- Billy North
Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=orange
bgcolor2=green
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
name=Billy North
position=Center fielder
bats=Switch
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1948|5|15
city-state|Seattle|Washington
debutdate=September 3
debutyear=by|1971
debutteam=Chicago Cubs
finaldate=June 11
finalyear=by|1981
finalteam=San Francisco Giants
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.261
stat2label=Hits
stat2value=1016
stat3label=Stolen base s
stat3value=395
teams=
*Chicago Cubs (by|1971-by|1972)
*Oakland Athletics (by|1973-by|1978)
*Los Angeles Dodgers (by|1978)
*San Francisco Giants (by|1979-by|1981)
highlights=
*Led A.L. in stolen bases in 1974 (54) and 1976 (75)William Alex North (born
May 15 1948 inSeattle, Washington ) is a formercenter fielder inMajor League Baseball . From 1971 to 1981, he played for theChicago Cubs (1971-72),Oakland Athletics (1973-78),Los Angeles Dodgers (1978) andSan Francisco Giants (1979-81). He was aswitch hitter and threw right-handed.In an 11-year career, North compiled a career
batting average of .261 with 20home run s and 230 runs batted in. One of the fastest men in the game, he also recorded 395stolen base s.In 1969 North was drafted by the Cubs in the 12th round of the amateur draft. The speedy outfielder was traded to the Athletics after the 1972 season and started in center field on Oakland’s
1973 World Series champions. Batting leadoff, he posted career highs in batting average (.285) and runs scored (98). However, onSeptember 20 , in a loss to theMinnesota Twins , North tripped over first base; the resulting ankle sprain not only cost him theAmerican League stolen base title (his 53 steals placed him second, only one behindTommy Harper ), it also sidelined him for the remainder of the season and cost him the chance to play in the post-season.In 1974 North did lead the league in steals, with 54, on an Athletics team that won its third consecutive World Series title. He was also involved in a not-so-memorable moment on
June 5 of that season. He andReggie Jackson engaged in a clubhouse fight at Detroit’s Tiger Stadium that resulted in Jackson injuring his shoulder.Ray Fosse , attempting to separate the combatants, suffered a crushed disk in his neck, costing him the next three months on thedisabled list .North also led the American League in steals in 1976 with 75, the most for an Oakland Athletic until
Rickey Henderson stole 100 in 1980. Injuries hampered him in 1977, however, and after a slow start, the Athletics traded him to the Dodgers in 1978. His Dodgers won theNational League pennant, but lost to theNew York Yankees in the World Series. After the season, the San Francisco Giants signed him as a free agent; in 1979 he returned to form with 58 stolen bases, a San Francisco Giant record. Injuries, however, kept him out of 20 games and prevented him from breaking the overall franchise record of 62. After a similar season in 1980, he tailed off in 1981.In addition to stealing bases, North also utilized his speed in the field to lead American League outfielders three times in
total chances per game, twice inputout s, and once each in assists anddouble play s. In the second game of aJuly 28 ,1974 doubleheader, he accomplished an unassisted double play against theChicago White Sox . North caughtBrian Downing 's fly ball and continued to the second-base bag to double upDick Allen , who had been running on the play.North is the first player in Oakland Athletic history to serve as a
designated hitter . He went 2-for-5 in the Athletics's 1973 season opener, an 8-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.ee also
*
List of Major League Baseball stolen base champions External links
*baseball-reference|id=n/northbi01
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