Boots Day
Encyclopedia
Charles Frederick "Boots" Day (born August 31, 1947) is a retired American
professional baseball
outfielder
. A native of Ilion, New York
, Day played Major League Baseball
for all or parts of six seasons (1969–74), with the bulk of that time spent with the Montreal Expos
. He threw and batted left-handed, stood 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) tall and weighed 160 pounds (73 kg).
Day originally signed with the St. Louis Cardinals
in 1966, and received a Major League trial with the Cardinals in 1969
, playing in 11 games and going hitless
in six at bats. At the close of the season, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs
for left-handed pitcher
Rich Nye
. He made the Cubs' opening day 1970
roster, but was soon traded again, in May, to Montreal for veteran catcher
Jack Hiatt
. After further seasoning in Triple-A
, at Buffalo
and Winnipeg
, he was recalled by the Expos and played the next three-plus seasons as Montreal's platoon center fielder
. In 1971
, his best Major League campaign, he reached career highs in hits (105), home runs (4), runs batted in (33), and batting average
(.283) in 122 games played. After slumping in 1972
, he returned to form the following season, batting .275 in 101 games in 1973
. But the Expos acquired veteran center fielder Willie Davis
in an offseason blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers
, and Day lost his semi-regular job. After only 52 games and 72 at bats in 1974
, he returned to the minor leagues
for the remainder of his playing career.
All told, he appeared in 471 MLB games (449 of them with Montreal), and batted .256 with eight home runs and 98 runs batted in, in 1,151 at bats.
After finishing his playing career in the Detroit Tigers
' organization, he became a minor league manager and instructor in the Detroit system.
In 2010 he was the hitting coach of the Calgary Vipers
of the Golden Baseball League
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
. A native of Ilion, New York
Ilion, New York
Ilion is a village in Herkimer County, New York, United States. The population was 8,610 at the 2000 census. Ilion is a name for the ancient city of Troy.The Village of Ilion is at the north town line of the Town of German Flatts...
, Day played Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
for all or parts of six seasons (1969–74), with the bulk of that time spent with the Montreal Expos
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
. He threw and batted left-handed, stood 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) tall and weighed 160 pounds (73 kg).
Day originally signed with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in 1966, and received a Major League trial with the Cardinals in 1969
1969 St. Louis Cardinals season
The 1969 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 88th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 78th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 87-75 during the season and finished fourth in the newly-established National League East, 13 games behind the eventual NL pennant and World Series...
, playing in 11 games and going hitless
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in six at bats. At the close of the season, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
for left-handed pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Rich Nye
Rich Nye
Richard Raymond Nye , is a retired American professional baseball player who was a left-handed pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1966-1970....
. He made the Cubs' opening day 1970
1970 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* November 17, 1969: Oscar Gamble and Dick Selma were traded by the Cubs to the Philadelphia Phillies for Johnny Callison and a player to be named later...
roster, but was soon traded again, in May, to Montreal for veteran catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Jack Hiatt
Jack Hiatt
Jack E. Hiatt is a former Major League Baseball player. He was signed by the Los Angeles Angels as a free agent in...
. After further seasoning in Triple-A
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, at Buffalo
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
and Winnipeg
Winnipeg/Peninsula Whips
The Winnipeg Whips and the Peninsula Whips were names of a minor league baseball franchise that played in the International League from June 11, 1970, through the end of the 1973 baseball season....
, he was recalled by the Expos and played the next three-plus seasons as Montreal's platoon center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
. In 1971
1971 Montreal Expos season
-Offseason:* December 30, 1970: Dave McDonald was traded by the Expos to the San Francisco Giants for Ron Hunt.* January 1971: Jack Scalia was selected by the Expos third overall in the 1971 Major League Baseball Draft...
, his best Major League campaign, he reached career highs in hits (105), home runs (4), runs batted in (33), and batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(.283) in 122 games played. After slumping in 1972
1972 Montreal Expos season
- Offseason :* November 29, 1971: Tom Walker was drafted by the Expos from the Baltimore Orioles in the 1971 rule 5 draft.* December 6, 1971: Adolfo Phillips was purchased by the Expos from the Cleveland Indians....
, he returned to form the following season, batting .275 in 101 games in 1973
1973 Montreal Expos season
-Offseason:* January 10, 1973: Dan Boitano was drafted by the Expos in the 2nd round of the 1973 Major League Baseball Draft , but did not sign.* February 28, 1973: Carl Morton was traded by the Expos to the Atlanta Braves for Pat Jarvis....
. But the Expos acquired veteran center fielder Willie Davis
Willie Davis (baseball)
William Henry Davis was a center fielder in Major League Baseball who played most of his career for the Los Angeles Dodgers...
in an offseason blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, and Day lost his semi-regular job. After only 52 games and 72 at bats in 1974
1974 Montreal Expos season
-Offseason:* October 26, 1973: Bernie Allen was released by the Expos.* December 5, 1973: Mike Marshall was traded by the Expos to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Willie Davis....
, he returned to the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
for the remainder of his playing career.
All told, he appeared in 471 MLB games (449 of them with Montreal), and batted .256 with eight home runs and 98 runs batted in, in 1,151 at bats.
After finishing his playing career in the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
' organization, he became a minor league manager and instructor in the Detroit system.
In 2010 he was the hitting coach of the Calgary Vipers
Calgary Vipers
The Calgary Vipers were a professional baseball team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They were part of the Western Division of the independent North American League. The Vipers have played all of their home games at Foothills Stadium. Previously, the Vipers played in the Northern League from...
of the Golden Baseball League
Golden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico....
.