Rennie Stennett
Encyclopedia
Renaldo Antonio Stennett Porte (April 5, 1951, in Colón, Panama
), is a former second baseman
in Major League Baseball
. Stennett played with the Pittsburgh Pirates
(1971–79) and San Francisco Giants
(1980–81). He batted and threw right-handed. A World Series champion with the Pirates in 1979, Stennett shares the major league record for most hits in a game (with seven) and was a member of the first all-black starting lineup in the major leagues.
, with 41 home run
s and 432 RBIs
in 1,237 games
.
Stennett was a good contact hitter
with occasional power, and an aggressive and smart runner on the basepaths. As a fielder, he had sure hands and a strong and accurate arm for balls up the middle and double play
s.
On September 1, , Pittsburgh faced the Phillies
with the first major league all-black
starting lineup
(including some Latin
players). Stennett led off the game for the Pirates, who won 10-7.http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/S/Stennett_Rennie.stm)
In his first three seasons with Pittsburgh, Stennett was used at shortstop
and second base. He also played a solid defense at all three outfield
positions, with an average arm and great reaction speed. He showed progress in 1973, when he hit 10 home runs and 55 RBIs in 128 games. Finally, in , Stennett took over the starting second base job, beating out Dave Cash
and Willie Randolph
. Batting from the leadoff spot, he responded with a .291 average, 84 runs
, 56 RBI, and a career-high 196 hits
. The following season, Stennett became the only player in the 20th century to go seven-for-seven in a nine-inning game.
On September 16, , Stennett went 7-for-7 as Pittsburgh routed the Cubs
, 22-0. Pittsburgh also set a major league record for the largest winning score in a shutout
game in the modern era (later matched by the Cleveland Indians
in ). He was the third player to collect seven hits in a single game, and the second to do it in a nine-inning game.
On August 21, , Stennett was batting .336 for the season, but he broke his right leg while sliding into second base. He was out for the year and had fewer than the required number of at bat
s or plate appearance
s (12), falling short of qualifying for the batting title, won by teammate Dave Parker
(.338). In that season, Stennett collected a career-high 28 stolen base
s. A free agent
at the end of the season Stennett, was signed by the Giants to a five year, $3 million dollar contract in what would be one of the first "busts" of the free agent era. After two years with San Francisco, he was released in April of , with three years remaining on and $2 million left on the contract which the Giants still had to pay him as the contract was guaranteed.
Colón, Panama
Colón is a sea port on the Caribbean Sea coast of Panama. The city lies near the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal. It is capital of Panama's Colón Province and has traditionally been known as Panama's second city....
), is a former second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. Stennett played with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(1971–79) and San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(1980–81). He batted and threw right-handed. A World Series champion with the Pirates in 1979, Stennett shares the major league record for most hits in a game (with seven) and was a member of the first all-black starting lineup in the major leagues.
Career
In an 11-season career, Stennett was a .274 batterBatting 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 :...
, with 41 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 and 432 RBIs
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...
in 1,237 games
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
.
Stennett was a good contact hitter
Contact hitter
In baseball, the term contact hitter is used to describe a hitter who does not strike out often. Thus, they are usually able to use their bats to make contact with the ball and put it in play...
with occasional power, and an aggressive and smart runner on the basepaths. As a fielder, he had sure hands and a strong and accurate arm for balls up the middle and double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
s.
On September 1, , Pittsburgh faced the Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
with the first major league all-black
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
starting lineup
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
(including some Latin
Afro-Latin American
An Afro-Latin American is a Latin American person of at least partial Black African ancestry; the term may also refer to historical or cultural elements in Latin America thought to emanate from this community...
players). Stennett led off the game for the Pirates, who won 10-7.http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/S/Stennett_Rennie.stm)
In his first three seasons with Pittsburgh, Stennett was used at shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
and second base. He also played a solid defense at all three outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
positions, with an average arm and great reaction speed. He showed progress in 1973, when he hit 10 home runs and 55 RBIs in 128 games. Finally, in , Stennett took over the starting second base job, beating out Dave Cash
Dave Cash (baseball)
David Cash, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played in the National League for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Philadelphia Phillies , Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres .Cash established himself as a solid singles hitter and a good defensive second baseman in his seasons with...
and Willie Randolph
Willie Randolph
Willie Larry Randolph is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and manager, most recently the third base coach for the Baltimore Orioles...
. Batting from the leadoff spot, he responded with a .291 average, 84 runs
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...
, 56 RBI, and a career-high 196 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....
. The following season, Stennett became the only player in the 20th century to go seven-for-seven in a nine-inning game.
On September 16, , Stennett went 7-for-7 as Pittsburgh routed the Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, 22-0. Pittsburgh also set a major league record for the largest winning score in a shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
game in the modern era (later matched by the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
in ). He was the third player to collect seven hits in a single game, and the second to do it in a nine-inning game.
On August 21, , Stennett was batting .336 for the season, but he broke his right leg while sliding into second base. He was out for the year and had fewer than the required number of 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 or plate appearance
Plate appearance
In baseball statistics, a player is credited with a plate appearance each time he completes a turn batting. A player completes a turn batting when: He strikes out or is declared out before reaching first base; or He reaches first base safely or is awarded first base ; or He hits a fair ball which...
s (12), falling short of qualifying for the batting title, won by teammate Dave Parker
Dave Parker
David Gene "The Cobra" Parker is an American former player in Major League Baseball. He was the 1978 National League MVP and a two-time batting champion. Parker was the first professional athlete to earn an average of one million dollars per year, having signed a 5-year, $5 million dollar contract...
(.338). In that season, Stennett collected a career-high 28 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s. A free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
at the end of the season Stennett, was signed by the Giants to a five year, $3 million dollar contract in what would be one of the first "busts" of the free agent era. After two years with San Francisco, he was released in April of , with three years remaining on and $2 million left on the contract which the Giants still had to pay him as the contract was guaranteed.