Amos Otis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Amos Otis |
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| Center fielder | |||
| Born: April 26, 1947 Mobile, Alabama, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 6, 1967, for the New York Mets | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 5, 1984, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .277 | ||
| Hits | 2,020 | ||
| Home runs | 193 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,007 | ||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Amos Joseph Otis (born April 26, 1947) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a center fielder from 1967 to 1984. He is best known for his time with the Kansas City Royals. He helped the Royals win their first American League Western Division title in 1976. He also helped them win their first American League pennant in 1980.
In the 1980 World Series, Otis played incredibly well. He had a .478 batting average and hit three home runs. This was his only World Series appearance. He was chosen for the All-Star team five times. He also led the American League in doubles twice and in stolen bases once.
Amos Otis was known as one of the best center fielders of his time. He used his amazing speed to win three Gold Glove Awards. He is among the top center fielders in baseball history for putouts. The Royals named him their Player of the Year three times. He is also one of the Royals' all-time leaders in hits, home runs, runs scored, stolen bases, and games played.
Otis also played for the New York Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates. After he stopped playing, he became a hitting instructor. In 1986, he was added to the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame.
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Amos Otis's Baseball Journey
Amos Otis started his professional baseball career when the Boston Red Sox picked him in 1965. He was first drafted as a shortstop. But in the minor leagues, he played in the outfield, at third base, and first base.
In 1966, the New York Mets drafted him. He quickly moved up to Triple-A, which is just one step below the major leagues. He played a few games for the Mets in 1967 and then again in 1969.
Joining the Kansas City Royals
On December 3, 1969, Amos Otis was traded to the Kansas City Royals. This was a big moment for his career. The Royals immediately made him their starting center fielder. He held this important position for most of the 1970s.
Otis quickly became a star for the Royals. He was chosen for the American League All-Star team in each of his first four years with the team. He also won three Gold Glove Awards for his excellent fielding. His speed was a perfect fit for the Royals' focus on fast players and strong defense.
Key Moments and Achievements
On September 7, 1971, Amos Otis made history. He became the first player since 1927 to steal five bases in a single game! That year, he led the American League with 52 stolen bases.
Otis was also a strong hitter. In some seasons, he hit as many as 26 home runs. He also had 90 or more RBI three times. He led the American League in doubles twice. Throughout his career, he stole a total of 341 bases. He was known for performing well in important games. He helped the Royals become a team that often competed for championships.
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Amos Otis was also known for his kindness. On September 12, 1977, after a Royals game was rained out, eight young fans were stranded. Flooding made it impossible for their parents to pick them up. Otis helped them out. He took them to eat, then to his house to spend the night. The next day, he made sure each boy got home safely. He said, "If it was my kids, I would have wanted someone to do something for them, too."
World Series Performance
In the 1980 World Series, Otis was outstanding. He hit for a .478 batting average with three home runs and 7 RBI in just six games. In Game 3, he set a record for putouts by an outfielder. He also hit a home run in that game. He is one of only two players in history to drive in a run in each of his first five World Series games.
Later Career and Retirement
Later in his career, Amos Otis's hitting numbers started to drop. This was partly due to a hand injury. His fielding skills also became less sharp. Near the end of his time with the Royals, Willie Wilson took over his center field job. In 1983, Otis left the team before the season ended.
On December 19, 1983, Otis signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played in 40 games for Pittsburgh. On August 5, 1984, the Pirates released him.
Over his 17-season career, Amos Otis had a .277 batting average. He hit 193 home runs and had 1,007 RBI in 1,998 games. He also stole 341 bases. As a fielder, mostly in center field, he had a .991 fielding percentage and 126 assists.
After his playing days, Otis worked as a hitting instructor for the San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies. He later retired to Las Vegas. Amos Otis still attends Royals reunions and plays in alumni games.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual stolen base leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual doubles leaders
