B. J. Surhoff

Infobox MLB retired
name=B.J. Surhoff
position=Catcher / Outfielder / Infielder
bats=Left
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1964|8|4
Bronx, New York
debutdate=April 8
debutyear=by|1987
debutteam=Milwaukee Brewers
finaldate=October 2
finalyear=by|2005
finalteam=Baltimore Orioles
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.282
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=188
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=1,153
teams=
* Milwaukee Brewers (by|1987-by|1995)
* Baltimore Orioles (by|1996-by|2000)
* Atlanta Braves (by|2000-by|2002)
* Baltimore Orioles (by|2003-by|2005)
highlights=
* All-Star selection (1999)
* 1985 ACC Male Athlete of the Year

William James "B.J." Surhoff (born August 4, 1964 in the Bronx, New York City, New York) is a former outfielder, first baseman, third baseman, and designated hitter in Major League Baseball. Over his major league career, he played every position except pitcher. After playing for the Orioles from mlby|1996 to mlby|2000, he rejoined the team in mlby|2003 and played through the mlby|2005 season and was always a fan favorite in Baltimore. He started his career with the Milwaukee Brewers (mlby|1987-mlby|1995) and also played for the Atlanta Braves (2000-mlby|2002). Position wise, Surhoff began his career as a catcher, and after playing third base in the mid-1990s, shifted to become primarily a left fielder.

After attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was honored as the by|1985 ACC Male Athlete of the Year, and playing for the by|1984 Olympic baseball team, Surhoff was selected by the Brewers with the first pick of the mlby|1985 amateur draft. Surhoff was defined as being a very versatile player, having appeared at every position except pitcher over the course of his career. He had 2,326 hits and 1,153 RBI in his career. Although always a consistent hitter, having hit over .280 in 12 of his 19 seasons, Surhoff's finest season was his mlby|1999 campaign with the Orioles, in which he led the American League in at-bats (673), ranked 2nd in hits (207), was selected to the American League All-Star team, and ultimately won Most Valuable Oriole honors for the season, becoming one of 5 players to get 200 or more hits in a season for the team. He also participated in the Home Run Derby. In other notable seasons, he finished 6th in the AL in doubles in mlby|1993 with the Brewers and finished 5th in batting average in the AL with the Brewers in 1995 with a .320 average.

In mlby|2007, Surhoff was elected to the Orioles Hall of Fame, with the official induction ceremony occurring before the start of the Orioles-Twins game on August 25, 2007, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Personal

His father Dick Surhoff played two years in the NBA in 1952-1953 and 1953-1954 and his brother Rick Surhoff appeared in 9 games in 1985 as a relief pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Texas Rangers.

ee also

* List of major league players with 2,000 hits
* List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
* List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
* List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI
* List of top 500 Major League Baseball home run hitters

External links