Mike Vail, baseball player, 1975-1984

Mike Vail

Born: 11/10/1951 in San Francisco, CA, USA

MLB Debut: 1975-08-18 | Final Game: 1984-07-30

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 180 lbs

Full name: Michael Lewis Vail

Biography

Mike Vail was a professional baseball player born in 1951, who made a notable impact in Major League Baseball from 1975 until his retirement in 1984. Primarily serving as a position player, Vail showcased his talents across various teams, appearing in 665 games throughout his career. He recorded a solid batting average of .279, amassing 447 hits, including 34 home runs and 219 RBIs. His ability to contribute effectively at the plate made him a valuable asset to his teams during an era characterized by a transition in offensive strategies and player dynamics. Vail's career unfolded during a period marked by evolving styles of play in baseball, as teams began to prioritize power and offensive production. While he hit for average and had a respectable number of home runs, Vail was not primarily known for speed, finishing his career with only 3 stolen bases. Nevertheless, his contributions were significant in the context of the teams he played for, and he remains a respected figure for his performance and dedication to the game during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
665 1604 146 447 71 11 34 219 3 81 317 0.279 0.313 0.400 0.713 538.2

Career AVG .279 vs. league average .261 across their career seasons — +7.0% above league average.

Career OBP .313 vs. league average .325 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .400 vs. league average .384 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS 0.713 vs. league average 0.709 across their career seasons — near league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
1B 5 4 30 1 0 1
3B 4 0 0 1 0 0
OF 399 337 654 35 23 4

Season-by-Season Fielding

Career Games by Position

Position Games
First Base 5
Third Base 4
Left Field 124
Center Field 1
Right Field 277
Designated Hitter 1

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
DeAnza College Cupertino CA 1971