Don Buford

1965 Topps

Don Alvin Buford

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 5' 8", Weight 165 lb.
• School Los Angeles City College, University of Southern California
• Debut September 14, 1963
• Final Game October 3, 1972
• Born February 2, 1937 in Linden, TX USA

BR page

[edit] Biographical Information

Don Buford played 10 seasons in the majors, and was typically an above-average hitter. During his major league career, he appeared in substantial numbers of games at each of left field, second base and third base. He was in three World Series, hitting four home runs in Series play. He also played several seasons in Japan.

After playing for legendary coach Rod Dedeaux at the University of Southern California, Don was signed by the Chicago White Sox, who converted him from the outfield to an infielder. Named the International League MVP while playing for the Indianapolis Indians in 1963, he earned a late season callup to the White Sox. He saw considerable playing time for the Sox at second base over the next two seasons before being moved to third by manager Eddie Stanky in 1966. He swiped 51 bases that year, but his average dropped to .244. After one more season with a declining batting average, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles as part of a deal that brought Luis Aparicio back to the Sox.

The Orioles moved Buford back to the outfield, and he responded at the plate as well, scoring 99 runs in three straight years from 1969 to 1971. In the 1969 World Series, facing Tom Seaver, he became the first player ever to lead off Game One of a postseason series with a home run. The only other player to do this in a World Series was Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox against Jeff Francis in 2007.

During his big league career, Buford grounded into only 33 double plays in 4,553 career at-bats.

From 1973 to 1976, Buford played for the Nankai Hawks in Japan. After his playing career, he was a San Francisco Giants coach from 1981 to 1984 and a member of the Baltimore Orioles staff in 1994. He was also a Washington Nationals coach in 2005. Additionally, he managed the 1992 Hagerstown Suns, 1993 Bowie Baysox, 2003 Bluefield Orioles, 2004 Aberdeen IronBirds, and 2006 Daytona Cubs. In 2008 he was elected to the International League Hall of Fame.

Buford is the father of big leaguer Damon Buford and minor leaguer Don Buford, Jr.

[edit] Notable Achievements

• 1963 Minor League Player of the Year, Indianapolis Indians, International League
• 1963 MVP International League, Indianapolis Indians
• AL All-Star (1971)
• AL Runs Scored Leader (1971)
• AL Singles Leader (1965)
• 50 Stolen Bases Seasons: 1 (1966)
• Won a World Series with the Baltimore Orioles in 1970

[edit] Year-By-Year Minor League Managerial Record

[edit] Further Reading

• Don Buford (as told to George Vass): "The Game I'll Never Forget," Baseball Digest (September 1981), pp. 86-88

[edit] Related Sites