Bill North facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bill North |
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North in 2013
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| Center fielder | |||
| Born: May 15, 1948 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 3, 1971, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 11, 1981, for the San Francisco Giants | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .261 | ||
| Home runs | 20 | ||
| Runs batted in | 230 | ||
| Stolen bases | 395 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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William Alex North, often called Bill North, is a former American baseball player. He played as a center fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 11 years. His career lasted from 1971 to 1981. He played for the Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Francisco Giants. Bill North was a switch hitter, meaning he could bat from both sides of the plate. He threw the ball with his right hand.
During his career, North had a batting average of .261. He hit 20 home runs and brought in 230 runs. He was known for being very fast. This speed helped him steal 395 stolen bases during his time in MLB.
Contents
Bill North's Baseball Career
Early Years and Success (1969–1975)
Bill North was first chosen by the Chicago Cubs in the 1969 amateur draft. He was picked in the 12th round. After the 1972 season, the Cubs traded him to the Oakland Athletics. North quickly became the starting center fielder for the Athletics. He helped them win the 1973 World Series.
In 1973, batting first in the lineup, North had his best year for batting average (.285). He also scored 98 runs. However, on September 20, he hurt his ankle while running to first base. This injury stopped him from playing for the rest of the season. It also meant he missed the chance to play in the postseason. He finished second in stolen bases that year with 53.
In 1974, North led the league in stolen bases with 54. His Oakland Athletics team won their third straight World Series title that year.
Later Career and Stolen Base Records (1976–1981)
North again led the American League in stolen bases in 1976. He stole 75 bases that season. At the time, this was the second-highest number of steals in the Athletics' team history. Only Eddie Collins had more with 81 steals in 1910. As of 2025, only Rickey Henderson has stolen more bases for the Athletics. Henderson stole 100 bases in 1980, a record 130 in 1982, and 108 in 1983.
Injuries limited North to only 56 games in 1977. In 1978, the Athletics traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers. His Dodgers team won the National League championship. However, they lost to the New York Yankees in the World Series.
After the 1978 season, the San Francisco Giants signed North. In 1979, he played well again, stealing 58 bases. This was the most stolen bases by a Giants player in the "live-ball era" of baseball. Injuries kept him out of 20 games that year. After a similar season in 1980, his performance slowed down in 1981.
Special Moments and Stats
Bill North was not just good at stealing bases. His speed also helped him play great defense in the outfield. He led American League outfielders three times in total chances per game. He also led twice in putouts, and once each in assists and double plays.
On July 28, 1974, North made a rare play. In the second game of a doubleheader, he made an unassisted double play. He caught a fly ball and then ran to second base to tag out a runner. This happened against the Chicago White Sox.
North was also the first player in Oakland Athletics history to be a designated hitter. This happened in the team's first game of the 1973 season.
Even though he was a great base runner, North did not hit well in postseason games. In 20 playoff games, including two World Series, he had a very low batting average of .051. However, he still helped his team by scoring 8 runs, getting 7 base on balls, stealing 3 bases, and getting 3 RBI.
In 2023, Bill North was invited by his former Dodgers teammate, Dusty Baker, to be an honorary coach. This was for the MLB All-Star Game in Seattle. North and Baker played together in 1978. Baker was the manager for the American League All-Star team.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual stolen base leaders
