George Hendrick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids George Hendrick |
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Hendrick as a coach for the Tampa Bay Rays, 2011
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: October 18, 1949 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 4, 1971, for the Oakland Athletics | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 2, 1988, for the California Angels | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .278 | ||
| Home runs | 267 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,111 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As coach
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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George Andrew Hendrick Jr. (born October 18, 1949) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder from 1971 to 1988. He was a key player for the St. Louis Cardinals team that won the 1982 World Series. Hendrick also won a World Series with the Oakland Athletics in 1972.
He was a four-time All-Star and won the Silver Slugger Award twice. In 1979, he led all major league outfielders with 20 assists. He also led the Cardinals in home runs from 1980 through 1983. He was part of the 1986 California Angels team that won their division. Hendrick also played for the Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres, and Pittsburgh Pirates. Today, he is a special advisor for the Tampa Bay Rays.
Contents
Playing Baseball: George Hendrick's Career
Hitting and Fielding Stats
George Hendrick played baseball for 18 seasons. He had a batting average of .278. He hit 267 home runs and brought in 1,111 runs for his team (RBIs).
His career stats also included 941 runs scored, 1,980 hits, and 343 doubles. He also had 59 stolen bases and 567 walks. He played all three outfield positions and also played first base. He was a very good fielder, with a .987 fielding percentage.
Early Career and All-Star Games
Hendrick started his baseball journey in the minor leagues in 1968. He led his league with a .327 batting average and 25 doubles that year. He was chosen as an All-Star four times during his career. He was an All-Star twice with Cleveland in 1974 and 1975. He was also an All-Star twice with St. Louis in 1980 and 1983.
He was one of the first players to hit 100 home runs in both the National League and the American League. He hit 150 home runs in the National League and 117 in the American League. George Hendrick was also the first MLB player to wear his pant legs down to his ankles.
Nicknames and Media
George Hendrick had a few nicknames. People called him "Jogging George" and "Captain Easy." These names came from his reputation for not always running plays out at full speed. He was also known as "Silent George" because he usually did not talk to the media.
A sports reporter named Lisa Nehus Saxon was one of the first women to cover an MLB team. She said that Hendrick helped protect her from difficult situations with other players.
Coaching Career
After his playing days, Hendrick became a coach. He started with the St. Louis Cardinals as a minor league instructor from 1993 to 1995. Then, he became the hitting coach for the main Cardinals team from 1996 to 1997.
After leaving the Cardinals, he worked for the California Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers teams. He coached at different levels from 1998 to 2005. In 2005, Hendrick became a first base and outfield coach for the Tampa Bay Rays. He held this job until the end of the 2014 season. After that, he became a Special Advisor to Baseball Operations for the Rays.
Personal Life
George Hendrick has a son named Brian. Brian played college basketball for the California Golden Bears.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
- List of St. Louis Cardinals team records
- List of St. Louis Cardinals coaches
