Willie Upshaw

From BR Bullpen

Willie Clay Upshaw

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 0", Weight 185 lb.
• High School Blanco High School
• Debut April 9, 1978
• Final Game September 28, 1988
• Born April 27, 1957 in Blanco, TX USA

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[edit] Biographical Information

Willie Upshaw played ten seasons in the major leagues primarily as a first baseman, hitting 123 home runs. Unusual for a home run hitting first baseman, he was also in the top ten in triples a couple times in his career, hitting 45 triples in his ten-year career. He also stole 88 bases in his career, with a peak in 1986 when he stole 23 in 28 attempts.

A fifth round pick by the New York Yankees in 1975, his minor league career was relatively unimpressive, as he only once hit over .275 and he never slugged as high as .450. He began to blossom at the age of 25 with the Toronto Blue Jays when he hit 21 home runs.

His best year in the majors was in 1983 when he hit .306 and had 27 home runs and 7 triples.

He played in Japan after his USA major league career.

He was a member of the Texas Rangers coaching staff in 1993 and 1994 and batting coach for the Toronto Blue Jays from 1996 through 1997. He managed the Bridgeport Bluefish from 1998-2000. Upshaw was a coach for the Norwich Navigators in 2003.

As of 2001, Upshaw held the major league records for the most home runs and RBI by a player whose name started with the letter "U".

Two of his cousins, Marvin Upshaw and Hall-of-Famer Gene Upshaw, played in the NFL.

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