Roy Sievers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Roy Sievers |
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Sievers in 1993
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| First baseman / Left fielder | |||
| Born: November 18, 1926 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
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| Died: April 3, 2017 (aged 90) Spanish Lake, Missouri, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 21, 1949, for the St. Louis Browns | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| May 9, 1965, for the Washington Senators | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .267 | ||
| Home runs | 318 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,147 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Roy Edward Sievers (born November 18, 1926 – died April 3, 2017) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a first baseman and left fielder. His career lasted from 1949 to 1965. Sievers was a five-time All-Star. In 1957, he led the American League in home runs and RBIs. He played for teams like the St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators, Chicago White Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies. Roy Sievers batted and threw with his right hand.
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Early Life and Career Start
Roy Sievers was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1926. When he was a schoolboy basketball star, people called him "Squirrel."
In 1949, Sievers won the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year award. This award goes to the best new player in the league. He played for the St. Louis Browns. That year, he had a batting average of .306. He also hit 16 home runs and had 75 RBI.
After his great first year, his batting average dropped in 1950. For the next three years, he had shoulder and arm injuries. These injuries meant he couldn't play in many games. Before the 1954 season, he was traded to the Washington Senators.
Star Years with the Senators
When Roy Sievers joined the Washington Senators, he became a very strong player. For five years in a row (1954–1958), he played in at least 144 games. He also had 95 or more RBI each season. He was chosen for the AL All-Star team three times during this period.
His best season was in 1957. That year, he led the league in several important stats:
- He hit 42 home runs.
- He had 114 RBI.
- He also led in extra base hits (70) and total bases (331).
- His batting average was .301.
He was one of the top players considered for the MVP award that year.
Later Career and Retirement
In 1960, Sievers was traded to the Chicago White Sox. He continued to play well there. In his first year with the White Sox, he hit .295 with 28 home runs and 93 RBI. He had a very similar season in 1961. This led to his fourth All-Star appearance.
From 1962 to 1964, Sievers played for the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League. He continued to be a productive player. In 1964, he returned to Washington to play for the expansion Senators team. He played his final game on May 9, 1965.
Ned Garver, a pitcher from the 1950s, thought Sievers was the best first baseman in the American League. Sievers was known for being a good hitter against curveballs.
Roy Sievers was one of the first players to hit 300 career home runs. This was a rare achievement back then. In his 17-season career, he had a .267 batting average. He hit 318 home runs and had 1,147 RBI. He also had 1,703 hits in 1,887 games.
After he stopped playing, Sievers worked as a coach for the Cincinnati Reds in 1966. He also managed teams in the minor leagues. He was one of only nine players who played for both the original Washington Senators team and the later expansion Senators team.
Roy Sievers passed away at his home in Spanish Lake, Missouri, on April 3, 2017, at the age of 90.
Career Highlights
- 4-time All-Star (1956, 1957, 1959, 1961)
- American League Rookie of the Year (1949)
- Set records for the Senators team:
- 42 home runs in one season (1957)
- 180 career home runs for the team
See also
- Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders
