Chris Chambliss facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chris Chambliss |
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| First baseman | |||
| Born: December 26, 1948 Dayton, Ohio, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| May 28, 1971, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| May 8, 1988, for the New York Yankees | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .279 | ||
| Hits | 2,109 | ||
| Home runs | 185 | ||
| Runs batted in | 972 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As coach
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Chris Chambliss (born December 26, 1948) is a famous American professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1971 to 1988. He played for the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, and Atlanta Braves. After his playing days, he became a coach for several teams, including the Yankees.
Chambliss won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 1971. He was an All-Star in 1976. That year, he hit a famous game-winning home run in the playoffs. He also helped the Yankees win two World Series championships in 1977 and 1978. In 1978, he won a Gold Glove Award for his excellent fielding. Later, as a coach, he won four more World Series titles with the Yankees.
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Chris Chambliss's Early Life
Chris Chambliss was born in Dayton, Ohio, on December 26, 1948. He was one of four sons. His father was a chaplain in the United States Navy. This meant Chris's family moved around a lot. They finally settled in Oceanside, California. Chris and his brothers all played baseball at Oceanside High School.
Playing Baseball
College Baseball Days
Chambliss first went to MiraCosta College, a junior college. There, he played college baseball. Even though he was picked in the MLB draft twice, he chose not to sign. He wanted to keep playing college baseball. He then moved to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In 1969, he was a star player for the Bruins. He hit 15 home runs and had 45 runs batted in. That summer, he played for the Anchorage Glacier Pilots. His team won a big national championship. Chris was even named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
Starting with the Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians picked Chris Chambliss first overall in the 1970 MLB draft. He started playing in the minor leagues. He was very good, hitting .342 in his first year. He joined the major league team in 1971. He played first base and was known for hitting well when it mattered most. That year, he was named the American League Rookie of the Year.
Becoming a New York Yankee
In 1974, Chris Chambliss was traded to the New York Yankees. He quickly became a key player for them. He was known for his strong hitting and great defense at first base.
Chris once said, "If you're not having fun [in baseball], you miss the point of everything." This shows how much he loved the game.
In 1976, Chambliss was chosen for the All-Star Game. This was a big honor for him.
The Famous 1976 Home Run
The most famous moment of Chris Chambliss's career happened in 1976. It was Game 5 of the American League Championship Series. The Yankees were playing the Kansas City Royals. The score was tied in the bottom of the ninth inning. Chris hit a home run that won the game! This sent the Yankees to the World Series for the first time in many years.
He was amazing in that series. He hit .524 (meaning he got a hit more than half the times he batted). He also hit two home runs and had eight RBIs.
Chris played three more seasons with the Yankees. He helped them win the World Series in 1977 and 1978. These were the Yankees' first World Series titles in 15 years! In 1978, he also won a Gold Glove Award for his excellent defense.
The "Chris Chambliss Rule"
After his game-winning home run in 1976, thousands of fans rushed onto the field. Chris was surrounded by fans and couldn't reach home plate. He ran straight to the dugout for safety. Later, a teammate told him he needed to touch home plate for the home run to count. When he went back, home plate had been stolen by fans! So, he touched the spot where it should have been.
Because of this event, Major League Baseball changed a rule. Now, if fans rush the field and a player can't touch a base, the umpire can say the player touched it. This is sometimes called the "Chris Chambliss Rule."
Later Playing Career
After the 1979 season, the Yankees traded Chambliss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Soon after, he was traded again to the Atlanta Braves. He played for the Braves from 1980 to 1986. He had one last at-bat with the Yankees in 1988 before retiring. He finished his playing career with a .279 batting average and 185 home runs.
Coaching Career
After he stopped playing, Chris Chambliss became a baseball coach. In 1989, he managed a minor league team called the London Tigers. His team won their league championship in 1990. He was even named Minor League Manager of the Year.
Chambliss became a hitting coach for many teams. He was the hitting coach for the Yankees when they won four more World Series titles (1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000). This means he was part of six Yankees World Series championship teams in total! He also coached for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, and Cincinnati Reds.
For many years, people thought Chris Chambliss would become a major league manager. He was considered for manager jobs with several teams. He later became the hitting coach for the Seattle Mariners in 2010. He coached there until 2012.
Chris Chambliss's Family
Chris Chambliss has a famous cousin named Jo Jo White, who played in the NBA. His son, Russell, is also involved in baseball. Russell is a hitting coach for a minor league team called the Peoria Chiefs.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
