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Thursday, December 29, 2022

Fred Valentine Passes Away

Former major league outfielder Fred Valentine has passed away, the Nationals announced. He was 87 years old.

Valentine, a Mississippi native, attended Tennessee State University. He entered the professional ranks in 1956 as a member of the Orioles organization. Three years later, he made his MLB debut with 12 games for Baltimore. The switch-hitter spent a few more seasons in Triple-A before briefly returning to the big leagues in 1963.

Following the ’63 campaign, the O’s sold his contract to the Washington Senators. Valentine played his first couple years in a part-time role with Washington before a breakout showing in 1966. That season saw him swipe 22 bases, collect 16 home runs and put together a .276/.351/.455 line across 578 trips to the plate. Valentine picked up some down-ballot MVP support during what proved to be a career-best showing. He hit .234/.330/.346 the following season, roughly average output during a year in which the league hit .242/.306/.357.

Midway through the ’68 season, Washington dealt Valentine back to the Orioles for pitcher Bruce Howard. Valentine wrapped up his MLB career with 84 games between the two clubs that year. He spent the 1969 season back in Triple-A before finishing his playing career with a year for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan./blockquote>

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: December 29, 2022 at 10:34 AM | 10 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: fred valentine, obituaries

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1. Starring Bradley Scotchman as RMc Posted: December 29, 2022 at 10:50 AM (#6111157)

Fred Valentine was born in 1935, Babe Ruth's last year in the majors.

2. Itchy Row Posted: December 29, 2022 at 01:19 PM (#6111181)

Former major league outfielder Fred Valentine has passed away, the Nationals announced

He played for the second Washington Senators, but I don't see that he had a connection to the Expos or Nationals. Did the Nats inherit the other Washington teams' histories?

3. Starring Bradley Scotchman as RMc Posted: December 29, 2022 at 03:16 PM (#6111203)

I think the Nationals are claiming both of the Senators' legacies, as well as the Expos. (And the Twins, too, maybe? How 'bout the Rangers, since they also used to play in DC...?)

4. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: December 29, 2022 at 03:45 PM (#6111206)

I think typically teams honor players that played in that city. The Royals honor the Kansas City A's, but not guys that played for the Philly or Oakland A's. Like recognition, not part of the official club records or anything like that.

5. Starring Bradley Scotchman as RMc Posted: December 29, 2022 at 07:32 PM (#6111244)

The Royals honor the Kansas City A's

Which...ain't easy. (Can you name the ONLY Kansas City A to compile at least 13 WAR in the 13 years the franchise was in KC?)

6. bookbook Posted: December 30, 2022 at 08:39 PM (#6111404)

#3, for a second I thought you were talking about 5 teams not 3 (the two senators teams are the Twins and Rangers).

7. McCoy Posted: December 30, 2022 at 08:48 PM (#6111405)

Roger Maris?

Only off by 9 WAR

8. Howie Menckel Posted: December 30, 2022 at 10:07 PM (#6111418)

if I was macabre, about 5 years ago I would have separated the thousands of Topps cards from my youth into Living and Dead piles.

I have a couple of Valentines in my closet (wait, that sounds like a subject for a very different website!).

if I had the cards stacked side-by-side, the later pile would be moving up with a vengeance....

9. vortex of dissipation Posted: December 31, 2022 at 02:55 AM (#6111434)

Which...ain't easy. (Can you name the ONLY Kansas City A to compile at least 13 WAR in the 13 years the franchise was in KC?)

Ed Charles.

10. baxter Posted: December 31, 2022 at 05:43 AM (#6111435)

Heck of a question; interesting answer. My guess had been Bob Cerv; didn't make it to 13 for his career, but sure had one good year for A's in '58
Also, is it accurate that Valentine did not play in Negro leagues? I could not find stats on b-r; SABR bio bears this out. But, then I looked up Sam Bowens, couldn't find Negro league stats on b-r, can any one assist?
thanks

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Thursday, December 29, 2022

Fred Valentine Passes Away

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