George Spriggs (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids George Spriggs |
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: May 22, 1937 Jewell, Maryland, U.S. |
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| Died: December 22, 2020 (aged 83) Prince Frederick, Maryland, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 15, 1965, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 1, 1970, for the Kansas City Royals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| At bats | 225 | ||
| RBI | 12 | ||
| Home runs | 1 | ||
| Batting average | .191 | ||
| Teams | |||
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George Herman Spriggs (May 22, 1937 – December 22, 2020) was a talented American baseball player. He was an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). George played for two teams: the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Kansas City Royals. His career in the major leagues spanned parts of four seasons, from 1965 to 1970.
Contents
Early Career and the Negro Leagues
Before joining Major League Baseball, George Spriggs played in the Negro leagues. These leagues were important baseball organizations for African-American players. They existed before black players were fully allowed in Major League Baseball. George played for several Negro league teams. One of his most notable teams was the Detroit-New Orleans Stars in 1960.
After attending Wiley H. Bates High School in Annapolis, Maryland, George signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He joined them as an amateur free agent before the 1963 season. An amateur free agent is a player who isn't drafted by a team but signs with one directly.
Minor League Success
George Spriggs spent time playing in the minor leagues. These are leagues where players develop their skills before reaching the major leagues. In 1966, while playing for the Columbus Jets, he showed off his speed. He led the International League with 34 stolen bases. He also had a great batting average of .300 that year.
Overall, during his time with the Columbus Jets, George stole an impressive 170 bases. This showed he was a very fast and smart player on the basepaths.
Moving Between Teams
In 1967, the Boston Red Sox chose George Spriggs in the Rule 5 draft. This draft allows teams to pick players from other teams' minor league rosters. However, George did not make the Red Sox's main roster. So, he was returned to the Pirates in April 1968.
Later that year, in October, the Kansas City Royals bought his contract from the Pirates. This meant he would now play for the Royals. In 1971, the New York Mets also bought his contract. But George never played a major league game for the Mets.
Awards and Achievements
George Spriggs continued to shine in the minor leagues. In 1970, he played for the Omaha Royals. That year, he won the American Association (1902–1997) Most Valuable Player Award. This award recognized him as the best player in that league. It was a big achievement in his baseball career.
