Tony Solaita

Born: 1/15/1947 in Nu'uuli, Western District, American Samoa

Died: 2/10/1990 in Tafuna, Western District, American Samoa

MLB Debut: 1968-09-16 | Final Game: 1979-09-30

Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 210 lbs

Full name: Tolia Solaita

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Biography

Tony Solaita, born in 1947, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1968 until his retirement in 1979. Primarily recognized as a position player, Solaita played in a total of 525 games over his career. He showcased his power at the plate, accumulating 336 hits, including 50 home runs, and driving in 203 runs with a career batting average of .255. His ability to contribute offensively was complemented by his speed on the bases, as he recorded 2 stolen bases during his time in the league. Solaita's career unfolded during a transformative era in baseball, marked by the expansion of the game and the increasing emphasis on power hitting. He played for several teams, where he was often utilized as a dependable hitter who could provide pop in the lineup. While not among the most celebrated stars of his time, Solaita's solid performance and consistent presence on the field earned him a respected place in the annals of baseball history. His journey through the game reflected the evolving dynamics of baseball in the late 1960s and 1970s, an era that paved the way for future generations of players.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
525	1316	164	336	66	1	50	203	2	214	345	0.255	0.357	0.421	0.778	2886.4

Career AVG .255 vs. league average .257 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .357 vs. league average .323 across their career seasons — +10.7% above league average.

Career SLG .421 vs. league average .376 across their career seasons — +12.0% above league average.

Career OPS 0.778 vs. league average 0.699 across their career seasons — +11.4% 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
1968	NYY	AL	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0.000	—	—	—	—	0.0
1974	KCR	AL	96	239	31	64	12	0	7	30	0	35	70	0.268	.256 (+4%)	.324 (+11%)	.369 (+10%)	.693 (+11%)	537.4
1975	KCR	AL	93	231	35	60	11	0	16	44	0	39	79	0.260	.257 (+1%)	.327 (+13%)	.374 (+38%)	.701 (+26%)	1145.1
1976	KCR	AL	31	68	4	16	4	0	0	9	0	6	17	0.235	.255 (-8%)	.320 (-11%)	.360 (-19%)	.681 (-15%)	-184.6
1976	LAA	AL	63	215	25	58	9	0	9	33	1	34	44	0.270	.255 (+6%)	.320 (+14%)	.360 (+21%)	.681 (+18%)	-184.6
1977	LAA	AL	116	324	40	78	15	0	14	53	1	56	77	0.241	.264 (-9%)	.329 (+6%)	.401 (+4%)	.730 (+5%)	415.4
1978	LAA	AL	60	94	10	21	3	0	1	14	0	16	25	0.223	.257 (-13%)	.323 (+4%)	.378 (-24%)	.702 (-11%)	-119.5
1979	WSN	NL	29	42	5	12	4	0	1	7	0	11	16	0.286	—	—	—	—	206.4
1979	TOR	AL	36	102	14	27	8	1	2	13	0	17	16	0.265	.265 (avg)	.329 (+10%)	.397 (+6%)	.727 (+8%)	206.4

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1B	281	238	2128	199	17	166
OF	1	0	0	0	0	0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1968	NYA	1B	1	0	5	0	0	1
1974	KCA	1B	65	53	508	40	5	36
1974	KCA	OF	1	0	0	0	0	0
1975	KCA	1B	35	29	282	28	2	24
1976	KCA	1B	5	2	34	3	1	1
1976	CAL	1B	54	52	451	54	1	32
1977	CAL	1B	91	82	641	57	7	50
1978	CAL	1B	11	8	85	7	0	7
1979	MON	1B	13	8	83	6	1	7
1979	TOR	1B	6	4	39	4	0	8