Ben Oglivie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ben Oglivie |
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| Left fielder | |||
| Born: February 11, 1949 Colón, Panama |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: September 4, 1971, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| NPB: April 14, 1987, for the Kintetsu Buffaloes | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| MLB: October 5, 1986, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |||
| NPB: October 19, 1988, for the Kintetsu Buffaloes | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .273 | ||
| Home runs | 235 | ||
| Runs batted in | 901 | ||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .306 | ||
| Home runs | 46 | ||
| Runs batted in | 139 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Benjamin Ambrosio Oglivie Palmer (born February 11, 1949) is a former professional baseball player from Panama. He was a left fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Ben played for the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, and Milwaukee Brewers. He also played two seasons in Japan for the Kintetsu Buffaloes. Ben batted and threw with his left hand.
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Ben Oglivie's Baseball Journey
Ben Oglivie started his MLB career on September 4, 1971, with the Red Sox. His last big league game was on October 5, 1986, playing for the Brewers. He was known for hitting the ball with a lot of power.
Leading the League in Home Runs
In 1980, Ben hit 41 home runs. This was the most in the American League (AL) that year, tying with another famous player, Reggie Jackson. Ben was the first player not born in the U.S. to lead the AL in home runs. He also hit three home runs in a single game three different times! That same year, he was second in the AL with 118 runs batted in (RBI).
Early Career and Trades
In his first full MLB season in 1972, Ben batted .241 with eight home runs. He was especially good as a pinch hitter, hitting .375. In October 1973, the Red Sox traded him to the Detroit Tigers. Later, in December 1977, the Brewers got Ben from the Tigers.
Career Highlights and Stats
Ben Oglivie played in Major League Baseball for 16 years. He had a batting average of .273. He hit 235 home runs and had 901 runs batted in (RBI). In total, he played 1,754 games.
On Base and In the Field
Ben also had 87 stolen bases and scored 784 runs. He made 1,615 hits during his career. Even though he never won a Gold Glove Award, Ben was a strong defender in left field. He ranked high in an advanced stat called "range factor per inning," which shows how many outs a player helps make.
Playing in Japan and Coaching
After his MLB career, Ben continued playing baseball in Japan. He joined the Kintetsu Buffaloes for two seasons (1987 and 1988). While there, he hit 46 home runs. After his playing days, Ben became a coach. He coached for several MLB teams, including the Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, and Detroit Tigers. In 2000, he coached for the Padres' main MLB team for one season.
Hall of Fame Recognition
In 2012, Ben Oglivie was honored by being chosen for the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame. He was one of six players picked from different Latin American countries. This special event took place in February 2012.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders
