Rennie Stennett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rennie Stennett |
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Stennett circa 1977
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| Second baseman | |||
| Born: April 5, 1949 Colón, Panama |
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| Died: May 18, 2021 (aged 72) Coconut Creek, Florida |
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| debut | |||
| July 10, 1971, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 24, 1981, for the San Francisco Giants | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .274 | ||
| Home runs | 41 | ||
| Runs batted in | 432 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Reinaldo Antonio Stennett Porte (born April 5, 1949 – died May 18, 2021) was a professional baseball player from Panama. He played as a second baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB). Rennie Stennett played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1971 to 1979 and the San Francisco Giants from 1980 to 1981. He batted and threw with his right hand.
Stennett was a World Series champion with the Pirates in 1979. He is famous for being one of only two players to get seven hits in a nine-inning game. This amazing feat happened in 1975 during a huge 22–0 win against the Chicago Cubs. Rennie Stennett was also part of the first-ever all-Black and Latino starting lineup in big league history.
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Growing Up in Panama
Rennie Stennett was born in Colón, Panama, on April 5, 1949. He grew up in the Panama Canal Zone. He went to Paraiso High School, just like another famous baseball player, Rod Carew.
Some big baseball teams, like the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, and Houston Astros, were interested in him. They wanted him to come to the United States to finish school and train as a pitcher. But Rennie's father advised him not to go, so he said no to their offers. The Pittsburgh Pirates signed him as a free agent on February 12, 1969.
Rennie Stennett's Baseball Career
Before playing in the major leagues, Stennett played for four minor league teams. These teams were part of the Pirates' system from 1969 to 1971. He played for the Gastonia Pirates, Salem Rebels, Columbus Jets, and Charleston Charlies.
Making His MLB Debut
Rennie Stennett made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on July 10, 1971. He was 20 years old. He played for the Pirates against the Atlanta Braves. A week later, he got his first major league hits, going 2-for-4 against the San Diego Padres.
On September 1, 1971, something very special happened. The Pittsburgh Pirates played against the Philadelphia Phillies. Their starting lineup was made up entirely of Black and Latino players. Rennie Stennett was the first player to bat for the Pirates in that historic game, which they won 10–7.
Becoming a Starter
For his first three seasons with the Pirates, Stennett played both shortstop and second base. He was also a good defensive player in the outfield. He showed a lot of improvement in 1973. That year, he hit 10 Home runs and had 55 RBIs in 128 games.
After the 1973 season, the Pirates traded their second baseman, Dave Cash. This opened up the starting job for Rennie Stennett. He became the leadoff hitter and had a great year in 1974. He hit for a .291 average, scored 84 runs, had 56 RBIs, and got a career-high 196 hits.
The Seven-Hit Game
On September 16, 1975, Rennie Stennett made baseball history. He became the only player in the 20th century to get seven hits in seven at-bats in a nine-inning game! This happened when Pittsburgh beat the Cubs by a huge score of 22–0. Stennett's first hit was against pitcher Rick Reuschel, and his seventh hit was against Rick's brother, Paul.
In that same game, the Pirates set a major league record. Their 22–0 win was the largest winning score in a shutout game in modern baseball. Stennett was only the third player ever to get seven hits in a single game. He was the second to do it in a nine-inning game.
Injury and World Series Win
On August 21, 1977, Stennett was having another great season, hitting .336. But he broke his right leg while sliding into second base during a game. This injury ended his season early. He didn't have enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title, which his teammate Dave Parker won. Still, that year, Stennett stole a career-high 28 bases.
Rennie Stennett was part of the amazing 1979 Pirates team that won the 1979 World Series. He got a single hit in his only at-bat during the series. After the 1979 season, Stennett became a free agent. He signed a big five-year contract with the San Francisco Giants. However, the Giants released him in 1982. He played in the Mexican League in 1982 and then finished his professional career in 1983.
Later Years and Legacy
In August 2016, Rennie Stennett met with Brandon Crawford of the San Francisco Giants. This meeting happened two days after Crawford also had a seven-hit game. Crawford was the first player since Stennett to get seven hits in a game, though Crawford's game went into extra innings.
Rennie Stennett passed away on May 18, 2021, in Coconut Creek, Florida. He was 72 years old and had been battling cancer.
Images for kids
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Stennett circa 1977
See also
In Spanish: Rennie Stennett para niños
