Eric Soderholm

Born: 9/24/1948 in Cortland, NY, USA

MLB Debut: 1971-09-03 | Final Game: 1980-10-05

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 187 lbs

Full name: Eric Thane Soderholm

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Biography

Eric Soderholm was a professional baseball player born in 1948, who made his mark in Major League Baseball between 1971 and 1980. Known for his versatility as a position player, Soderholm played 894 games throughout his career, primarily as a third baseman. He was recognized for his power at the plate, finishing with 764 hits, 102 home runs, and 383 RBIs. His career batting average stood at .264, complemented by 18 stolen bases, showcasing a well-rounded skill set that allowed him to contribute both offensively and defensively. Soderholm's career unfolded during a transformative era in baseball, marked by the transition from the deadball era to a more offense-driven game. His ability to hit for power was particularly notable during a time when many players began to embrace the long ball as a critical aspect of their game. While he may not have reached the superstardom of some of his contemporaries, Soderholm's contributions to the teams he played for, including the Chicago White Sox and the Texas Rangers, solidified his reputation as a reliable player capable of delivering key performances. His legacy persists among fans and historians as a testament to the evolving nature of baseball during the 1970s.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
894	2894	402	764	120	14	102	383	18	295	359	0.264	0.335	0.421	0.756	4007.9

Career AVG .264 vs. league average .258 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .335 vs. league average .324 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .421 vs. league average .379 across their career seasons — +11.0% above league average.

Career OPS 0.756 vs. league average 0.703 across their career seasons — +7.5% 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
1971	MIN	AL	21	64	9	10	4	0	1	4	0	10	17	0.156	.249 (-37%)	.316 (-6%)	.365 (-27%)	.682 (-17%)	-139.9
1972	MIN	AL	93	287	28	54	10	0	13	39	3	19	48	0.188	.243 (-23%)	.310 (-21%)	.353 (+1%)	.664 (-9%)	-537.5
1973	MIN	AL	35	111	22	33	7	2	1	9	1	21	16	0.297	.256 (+16%)	.325 (+27%)	.378 (+12%)	.703 (+19%)	430.7
1974	MIN	AL	141	464	63	128	18	3	10	51	7	48	68	0.276	.256 (+7%)	.324 (+8%)	.369 (+6%)	.693 (+7%)	695.2
1975	MIN	AL	117	419	62	120	17	2	11	58	3	53	66	0.286	.257 (+11%)	.327 (+12%)	.374 (+11%)	.701 (+11%)	985.4
1977	CHW	AL	130	460	77	129	20	3	25	67	2	47	47	0.280	.264 (+6%)	.329 (+6%)	.401 (+25%)	.730 (+16%)	1483.4
1978	CHW	AL	143	457	57	118	17	1	20	67	2	39	44	0.258	.257 (avg)	.323 (-2%)	.378 (+14%)	.702 (+7%)	502.9
1979	CHW	AL	56	210	31	53	8	2	6	34	0	19	19	0.252	.265 (-5%)	.329 (-5%)	.397 (-1%)	.727 (-3%)	-111.8
1979	TEX	AL	63	147	15	40	6	0	4	19	0	12	9	0.272	.265 (+2%)	.329 (-1%)	.397 (-1%)	.727 (-1%)	-111.8
1980	NYY	AL	95	275	38	79	13	1	11	35	0	27	25	0.287	.264 (+9%)	.326 (+8%)	.387 (+19%)	.714 (+14%)	740.4

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
2	6	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.167

Playoff Batting by Year

Year	Round	Team	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
1980	ALCS	NYA	2	6	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.167

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1B	2	2	9	1	1	0
2B	1	0	0	4	0	0
3B	759	712	620	1589	88	113
SS	2	0	1	0	0	0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1971	MIN	3B	20	20	17	48	4	2
1972	MIN	3B	79	75	66	163	14	17
1973	MIN	3B	33	29	26	67	8	5
1973	MIN	SS	1	0	0	0	0	0
1974	MIN	3B	130	123	100	273	17	19
1974	MIN	SS	1	0	1	0	0	0
1975	MIN	3B	113	110	94	277	12	14
1977	CHA	3B	126	124	99	249	8	18
1978	CHA	2B	1	0	0	4	0	0
1978	CHA	3B	128	127	128	245	14	17
1979	CHA	3B	56	55	55	154	3	12
1979	TEX	1B	2	2	9	1	1	0
1979	TEX	3B	37	18	20	48	4	5
1980	NYA	3B	37	31	15	65	4	4