Syd O'Brien
Encyclopedia
Sydney Lloyd O'Brien is a former infielder
in Major League Baseball
. He played more games at third base
than any other position, but also played a significant number of games at shortstop
, second base
, and first base
. He batted and threw right-handed.
O'Brien was signed by the Boston Red Sox
as an amateur free agent
in 1964, but was drafted out of the minors by the Kansas City Athletics
in November 1964, only to be traded back to Boston two years later. He made his major league debut for Boston in 1969, pinch hitting for Fred Wenz
in the bottom of the eighth inning in a game against the Baltimore Orioles
. He finished the season with five triples, ranked ninth in the American League
.
After the 1969 season, the Red Sox traded O'Brien to the Chicago White Sox
. He played in 121 games for the White Sox in 1970, the most he would play in a single season, with career highs in batting average
, hits
, runs batted in, runs scored, walks
, and steals
, while also pacing the poor-fielding club with a .948 fielding percentage
. After the season, the White Sox sent O'Brien to the California Angels
, where he would play a season and a half primarily as a shortstop. In the middle of the 1972 season, he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers
, where he finished his 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...
. He played more games 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...
than any other position, but also played a significant number of games at 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...
, second base
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
, and first base
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
. He batted and threw right-handed.
O'Brien was signed by the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
as an amateur free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in 1964, but was drafted out of the minors by the Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
in November 1964, only to be traded back to Boston two years later. He made his major league debut for Boston in 1969, pinch hitting for Fred Wenz
Fred Wenz
Frederick Charles "Fireball" Wenz is a former middle relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies...
in the bottom of the eighth inning in a game against the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. He finished the season with five triples, ranked ninth in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
.
After the 1969 season, the Red Sox traded O'Brien to the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. He played in 121 games for the White Sox in 1970, the most he would play in a single season, with career highs in 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 :...
, hits
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....
, runs batted in, runs scored, walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, and steals
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
, while also pacing the poor-fielding club with a .948 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. After the season, the White Sox sent O'Brien to the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, where he would play a season and a half primarily as a shortstop. In the middle of the 1972 season, he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, where he finished his career.