Patek was traded along with Bruce Dal Canton and Jerry May from the Pirates to the Royals for Jackie Hernández, Bob Johnson and Jim Campanis at the Winter Meetings on December 2, 1970.[3] In his first season with the Royals, Patek hit for the cycle on July 9, 1971, and led the American League with 11 triples to finish sixth in A.L. M.V.P. balloting. He earned his first of three All-Star selections the following season,[4] and was a staple of the Royals line-up that won the American League West from 1976 through 1978. He led the American League with 53 stolen bases in 1977. For 8 consecutive years, Patek posted 30 or more stolen bases and he led the American league in double plays turned 4 straight years. A memorable image was captured by NBC television of Patek sitting painfully alone in the Royals' empty dugout[5] while the New York Yankees celebrated on-field their come-from-behind victory to win the last game of the 1977 American League Championship Series, played in Kansas City on Patek's 33rd birthday. The game and series ended when Patek grounded into a double play.[6]
A durable player at shortstop, he ranks among the Royals all-time leaders in hits (1,076), walks (413), runs scored (571), stolen bases (336), and games played (1,245).
Following the 1979 season, Patek signed as a free agent with the California Angels. He became the second shortstop, after Ernie Banks, to hit three home runs in a single game on June 20, 1980, against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.[7] In 1981, Patek was relegated to a utility role, actually seeing more playing time backing up Bobby Grich at second base than he did at short.
Patek retired after the 1981 season with a career batting average of .242 with 41 home runs and 490 RBIs.
Patek was better known for his speed and his defensive abilities; former manager Whitey Herzog called Patek the best artificial turf shortstop he ever managed, ranking him even higher than Ozzie Smith. When asked by a reporter what it felt like to be the smallest player in the major leagues, Patek replied, "I'd rather be the smallest player in the majors than the tallest player in the minors."[8] Although Patek played in four American League Championship Series, his teams never reached the World Series. The Pirates won the World Series the season after Patek left the Pirates (1971), and the Royals lost the World Series the season after Patek left the Royals (1980). Baseball analyst Bill James has ranked Patek, a member of the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame, the 14th best player in Royals' history.
Personal lifeEdit
Patek briefly served as a part-time baseball analyst for NBC after his retirement. He was a color commentator for Texas Rangers games on television in 1985.
On July 21, 1992, Patek's daughter Kimberlie was paralyzed from the neck down in a car accident.[9] Community fund raisers and charity events, and a donation from the Baseball Assistance Team, helped the family defray significant medical expenses.[10][11] Kimberlie died on June 14, 1995.[9][11]
Kaegel, Dick (July 25, 2005). "Catching up with Freddy Patek". MLB.com.
External linksEdit
Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet SABR BioProject
freddie, patek, freddie, joseph, patek, ɑː, born, october, 1944, nicknamed, flea, cricket, american, former, professional, baseball, shortstop, played, major, league, baseball, pittsburgh, pirates, kansas, city, royals, california, angels, feet, inches, tall, . Freddie Joseph Patek ˈ p ɑː t ɛ k born October 9 1944 nicknamed the Flea or the Cricket is an American former professional baseball shortstop who played in Major League Baseball MLB for the Pittsburgh Pirates Kansas City Royals and California Angels At 5 feet 5 inches 165 cm tall he was the shortest MLB player of his time Freddie PatekShortstopBorn 1944 10 09 October 9 1944 age 79 Oklahoma City Oklahoma U S Batted RightThrew RightMLB debutJune 3 1968 for the Pittsburgh PiratesLast MLB appearanceOctober 3 1981 for the California AngelsMLB statisticsBatting average 242Home runs41Runs batted in490Stolen bases385TeamsPittsburgh Pirates 1968 1970 Kansas City Royals 1971 1979 California Angels 1980 1981 Career highlights and awards3 All Star 1972 1976 1978 AL stolen base leader 1977 Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame Contents 1 Career 1 1 Pittsburgh Pirates 1 2 Kansas City Royals 1 3 California Angels 2 Personal life 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksCareer EditPittsburgh Pirates Edit Patek was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 22nd round of the 1965 Major League Baseball draft out of Seguin High School in Seguin Texas He made his major league debut on June 3 1968 against the Los Angeles Dodgers at shortstop 1 and played all but six of his 292 games with the Pirates at shortstop However with All Star Gene Alley firmly entrenched at shortstop there was a desire on the part of management to convert him into a utility player 2 Kansas City Royals Edit Patek was traded along with Bruce Dal Canton and Jerry May from the Pirates to the Royals for Jackie Hernandez Bob Johnson and Jim Campanis at the Winter Meetings on December 2 1970 3 In his first season with the Royals Patek hit for the cycle on July 9 1971 and led the American League with 11 triples to finish sixth in A L M V P balloting He earned his first of three All Star selections the following season 4 and was a staple of the Royals line up that won the American League West from 1976 through 1978 He led the American League with 53 stolen bases in 1977 For 8 consecutive years Patek posted 30 or more stolen bases and he led the American league in double plays turned 4 straight years A memorable image was captured by NBC television of Patek sitting painfully alone in the Royals empty dugout 5 while the New York Yankees celebrated on field their come from behind victory to win the last game of the 1977 American League Championship Series played in Kansas City on Patek s 33rd birthday The game and series ended when Patek grounded into a double play 6 A durable player at shortstop he ranks among the Royals all time leaders in hits 1 076 walks 413 runs scored 571 stolen bases 336 and games played 1 245 nbsp George Brett Patek Amos Otis and Gerald Ford left to right in 1976California Angels Edit Following the 1979 season Patek signed as a free agent with the California Angels He became the second shortstop after Ernie Banks to hit three home runs in a single game on June 20 1980 against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park 7 In 1981 Patek was relegated to a utility role actually seeing more playing time backing up Bobby Grich at second base than he did at short Patek retired after the 1981 season with a career batting average of 242 with 41 home runs and 490 RBIs Patek was better known for his speed and his defensive abilities former manager Whitey Herzog called Patek the best artificial turf shortstop he ever managed ranking him even higher than Ozzie Smith When asked by a reporter what it felt like to be the smallest player in the major leagues Patek replied I d rather be the smallest player in the majors than the tallest player in the minors 8 Although Patek played in four American League Championship Series his teams never reached the World Series The Pirates won the World Series the season after Patek left the Pirates 1971 and the Royals lost the World Series the season after Patek left the Royals 1980 Baseball analyst Bill James has ranked Patek a member of the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame the 14th best player in Royals history Personal life EditPatek briefly served as a part time baseball analyst for NBC after his retirement He was a color commentator for Texas Rangers games on television in 1985 On July 21 1992 Patek s daughter Kimberlie was paralyzed from the neck down in a car accident 9 Community fund raisers and charity events and a donation from the Baseball Assistance Team helped the family defray significant medical expenses 10 11 Kimberlie died on June 14 1995 9 11 See also Edit nbsp Biography portal nbsp Baseball portalList of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leadersReferences Edit Los Angeles Dodgers 2 Pittsburgh Pirates 0 Baseball Reference com 1968 06 03 Catching up with Freddy Patek Diminutive shortstop was large part of Royals success MLB com 2005 07 25 Bucs Swing 6 Player Deal with Kansas City Royals The Associated Press AP Thursday December 3 1970 Retrieved November 1 2022 Freddie Patek Champion of the Little Guy Herald Journal 1978 07 07 Kansas City Royals Freddie Patek 1977 AL Championship Series October 9 1977 via Getty Images New York Yankees 5 Kansas City Royals 3 Retrosheet October 9 1977 California Angels 20 Boston Red Sox 2 Baseball Reference com 1980 06 20 Lincicome Bernie May 8 1980 Half the game s 90 percent mental Fort Lauderdale News Retrieved November 23 2017 via newspapers com a b McQuade Drew June 15 1995 Dingers amp Zingers philly com Archived from the original on December 21 2015 via Wayback Machine Berkow Ira March 14 1993 For Pateks the Safety Net Fails The New York Times Retrieved November 23 2017 a b Kimberlie Patek 23 ballplayer s daughter Asbury Park Press Asbury Park New Jersey AP June 15 1995 Retrieved November 23 2017 via newspapers com Further reading EditKaegel Dick July 25 2005 Catching up with Freddy Patek MLB com External links EditCareer statistics and player information from MLB or ESPN or Baseball Reference or Fangraphs or Baseball Reference Minors or Retrosheet SABR BioProjectAwards and achievementsPreceded byJim Ray Hart Hitting for the cycleJuly 9 1971 Succeeded byDave KingmanPreceded byCesar Tovar American League Triples Leader1971 Succeeded byCarlton Fisk amp Joe Rudi Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Freddie Patek amp oldid 1180196699, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
