Joe Strain, baseball player, 1979-1981

Joe Strain

Born: 4/30/1954 in Denver, CO, USA

MLB Debut: 1979-06-28 | Final Game: 1981-06-02

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 169 lbs

Full name: Joseph Allan Strain

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Biography

Joe Strain, born in 1954, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1979 to 1981. During his three-season career, he played primarily as a position player, appearing in 169 games. Strain showcased his abilities at the plate, finishing his career with 130 hits and a batting average of .25. He contributed to his teams with 29 RBIs and demonstrated speed on the bases with 9 stolen bases, highlighting his versatility as a player. Strain’s lone home run stands as a testament to his ability to contribute in pivotal moments, albeit he was not primarily known for his power. His career unfolded during a transitional period in baseball, as the game was evolving from the power-heavy styles of the 1970s into a more balanced approach in the early 1980s. While not a superstar, Strain's contributions to his teams reflected the heart and hustle characteristic of many players of his era, making him a notable figure in the annals of baseball history.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
169 520 60 130 15 1 1 29 9 28 38 0.250 0.292 0.288 0.581 -1674.5

Career AVG .250 vs. league average .263 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .292 vs. league average .326 across their career seasons — 10.3% below league average.

Career SLG .288 vs. league average .387 across their career seasons — 25.4% below league average.

Career OPS 0.581 vs. league average 0.713 across their career seasons — 18.5% 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
1979 SFG NL 67 257 27 62 8 1 1 12 8 13 21 0.241 .265 (-9%) .329 (-14%) .397 (-27%) .727 (-21%) -942.7
1980 SFG NL 77 189 26 54 6 0 0 16 1 10 10 0.286 .264 (+8%) .326 (-2%) .387 (-18%) .714 (-11%) -343.9
1981 CHC NL 25 74 7 14 1 0 0 1 0 5 7 0.189 .255 (-26%) .320 (-22%) .368 (-45%) .688 (-34%) -388.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
2B 129 117 270 371 11 57
3B 7 5 3 12 2 1
SS 1 0 0 0 0 0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1979 SFN 2B 67 65 147 188 6 32
1979 SFN 3B 1 0 0 1 0 0
1980 SFN 2B 42 33 85 102 2 15
1980 SFN 3B 6 5 3 11 2 1
1980 SFN SS 1 0 0 0 0 0
1981 CHN 2B 20 19 38 81 3 10

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Second Base 129
Third Base 7
Shortstop 1

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
University of Northern Colorado Greeley CO 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976