Don Buford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Don Buford |
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| Left fielder / Second baseman / Third baseman | |||
| Born: February 2, 1937 Linden, Texas, U.S. |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: September 14, 1963, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
| NPB: April 14, 1973, for the Taiheiyo Club Lions | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| MLB: October 3, 1972, for the Baltimore Orioles | |||
| NPB: October 7, 1976, for the Nankai Hawks | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .264 | ||
| Home runs | 93 | ||
| Runs batted in | 418 | ||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .270 | ||
| Home runs | 65 | ||
| Runs batted in | 213 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Donald Alvin Buford (born February 2, 1937) is a former American professional baseball player, scout, coach, and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder and infielder from 1963 to 1972.
Buford was best known as the leadoff hitter for the Baltimore Orioles. He helped the team win three straight American League championships from 1969 to 1971. They also won the 1970 World Series. After his MLB career, he played in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league. In 1993, he was added to the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame.
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Early Life and College
Don Buford was born in Linden, Texas. After his father passed away, his mother moved the family to Southern California. Buford became a star athlete in both football and baseball at Susan Miller Dorsey High School in Los Angeles.
Because of his smaller size, not many colleges tried to recruit him. He first went to Los Angeles City College, where he was a talented football player. He then transferred to the University of Southern California (USC) on a football scholarship. This allowed him to play both football and baseball.
At USC, he played baseball for the famous coach Rod Dedeaux. In 1958, Buford helped the USC Trojans win the College World Series. He also continued to be a star football player, leading the team in several categories. In 2001, USC honored him by adding him to its Athletics Hall of Fame for baseball.
Professional Baseball Career
Minor Leagues
Buford started his professional career in 1960. He played for several minor league teams. In 1963, he had a great season with the Indianapolis Indians. He had the best batting average in the league at .336. He was named the league's Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year. His success earned him a call-up to the major leagues.
Chicago White Sox
Buford joined the Chicago White Sox in 1964. He started as an infielder, playing both second and third base. In 1965, he hit .283 and scored 93 runs. The next year, he showed off his speed by stealing 51 bases, which was almost the most in the American League.
In 1967, the White Sox were in a tight race for the American League championship. The team had great pitching but struggled with hitting. They were knocked out of the race in the final week of the season.
Baltimore Orioles
In 1967, Buford was traded to the Baltimore Orioles. This move was a turning point in his career. In 1968, a new manager named Earl Weaver made Buford the team's leadoff hitter and moved him to the outfield. Buford's performance improved right away.
World Series Champion
From 1969 to 1971, the Orioles were one of the best teams in baseball. With Buford as their leadoff hitter, they won the American League pennant three years in a row.
In the 1969 World Series against the New York Mets, Buford hit a home run on the very first pitch of the series. However, the Orioles lost the series. The next year, the Orioles returned to the 1970 World Series and beat the Cincinnati Reds. Buford played well, hitting a home run in Game Three.
In 1971, Buford had an amazing season. He hit a career-high 19 home runs and was chosen for the All-Star team. The Orioles made it to the 1971 World Series again but lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates. In his 15 World Series games, Buford never made a mistake in the field.
Playing in Japan
After the 1972 season, Buford's contract was sold to a team in Japan. He played four seasons there, for the Taiheiyo Club Lions and the Nankai Hawks. He was a two-time All-Star in Japan and was very popular with the fans.
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Life After Playing
After retiring as a player, Buford stayed involved in baseball. He worked as a coach for the Orioles, San Francisco Giants, and Washington Nationals. He also managed several of the Orioles' minor league teams, helping to develop young players.
His son, Damon Buford, also became a major league baseball player. Another son, Don Buford, Jr., played in the Orioles' minor league system before becoming a doctor.
In 2012, Buford began managing Major League Baseball's Urban Youth Academy in Compton, California. The academy offers free baseball and softball training to young people. He now works with his own organization, the Educational Sports Institute, to help kids in his community.
Awards and Honors
- Inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame (1993)
- Inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame (2001)
- Inducted into the International League Triple A Hall of Fame (2008)
- Most Valuable Player, International League (1963)
- Rookie of the Year, International League (1963)
- Sporting News minor league player of the year (1963)
- American League All-Star (1971)
- Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star (1973, 1974)
See also
- List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders
