Bill Bruton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bill Bruton |
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Bruton in 1955
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: November 9, 1925 Panola, Alabama |
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| Died: December 5, 1995 (aged 70) Marshallton, Delaware |
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| debut | |||
| April 13, 1953, for the Milwaukee Braves | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 2, 1964, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .273 | ||
| Home runs | 94 | ||
| Runs batted in | 545 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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William Havon Bruton (born November 9, 1925 – died December 5, 1995) was a talented Major League Baseball (MLB) center fielder. He played for the Milwaukee Braves from 1953 to 1960 and the Detroit Tigers from 1961 to 1964. Bill Bruton was a left-handed hitter and threw with his right hand.
Contents
Bill Bruton's Baseball Journey
Starting His Major League Career
Bill Bruton began his big league career in 1953 with the Milwaukee Braves. He was 27 years old and a rookie. This was a special time for the Braves, as the team had just moved from Boston to Milwaukee. Bill took over the center field spot from Sam Jethroe, who was another famous player.
On April 14, 1953, Bill made history in Milwaukee's very first major league game. He hit a home run in the 10th inning, giving the Braves a 3–2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. What an exciting start!
Playing for the Milwaukee Braves
Bruton played for the Milwaukee Braves for eight seasons. He was a key player for the Braves teams that reached the World Series in 1957 and 1958. Both times, they played against the New York Yankees.
In 1957, the Braves won the World Series in seven games. Sadly, Bill could not play because of a knee injury. But in the 1958 World Series, he was back! Even though the Braves lost that series, Bill had a fantastic performance. In Game 1, he hit a game-winning single in the tenth inning. He played in all seven games and batted incredibly well, hitting 7-for-17 (.412) with a home run.
On August 2, 1959, Bill did something amazing. He hit two bases-loaded triples in one game! This is a very rare feat in baseball history.
Moving to the Detroit Tigers
In December 1960, Bill Bruton was traded to the Detroit Tigers. He played four seasons with the Tigers before he retired after the 1964 season.
In his very last game at Tiger Stadium, Bill hit a powerful ball. It flew off the third deck, near where the retired Tiger numbers were painted. The ball was still rising when it hit the stadium wall!
Impressive Career Statistics
Throughout his twelve years in Major League Baseball, Bill Bruton had a strong career. He had a batting average of .273. He hit 94 home runs and had 545 run batted in (RBIs) in 1,610 games. His fielding percentage was also very good at .981.
Bill was known for hitting line drives and being a very fast runner. He led the National League in stolen bases for three years in a row (1953, 1954, and 1955). He also led the league in triples twice (1956 and 1960). In 1960, he led the league in runs scored. He was also great at starting games with a bang, hitting a lead-off home run twelve times!
Minor League Achievements
Before playing in the major leagues, Bill Bruton also had some great moments in minor leagues:
- In 1950, playing for the Eau Claire Bears, he led the Northern League in runs (126) and batting average (.325).
- In 1951, he led the Western League with 27 triples while playing for the Denver Bears.
- In 1952, playing for the Milwaukee Brewers, he led the American Association in hits (211) and runs (130).
Life Outside Baseball
Bill Bruton graduated from Parker High School in Birmingham, Alabama. He also served in the Army from 1944 to 1947.
In 1991, Bill Bruton was honored by being inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame. He passed away on December 5, 1995, at the age of 70.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career triples leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual triples 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 runs scored leaders
Images for kids
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Bruton in 1955
