Vada Pinson

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Vada Edward Pinson Jr. (August 11, 1938 – October 21, 1995) was an American professional baseball player and mentor.

He played center field in Major League Baseball from 1958 to 1975, most notably for the Cincinnati Reds, for whom he played from 1958 to 1968.

Pinson, who batted and threw left-handed, was primarily a center fielder with a combination of strength, speed, and solid defensive skills.

Early life

Pinson was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and his family moved to California as a child. Frank Robinson, a Pinson teammate in the major leagues for nine years), centerfielder Curt Flood, and Basketball Hall of Fame center Bill Russell attended Oakland's McClymonds High School, a school attended by Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder Frank Robinson (a Pinson teammate in the major leagues for nine years), and Basketball Hall of Fame center Bill Russell. Pinson was involved in the trumpet playing in the school's band to the point where he considered it a career, but his baseball coach George Powles convinced him otherwise, turning him into a player by instilling his athletic ability and talent.

Personal life

In 1981, he became eligible for the Hall of Fame. He had his highest vote total of 15.7% in 1988, despite being on the ballot for 15 years. In 1996, he was left off the ballot, receiving only 10.9% of the vote.

Valerie, Kimberly, Renee, and Renee, as well as one son, Vada Pinson III.

Pinson retired from baseball entirely after the 1994 season. Since suffering a stroke, he was admitted to an Oakland hospital on October 5, 1995. He died on October 21, 1995. He was buried in Rolling Hills Memorial Park, Richmond, California, at the age of 69.

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Professional career

He was given a $4,000 bonus by the Cincinnati Redlegs right before turning 18, which he accepted. He spent two seasons in the minor leagues, with the Wausau Lumberjacks and the Visalia Redlegs in the Northern League for 1956 (hitting.278 in 75 games) and the Visalia Redlegs in the California League the next year, scoring.368 with 209 hits in 135 games.

He earned a spot on the Redlegs' 25-man roster out of spring training after two minor league seasons and was still 19 years old, playing his first major league debut against the Philadelphia Phillies on April 15, 1958 at home in Crosley Field. Pinson had one hit in five at-bats, his first came off a single batter for future Baseball Hall-of-Famers Robin Roberts, who was batting in centerfield. He hit his first home run in the Redlegs' next game, slamming Pittsburgh Pirates starter Ron Kline at Forbes Field three days later. He was sent to the Seattle Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League due to a fall in May that decreased his average to.194 per capita. He played in 124 games and hit.343 before being called up by the Redlegs, totaling.412 in 12 games in September. He had a.271 batting average in 27 games and 96 at-bats with a.352 OBP.

Joe Bashley's first full year in the majors, with a.316 batting average and a.371 OBP on 154 games, including a league record) and 20 home runs with 21 stolen bases. He had an 8.880 OPS. He was selected to both All-Star Games and finished 15th in Most Valuable Player voting last year (not playing in the first and pinch running in the second). With 423 putouts, he led the National League in putouts as an outfielder.

He appeared in 154 games again this year, with 187 runs on 187 hits, 37 doubles (a league high), 20 home runs, 61 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases, finishing 18th in MVP polls. He had an OPS over 800 once more, this time at 8.811 OPS. With 401, he led the league in putouts once more. He was invited to both of the All-Star Games this year, batting once in the first game and missing no at-bat in the second game. In the National League, the Reds went 67-87 and 6th. Pinson's tenure had the worst season on record in terms of terms of record.

1961 was much the same in steady production, with 208 runs, 34 doubles, 16 home runs, and 87 RBIs on a.379 OBP, a career high and league record. When winning a Gold Glove, he came in third place in MVP voting, his first victory in his career. He had a career high of 8.883 OPS. Roberto Clemente came in second second for the batting title, putting him out by eight percentage points. With 391, he led the league in putouts for the third year in a row. In the 1961 World Series, the Reds won the pennant, going 93-61 (a 26-game improvement), and then won the right to play the New York Yankees. As the Reds lost to the Yankees in five games, Pinson had two hits in 22 at-bats for a.091 batting average.

He played 155 games in the first season of the National League, with 181 hits, 31 doubles, 23 home runs, 26 stolen bases, and a.341 OBP. He had a.817 OPS in his fourth year with an OPS over 800. As an outfielder, he had 344 putouts, his fifth highest in the league. However, his season was marred by an embarrassing occurrence in which he took a swing at club reporter Earl Lawson, who predicted that Pinson would be able to hit for.350 each so often rather than going for home runs amid questionable fielding. The charges were dismissed, but Pinson said it was the most humiliating moment of his life.

He appeared in all 162 games for 1963, the first time he would do so in his career. According to reports, he had 204 hits (a league high), 37 doubles, 14 triples (a league record), 23 home runs, 106 RBIs, and 27 stolen bases on a.313 batting average and a.347 OBP. He had an OPS over 800 for the fifth (and final) year in a row, slugging a percentage of.861. He had 357 putouts as an outfielder, the third most in the league. Pinson hit 1,000 runs over his career on September 11, 1963, in a home run against Milwaukee Braves Claud Raymond. In MVP polling, he came in 10th place. Robinson's autobiography Extra Innings tells of a tale of him and Pinson bringing then rookie Pete Rose to dinner during the season while still showing him the ropes around the team and league. In September 1963, Pinson allegedly grabbed Lawson by the neck and pushed him against a wall, but the trial was concluded by a standing jury three months later. Pinson was also described by law as a "combined speed with strength" in Mickey Mantle's "combined speed with strength." "Pinson, one of the most graceful runners to ever wear a baseball uniform," he said, with his feet barely touching the ground.

Pinson played in 156 games in the following year, hitting 166 runs (his lowest at this point in his career) while still having 23 doubles and home runs, eight stolen bases, and 99 strikeouts (a career high) with a.266 OBP. As an outfielder, he had 299 putouts, his fifth most in the league. In MVP polls, he ranked 18th. The Reds went 92-70 last season, one game behind the St. Louis Cardinals and tied with the Philadelphia Phillies, who both played both games in the season's final series. Pinson had 1,177 hits before he reached his fifth best all time, with the four others ahead of him (Ty Cobb, Mel Ott, Al Kaline, and Freddie Lindstrom) all being in the Hall of Fame. In addition, Alex Rodriguez, Robin Yount, Hank Aaron, Jimmie Foxx, and Buddy Lewis had more hits in his first year as a 26-year old before being 26.

Pinson made a good leap in 1965, appearing in 159 games and 669 at-bats, which were both career highs. He had 204 hits (second in the league) and 97 runs with 34 doubles and 22 home runs, 84 RBIs, and a.836 OPS, with 34 doubles and 22 home runs. Bill DeWitt traded Frank Robinson to the Baltimore Oriolers on December 9, 1965, marking his last year with him.

He played in 156 games over the years, with 178 hits, 35 doubles, 16 home runs, and 76 RBIs, with a.288 OBP, 768 OPS, and.768 OPS. Despite being 4th in putouts as an outfielder with 344, he made 13 mistakes, the second most in the league.

He appeared in 158 games, winning 187 runs, 90 runs, 31 triples, 13 triples, 13 triples (a league record), 18 home runs, 26 stolen bases, (fourth in the league) with a.288 batting average,.318 OBP, and a.771 OPS. With a decrease in errors to five, he had 341 putouts as an outfielder (with 338 as a centerfielder), the 2nd most in the league.

The following year (some called "The Year of the Pitcher") was his last season with the Reds. He played 130 games, his first game with the team in a full season, ranging from 135 runs, 29 doubles, five home runs, 17 stolen bases, and a.694 OPS, his lowest as a Red). His putout total of 271 was also a career low for him in a full season, though he did have a.978 fielding percentage. Pinson hit Dave Giusti of the Houston Astros on May 22, 1968, putting him second behind Edd Roush (who had 1,784 hits with Cincinnati) for the most hits as a Red. He held the record for four seasons until Pete Rose passed away on September 1, 1972. Pinson spent his Reds career on September 29, where he went 1-for-2 with a walk. Wayne Granger and Bobby Tolan were traded by the Reds to the St. Louis Cardinals on October 11, and he was recalled by the Reds on October 11. Numerous players have worn his jersey number 28, from Tolan (who Pinson was traded for) to Anthony DeSclafani, the current wearer, since the 1966 trade. He had appeared in 1,565 games, winning 1,881 runs on 6,335 at-bats, 814 stolen bases for a.297 batting average in 11 years with the Reds, bringing 1,881 hits on 6,335 at-bats. He did not have his figures for the remaining seven years, but he maintained fair numbers.

While posting a.303 OBP and.686 OPS in his first year with the Cardinals, he played in 123 games, including 126 hits, 58 runs, 22 doubles, 10 home runs, and 70 RBIs on a.255 batting average (his second lowest for his entire career). Despite playing in only 1,090.2 innings, he had a.996 fielding percentage as an outfielder (with just one mistake all season), his 1st in the league. In the 7th inning, Pinson struck Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Joe Gibbon for his 2,000th hit in the 7th inning.

For the 1970 season, he was with the Cleveland Indians. He played in 148 games while collecting 164 hits, 74 runs, 28 doubles, a career-best 24 home runs, 82 RBIs, and a.319 OBP, his highest since 1965). He played in 146 games, 60 runs, 23 doubles, 11 home runs, and 35 RBIs, while loosing 25 bases (the highest in the American League) with a.263 OBP,.672 OPS, and a.385 OPS. With nine and five respectively, he came third in both assists as a center fielder and errors committed. He was traded by the Indians (along with Frank Baker and Alan Foster) to the California Angels for Alex Johnson and Jerry Moses on October 5, 2008.

With 133 runs and 56 runs, seven home runs, 49 RBIs, 17 stolen bases, and a.697 OPS, he played in 136 games during 1972. He had 10 assists in his 112 games played at the position, with the former division ranking second in the league, while the other being 2nd in the league, with three double plays, a league record. He regressed marginally last year, appearing in only 124 games, including 121 hits, 56 runs, eight home runs, and five stolen bases on a.260 OBP, a.653 OPS. He appeared in under 1,000 innings on the field (being 997.2), the first time this has occurred since his rookie year in 1958. His figure will decline over the next two seasons. Barry Raziano and cash were traded by the Angels on February 23, 1974.

He had 112 hits, 46 runs, 18 doubles, 41 RBIs, 21 stolen bases, and a.686 OPS in 115 games with the Royals during the ensuing season. He played the majority of his games at right field (with occasional games at left or center), logging in 860 combined innings with a.990 field percentage. Pinson played in just 103 games, with 71 hits, 37 runs, 14 doubles, four home runs, five stolen bases, and a.538 OPS in his last season. With five games played at DH, he played 629 total innings in the field, a good chunk in right field, and a.993 field percentage. He replaced Amos Otis in center field and played the role for three innings against Stan Perez out in his last game against the Texas Rangers on September 28, 1975. He was released by the team on December 15, just days after it had been announced. He was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers as a free agent but the team was fired by the team on April 4, four days before the season began.

Career statistics

Pinson played for the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, California Angels, and Kansas City Royals in an 18-year career, compiling a.286 batting average, 485 runs, 127 triples, 574 home runs, 144 on-base percentage, and.442 slugging percentage. In 1959, he had four 200+ hit seasons, '61, '63, and '65, all batting over.300 in each season. He had a.981 fielding percentage throughout his career and was a two-time gold glove champion (1961 and 1962).

Coaching career

After his playing days ended, he became a mentor for the Seattle Mariners (1977–80; 1982–83), Detroit Tigers (1985–91), and Florida Marlins (1993–94) after his time as a coach. He worked on the inaugural versions of two expansion teams, the Mariners (1977) and the Marlins (1993).

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