Champ Summers

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Champ Summers
Outfield, Designated Hitter
Born: June 15, 1946 (1946-06-15) (age 61)
Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 4, 1974
for the Oakland Athletics
Final game
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Career statistics
Career Batting average     .255
Career Home runs     54
RBI     218
Teams
*Oakland Athletics 1974
  • Chicago Cubs 1975-1976
  • Cincinnati Reds 1977-1979
  • Detroit Tigers 1979-1981
  • San Francisco Giants 1982-1983
  • San Diego Padres 1984
Career highlights and awards

John Junior Summers (born June 15, 1946 in Bremerton, Washington), is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as an outfielder and pinch hitter from 1974-1984.

Contents

[edit] Playing Career

Summers played eleven seasons in Major League Baseball from 1974-1984, playing with the Oakland Athletics (1974); Chicago Cubs (1975-1976); Cincinnati Reds (1977-1979); Detroit Tigers (1979-1981); San Francisco Giants (1982-1983); and San Diego Padres (1984).

Summers served in the United States Army in Vietnam and did not play his first Major League Baseball game until he was 28 years old. He was signed by the Oakland Athletics as an amateur free agent in 1971, after being discovered in a men's softball league following his service in Vietnam.

Summers was a free spirit who was known for his baseball fights and was one of the first players to get a tattoo. Summers came from a family of athletes, with a father who was a prizefighter in the Navy and a mother who was a pro bowler. Summers received his nickname "Champ" from his father: "Dad took one look at me when I was born and said, He looks like he's just gone 10 rounds with Joe Louis.'" [1]

The 6' 2", 205 pound Vietnam veteran bounced between the minors and majors, mostly as a pinch hitter, until Sparky Anderson brought him to Detroit as a designated hitter.

Champ's best seasons were 1979 and 1980, whien he hit 38 of his 54 career home runs and 121 of his 218 career RBIs. In 1979, he hit .291 with a .401 on base percentage and a .556 slugging percentage for a remarkable .956 OPS (on base plus slugging) score. Summers had five RBIs in a single game in May 1979. In 1980, he had another big year, batting .297 with a .393 on base percentage, .504 slugging percentage and .897 OPS score.

Summers performance dropped off substantially in 1981, batting .255 with only 3 home runs.

On March 4, 1982, the Tigers traded Champ to the San Francisco Giants for Enos Cabell and cash. After two seasons with the Giants, he was traded to the San Diego Padres where he played his final season in 1984.

Summers ended his career playing for the Padres in the 1984 World Series against his former skipper, Sparky Anderson, and his former Detroit Tigers teammates. Summers struck out in his only at bat in the World Series, which also wound up being his last Major League at bat.

Over his eleven year career, Summers hit for a .255 batting average with 54 home runs and 218 RBIs.

[edit] Career Batting Stats

  • 698 Games
  • 350 Hits
  • 54 Home Runs
  • 218 RBIs
  • .255 Batting Average

[edit] Fast Facts

  • In 1979, Summers hit a career high 21 home runs during split time with the Reds and Tigers.

[edit] External links