- Buddy Biancalana
Infobox MLB retired
name =Buddy Biancalana
width =
caption =
position =Shortstop
birthdate =birth date and age|1960|2|2
deathdate =
bats =Switch
throws =Right
debutdate =September 12
debutyear =1982
debutteam =Kansas City Royals
finaldate =October 4
finalyear =1987
finalteam =Houston Astros
stat1label =Hits
stat1value =113
stat2label =Batting average
stat2value =.205
stat3label =Games
stat3value =311
teams =
*Kansas City Royals (by|1982-by|1987)
*Houston Astros (by|1987)
highlights =1985 World Series Roland Americo "Buddy" Biancalana (pronEng|biˌɑŋkəˈlɑːnə; born
February 2 ,1960 inLarkspur, California ), is a retiredMajor League Baseball shortstop .Biancalana played for two teams in his career: the
Kansas City Royals (by|1982-by|1987) andHouston Astros (by|1987). He attended Redwood High School in Larkspur and was drafted by the Royals in the first round (25th overall pick) of the 1978 June Regular Phase draft. [ [http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draft/1978/Round-1-1.shtml 1978 Baseball Draft - Round 1 ] ] Biancalana made his Major League Baseball debut on September 12, 1982, and played his final game on October 4, 1987.Biancalana was a member of the Royals team that won the
World Series in 1985. Despite having started only 35 games all season, managerDick Howser benched regular shortstopOnix Concepcion in favor of Biancalana on September 20th. Biancalana started 13 of the next 15 games as the Royals won theAmerican League West division by one game over the California Angels. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/KCR/1985_lu.shtml 1985 Kansas City Royals Lineups and Defense - Baseball-Reference.com ] ]Biancalana was the starting shortstop for the Royals in all 14 post-season games, playing error-free defense in every game, and was an integral part in several run-scoring innings for the Royals in the World Series. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1985_WS.shtml 1985 World Series - KCR vs. STL - Baseball-Reference.com ] ] He batted .278 in the series with an on base percentage of .435, both well above his career numbers. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/biancbu01.shtml Buddy Biancalana Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com ] ]
In 1985, during the countdown to
Pete Rose breakingTy Cobb 's hits record,David Letterman instituted a Buddy Biancalana countdown calendar. Biancalana later appeared as a guest onLate Night with David Letterman , quipping "I'm closer to Cobb than you are to Carson." Buddy finished his big-league career with 113 base hits, over four thousand short of Cobb or Rose.He is a former field manager for the
Amarillo Dillas of independentUnited League Baseball .External links
References
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