Mike Epstein
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Michael Peter Epstein (born April 4, 1943 in Bronx, New York) was a Major League Baseball player for the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Senators, Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, and California Angels from 1966 - 1974.
The Jewish left-handed hitting first baseman was noted as a strong power hitter who did not hit for a high batting average, though he walked (and was hit by the pitch) so much that he finished with a respectable career .359 on base percentage.
He was first brought up for a few games by the Baltimore Orioles in 1966, at the age of 23, having hit over .300 with at least 29 home runs and 100 RBI in his first two minor league seasons.
He had arguably his best season in 1969 with the Senators, when in only 403 at bats he hit 30 home runs (9th in the American League), had 85 Runs Batted In, and hit for a respectable .278 batting average with an excellent .414 on base percentage and .551 slugging percentage. This was also the only year in which the reconstituted Senators finished above .500.
In 1971, while hitting 18 home runs in 329 at bats, he was hit by the pitch 12 times, leading the league.
In 1972 he hit 26 home runs (3rd in the league) for the world champion Oakland Athletics. He had a .490 slugging percentage (5th), a .376 on base percentage (6th), and was hit by the pitch 11 times (2nd). He was 16th in voting for the American League MVP.
Owing to his ethnic and religious background, along with his power, Epstein's nickname was "Superjew."
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Categories: 1943 births | Living people | Major league players from New York | Baltimore Orioles players | California Angels players | Jewish American sportspeople | Major league first basemen | Oakland Athletics players | Washington Senators (1961-1971) players | Texas Rangers players | 1972 Oakland Athletics World Series Championship Team
