| Amos Otis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Center fielder | |
| Born: (1947-04-26)April 26, 1947 (age 78) Mobile, Alabama, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 6, 1967, for the New York Mets | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 5, 1984, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .277 |
| Hits | 2,020 |
| Home runs | 193 |
| Runs batted in | 1,007 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Amos Joseph Otis (born April 26, 1947) is anAmerican former professionalbaseball player andcoach.[1] He played inMajor League Baseball as acenter fielder from1967 to1984, most prominently as an integral member of theKansas City Royals team that won the franchise's first American League Western Division championship in 1976, and their firstAmerican League pennant in 1980.[2] Although the Royals lost the1980 World Series in six games to thePhiladelphia Phillies, Otis produced a .478 batting average with three home runs in what would be his only World Series appearance.[1]
A five-timeAll-Star, Otis twice led the American League in doubles and once led the league in stolen bases.[3] He was considered one of the best center fielders of his era, using his speed to earn threeGold Glove Awards.[2][4] He ranks tenth among center fielders in Major League Baseball history in careerputouts.[5] He was named Royals Player of the Year three times and, finished among the Royals all-time leaders in hits (1,977), home runs (193), runs scored (1,074), stolen bases (340) and games played (1,891).[2][3][6]
Otis also played for theNew York Mets and thePittsburgh Pirates. After his playing career, he continued to work as a hitting instructor. Otis was inducted into theKansas City Royals Hall of Fame in 1986.[2]
Otis was initially drafted by theBoston Red Sox in the fifth round of the1965 Major League Baseball draft as ashortstop.[7] However, he spent time in the outfield,third base, andfirst base while playing in the minors. In November 1966, the Mets drafted him and he jumped all the way to Triple-A in 1967.[8] He saw some time with the Mets late in the 1967 season, but he spent 1968 at Triple-A again before making the major league roster in 1969.[9] He was part of a trade package along withEd Kranepool andBob Heise when the Mets attempted to acquire the Braves'Joe Torre, who was later traded to theSt. Louis Cardinals forOrlando Cepeda instead.[10]
Otis immediately clashed with Mets managerGil Hodges, who tried to make him a third baseman. After four games, Otis was sent back to the minors for a month. On December 3, 1969, Royals general managerCedric Tallis sent third basemanJoe Foy to the Mets in exchange for the young Otis and pitcherBob Johnson.[9][11] Foy was bogged down by drug problems and was out of baseball by 1971. Meanwhile, the Royals immediately moved Otis to center field, and he became the starter for most of the 1970s.
Otis made the American League All-Star team in each of his first four years with the team and won three Gold Gloves.[1] His speed worked well with the Royals' team philosophy of speed and defense.[9] On September 7, 1971, he became the first player since 1927 to steal five bases in one game.[12] He led the American League with 52 stolen bases that year.[1] Otis scored the final run ever at Kansas City'sMunicipal Stadium in the fifth inning on October 4, 1972.[13]
Otis hit as many as 26 homers in a season, recorded 90 RBI or more three times, twice led the AL in doubles and once in stolen bases with 52. He compiled a career total of 341 steals, while being caught stealing 93 times.[1] Otis was a clutch performer, and he consistently produced for the Royals as the team became a perennial contender.
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OnSeptember 12, 1977, Otis helped eight youths who were stranded after a Royals game had been rained out when flooding prevented the boys' parents picking them up. He brought them out to eat, then to his house to spend the night. The following day he brought each one home. "If it was my kids", Otis said, "I would have wanted someone to do something for them, too."[14]
Otis hit .478 with three home runs and 7 RBI in six games during the1980 World Series.[1] He set a record for putouts in a game by an outfielder in Game 3, a contest in which he also homered. He is one of two players (along withAlex Bregman in 2017) to drive in a run in each of his first five World Series games.[15]
Later in his career, Otis' offense began to decline, in part due to a hand injury. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, his fielding skills had diminished, and he lost his center field job toWillie Wilson near the end of his long run with the Royals. In 1983, he left the team before the season ended when told he was not in the Royals' future plans.
On December 19, 1983, Otis signed a one-year contract with thePittsburgh Pirates.[16] He played in 40 games with Pittsburgh, batting just .165 with 10 RBI. On August 5, 1984, Otis was released by the Pirates.[1]
In a 17-season career, Otis posted a .277batting average, with 193home runs and 1,007RBI in 1,998games while stealing 341 bases. Defensively, he recorded a .991fielding percentage and 126assists, primarily as a center fielder.[1]
Otis worked for theSan Diego Padres andColorado Rockies as a hitting instructor, later retiring to Las Vegas. Otis still attends Royals reunions, and dons a uniform to play in alumni games.
In the early 1990s, Otis admitted that he used acorked bat during his entire time with Royals. He noted that it was a widespread practice in the major leagues.[17]