Joe Pittman
| Joe Pittman | |
|---|---|
 Pittmann with the Nashville Sounds in 1985 | |
| Infielder | |
| Born: January 1, 1953 Houston, Texas | |
| Died: June 13, 2014 (aged 61) Lake Jackson, Texas | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 25, 1981, for the Houston Astros | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 30, 1984, for the San Francisco Giants | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .263 |
| On-base percentage | .309 |
| Slugging average | .302 |
| Games played | 139 |
| Teams | |
Joseph Wayne Pittman (January 1, 1953 – June 13, 2014) was a backup infielder/outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants in parts of three seasons spanning 1981–1984. Listed at 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m), 180 pounds (82 kg), Pittman batted and threw right handed. He was dubbed 'Shoes'.[1]
Born in Houston, Texas, Pittman was selected by the Astros in the 5th round of the 1975 MLB Draft[1] out of Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He debuted professionally for their Double-A Columbus Astros club late in the year.
In between, he played winter baseball with the Cardenales de Lara and Navegantes de Magallanes clubs of the Venezuelan League.[2] He then won the Senior Professional Baseball Association championship with the St. Petersburg Pelicans in its 1989 inaugural season.[3]
Following his playing retirement, Pittman coached in the minors[4] and also served as an scout for the Astros organization.[1]
In June 2014, Pittman was working a construction job in Freeport, Texas, when he suddenly collapsed. Immediate attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.[4] He died in Lake Jackson, Texas, at the age of 61.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Astros statement on the passing of Joe Pittman". houston.astros.mlb.com. Houston Astros. June 14, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
- ^ Pura Pelota – Venezuelan League statistics
- ^ The Trading Card Database
- ^ a b "Joseph Wayne Pittman: Obituary". legacy.com. Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. June 19, 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
- ^ Joe Pittman statistics and history. Baseball Reference website.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Baseball Gauge
- 1953 births
- 2014 deaths
- African-American baseball players
- Baseball players from Houston
- Cardenales de Lara players
- Charleston Charlies players
- Cocoa Astros players
- Columbus Astros players
- Houston Astros players
- Houston Astros scouts
- Las Vegas Stars (baseball) players
- Major League Baseball infielders
- Major League Baseball outfielders
- Minor league baseball coaches
- Nashville Sounds players
- Navegantes del Magallanes players
- American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela
- Phoenix Giants players
- San Diego Padres players
- San Francisco Giants players
- Southern Jaguars baseball players
- Southern University alumni
- St. Petersburg Pelicans players
- Tucson Toros players
- Winter Haven Super Sox players
- 20th-century African-American sportsmen
- 21st-century African-American sportsmen