| Ben Oglivie | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Left fielder | |
| Born: (1949-02-11)February 11, 1949 (age 77) Colón, Panama | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: September 4, 1971, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| NPB: April 14, 1987, for the Kintetsu Buffaloes | |
| Last appearance | |
| MLB: October 5, 1986, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
| NPB: October 19, 1988, for the Kintetsu Buffaloes | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .273 |
| Home runs | 235 |
| Runs batted in | 901 |
| NPB statistics | |
| Batting average | .306 |
| Home runs | 46 |
| Runs batted in | 139 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Benjamin Ambrosio Oglivie Palmer (born February 11, 1949) is aPanamanian former professionalbaseballleft fielder, who played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theBoston Red Sox (1971–1973),Detroit Tigers (1974–1977), andMilwaukee Brewers (1978–1986).[1] He also played two seasons inNippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for theKintetsu Buffaloes (1987–1988).[2] Oglivie batted and threw left-handed.[1]
Oglivie made his MLB debut on September 4, 1971, for the Red Sox and played his final big league game on October 5, 1986, for the Brewers. He hit for power fairly well, breaking the 40-home run mark in 1980 with 41, which was good for a tie (withReggie Jackson) for the American League (AL) lead. Oglivie hit three home runs in a game three times. In the process, he became the first non-U.S. born player to lead the AL in home runs. He also finished second in the AL with 118 RBIs and 333 total bases.
Oglivie batted .241 with eight homers and 30runs batted in (RBI) and led the Red Sox inpinch hitting with a .375average in his first full MLB season in1972. After slumping to .218 with two homers in 58 games, he was traded from the Red Sox to the Tigers forDick McAuliffe on October 23, 1973.[3] Oglivie was acquired by the Brewers from the Tigers forJim Slaton andRich Folkers at theWinter Meetings on December 9, 1977.[4]
In a 16-year Major League career, Oglivie posted a .273batting average, with 277doubles, 560bases on balls, 235 home runs and 901runs batted in (RBI), in 1,754 games. He had 87 careerstolen bases and 784runs scored. Oglivie picked up 1,615hits in 5,913at bats.[1] He was also a prolific defender in the left field despite never winning aGold Glove Award, ranking fifth all-time (since 1969) in range factor per inning, an advanced stat that tracks the number of outs made (putouts plus assists) divided by inning.[5][6]
Continuing his pro career in Japanese baseball (NPB), Oglivie played for the Kintetsu Buffaloes, powering 46 home runs in two seasons in 1987 and 1988. He then returned to attempt a comeback in Americanminor league baseball (MiLB); although Oglivie posted great offensive numbers in only twoDouble-A games, it proved to be the end of his pro baseball playing journey.
Oglivie hascoached at various levels for a number of different organizations, including Milwaukee,Pittsburgh,San Diego,Tampa Bay, and Detroit. In 2000, he joined the Padres’ MLB staff for one season.[7]
The Colón, Panama, native was one of six post-1959 players selected as part of the 2012 class inducted in the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame. Each Latin-American country (Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Venezuela) had one player chosen for enshrinement, which took place in February 2012.
