Steve Hovley

Born: 12/18/1944 in Ventura, CA, USA

MLB Debut: 1969-06-26 | Final Game: 1973-09-28

Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 188 lbs

Full name: Stephen Eugene Hovley

📊 Compare This Player 📈 View Career Timeline

Biography

Steve Hovley, born in 1944, was a professional baseball player who played as a position player from 1969 to 1973. Over the course of his career, Hovley participated in 436 games, where he showcased his skills primarily as an outfielder. He recorded a total of 263 hits, achieving a batting average of .258, which reflects his ability to contribute offensively during a competitive era in Major League Baseball that bridged the late 1960s and early 1970s. Hovley was known for his speed on the bases, finishing his career with 29 stolen bases, a notable achievement for a player of his time. He also hit 8 home runs and drove in 88 runs, demonstrating his capacity to produce runs for his teams. While he may not have been a household name, Hovley played an important role in the clubs he represented, contributing to the dynamic of the game during a transitional period marked by a focus on speed and athleticism. His journey through the major leagues provides a glimpse into the life of a dedicated player navigating the challenges and opportunities of professional baseball.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
436	1019	122	263	39	5	8	88	29	116	128	0.258	0.335	0.330	0.665	-331.1

Career AVG .258 vs. league average .251 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .335 vs. league average .320 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .330 vs. league average .371 across their career seasons — 11.1% below league average.

Career OPS 0.665 vs. league average 0.690 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
1969	SE1	AL	91	329	41	91	14	3	3	20	10	30	34	0.277	.248 (+11%)	.320 (+6%)	.369 (-1%)	.689 (+2%)	128.6
1970	ATL	AL	40	135	17	38	9	0	0	16	5	17	11	0.281	.253 (+11%)	.325 (+12%)	.385 (-10%)	.711 (avg)	66.7
1970	OAK	AL	72	100	8	19	1	0	0	1	3	5	11	0.190	.253 (-25%)	.325 (-30%)	.385 (-48%)	.711 (-40%)	66.7
1971	OAK	AL	24	27	3	3	2	0	0	3	2	7	9	0.111	—	—	—	—	0.0
1972	KCR	AL	105	196	24	53	5	1	3	24	3	24	29	0.270	.243 (+11%)	.310 (+13%)	.353 (-1%)	.664 (+6%)	281.7
1973	KCR	AL	104	232	29	59	8	1	2	24	6	33	34	0.254	.256 (-1%)	.325 (+6%)	.378 (-15%)	.703 (-5%)	-109.1