#683 Steve Hovley

Player benefiting from the 1969 expansion…drafted from the Angel’s organization, started out with the “Ball Four” Seattle Pilots…Familiar with Seattle scene having played AAA ball there in 1967….In 1969 Hit a respectable .277 and led the AL rightfielders in double plays…best hitting rookie on team…Started equally as strong with the fledgling Milwaukee Brewers hitting .281 and 16 RBI’s…The native Californian was traded to Oakland midseason where his BA dropped 89 points and had only one RBI…hit a paltry .111 the following year in 26 AB s….Later in  1971, he was demoted to the minors where he regained his batting stroke hitting .337 over 69 games in AAA Iowa…Acquired by KC for 1972 via rule 5 draft….Move resurrected his status of backup outfielder…Drove in 24 RBIs in both 1972 and 1973 while hitting .270 and .254 respectively…Finished career at AAA Rochester in 1973...Nicknamed Orbit by Jim Bouton because, he was, in his words “Way Out”.