Willie Kirkland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Willie Kirkland |
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| Right fielder | |||
| Born: February 17, 1934 Siluria, Alabama, U.S. |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: April 15, 1958, for the San Francisco Giants | |||
| NPB: 1968, for the Hanshin Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| MLB: September 26, 1966, for the Washington Senators | |||
| NPB: 1973, for the Hanshin Tigers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .240 | ||
| Home runs | 148 | ||
| Runs batted in | 509 | ||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .246 | ||
| Home runs | 126 | ||
| Runs batted in | 304 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Willie Charles Kirkland (born February 17, 1934) is a former American baseball player. He was a powerful hitter who played as a right fielder. Willie played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for nine seasons. He was part of the San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, and Washington Senators. After his time in MLB, he also played for six seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan with the Hanshin Tigers. His professional baseball career lasted 20 years! Willie was born in Siluria, Alabama, but he grew up in Detroit.
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Willie's Early Baseball Days
Willie Kirkland started his journey in baseball right after high school. In 1952, he signed with the New York Giants. He was a strong player, standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 206 pounds.
Before reaching the major leagues, Willie was a fantastic hitter in the minor leagues. He hit more than 35 home runs in three different seasons! He even won a batting title and led the league in runs batted in (RBI) during his minor league career. In 1957, he took a break from baseball to serve in the military.
Playing for the San Francisco Giants
When Willie finished his military service in 1958, he joined the MLB Giants. This was a special time because it was the team's first season in San Francisco. Willie became the regular right fielder. He played in the Giants' very first game on the West Coast on April 15.
In that first game, the Giants beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8–0. Willie batted fourth in the lineup, right after the legendary Willie Mays. As a rookie, he got a single hit and an RBI. Willie was one of many talented young players who joined the Giants around this time. Other future stars included Orlando Cepeda and Willie McCovey. Willie Kirkland held the right-field job for three seasons, from 1958 to 1960. During this time, he hit 57 home runs and had a batting average of .261.
Moving to Other Teams
After the 1960 season, the Giants traded Willie to the Cleveland Indians. He became the starting right fielder for the Indians in 1961. That year was one of his best! He led the team with 27 home runs and 95 RBI. He also had a batting average of .259.
In 1962, Willie hit 21 home runs for the Indians. However, his batting average dropped to .200. In 1963, he played both center field and right field, hitting 15 home runs. Later, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles and then to the Washington Senators. He finished his MLB career with the Senators as a backup outfielder.
Over his nine seasons in Major League Baseball, Willie Kirkland had a batting average of .240. He hit 148 home runs and had 509 RBI. He also hit 134 doubles and 29 triples.
Baseball in Japan
After his time in MLB, Willie played for the Hawaii Islanders in 1967. He hit 34 home runs that season! The next year, he began a new chapter in his career: playing baseball in Japan.
Willie joined the Hanshin Tigers in Japan. In his first season with the Tigers, he hit 37 home runs. The following year, he hit 26 more. Overall, Willie hit 126 home runs during his career in Japan. He played for the Hanshin Tigers until 1973, ending his long and successful 20-year professional baseball career.
Willie's Best Seasons
Willie Kirkland had some amazing moments during his career:
- 1960: He showed off his all-around skills! He hit 21 doubles, 10 triples, and 21 home runs. He also stole 12 stolen bases.
- 1961: This was a career-high year for Willie. He hit 27 home runs and had 95 RBI. He also had 136 hits in 146 games. On July 9, he hit three home runs in one game against the Chicago White Sox!
