Leroy Stanton Explained

Leroy Stanton
Position:Right fielder
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Birth Date:10 April 1946
Birth Place:Latta, South Carolina, U.S.
Death Place:Florence County, South Carolina, U.S.
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:September 10
Debutyear:1970
Debutteam:New York Mets
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:September 30
Finalyear:1978
Finalteam:Seattle Mariners
Debut2league:NPB
Debut2date:April 14
Debut2year:1979
Debut2team:Hanshin Tigers
Final2league:NPB
Final2date:October 16
Final2year:1979
Final2team:Hanshin Tigers
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.244
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:77
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:358
Stat2league:NPB
Stat21label:Batting average
Stat21value:.225
Stat22label:Home runs
Stat22value:23
Stat23label:Runs batted in
Stat23value:58
Teams:

Leroy Bobby Stanton (April 10, 1946 – March 13, 2019) was a Major League Baseball outfielder. He played all or part of nine seasons in the majors, from to . He played for the New York Mets, California Angels, and the Seattle Mariners. He also played one season in Japan for the Hanshin Tigers in . He died in a car crash on March 13, 2019.[1]

Professional career

New York Mets

Stanton played two seasons with the Mets. In limited playing time he had five hits in 25 at bats with two RBIs, one double and one triple.

On December 10,, Stanton was traded by the Mets with Francisco Estrada, Don Rose, and Nolan Ryan to the California Angels for Jim Fregosi, considered to be one of the worst trades the Mets have ever made.[2]

California Angels

Stanton hit three home runs in a July 10,, game against the Baltimore Orioles to tie an Angels record. He led California with 14 home runs and 82 RBIs in .

Halos Heaven, a Los Angeles Angels blog, ranked Stanton as the 68th best Angel in franchise history saying; "Stanton saw a lot of action as an Angel, never truly excelling into greatness, never swooning into uselessness. That is why he and his 594 games under the Halo stand at number 68."[3]

In five seasons with the Angels Stanton played 594 games with 443 hits, 47 home runs and 242 RBIs. He lost his starting job in right field to Bobby Bonds at the start of the 1976 season after Bonds was acquired from the New York Yankees for Mickey Rivers.

Seattle Mariners

Stanton was selected by the Mariners in the 1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft. In, Stanton hit a career-high 27 home runs for the Mariners.

In two seasons with the M's, Stanton played 226 games, acquiring 180 hits, 30 home runs and 114 RBIs.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Coroner identifies 72-year-old man killed in Florence crash . wmbfnews . 14 March 2019 . 15 March 2019.
  2. Web site: Durso . Joseph . The New York Times: This Day In Sports . . The Mets' trade of Nolan Ryan for the California Angels' Jim Fregosi was unquestionably the worst in baseball history. Ryan went on to throw seven no-hitters (see May 1) and become the greatest strikeout pitcher of all time. Fregosi, on the downside of his career, batted .232. (2004). May 12, 2020 . December 10, 1971.
  3. http://www.halosheaven.com/story/2005/12/19/34023/547 The 100 Greatest Angels - #68, Leroy Stanton