Roy Smalley Stats & Facts

Player

 

VINTAGE BASEBALL MEMORABILIA

Vintage Baseball Memorabilia

Roy Smalley

Positions: Shortstop, Third Baseman and Second Baseman
Bats: Both  •  Throws: Right
6-1, 185lb (185cm, 83kg)
Born: October 25, 1952 in Los Angeles, CA
High School: Westchester HS (Los Angeles, CA)
Schools: Los Angeles City College (Los Angeles, CA), University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Lincoln, NE), University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
Debut: April 30, 1975
vs. CHW 3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game: October 4, 1987
vs. KCR 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
National Team: us USA (College)
Full Name: Roy Frederick Smalley
Relatives: Nephew of Gene Mauch; Son of Roy Smalley

 

Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1975

Willie Randolph
Jack Clark
Chet Lemon
Craig Reynolds
Dennis Eckersley
Roy Smalley
Ron Guidry
Donnie Moore
Lyman Bostock

 

 

 

Notable Events and Chronology for Roy Smalley Career

Biography

Drafted by the Expos, Red Sox, and Cardinals, but opting to attend the University of Southern California, Smalley turned pro with Texas as the number-one draft choice in January 1974. Soon acquired by Minnesota in a six-player-plus-cash deal, the Californian began a five-year stint playing for his uncle, manager Gene Mauch, a teammate of his father, Roy Sr.

A switch-hitting, wide-ranging shortstop with power, Roy Jr. led pro baseball in homers at his position in 1978 (19) and 1974 (24). He was the Twins’ MVP the former year and a starter in the All-Star Game the latter.

Smalley’s success diminished after suffering with spondylolysis, a condition in his lower back, in 1981, though he continued to be a dependable hitter and versatile performer. He spent two-plus unhappy years (1982-84) with the Yankees, being moved among all four infield positions. He was used primarily as a designated hitter upon returning to Minnesota in 1985. Smalley set a Twins record for career sacrifice bunts and was among the club’s all-time leaders in homers, hits, and RBI.

 

 

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Factoids, Quotes, Strange Things that may only interest me

Notes
In his 1979 All-Star season, Smalley was red-hot in the first half of the campaign and ice-cold in the second. Smalley played in all 162 games that year. In the first 81, the switch-hitter batted .362 (112 for 309). In the second 81, Smalley hit a dismal .179 (56 for 312). 

Transactions
Smalley did not fare well in a Yankee uniform. Acquired in 1982 for three players, including Ron Davis and Greg Gagne, Smalley hit pretty well, as he almost always did. He stroked 20 homers in ’82 and 18 in 1983. But his play at shortstop drew the wrath of Yankee Stadium faithful. He was mercilessly booed for his many errors (21 in the infield in 1983 at three different positions). Like Mike Torrez earlier, and Ed Whitson later, Smalley was essentially booed out of town. The Yanks dealt him to the ChiSox in 1984.

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