Larry Milbourne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Larry Milbourne |
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Milbourne in 1976
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| Infielder | |||
| Born: February 14, 1951 Port Norris, New Jersey, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 6, 1974, for the Houston Astros | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 29, 1984, for the Seattle Mariners | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .254 | ||
| Home runs | 11 | ||
| Runs batted in | 184 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Larry Milbourne is a former American professional baseball player. He was a utility infielder, meaning he could play many different positions in the infield. Larry played for 11 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB).
He played for several teams, including the Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians, and Philadelphia Phillies. Larry was known for being a switch hitter, which means he could bat from both the left and right sides of the plate. He threw the ball with his right hand.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Larry Milbourne was born on February 14, 1951, in Port Norris, New Jersey. He loved baseball from a young age. He played baseball at Millville Senior High School and graduated in 1969.
Larry was a great hitter in high school. His batting average improved a lot. It went from .263 when he was a sophomore to an amazing .439 as a senior. After high school, he went to Cumberland County College.
Starting His Professional Journey
Joining the Minor Leagues
Larry Milbourne began his professional baseball career in 1969. He signed with the Baltimore Orioles as a free agent. He started playing in the Rookie League with the Bluefield Orioles. That year, he batted .305 and had 75 hits. He mostly played shortstop.
In 1970, the Orioles released him. But Larry didn't give up! In 1971, the San Francisco Giants signed him. He played for their Class-A team, the Decatur Commodores. He had a great season, batting .301 with 156 hits and 21 stolen bases. He played mostly second base.
After that season, the California Angels picked him in the minor league draft. In 1972, he played for the Double-A Shreveport Captains. He batted .264 and continued to play second base.
In 1973, the St. Louis Cardinals drafted him. He played for their Triple-A team, the Tulsa Oilers. He batted .283 that year. These experiences helped him get ready for the big leagues!
Making It to the Major Leagues
In 1973, the Houston Astros picked Larry Milbourne in the Rule 5 draft. This meant he would get a chance to play in Major League Baseball (MLB).
He made his MLB debut on April 6, 1974, with the Astros. He got his first MLB hit a few days later. In his first major league season, Larry batted .279. He played mostly second base, but also some shortstop and left field. After his first year, he was named to the Topps All-Star Rookie Team!
In 1975, Larry hit his first career home run against the Cincinnati Reds. He continued to play for the Astros in 1976. He even hit a game-winning single in one game against the New York Mets.
Playing for the Seattle Mariners
In 1977, Larry Milbourne joined the Seattle Mariners. He was traded to them from the Houston Astros. He made history by getting the Mariners' first-ever game-winning hit on April 8, 1977!
Larry was a very useful player for the Mariners. He was a true utility infielder. He played second base, shortstop, and third base. He even played as a designated hitter sometimes. He once said, "I know it's my role to fill in. [...] I'd prefer to play more." This shows he was ready to play wherever the team needed him.
In 1978, he got another game-winning hit, this time against the Minnesota Twins. In 1979, he continued to be a key player for the Mariners. He batted .278 and played many different infield positions.
Later Career and Retirement
In 1980, the Seattle Mariners traded Larry to the New York Yankees. He played for the Yankees for a couple of seasons. In 1982, he was traded to the Minnesota Twins, and then later that year, to the Cleveland Indians.
After the 1982 season, he played for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1983. Then, he was traded back to the New York Yankees. Finally, after the 1983 season, the Yankees traded him back to the Seattle Mariners.
Larry played his last season in 1984 with the Mariners. After the season, he retired from professional baseball. Over his career, Larry Milbourne played in 989 MLB games. He had a career batting average of .254, with 11 home runs and 184 runs batted in (RBI). He was a valuable player who could fill many roles on the field.
See also
- Houston Astros award winners and league leaders
