Bob Davids SABR Chapter MeetingJanuary 24, 2009

Albie Pearson

• Originally signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent in 1953.

• Traded after the 1957 season with Norm Zauchin to the Washington Senators for Pete Runnels.

• Voted MLB Rookie of the Year in 1958 and The Sporting News Rookie of the Year.

• At 23, Pearson played in 146 games, collected 146 hits, including 25 doubles and batted .275.

• MVP voting: Pearson 14, Ryne Duren of the Yankees, 7, and GaryBell of the Indians, 3.

• Sophomore slump: Batted .188 in 25 games; traded to the Orioles forLenny Green on May 29, 1959.

• Batted .244 in 48 games forthe Orioles in 1960; spent most of the season in Rochester.

• Drafted by the Los AngelesAngels in the expansion draft at age 26.

• Played regularly for the Angels for five years.

• Led AL in runs (115) in 1962; batted .305 in 1963, fourth in the league behind Yaz (.321), Kaline (.312) and Rollins (.307). Named to the 1963 AL All-Star team.

• Back problems resurfaced in 1964. Two years later, he was out of baseball at age 31.

• Lifetime: Pearson played in 988 games in nine seasons and batted .270.

• Debuted with the Orioles at age 25 on Sept. 18, 1958, after eight years in the minors.

• In 1959, played in 142 games, hit 13 homers and batted .275. Named one of The Sporting News Rookie Stars of ‘59 and voted to the Topps All-Star Rookie Team.

• Once played in the Orioles outfield with no shoes during a storm; he was afraid the spikes would attract lightning.

• In 1960, Orioles were pennant contenders; traded Tasby to the Red Sox for outfielder Gene Stephens on June 29.

• Drafted by the Senators in the expansion draft in Dec. 1960.

• Was Senators’ Opening Daycenterfielder in 1961. Played 141 games and had a career-high 17 homers and 63 RBI.

• Just 11 games into the 1962 season, he was traded to Cleveland for pitchers Steve Hamilton and Don Rudolph.

• Played 127 games over two seasons for the Indians and retired after the ‘63 season at age 30.

• Played in the Negro Leagues for the Nashville Elite Giants from 1957-58; played for Rochester in 1962-63.

• As a 25-year-old rookie in 1964, he slugged 22 homers, drove in 71 runs and batted .263. Tied Orioles’ rookie home run record.

• Never came close to matching his rookie numbers; hit just 22 more homers in five seasons.

• Beaned by Earl Wilson of the Red Sox on Aug. 19, 1964, in the second inning. Batted .215 the remainder of the season.

• “It affected my hitting. I’d pull my head out up there at the plate. I wouldn’t stay with the inside pitches. I would bail out and drop my hands.”

• Played 89 games for the O’s in 1966 and hit just .210. Didn’t play in the World Series.

• After batting .183 in 62 games, his contract was sold to the Senators in November 1967.

• Batted .191 in 57 games in 1968 and .193 in 33 games in 1969.

• Played final game on July 26, 1969 at age 30.