Brian Downing

Brian Jay Downing (born October 9, 1950) is an American former professional baseball player. He played for 20 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox, California Angels and Texas Rangers. He began his major league career as a catcher then, switched to playing as an outfielder and designated hitter for the remainder of his career.

Baseball career

Chicago White Sox (1973–1977)

Downing played at Magnolia High School in Anaheim, California, and was originally cut from his high school team. Although he was on the "taxi squad" as a bullpen catcher, he failed to make the team at Cypress College.^[1] But he had an impressive showing at an "all comers" Chicago White Sox tryout, and scout Bill Lentini signed him as an amateur free agent on August 19, 1969. His early career with the White Sox (1973–1977) was not so promising. On the first pitch of his first inning in his first Major League game, he severely damaged his knee making a diving catch near third base, sliding down the dugout steps and landing on the 60-day DL. He hit .225 as a rookie catcher (1974), and .240 in his second year, with seven home runs in 138 games.

California Angels (1978–1990)

On December 5, 1977, the White Sox traded Brian Downing, along with Dave Frost and Chris Knapp, to the California Angels for slugger Bobby Bonds and prospects Thad Bosley and Richard Dotson. This trade allowed Downing to come home to Southern California and avoid the pressures of Chicago fans' expectations.^[2] It gave Downing's career new life. Although his 1978 numbers were uninspiring (.255 batting average, 7 HR, 46 RBI), in the offseason he committed to serious weight training and in 1979 dramatically changed his batting stance, and hit an impressive .326 (third in the American League). He also made the AL All-Star team for the first and only time.

A broken ankle in 1980 forced him to move from catcher to the outfield beginning in 1981 because his offense was so valuable. Although his range was not great for an outfielder, Downing's hard work and steady hands allowed him to play the entire 1982 and 1984 seasons without making an error.^[3] He also set a pair of AL records with 244 errorless games by an OF (5/25/81 – 7/21/83), and most chances (330) in an errorless season (1982).^[4] His continued weight training helped him hit 20+ home runs in six of the seven seasons from 1982 to 1988.

In 1985 Downing played himself when Louise Jefferson sneaked into the Angels' locker-room looking for Reggie Jackson in an episode of The Jeffersons.

When he finally played his last game for the Angels after 13 seasons, he was their career leader in games, at bats, runs, hits, total bases, doubles, home runs, RBI, singles, extra base hits, HBP, sacrifice flies and bases on balls.

On April 9, 2009, Downing was to be inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame along with former teammate Chuck Finley before the start of the game that day. However, due to the death of Angels rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart, the ceremony and game were postponed until August 27, 2009.

Texas Rangers (1991–1992)

Downing played his final two seasons with the Texas Rangers as a designated hitter. He retired at age 41, getting his last hit on the last day of the 1992 season – a single off Angels' pitcher Bert Blyleven.

He finished his career with a .267 average, 275 HR, 1073 RBI and 1188 runs scored. He was an American League All-Star in 1979 when he hit .326 with 12 HR, 75 RBI and 81 runs scored. His best all-around season came in 1982 when he hit 28 HR, had 84 RBI, scored 109 runs and hit .281. Downing set single-season career highs with 95 RBI in 1986 and 29 HR, 110 runs scored and an AL leading 106 walks in 1987.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
• Brian Downing at the Internet Movie Database
• The Baseball Page