Rich McKinney
Encyclopedia
Charles Richard "Rich" McKinney (born November 22, 1946) is a former professional baseball
player. He played all or part of seven seasons in Major League Baseball
between and . Originally an infielder
when he came up with the Chicago White Sox
, he became more of a utility player as his career progressed.
, McKinney was selected in the first round (14th overall) of the 1968 Major League Baseball Draft
by the Chicago White Sox. He was assigned to the Double-A Evansville White Sox
, and batted
.261 with seven home run
s and 37 runs batted in
over 86 games at shortstop
.
The following season, McKinney spent most of the year injured. He split the 1969 season
between the Double-A Columbus White Sox and the Triple-A Tucson Toros
, playing just 11 games at each level. While at Columbus, he played in the outfield
for the first time in his professional career, appearing in six games there.
McKinney started the 1970 season
with Tucson, where he batted .303 with six home runs and 41 RBIs in 62 games. He was called up to the major league White Sox in June, making his debut on June 26 against the Minnesota Twins
. Despite never having played the position professionally, he started the game at third base
, handling both chances he had without incident. He scored his first major league run
in the second after reaching on a César Tovar
error
, and got his first major league hit
off Jim Kaat
in the fifth inning.
He hit his first major league home run on September 21 off the Kansas City Royals
' Jim York
, and proceeded to hit home runs in his next three games to finish the season with four. He finished the year batting just .168 against major league pitching while splitting his time between third base and shortstop.
McKinney had a career year for the White Sox in , setting career highs in many categories including batting average (.271), home runs (8) and RBIs (46). Overall, he played in 114 games, mostly at second base
and in right field
. Following the season, McKinney was traded to the New York Yankees
in exchange for pitcher Stan Bahnsen
.
. From there, things only got worse. He began the season as the Yankees regular third baseman, but was unable to handle the "hot corner," committing a record tying four errors in a 11-7 loss to the Boston Red Sox
at Fenway Park
. After batting .216 with one home run and five RBIs through May, he lost his starting job to rookie Celerino Sánchez
. He was demoted to the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, where he batted .299 with sixteen home runs and 53 RBIs to earn a second chance with the Yankees that September, compiling two hits in ten at bat
s upon his return.
On November 24, 1972, the Oakland Athletics
sent Matty Alou
to the Yankees for Rob Gardner
and a player to be named later
. A month later, the Yankees sent McKinney to the A's to complete the deal.
. He was demoted to the Toros, which were now an A's farm club, in late July, but returned to the majors in September. He finished the year batting .246 in 48 games.
Over the next two seasons, McKinney spent most of his time with Tucson, where he was converted into a full-time outfielder. Although he batted .285 in and .297 in , he played just 5 and 8 games in the majors respectively during those seasons. He spent the entire 1976 season
with Tucson, batting .317 with career highs in home runs (22) and RBI (95), but did not get a call to the majors.
McKinney was given one last shot in when the A's, with Charlie Finley having traded off most of their stars, turned him into a first baseman
, although he also played 18 games at DH. He spent nearly the entire season in Oakland, with only a brief demotion to the San Jose Missions
in late June. While McKinney finally began hitting with some power, with 6 home runs in just 189 at bat
s, his batting average sunk to .177, and his major league career was over.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. He played all or part of seven seasons 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...
between and . Originally an infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
when he came up with 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...
, he became more of a utility player as his career progressed.
Chicago White Sox
After playing college baseball at Ohio UniversityOhio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
, McKinney was selected in the first round (14th overall) of the 1968 Major League Baseball Draft
1968 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1968 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The Los Angeles Dodgers laid the groundwork for their championship clubs of the 1970s with an outstanding draft...
by the Chicago White Sox. He was assigned to the Double-A Evansville White Sox
Evansville White Sox
The Evansville White Sox were a minor league baseball team based in Evansville, Indiana that played in the Southern League from 1966 to 1968. They were affiliated with the Chicago White Sox and played their home games at Bosse Field.-Year-by-year record:...
, and batted
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 :...
.261 with seven 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 37 runs batted 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...
over 86 games 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...
.
The following season, McKinney spent most of the year injured. He split the 1969 season
1969 in baseball
-Expansion:Four expansion teams joined Major League Baseball for this season: the San Diego Padres, the Kansas City Royals, the Seattle Pilots, and the first MLB team in Canada, the Montreal Expos. To accommodate the additional teams, the two leagues were split into two divisions of East and West...
between the Double-A Columbus White Sox and the Triple-A Tucson Toros
Tucson Toros
The Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. They are owned by Tucson Baseball, LLC with Jay Zucker as chairman of the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager....
, playing just 11 games at each level. While at Columbus, he played in the outfield
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the first time in his professional career, appearing in six games there.
McKinney started the 1970 season
1970 in baseball
-Major Leagues:*World Series MVP: Brooks Robinson*All-Star Game, July 14 at Riverfront Stadium: National League, 5-4 ; Carl Yastrzemski, MVP-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Navegantes del Magallanes *College World Series: USC...
with Tucson, where he batted .303 with six home runs and 41 RBIs in 62 games. He was called up to the major league White Sox in June, making his debut on June 26 against the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The 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...
. Despite never having played the position professionally, he started the game at third base
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
, handling both chances he had without incident. He scored his first major league run
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...
in the second after reaching on a César Tovar
César Tovar
César Leonardo Tovar , nicknamed "Pepito" and "Mr. Versatility", was a Venezuelan professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball for the Minnesota Twins , Philadelphia Phillies , Texas Rangers , Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees...
error
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
, and got his first major league hit
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....
off 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...
in the fifth inning.
He hit his first major league home run on September 21 off 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...
' Jim York
Jim York
James Harlan York, born August 27, 1947, in Maywood, California is a former major league baseball player. In his six year career, he played for the Kansas City Royals, the Houston Astros, and the New York Yankees....
, and proceeded to hit home runs in his next three games to finish the season with four. He finished the year batting just .168 against major league pitching while splitting his time between third base and shortstop.
McKinney had a career year for the White Sox in , setting career highs in many categories including batting average (.271), home runs (8) and RBIs (46). Overall, he played in 114 games, mostly at second base
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...
and in right field
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...
. Following the season, McKinney was traded to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in exchange for pitcher Stan Bahnsen
Stan Bahnsen
Stanley Raymond Bahnsen is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Nicknamed the "Bahnsen Burner," he once made 118 starts over a three year stretch while playing with the Chicago White Sox in the mid 1970s.-New York Yankees:...
.
New York Yankees
Almost immediately after the Yankees acquired him, McKinney suffered second-degree burns at a beach party in Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. From there, things only got worse. He began the season as the Yankees regular third baseman, but was unable to handle the "hot corner," committing a record tying four errors in a 11-7 loss 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"...
at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
. After batting .216 with one home run and five RBIs through May, he lost his starting job to rookie Celerino Sánchez
Celerino Sanchez
Celerino Sánchez was a Major League baseball third baseman. He was known primarily as an excellent fielder....
. He was demoted to the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, where he batted .299 with sixteen home runs and 53 RBIs to earn a second chance with the Yankees that September, compiling two hits in ten 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 upon his return.
On November 24, 1972, the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
sent Matty Alou
Matty Alou
Mateo Rojas "Matty" Alou was a Dominican outfielder who spent fifteen seasons in Major League Baseball with the San Francisco Giants , Pittsburgh Pirates , St. Louis Cardinals , Oakland Athletics , New York Yankees and San Diego Padres...
to the Yankees for Rob Gardner
Rob Gardner (baseball)
Richard Frank Gardner is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He holds the distinction of having been traded twice by the New York Yankees to the Oakland Athletics for one of the Alou brothers.-Early years:...
and a player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
. A month later, the Yankees sent McKinney to the A's to complete the deal.
Oakland A's
McKinney started the year with Oakland, where he was mostly used as a pinch hitterPinch 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...
. He was demoted to the Toros, which were now an A's farm club, in late July, but returned to the majors in September. He finished the year batting .246 in 48 games.
Over the next two seasons, McKinney spent most of his time with Tucson, where he was converted into a full-time outfielder. Although he batted .285 in and .297 in , he played just 5 and 8 games in the majors respectively during those seasons. He spent the entire 1976 season
1976 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Cincinnati Reds over New York Yankees ; Johnny Bench, MVP*All-Star Game, July 13 at Veterans Stadium: National League, 7-1; George Foster, MVP-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Naranjeros de Hermosillo...
with Tucson, batting .317 with career highs in home runs (22) and RBI (95), but did not get a call to the majors.
McKinney was given one last shot in when the A's, with Charlie Finley having traded off most of their stars, turned him into a first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
, although he also played 18 games at DH. He spent nearly the entire season in Oakland, with only a brief demotion to the San Jose Missions
San Jose Missions
The San Jose Missions were a minor league baseball team which played in the Pacific Coast League in 1977 and 1978. The team had been known as the Sacramento Solons prior to 1977, and played its home games in a football stadium there...
in late June. While McKinney finally began hitting with some power, with 6 home runs in just 189 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, his batting average sunk to .177, and his major league career was over.