John Orton, baseball player, 1989-1993

John Orton

Born: 12/8/1965 in Santa Cruz, CA, USA

MLB Debut: 1989-08-20 | Final Game: 1993-07-04

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 195 lbs

Full name: John Andrew Orton

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Biography

John Orton, born in 1965, was a professional baseball player who played as a position player primarily in the early 1990s. His career spanned from 1989 until July 4, 1993, during which he appeared in 156 games. Orton recorded a total of 80 hits, contributing to a batting average of .200, with four home runs and 29 RBIs. He also showcased his speed on the basepaths, finishing his career with two stolen bases. Orton's playing style reflected the transitional nature of Major League Baseball during his era, which was marked by a blend of traditional skills and emerging power dynamics. While he may not have been a standout in terms of offensive statistics, his contributions as a bench player and utility option were valuable to the teams he played for. Although his career was relatively brief, Orton's journey through the majors exemplified the challenges faced by many players trying to make their mark in a competitive landscape. He retired after a five-year stint, leaving behind a legacy as part of the rich tapestry of baseball history.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
156 401 35 80 18 0 4 29 2 31 121 0.200 0.265 0.274 0.540 -1342.3

Career AVG .200 vs. league average .258 across their career seasons — 22.6% below league average.

Career OBP .265 vs. league average .325 across their career seasons — 18.2% below league average.

Career SLG .274 vs. league average .385 across their career seasons — 28.8% below league average.

Career OPS 0.540 vs. league average 0.710 across their career seasons — 24.0% 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
1989 LAA AL 16 39 4 7 1 0 0 4 0 2 17 0.179 — — — — 0.0
1990 LAA AL 31 84 8 16 5 0 1 6 0 5 31 0.190 .257 (-26%) .324 (-25%) .385 (-26%) .710 (-25%) -360.1
1991 LAA AL 29 69 7 14 4 0 0 3 0 10 17 0.203 .255 (-21%) .323 (-3%) .384 (-32%) .708 (-19%) -184.3
1992 LAA AL 43 114 11 25 3 0 2 12 1 7 32 0.219 .255 (-14%) .322 (-14%) .377 (-21%) .699 (-18%) -329.5
1993 LAA AL 37 95 5 18 5 0 1 4 1 7 24 0.189 .265 (-29%) .332 (-24%) .403 (-32%) .735 (-28%) -468.3

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
C 153 131 782 85 13 14
OF 1 0 1 0 0 0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1989 CAL C 16 13 76 7 1 3
1990 CAL C 31 23 139 15 2 1
1991 CAL C 28 22 145 23 1 3
1992 CAL C 43 40 238 23 5 3
1993 CAL C 35 33 184 17 4 4
1993 CAL OF 1 0 1 0 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Catcher 153
Left Field 1
Designated Hitter 1

Salary History

Year Team League Salary
1993 CAL AL $160,000
1992 CAL AL $130,000
1991 CAL AL $120,000
1990 CAL AL $100,000
Total Career Earnings $510,000

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo CA 1985, 1986, 1987