Steve Buechele

Infobox MLB retired
name=Steve Buechele


width=
position=Outfielder
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1961|9|26
Lancaster, California
debutdate=July 19
debutyear=by|1985
debutteam=Texas Rangers
finaldate=July 29
finalyear=by|1995
finalteam=Texas Rangers
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.245
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=137
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=547
teams=
* Texas Rangers (by|1985-by|1991, by|1995)
* Pittsburgh Pirates (by|1991-by|1992)
* Chicago Cubs (by|1992-by|1995)

Steven Bernard Buechele (born September 26 1961 in Lancaster, California) is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball. Buechele played from by|1985 to by|1995 for the Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago Cubs. He joined the Rangers in by|1985 after he was named the Tom Grieve Minor League Player of the Year.cite web | year=2006 | title=Diamond and Metcalf named Rangers Minor League Pitcher and Player of the Year | url=http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20050908&content_id=1202339&vkey=pr_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex | accessdate=19 July | accessyear=2006] He was traded from the Rangers to the Pirates in by|1991 following of the emergence of Dean Palmer. He returned to the Rangers for an eighth season in by|1995.cite web | year=2006 | title=2006 Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame ballot announced | url=http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060324&content_id=1361545&vkey=pr_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex | accessdate=19 July | accessyear=2006]

by|1991 was a career year for Buechele. While with Texas, he had a batting average of .267 along with 18 home runs and 66 RBI while only committing 3 errors for an MLB-record .991 fielding percentage at third base.cite web | year=2006 | title=2006 Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame ballot announced | url=http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060324&content_id=1361545&vkey=pr_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex | accessdate=19 July | accessyear=2006] Although he did not fare as well in 31 games with the Pirates, hitting just .246, he still finished the year with career highs in hits, home runs, slugging percentage, RBI, and runs scored. He also made his only postseason appearances, hitting .304 for Pittsburgh in the 1991 National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves.

Buechele's career stats include 137 home runs, 547 RBI, and a .971 fielding percentage. Throughout his career, Buechele was known for hitting solo home runs.cite web | author=Jamey Newberg | year=2005 | title=The Newberg Report | url=http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050509&content_id=1043668&vkey=news_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex | accessdate=19 July | accessyear=2006]

Buechele ranks 12th in Rangers' club history for total games with 889 games played and 16th for at-bats (2723). Additionally, the 25 times he was hit by a pitch is the 13th highest in the Rangers' franchise history and his 73 grounded into double plays is the 14th highest. In Rangers' fielding stats, he is 21st (2476) in total chances, 7th (1675) in assists, 15th (66) in errors, and 33rd (165) in double plays. He was a candidate for the Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005 and 2006.cite web | year=2006 | title=2006 Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame ballot announced | url=http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060324&content_id=1361545&vkey=pr_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex | accessdate=19 July | accessyear=2006] cite web | year=2006 | title=John Wetteland and Mark Holtz selected as 2005 inductees to Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame | url=http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20050615&content_id=1090686&vkey=pr_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex | accessdate=19 July | accessyear=2006]

Buechele continues to be a part of the professional baseball world including serving as one of the hosts and coaches for the Texas Rangers 2006 Media Spring Training.cite web | author=Abby Teaff | year=2006 | title=First Media Spring Training a success | url=http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060302&content_id=1331628&vkey=news_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex | accessdate=19 July | accessyear=2006] In August 2008 Buechele began to serve as a studio commentator for the Ranger's pre and post-game shows on Fox Sports Southwest.

Personal life

Steve and his wife currently reside in Arlington, Texas. They have four children.

References

External links