John Balaz
Encyclopedia
John Lawrence Balaz was a professional baseball
player. Balaz was 23 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 10, 1974, with the California Angels
. He also played with Mexican Team Obregon City Yaquis.
.
An outstanding minor league
hitter who led three leagues in runs batted in, Balaz made his major league debut in an unusual way on September 10, 1974 at Anaheim Stadium. In a game against the Kansas City Royals
, he was announced as a pinch hitter
for left fielder
Bruce Bochte
in the bottom of the 6th. Kansas City made a pitching change, so manager Dick Williams
decided to have Rudy Meoli
pinch hit for Balaz, who had to go back and take a seat on the dugout bench. He got into a game three days later, starting in left field
against the Chicago White Sox
at Comiskey Park
, and went 0-for-3 against Jim Kaat
. On September 24 he had a big game against the Royals in Kansas City, with a home run
and 4 RBI.
Balaz spent more time with the Angels in 1975, hitting .242 (29-for-120) in 45 games with 1 HR and 10 RBI. He was in the starting lineup for 30 of those games as a left fielder, right fielder
, and designated hitter
.
Career totals include 59 games played, a .241 batting average
(39-for-162), 2 home run
s, 15 RBI
, 14 runs scored
, and a .340 slugging percentage.
Balaz began to play in 1974, and appeared in 14 games that season, in which he had 42 at bat
s, scored four times, had 10 hits
(nine single
s and one home run), drove in
5 runs, walked
twice, struck out
10 times, had one sacrifice hit
, and was hit by pitch
once. He finished with a .238 batting average
, .289 on base percentage
and .310 slugging percentage.
, the Angels traded Balaz, Dick Sharon
, and Dave Machemer
to the Boston Red Sox
for former Red Sox star reliever Dick Drago
. Balaz was sent down to the minor leagues, and never played for the Red Sox. It was reported that Drago was sent to the Angels as "the player to be named later" for Denny Doyle
(acquired the previous June). The Red Sox still sent minor league pitcher
Chuck Ross to the Angels two days later to make everything look more legitimate.
and San Diego Padres
minor league organizations. He continued his career in Mexico playing for Ciudad Juárez
national team. Balaz gained prominence when he played in the 1979 Mexican Playoffs where his team made it to the finals.
Balaz now lives in San Diego, California with his wife Bonnie, and two Children Lauren, and Justin.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. Balaz was 23 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 10, 1974, with the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
. He also played with Mexican Team Obregon City Yaquis.
California Angels
On June 4, 1970 Balaz was drafted by the California Angels in the 5th round of the 1970 amateur baseball draft1970 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1970 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The regular and secondary phases of the January draft proved more fruitful to major league clubs than the June draft...
.
An outstanding minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
hitter who led three leagues in runs batted in, Balaz made his major league debut in an unusual way on September 10, 1974 at Anaheim Stadium. In a game against the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, he was announced as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
for left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
Bruce Bochte
Bruce Bochte
Not to be confused with Bruce Bochy, a former Major League Baseball player and current manager of the San Francisco Giants.Bruce Anton Bochte is a former utility baseball player with a 12 year career from -, -. He played for the California Angels, Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners and Oakland...
in the bottom of the 6th. Kansas City made a pitching change, so manager Dick Williams
Dick Williams
Richard Hirschfeld "Dick" Williams was an American left fielder, third baseman, manager, coach and front office consultant in Major League Baseball. Known especially as a hard-driving, sharp-tongued manager from 1967–69 and 1971–88, he led teams to three American League pennants, one National...
decided to have Rudy Meoli
Rudy Meoli
Rudolph Bartholomew Meoli is a former professional baseball player who played six seasons for the California Angels, Chicago Cubs, and Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball.-References:...
pinch hit for Balaz, who had to go back and take a seat on the dugout bench. He got into a game three days later, starting in left field
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
against the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
at Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990. It was built by Charles Comiskey after a design by Zachary Taylor Davis, and was the site of four World Series and more than 6,000 major league games...
, and went 0-for-3 against Jim Kaat
Jim Kaat
James Lee "Jim" Kaat , nicknamed "Kitty", is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins , Chicago White Sox , Philadelphia Phillies , New York Yankees , and St...
. On September 24 he had a big game against the Royals in Kansas City, with a home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
and 4 RBI.
Balaz spent more time with the Angels in 1975, hitting .242 (29-for-120) in 45 games with 1 HR and 10 RBI. He was in the starting lineup for 30 of those games as a left fielder, right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
, and designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
.
Career totals include 59 games played, a .241 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(39-for-162), 2 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 15 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, 14 runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, and a .340 slugging percentage.
Balaz began to play in 1974, and appeared in 14 games that season, in which he had 42 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s, scored four times, had 10 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(nine single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
s and one home run), drove in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
5 runs, walked
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
twice, struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
10 times, had one sacrifice hit
Sacrifice hit
In baseball, a sacrifice bunt is a batter's act of deliberately bunting the ball in a manner that allows a runner on base to advance to another base. The batter is almost always sacrificed but sometimes reaches base due to an error or fielder's choice...
, and was hit by pitch
Hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
once. He finished with a .238 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, .289 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
and .310 slugging percentage.
Boston Red Sox
On March 3, 1976, during spring trainingSpring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, the Angels traded Balaz, Dick Sharon
Dick Sharon
Richard Louis Sharon was a professional Major League Baseball player.Sharon graduated Kennedy Middle School and Sequoia High School in Redwood City, California.-Baseball career:...
, and Dave Machemer
Dave Machemer
David Ritchie Machemer is a former professional baseball player and current minor league manager. He played two seasons for the California Angels and Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He is currently the manager of the Richmond Flying Squirrels.-Biography:Machemer has recorded over 1,000...
to the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
for former Red Sox star reliever Dick Drago
Dick Drago
Richard Anthony "Dick" Drago is a former American League relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Kansas City Royals , Boston Red Sox , California Angels , Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners...
. Balaz was sent down to the minor leagues, and never played for the Red Sox. It was reported that Drago was sent to the Angels as "the player to be named later" for Denny Doyle
Denny Doyle
Robert Dennis Doyle is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Philadelphia Phillies , California Angels and Boston Red Sox . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
(acquired the previous June). The Red Sox still sent minor league pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Chuck Ross to the Angels two days later to make everything look more legitimate.
Post major league career
Balaz never again appeared in a big league game. After playing for the Rhode Island Red Sox in 1976, he split the 1977 season between the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
and San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
minor league organizations. He continued his career in Mexico playing for Ciudad Juárez
Ciudad Juárez
Ciudad Juárez , officially known today as Heroica Ciudad Juárez, but abbreviated Juárez and formerly known as El Paso del Norte, is a city and seat of the municipality of Juárez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Juárez's estimated population is 1.5 million people. The city lies on the Rio Grande...
national team. Balaz gained prominence when he played in the 1979 Mexican Playoffs where his team made it to the finals.
Balaz now lives in San Diego, California with his wife Bonnie, and two Children Lauren, and Justin.
Records and Achievements
- Balaz led in several leagues throughout his career. He led the Pioneer League with 14 HR and 51 RBI while playing for the Idaho Falls Angels in 1971, led the California LeagueCalifornia LeagueThe California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
with 28 HR and 113 RBI while playing for the Salinas AngelsSalinas AngelsThe Salinas Angels were a California League baseball team based in Salinas, California, USA that played from 1976 to 1980. They played their home games at Salinas Municipal Stadium....
in 1973, and led the Texas LeagueTexas LeagueThe Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
with 111 RBI while playing for the El Paso DiablosEl Paso DiablosThe El Paso Diablos are a professional baseball team based in El Paso, Texas, in the United States. The Diablos are a member of the South Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 2005 season to the...
in 1974.
- He hit his first major league home run against Paul SplittorffPaul SplittorffPaul William Splittorff Jr. was a Major League Baseball starting pitcher who spent his entire career with the Kansas City Royals. Listed at 6' 3", Splittorff batted and threw left handed.-Early years:Splittorff was born in Evansville, Indiana...
of the Kansas City Royals {Royals Stadium—September 24, 1974}, and his second and last against Vic AlburyVic AlburyVictor Albury is a former Major League pitcher for the Minnesota Twins. He played in four seasons with the Twins, appearing in 101 games and amassing a career record of 18-17. In , Albury finished ninth in the American League, allowing 97 walks...
of the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota TwinsThe Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
{Anaheim Stadium—July 26, 1975}