Gary Pettis, baseball player, 1982-1992

Gary Pettis

Born: 4/3/1958 in Oakland, CA, USA

MLB Debut: 1982-09-13 | Final Game: 1992-09-10

Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 165 lbs

Full name: Gary George Pettis

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Biography

Gary Pettis was a professional baseball player known for his exceptional defensive skills and speed on the base paths. Born in 1958, he played in Major League Baseball from 1982 until his retirement on September 10, 1992. Over the course of his career, Pettis appeared in 1,183 games, recording 855 hits and achieving a batting average of .236. While he hit only 21 home runs and drove in 259 runs, his true value to his teams lay in his ability to disrupt opposing defenses, as evidenced by his impressive total of 354 stolen bases. Pettis was particularly noted for his defensive prowess, earning a reputation as one of the best center fielders of his era. His combination of speed and agility made him a standout in the outfield, where he showcased his ability to cover vast ground and make spectacular catches. Playing during the transition from the 1980s into the early 1990s, Pettis contributed to teams such as the California Angels and the Detroit Tigers, leaving a mark as a reliable player who could change the momentum of a game with both his glove and his legs. His contributions to the game are remembered by fans and historians alike, highlighting his role in an era that increasingly valued both speed and defense.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
1183 3629 568 855 109 49 21 259 354 521 958 0.236 0.332 0.310 0.642 -5279.7

Career AVG .236 vs. league average .258 across their career seasons — 8.7% below league average.

Career OBP .332 vs. league average .324 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .310 vs. league average .388 across their career seasons — 20.0% below league average.

Career OPS 0.642 vs. league average 0.711 across their career seasons — 9.8% 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
1982 LAA AL 10 5 5 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 0.200 — — — — 0.0
1983 LAA AL 22 85 19 25 2 3 3 6 8 7 15 0.294 .260 (+13%) .324 (+7%) .389 (+27%) .714 (+18%) 228.4
1984 LAA AL 140 397 63 90 11 6 2 29 48 60 115 0.227 .259 (-13%) .322 (+3%) .384 (-22%) .707 (-11%) -622.5
1985 LAA AL 125 443 67 114 10 8 1 32 56 62 125 0.257 .257 (avg) .323 (+7%) .390 (-17%) .714 (-6%) -332.7
1986 LAA AL 154 539 93 139 23 4 5 58 50 69 132 0.258 .257 (avg) .325 (+4%) .395 (-13%) .720 (-5%) -438.4
1987 LAA AL 133 394 49 82 13 2 1 17 24 52 124 0.208 .262 (-21%) .331 (-9%) .415 (-38%) .746 (-25%) -1849.4
1988 DET AL 129 458 65 96 14 4 3 36 44 47 85 0.210 .254 (-18%) .317 (-10%) .377 (-27%) .695 (-19%) -1587.9
1989 DET AL 119 444 77 114 8 6 1 18 43 84 106 0.257 .254 (+1%) .319 (+17%) .375 (-18%) .694 (-2%) 309.1
1990 TEX AL 136 423 66 101 16 8 3 31 38 57 118 0.239 .257 (-7%) .324 (+2%) .385 (-13%) .710 (-6%) -372.6
1991 TEX AL 137 282 37 61 7 5 0 19 29 54 91 0.216 .255 (-15%) .323 (+6%) .384 (-28%) .708 (-13%) -497.7
1992 SDP NL 30 30 0 6 1 0 0 0 1 2 11 0.200 — — — — 0.0
1992 DET AL 48 129 27 26 4 3 1 12 13 27 34 0.202 .255 (-21%) .322 (+5%) .377 (-20%) .699 (-9%) 0.0

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
7 26 4 9 1 0 1 4 3 5 0.346

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1986 ALCS CAL 7 26 4 9 1 0 1 4 3 5 0.346

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
OF 1128 966 2948 63 44 21

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1982 CAL OF 8 0 5 1 0 0
1983 CAL OF 21 20 49 5 1 2
1984 CAL OF 134 98 337 11 6 4
1985 CAL OF 122 118 368 13 4 5
1986 CAL OF 153 150 462 9 7 3
1987 CAL OF 131 108 344 2 7 2
1988 DET OF 126 115 361 5 5 0
1989 DET OF 119 116 325 1 4 0
1990 TEX OF 128 119 285 10 2 4
1991 TEX OF 126 73 248 4 6 1
1992 SDN OF 14 4 20 0 1 0
1992 DET OF 46 45 144 2 1 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Left Field 1
Center Field 1125
Right Field 2
Designated Hitter 9

Awards & Honors

Year Award Notes
1990 Gold Glove OF
1989 Gold Glove OF
1988 Gold Glove OF
1986 Gold Glove OF
1985 Gold Glove OF

Salary History

Year Team League Salary
1993 OAK AL $300,000
1992 TEX AL $1,053,334
1991 TEX AL $903,333
1990 TEX AL $703,333
1989 DET AL $440,000
1988 DET AL $400,000
1987 CAL AL $400,000
1986 CAL AL $300,000
1985 CAL AL $125,000
Total Career Earnings $4,625,000