Dan Driessen

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Daniel Driessen (born July 29, 1951 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina) is a former Major League Baseball infielder who played for three teams in his eighteen year career, and is best known as a member of the Cincinnati Reds "Big Red Machine" of the 1970s.

In his first four seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, Driessen demonstrated his versatility as a player. He became Cincinnati's starting third baseman in 1974, but was soon replaced at that position by Pete Rose, and from 1977 to 1981 replaced Tony Perez at first base. Driessen was also an excellent fielder, leading all National League first basemen in fielding three times. Finally, he was a steady hitter, leading the NL in walks in 1980.

In 1976, Driessen became the National League's first ever designated hitter in the World Series. Traded in the middle of the 1984 season to the Montreal Expos, he played little until his retirement, filling in at first base for the 1987 National League champions the St. Louis Cardinals.

[edit] See also

• Top 500 home run hitters of all time
• Montreal Expos all-time roster

[edit] Sources

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference

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