Kenny Lofton
Born: 5/31/1967 in East Chicago, IN, USA
MLB Debut: 1991-09-14 | Final Game: 2007-09-29
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Kenneth Lofton
Biography
Kenny Lofton was a prominent figure in Major League Baseball, known for his electrifying speed and exceptional hitting ability. Born in 1967, Lofton played from 1991 until his retirement in 2007, leaving an indelible mark on the game during a career that spanned nearly two decades. He appeared in 2,103 games, recording 2,428 hits and achieving a batting average of .299. Lofton’s ability to get on base and his prowess as a base stealer were hallmarks of his playing style; he finished his career with 622 stolen bases, showcasing his speed and agility on the field.
A six-time All-Star, Lofton was a key player for several teams, most notably the Cleveland Indians, where he became a cornerstone of the franchise during the 1990s. He was instrumental in leading the Indians to the World Series in 1995 and 1997, helping to revive the team’s competitiveness in a post-strike era. His combination of offensive production, defensive skills, and base-running acumen made him one of the premier players of his time. Lofton’s contributions to the game extended beyond statistics; he played an integral role in the evolution of the leadoff hitter position and remains a celebrated figure in baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2103 | 8120 | 1528 | 2428 | 383 | 116 | 130 | 781 | 622 | 945 | 1016 | 0.299 | 0.372 | 0.423 | 0.794 | 10332.8 |
Career AVG .299 vs. league average .266 across their career seasons — +12.6% above league average.
Career OBP .372 vs. league average .335 across their career seasons — +11.0% above league average.
Career SLG .423 vs. league average .419 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career OPS 0.794 vs. league average 0.754 across their career seasons — +5.4% above 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | HOU | NL | 20 | 74 | 9 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 19 | 0.203 | .255 (-21%) | .323 (-22%) | .384 (-44%) | .708 (-34%) | -391.9 |
| 1992 | CLE | AL | 148 | 576 | 96 | 164 | 15 | 8 | 5 | 42 | 66 | 68 | 54 | 0.285 | .255 (+11%) | .322 (+12%) | .377 (-3%) | .699 (+4%) | 662.5 |
| 1993 | CLE | AL | 148 | 569 | 116 | 185 | 28 | 8 | 1 | 42 | 70 | 81 | 83 | 0.325 | .265 (+23%) | .332 (+23%) | .403 (+1%) | .735 (+11%) | 1610.6 |
| 1994 | CLE | AL | 112 | 459 | 105 | 160 | 32 | 9 | 12 | 57 | 60 | 52 | 56 | 0.349 | .269 (+29%) | .338 (+22%) | .424 (+26%) | .763 (+24%) | 2268.4 |
| 1995 | CLE | AL | 118 | 481 | 93 | 149 | 22 | 13 | 7 | 53 | 54 | 40 | 49 | 0.310 | .266 (+16%) | .337 (+7%) | .417 (+9%) | .755 (+8%) | 694.2 |
| 1996 | CLE | AL | 154 | 662 | 132 | 210 | 35 | 4 | 14 | 67 | 75 | 61 | 82 | 0.317 | .269 (+18%) | .340 (+9%) | .426 (+4%) | .767 (+7%) | 975.0 |
| 1997 | ATL | NL | 122 | 493 | 90 | 164 | 20 | 6 | 5 | 48 | 27 | 64 | 83 | 0.333 | .266 (+25%) | .336 (+22%) | .419 (+2%) | .756 (+11%) | 1332.9 |
| 1998 | CLE | AL | 154 | 600 | 101 | 169 | 31 | 6 | 12 | 64 | 54 | 87 | 80 | 0.282 | .266 (+6%) | .335 (+11%) | .420 (-2%) | .755 (+4%) | 694.0 |
| 1999 | CLE | AL | 120 | 465 | 110 | 140 | 28 | 6 | 7 | 39 | 25 | 79 | 84 | 0.301 | .271 (+11%) | .344 (+18%) | .433 (avg) | .778 (+8%) | 1000.2 |
| 2000 | CLE | AL | 137 | 543 | 107 | 151 | 23 | 5 | 15 | 73 | 30 | 79 | 72 | 0.278 | .270 (+3%) | .344 (+7%) | .437 (-4%) | .782 (+1%) | 256.8 |
| 2001 | CLE | AL | 133 | 517 | 91 | 135 | 21 | 4 | 14 | 66 | 16 | 47 | 69 | 0.261 | .263 (-1%) | .332 (-3%) | .426 (-7%) | .758 (-5%) | -553.8 |
| 2002 | CHW | AL | 93 | 352 | 68 | 91 | 20 | 6 | 8 | 42 | 22 | 49 | 51 | 0.259 | .261 (-1%) | .331 (+5%) | .416 (avg) | .747 (+2%) | 208.5 |
| 2002 | SFG | NL | 46 | 180 | 30 | 48 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 23 | 22 | 0.267 | .261 (+2%) | .331 (+7%) | .416 (-3%) | .747 (+1%) | 208.5 |
| 2003 | PIT | NL | 84 | 339 | 58 | 94 | 19 | 4 | 9 | 26 | 18 | 28 | 29 | 0.277 | .264 (+5%) | .332 (avg) | .422 (+3%) | .754 (+2%) | 84.6 |
| 2003 | CHC | NL | 56 | 208 | 39 | 68 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 12 | 18 | 22 | 0.327 | .264 (+24%) | .332 (+15%) | .422 (+12%) | .754 (+13%) | 84.6 |
| 2004 | NYY | AL | 83 | 276 | 51 | 76 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 18 | 7 | 31 | 27 | 0.275 | .266 (+4%) | .335 (+3%) | .427 (-8%) | .762 (-3%) | -157.1 |
| 2005 | PHI | NL | 110 | 367 | 67 | 123 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 36 | 22 | 32 | 41 | 0.335 | .264 (+27%) | .330 (+19%) | .418 (avg) | .749 (+8%) | 721.1 |
| 2006 | LAD | NL | 129 | 469 | 79 | 141 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 41 | 32 | 45 | 42 | 0.301 | .269 (+12%) | .336 (+7%) | .431 (-7%) | .768 (-1%) | -11.6 |
| 2007 | TEX | AL | 84 | 317 | 62 | 96 | 16 | 3 | 7 | 23 | 21 | 39 | 28 | 0.303 | .268 (+13%) | .335 (+13%) | .422 (+4%) | .758 (+8%) | 560.2 |
| 2007 | CLE | AL | 52 | 173 | 24 | 49 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 17 | 23 | 0.283 | .268 (+6%) | .335 (+2%) | .422 (-12%) | .758 (-6%) | 560.2 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | ALCS | CLE | 7 | 27 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0.222 |
| 2007 | ALDS2 | CLE | 4 | 16 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0.375 |
| 2006 | NLDS1 | LAN | 3 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.077 |
| 2004 | ALCS | NYA | 3 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0.300 |
| 2004 | ALDS2 | NYA | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.250 |
| 2003 | NLCS | CHN | 7 | 31 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0.323 |
| 2003 | NLDS2 | CHN | 5 | 21 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0.286 |
| 2002 | NLCS | SFN | 5 | 21 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0.238 |
| 2002 | NLDS1 | SFN | 5 | 20 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0.350 |
| 2002 | WS | SFN | 7 | 31 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0.290 |
| 2001 | ALDS1 | CLE | 5 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 0.105 |
| 1999 | ALDS1 | CLE | 5 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0.125 |
| 1998 | ALCS | CLE | 6 | 27 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 0.185 |
| 1998 | ALDS1 | CLE | 4 | 16 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0.375 |
| 1997 | NLCS | ATL | 6 | 27 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0.185 |
| 1997 | NLDS2 | ATL | 3 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.154 |
| 1996 | ALDS1 | CLE | 4 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.167 |
| 1995 | ALCS | CLE | 6 | 24 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 0.458 |
| 1995 | ALDS1 | CLE | 3 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.154 |
| 1995 | WS | CLE | 6 | 25 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0.200 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 2041 | 1977 | 4856 | 142 | 79 | 35 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | HOU | OF | 20 | 18 | 41 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 | CLE | OF | 143 | 140 | 420 | 14 | 8 | 3 |
| 1993 | CLE | OF | 146 | 143 | 402 | 11 | 9 | 3 |
| 1994 | CLE | OF | 112 | 111 | 276 | 13 | 2 | 3 |
| 1995 | CLE | OF | 114 | 113 | 248 | 11 | 8 | 3 |
| 1996 | CLE | OF | 152 | 153 | 376 | 13 | 10 | 3 |
| 1997 | ATL | OF | 122 | 121 | 290 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| 1998 | CLE | OF | 154 | 150 | 339 | 19 | 8 | 4 |
| 1999 | CLE | OF | 119 | 115 | 255 | 11 | 3 | 3 |
| 2000 | CLE | OF | 135 | 133 | 348 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| 2001 | CLE | OF | 130 | 124 | 310 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| 2002 | CHA | OF | 92 | 86 | 229 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | SFN | OF | 44 | 44 | 116 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | PIT | OF | 81 | 81 | 203 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| 2003 | CHN | OF | 55 | 52 | 111 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 2004 | NYA | OF | 74 | 67 | 180 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| 2005 | PHI | OF | 97 | 88 | 201 | 7 | 4 | 1 |
| 2006 | LAN | OF | 120 | 114 | 241 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 2007 | TEX | OF | 80 | 79 | 186 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| 2007 | CLE | OF | 51 | 45 | 84 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 50 |
| Center Field | 1984 |
| Right Field | 10 |
| Designated Hitter | 12 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Player of the Week | Week of 2000-09-02 |
| 1997 | Player of the Week | Week of 1997-04-19 |
| 1996 | Gold Glove | OF |
| 1995 | Gold Glove | OF |
| 1994 | Gold Glove | OF |
| 1994 | Player of the Week | Week of 1994-06-25 |
| 1993 | Gold Glove | OF |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | TEX | AL | $6,000,000 |
| 2006 | LAN | NL | $3,821,236 |
| 2005 | PHI | NL | $3,100,000 |
| 2004 | NYA | AL | $3,100,000 |
| 2003 | PIT | NL | $1,025,000 |
| 2002 | CHA | AL | $1,025,000 |
| 2001 | CLE | AL | $8,000,000 |
| 2000 | CLE | AL | $7,500,000 |
| 1999 | CLE | AL | $7,550,000 |
| 1998 | CLE | AL | $7,550,000 |
| 1997 | ATL | NL | $4,825,000 |
| 1996 | CLE | AL | $3,575,000 |
| 1995 | CLE | AL | $1,925,000 |
| 1994 | CLE | AL | $925,000 |
| 1993 | CLE | AL | $450,000 |
| 1992 | CLE | AL | $110,000 |
| 1991 | HOU | NL | $100,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $60,581,236 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arizona | Tucson | AZ | 1988 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 26th | 1.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1996 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 11th | 34.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1994 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 4th | 181.0 | 392 | 1 |
| 1993 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 15th | 11.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1992 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 2nd | 85.0 | 140 | 7 |
