Alvin Davis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alvin Davis |
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Davis in Seattle, Opening Day 2007
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| First baseman / Designated hitter | |||
| Born: September 9, 1960 Riverside, California, U.S. |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: April 11, 1984, for the Seattle Mariners | |||
| NPB: July 10, 1992, for the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| MLB: June 25, 1992, for the California Angels | |||
| NPB: September 15, 1992, for the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .280 | ||
| Home runs | 160 | ||
| Runs batted in | 683 | ||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .275 | ||
| Home runs | 5 | ||
| Runs batted in | 12 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Alvin Glenn Davis, born on September 9, 1960, is a former American baseball player. Fans called him "Mr. Mariner." He played as a first baseman and designated hitter in Major League Baseball. Alvin spent most of his career, eight out of nine seasons, with the Seattle Mariners. He even won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1984.
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Early Life and College Baseball
Alvin Davis grew up in Riverside, California. He was the youngest of four brothers. After high school, Alvin chose to play college baseball at Arizona State University. He played for the Arizona State Sun Devils. Alvin was good at hitting with his left hand and throwing with his right hand. He was drafted by baseball teams twice but decided to stay in college. He earned a degree in finance.
Starting in the Minor Leagues
After college in 1982, the Seattle Mariners drafted Alvin Davis. He started playing in Double-A for the Lynn Sailors. He hit .284 with 12 home runs. In 1983, he played for the Chattanooga Lookouts. He hit .296 with 18 home runs.
In 1984, Alvin started in Triple-A with the Salt Lake City Gulls. But after just one game, he was called up to the major leagues! He stayed with the Mariners for eight seasons. He never went back to the minor leagues.
Alvin Davis in Major League Baseball
Alvin Davis played for nine years in the major leagues. He had a batting average of .280. He hit 160 home runs and had 683 runs batted in (RBI). He hit more than 20 home runs in three different seasons. He also drove in over 100 runs twice.
Seattle Mariners Star Player
Alvin Davis made his first major league appearance on April 11, 1984. He hit a home run in his first two games! He also got two doubles in his sixth game. He reached base in his first 47 games, which is a record for starting a career.
As a rookie, he was chosen for the All-Star Game. He was named the Mariners' Most Valuable Player. He also won the Rookie of the Year award for the American League. That year, he hit .284 with 27 home runs and 116 RBI.
In 1987, Alvin hit a career-high 29 home runs. His best season might have been 1989. He had a .920 OPS, which was second best in the American League.
Alvin Davis held many of the Mariners' hitting records. This was before stars like Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martínez, and Alex Rodriguez joined the team. His teammates really respected him. One teammate called him "Mr. Alvin Davis" because he was so important to the offense.
Later in his career, Alvin was used more as a designated hitter. This meant he focused on hitting and played less first base. In 1991, his batting average dropped. The Mariners had a young player named Tino Martinez coming up. So, Alvin was not in their plans for 1992.
Alvin hit his last home run for the Mariners in Chicago's Comiskey Park on September 29, 1990.
Time with the California Angels and Japan
After eight years with the Mariners, Alvin Davis joined the California Angels in 1992. He played 40 games with them. He hit .250 with 16 RBI. He was released by the Angels after half a season.
Soon after, Alvin went to Japan to play baseball. He joined the Kintetsu Buffaloes in Osaka. He played 40 games there. He hit .275 with five home runs and 12 RBI.
Life After Baseball
Alvin Davis lives in his hometown of Riverside, California, with his wife, Kim. They have three children. He has volunteered at his church for many years. He has also coached baseball at Martin Luther King High School.
In 1997, Alvin Davis was honored by the Mariners. He was put into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame. In 2012, he returned to the Mariners organization. He became an instructor for their minor league players.
His niece, Candice LeRae, is a professional wrestler.
Images for kids
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Alvin Davis in Seattle, Opening Day 2007
