954 in Brooklyn, NY, USA

Died: 2/22/2022 in Redmond, WA, USA

MLB Debut: 1977-07-04 | Final Game: 1986-08-31

Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 165 lbs

Full name: Julio Louis Cruz

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Biography

Julio Cruz, born in 1954, was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball from 1977 until his retirement in 1986. Known for his speed on the bases, Cruz became one of the era's most effective base stealers, finishing his career with 343 stolen bases. He played a total of 1,156 games, during which he recorded 916 hits, 23 home runs, and 279 RBIs, culminating in a batting average of .237. Cruz's ability to disrupt opposing pitchers and defenses with his agility made him a valuable asset to the teams he played for, particularly during a time when the game increasingly emphasized speed and small ball tactics. Cruz's professional journey began in an era that was evolving with the introduction of more dynamic playing styles, moving away from the traditional power-hitting focus. His contributions were particularly felt during his stints with the Seattle Mariners and the Chicago White Sox, where he became a fan favorite for his tenacity and hustle on the field. Despite not being known for his power hitting, Cruz's overall impact on the game was significant, as he exemplified the importance of speed and versatility in baseball during the late 70s and 80s. His legacy endures in the annals of the game, marking him as an influential figure in the history of base running and team play.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
1156	3859	557	916	113	27	23	279	343	478	508	0.237	0.321	0.299	0.620	-8229.8

Career AVG .237 vs. league average .261 across their career seasons — 8.9% below league average.

Career OBP .321 vs. league average .325 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .299 vs. league average .389 across their career seasons — 23.2% below league average.

Career OPS 0.620 vs. league average 0.714 across their career seasons — 13.2% 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
1977	SEA	AL	60	199	25	51	3	1	1	7	15	24	29	0.256	.264 (-3%)	.329 (+2%)	.401 (-26%)	.730 (-13%)	-378.9
1978	SEA	AL	147	550	77	129	14	1	1	25	59	69	66	0.235	.257 (-9%)	.323 (-1%)	.378 (-29%)	.702 (-16%)	-1515.2
1979	SEA	AL	107	414	70	112	16	2	1	29	49	62	61	0.271	.265 (+2%)	.329 (+10%)	.397 (-18%)	.727 (-5%)	-169.0
1980	SEA	AL	119	422	66	88	9	3	2	16	45	59	49	0.209	.264 (-21%)	.326 (-6%)	.387 (-33%)	.714 (-21%)	-1521.8
1981	SEA	AL	94	352	57	90	12	3	2	24	43	39	40	0.256	.255 (avg)	.320 (+4%)	.368 (-12%)	.688 (-5%)	-199.1
1982	SEA	AL	154	549	83	133	22	5	8	49	46	57	71	0.242	.261 (-7%)	.324 (-3%)	.388 (-11%)	.712 (-7%)	-734.8
1983	SEA	AL	61	181	24	46	10	1	2	12	33	20	22	0.254	.260 (-3%)	.324 (+2%)	.389 (-9%)	.714 (-4%)	-98.8
1983	CHW	AL	99	334	47	84	9	4	1	40	24	29	44	0.251	.260 (-4%)	.324 (-4%)	.389 (-20%)	.714 (-13%)	-98.8
1984	CHW	AL	143	415	42	92	14	4	5	43	14	45	58	0.222	.259 (-15%)	.322 (-9%)	.384 (-19%)	.707 (-14%)	-1173.7
1985	CHW	AL	91	234	28	46	2	3	0	15	8	32	40	0.197	.257 (-24%)	.323 (-8%)	.390 (-41%)	.714 (-26%)	-1020.4
1986	CHW	AL	81	209	38	45	2	0	0	19	7	42	28	0.215	.257 (-16%)	.325 (+5%)	.395 (-43%)	.720 (-21%)	-631.5

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
4	12	0	4	0	0	0	0	3	4	0.333

Playoff Batting by Year

Year	Round	Team	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
1983	ALCS	CHA	4	12	0	4	0	0	0	0	3	4	0.333

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
2B	1123	1065	2393	3435	103	780
3B	1	0	1	3	0	0
SS	8	4	11	14	2	3

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1977	SEA	2B	54	52	114	171	5	29
1978	SEA	2B	141	136	286	472	10	101
1978	SEA	SS	5	3	9	10	1	3
1979	SEA	2B	107	107	258	361	13	87
1980	SEA	2B	115	110	269	355	11	85
1981	SEA	2B	92	86	239	294	10	72
1981	SEA	SS	1	1	1	3	1	0
1982	SEA	2B	151	146	320	434	10	98
1982	SEA	3B	1	0	1	3	0	0
1982	SEA	SS	2	0	1	1	0	0
1983	SEA	2B	60	58	131	173	5	41
1983	CHA	2B	97	96	213	298	9	71
1984	CHA	2B	141	128	273	452	18	92
1985	CHA	2B	87	74	158	220	7	59
1986	CHA	2B	78	72	132	205	5	45