First Baseman, Texas
Rangers
Age: 24
Bats – Left,
Throws – Left
Height: 6’0” Weight: 195
Prior to 1974:
A native of
Perryton, Texas, Hargrove played football, basketball, and golf in a high school
which did not field a baseball team. Moving on to Northwestern Oklahoma State
University, he joined the baseball team and led the conference in batting as a
freshman. Hargrove was chosen by the Rangers in the 25th round of
the 1972 amateur draft and signed for a $2000 bonus. He was first assigned to
Geneva of the short-season Class A New York-Pennsylvania League in ’72 and hit
.267 in 70 games. He spent 1973 with Gastonia of the Class A Western Carolinas
League and led the circuit with a .351 average. After a strong performance
playing winter instructional ball Hargrove was invited to spring training with
the Rangers and made the club.
1974 Season Summary
Appeared in 131
games
1B – 91, DH – 32,
LF – 6, PH – 17
[Bracketed
numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]
Batting
Plate
Appearances – 477
At Bats – 415
Runs – 57
Hits – 134
Doubles – 18
Triples – 6 [11,
tied with six others]
Home Runs – 4
RBI – 66
Bases on Balls
– 49
Int. BB – 4
Strikeouts – 42
Stolen Bases – 0
Caught Stealing
– 0
Average - .323
[Non-qualifying]
OBP - .395
[Non-qualifying]
Slugging Pct. -
.424
Total Bases – 176
GDP – 11
Hit by Pitches
– 4
Sac Hits – 4
Sac Flies – 5
Midseason
snapshot: HR- 3, RBI- 32, AVG - .326., SB - 20, OBP - .398
---
Most hits, game
– 4 (in 4 AB) at Minnesota 7/2
Longest hitting
streak – 7 games
Most HR, game –
1 (in 3 AB) at NY Yankees 4/28, (in 4 AB) vs. Kansas City 5/8, (in 4 AB) at
Cleveland 6/6, (in 5 AB) at Detroit 8/25
HR at home – 1
HR on road – 3
Multi-HR games
– 0
Most RBIs, game
– 3 vs. Chi. White Sox 7/27, at Chi. White Sox 8/4, vs. Detroit 8/10
Pinch-hitting –
4 of 13 (.308) with 1 2B & 4 RBI
Fielding
Chances – 712
Put Outs – 631
Assists – 72
Errors – 9
DP - 57
Pct. - .987
Awards & Honors:
AL Rookie of
the Year: BBWAA
AL ROY Voting:
Mike Hargrove,
Tex.: 16 of 23 votes, 67% share
Bucky Dent,
ChiWS.: 3 votes, 13% share
George Brett,
KC: 2 votes, 8% share
Rick Burleson,
Bos.: 1 vote, 4% share
Jim Sundberg,
Tex.: 1 vote, 4% share
---
Rangers went
84-76 to finish second in the AL Western Division, 5 games behind the
division-winning Oakland Athletics.
Aftermath of ‘74:
Hargrove had
another good year at the plate in 1975, hitting .303 with 11 home runs and 62
RBIs. He was also an All-Star selection. Shifted to left field during the
season due to personnel changes, Hargrove displayed only average speed and
defensive skills. He also exhibited a fiery temper and became known for his
elaborate batting rituals that caused him to be nicknamed “The Human Rain
Delay”. Hargrove was back at first base, his natural position, in 1976 and
batted .287 while leading the AL by drawing 97 walks. As a fielder he led all the
league’s first baseman by committing 21 errors. He was better in the field in
1977 and hit .305 with 18 home runs and 69 RBIs while drawing 103 walks. Hargrove’s
batting average dropped to .251 in 1978 although he still compiled a .388 on-base
percentage thanks to his 107 walks drawn. In the offseason he was part of a
trade to San Diego for outfielder Oscar Gamble. He was with the Padres until
June of ’79 when he was dealt to the Cleveland Indians who moved him to left
field. He hit .325 with 10 home runs and 56 RBIs in 100 games over the rest of
1979 with the Indians. Hargrove spent 1980 at first base due to a season-ending
knee injury suffered by veteran slugger Andre Thornton in the spring. He batted
.304 with 11 home runs and 85 RBIs. He continued to spell the injured Thornton
during the strike-interrupted 1981 season and topped the AL with a .424 on-base
percentage. Hargrove remained at first base in 1982 and batted .271 while
Thornton was utilized as the designated hitter. The steady but unspectacular
Hargrove lasted for three more years with Cleveland when his playing career
came to an end after the 1985 season.
Overall, he batted .290 with 1614 hits that included 266 doubles, 28
triples, and 80 home runs. He also accumulated 686 RBIs. With the Rangers he
averaged .293 with 730 hits, 122 doubles, 14 triples, 47 home runs, and 295
RBIs. He was a one-time All-Star. Hargrove went on to become a major league
manager, guiding the Indians to a 721-591 record from 1991 to ’99 that included
two AL pennants. He also managed the Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners
with far less success.
--
Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were recipients of
the Rookie of the Year Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America
(1947 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from
its inception through 1948 and from 1949 on to one recipient from each major
league.
