Bert Campaneris

Dagoberto Campaneris Blanco (born March 9, 1942 in Pueblo Nuevo, Cuba), best known as Bert Campaneris and nicknamed "Campy", is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for the Kansas City & Oakland Athletics (1964-76), Texas Rangers (1977-79), California Angels (1979-81) and New York Yankees (1983).

A small, skinny player at 5'10" and 160 pounds, the Cuban-born Campaneris was a key figure on the Athletics of the 1960s and 1970s, adding his fiery temper, competitive spirit and superb play to the team. Also, he was a daredevil on the base paths. In his debut with Kansas City on July 23, 1964, Campaneris belted two home runs, the first coming on the first pitch thrown to him. He is one of three players in big league history to hit two homers in his first game; Bob Nieman (1951) and Mark Quinn (1999) are the only others to accomplish this feat.

On September 9, 1965 Campaneris became the first player to play every position in a Major League game. On the mound, he pitched ambidextrously, throwing lefty to left-handers, and switched against right-handers. After him, Cesar Tovar (Twins, 1968), Scott Sheldon (Rangers, 2000) and Shane Halter (Tigers, 2000) joined this select list of nine-position players in a Major League game. Also in 1965, Campaneris led Kansas City in batting average (.270), and led the league in triples (12) and stolen bases (51). In 1966 he finished 10th in the voting for the AL's MVP award. When the A's moved to Oakland in 1968, he led the league in hits (177), at-bats (642) and steals (62). Campaneris improved consistently on defense. His six double plays in a game on September 13, 1970 set an American League record, and in 1972 he led AL shortstops with 795 total chances. An avid bunter, he led the league in sacrifice hits in 1972 (20), 1977 (40) and 1978 (25). He earned a significant number of bunt hits throughout his career.

Campaneris enjoyed his best season in 1970, batting .279 with 22 home runs and 64 runs batted in. He led the league in steals for the fifth time (42), and scored 97 runs. In his post-season career he hit 3 homers, 11 RBI, 4 doubles, 1 triple, scored 15 runs, and stole 6 bases in 37 games. Campaneris got the winning RBI for Oakland in the third game of the 1973 World Series with a dramatic home run in the 11th inning. He also homered in the final Series game, helping his team to win the World Championship for the second straight year. From 1977-81 he played for the Rangers and Angels. After spending one season in the Mexican League, Campaneris returned to the majors for a last hurrah in 1983 with Billy Martin's Yankees. He batted a career-high .322 in 60 games, played solid defense at second base and third base, and was used as a pinch hitter and as a pinch runner (at the age of 41). He retired after that season.

In his 19-year career Campaneris batted .259, with 79 homers, 646 RBI, 1181 runs, 2249 hits, 313 doubles, and 86 triples in 2328 games. His 649 stolen bases ranks him 14th in the list of the top 100 all-time leaders.

Currently, Bert Campaneris lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, and often participates in Old-Timers' games around the country. Campaneris also conducts baseball camps and is an active participant in the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, often playing in charity golf tournaments.

Highlights

• 6-time All-Star (1968, 1972-75, 1977)
• 6 times led league in stolen bases (1965-68, 1970, 1972)
• Top 10 in MVP vote (1966)
• Led league in hits (1968)
• Led league in triples (1965)
• Twice led league in at bat (1968, 1972)
• Hit three triples in a game (1939)
• Stole five bases in a game (1976)
• 3 times led league in sacrifice hits (1972, 1977-78)
• Set an AL record for double plays (1970)

Anecdote

• In Game Two of the 1972 ALCS against the Tigers, Campy was a demon. He banged out three hits, had two steals and two runs scored. Late in the contest he faced Detroit hurler Lerrin LaGrow. When LaGrow's pitch hit Campaneris in the ankle, Bert flung his bat at the hurler. A near-riot ensued as Detroit manager Billy Martin charged Campaneris. The batter and pitcher were both ejected. Bert was suspended for the remainder of the playoffs but reinstated for the World Series win over the Reds. - Excerpt from The Baseball Page (http://www.thebaseballpage.com/past/pp/campanerisbert/).

External links

• Bert Campaneris at:
  • Baseball Library (http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/C/Campaneris_Bert.stm)
  • Baseball Reference (http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/campabe01.shtml)