Ron Samford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ron Samford |
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Samford in 1959
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| Shortstop | |||
| Born: February 28, 1930 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
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| Died: January 14, 2021 (aged 90) Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 15, 1954, for the New York Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 23, 1959, for the Washington Senators | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .219 | ||
| Home runs | 5 | ||
| Runs batted in | 27 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Ronald Edward Samford (February 28, 1930 – January 14, 2021) was a professional baseball player. He played as a shortstop in Major League Baseball (MLB). Ron played for the New York Giants, Detroit Tigers, and Washington Senators. His career in the major leagues lasted from 1954 to 1959.
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Who Was Ron Samford?
Ron Samford was born in Dallas, Texas. He was a talented baseball player from a young age. The New York Giants signed him to play baseball in 1948. This was the start of his journey toward playing in the big leagues.
Starting His Baseball Journey
Ron made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on April 15, 1954. He was 24 years old at the time. In his very first game, he entered as a pinch runner. This means he ran the bases for another player. For his first few games, he mostly helped out as a pinch runner or a defensive player. He had to wait until his fourth game to get his first chance to hit the ball.
When he finally got his first at bat (a turn to hit), he didn't get a hit. He played in twelve games that first season. He didn't get any hits in his five chances to bat. In 1955, he played in only one game. He had one chance to hit and struck out. A strikeout means the batter misses three pitches.
Making His Mark in the Majors
Ron did not play in the major leagues in 1956. He had to wait until 1957 to get his first major league hit. This big moment happened on April 30, 1957. He was playing for the Detroit Tigers, who had picked him up in 1955.
First Hits and Big Plays
Ron hit a single to center field against the New York Yankees. Even though he got his first hit, his team lost that game. He finished the 1957 season with a .220 batting average in 54 games. A batting average shows how often a player gets a hit. He did not play in the major leagues again in 1958.
Game-Winning Home Runs
The 1959 season was Ron Samford's final year in the major leagues. He had a .224 batting average that year. On April 28, he hit his very first home run! A home run is when a player hits the ball out of the field. This allows them to run around all the bases and score a point.
Ron also hit a game-winning home run that season. It happened on June 2 against the Cleveland Indians. The game was tied in the tenth inning. Ron stepped up to bat and hit a solo home run. This put his team ahead 3-2, and they won the game! The very next night, he hit another home run. This helped his team beat the Indians 4-0.
Ron Samford's Final Season
Ron hit his last home run in his final time at bat in the major leagues. This happened on September 7, 1959, against the Baltimore Orioles. It was a three-run home run. This means three players scored because of his hit. His team won that game 8-1. He played his last major league game on September 23, 1959.
Career Highlights
Ron Samford finished his career with a .219 batting average. He hit 5 home runs and had 27 runs batted in (RBIs). An RBI means a player helped another player score a run. He played in 158 games in total. He had 334 chances to hit the ball. He also walked 17 times and struck out 46 times. A walk means he got to first base without hitting. He had a .954 fielding percentage. This shows how well he caught and threw the ball. He was also part of 62 double plays. A double play is when two players are out on one play.
Ron Samford passed away on January 14, 2021, at the age of 90.
