Roy Staiger
Encyclopedia
Roy Joseph Staiger is a former infielder
in Major League Baseball
who played for the New York Mets
(1975–77) and New York Yankees
(1979). This makes him one of the few players to have played for both current New York
baseball teams. He played primarily at third base
.
Staiger was drafted out of high school by the Los Angeles Dodgers
in the 15th round of the June 1969 amateur draft
. He declined to sign with the Dodgers and instead attended Bacone College
in Oklahoma
. In the January 1970 amateur draft, he was selected in the 1st round by the New York Mets
and signed with the Mets.
team in Visalia
in 1970. That season he played 76 games, with a batting average
of .239, 7 home run
s and 34 runs batted in
.
In 1971 he played a second season at Visalia. That season he played 139 games, and his batting average improved to .282. He also improved to 19 home runs and 83 runs batted in. This earned him a promotion to the Mets' class-AA team, the Memphis
Blues in 1972.
At Memphis in 1972, Staiger played in 81 games. He once again had a batting average of .282. But with only 3 home runs, his slugging percentage was just .379 and he registered an on-base percentage of .306.
For the 1973 season, Staiger was promoted to the Mets' class-AAA team, the Tidewater Tides. In 136 games, Staiger had a batting average of .249, a slugging percentage of .339 and an on-base percentage of .302. Although the Mets had several injuries to their infielders on the Major League team, Staiger was not called up to the majors during the season although several other Tidewater infielders — Brian Ostrosser
and Lute Barnes
— did receive time in the majors that season.
Staiger returned to Tidewater in 1974. Again he played in 136 games, and he improved his batting average to .272, his slugging percentage to .343 and his on-base percentage to .343. Again, he was not called up to the Mets major league team that season.
Staiger played for Tidewater a third consecutive season in 1975. In 137 games he improved his batting average and slugging percentage again to .282 and .418, respectively. This earned Staiger a promotion to the Mets major league team that September.
on September 12, 1975. He played third base
for the Mets that day against the St. Louis Cardinals
. The following day, Staiger got his first Major League hit (baseball)
, a double
, also against the Cardinals. In total, Staiger played in 13 games for the Mets in 1975, getting 3 hits in 19 at bat
s for a batting average of .158.
Staiger played the entire 1976 season with the Mets. Although he split time as the Mets third baseman with Wayne Garrett
, he played the majority of the game at third base for the Mets that season, 93. In a total of 95 games in 1976, including one game in which he played shortstop
, Staiger batted .220 with 2 home runs. His slugging percentage was .273 and his on-base percentage was .278.
In 1977, Staiger started the season with the Mets but was demoted to Tidewater in mid-season. He only returned to the Mets in September that season. In 40 games with the Mets that season he batted .252 with 2 home runs. In 73 games with Tidewater he batted .287 with 15 home runs.
in exchange for Sergio Ferrer
. Staiger played the entire 1978 season with the Yankees class-AAA team, the Tacoma Yankees
. He batted .283 with 19 home runs in 118 games. The following season he again played with the Yankees AAA affiliate, this time the Columbus Clippers
. He played in 104 games, with a batting average of .260 and 9 home runs. During the 1979 season he was briefly recalled to the Yankees major league team. He played 4 games for the Yankees, getting 3 hits in 11 at bats.
In 1980 Staiger played once again for the Columbus Clippers. After batting .234 in 90 games, he ended his professional baseball career.
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
in 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...
who played for the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
(1975–77) and New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(1979). This makes him one of the few players to have played for both current New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
baseball teams. He played primarily at third base
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
.
Staiger was drafted out of high school by 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...
in the 15th round of the June 1969 amateur draft
1969 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1969 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The Washington Senators tabbed slugging outfielder Jeff Burroughs of Wilson High School in Long Beach, CA as the nation's number one pick...
. He declined to sign with the Dodgers and instead attended Bacone College
Bacone College
Bacone College is a private four-year liberal arts college in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Founded in 1880 as the Indian University by Almon C. Bacone, Bacone College is the oldest continuously operated institution of higher education in Oklahoma...
in Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. In the January 1970 amateur draft, he was selected in the 1st round by the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
and signed with the Mets.
Minor League career
Staiger began his professional career with the Mets' class-A minor leagueMinor 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...
team in Visalia
Visalia
-California:* Visalia, California* Downtown Visalia* Greater Visalia Area** Tulare County, California* Visalia Municipal Airport-Fictional Places:* Visalia, California , a fictional version of Visalia where parts of Season 2 of 24 was set....
in 1970. That season he played 76 games, with a 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 :...
of .239, 7 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 34 runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
.
In 1971 he played a second season at Visalia. That season he played 139 games, and his batting average improved to .282. He also improved to 19 home runs and 83 runs batted in. This earned him a promotion to the Mets' class-AA team, the Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
Blues in 1972.
At Memphis in 1972, Staiger played in 81 games. He once again had a batting average of .282. But with only 3 home runs, his slugging percentage was just .379 and he registered an on-base percentage of .306.
For the 1973 season, Staiger was promoted to the Mets' class-AAA team, the Tidewater Tides. In 136 games, Staiger had a batting average of .249, a slugging percentage of .339 and an on-base percentage of .302. Although the Mets had several injuries to their infielders on the Major League team, Staiger was not called up to the majors during the season although several other Tidewater infielders — Brian Ostrosser
Brian Ostrosser
Brian Leonard Ostrosser was a Major League Baseball shortstop who played for the New York Mets in 1973. He played 4 games for the that season when injuries to several players left the team short of infielders....
and Lute Barnes
Lute Barnes
Luther Owens Barnes is a former professional baseball second baseman and shortstop who played Major League Baseball for the New York Mets from -. Barnes attended college at Oregon State University. He was drafted by the Mets in the 21st round of the 1969 amateur draft.-External links:* - Lute...
— did receive time in the majors that season.
Staiger returned to Tidewater in 1974. Again he played in 136 games, and he improved his batting average to .272, his slugging percentage to .343 and his on-base percentage to .343. Again, he was not called up to the Mets major league team that season.
Staiger played for Tidewater a third consecutive season in 1975. In 137 games he improved his batting average and slugging percentage again to .282 and .418, respectively. This earned Staiger a promotion to the Mets major league team that September.
New York Mets
Staiger made his major league debut for the New York MetsNew York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
on September 12, 1975. He played third base
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
for the Mets that day against 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...
. The following day, Staiger got his first Major League hit (baseball)
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....
, a double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, also against the Cardinals. In total, Staiger played in 13 games for the Mets in 1975, getting 3 hits in 19 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s for a batting average of .158.
Staiger played the entire 1976 season with the Mets. Although he split time as the Mets third baseman with Wayne Garrett
Wayne Garrett
Ronald Wayne Garrett was the New York Mets starting third baseman from 1972 through 1975. Garrett also saw occasional duty as a second baseman and as a shortstop....
, he played the majority of the game at third base for the Mets that season, 93. In a total of 95 games in 1976, including one game in which he played shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
, Staiger batted .220 with 2 home runs. His slugging percentage was .273 and his on-base percentage was .278.
In 1977, Staiger started the season with the Mets but was demoted to Tidewater in mid-season. He only returned to the Mets in September that season. In 40 games with the Mets that season he batted .252 with 2 home runs. In 73 games with Tidewater he batted .287 with 15 home runs.
New York Yankees
After the 1977 season, Staiger was traded by the Mets to their cross-town rivals, the New York YankeesNew York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in exchange for Sergio Ferrer
Sergio Ferrer
Sergio Ferrer Marrero is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. He played in parts of four seasons in the majors in two separate stints. He played for the Minnesota Twins in and , then spent two seasons in the minor leagues before returning to the majors to play for the New York Mets in and...
. Staiger played the entire 1978 season with the Yankees class-AAA team, the Tacoma Yankees
Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
. He batted .283 with 19 home runs in 118 games. The following season he again played with the Yankees AAA affiliate, this time the Columbus Clippers
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
. He played in 104 games, with a batting average of .260 and 9 home runs. During the 1979 season he was briefly recalled to the Yankees major league team. He played 4 games for the Yankees, getting 3 hits in 11 at bats.
In 1980 Staiger played once again for the Columbus Clippers. After batting .234 in 90 games, he ended his professional baseball career.