Gene Delyon

Eugene A. Delyon

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.

• School Santa Clara University
• High School Los Altos High School

• Born ~1952

BR register page

Biographical Information

Gene Delyon played for Team USA and peaked at AA.

Delyon was the 11th-round pick of the California Angels in the 1970 amateur draft. He played for Team USA in the 1972 Amateur World Series, winning a Silver Medal. The Texas Rangers chose him in the 25th round of the 1973 amateur draft but he did not sign. Nor did he sign when the New York Yankees took him with the 5th pick of the 1974 January draft secondary phase. He was named All-American DH in 1974.

He finished his Santa Clara career as the school career leader in average (.407) and slugging (.671) and he was in the top ten in most categories. The San Diego Padres finally took him 9th overall in the 1974 June draft secondary phase and he signed. He hit .329/.457/.468 with 59 walks, 20 doubles and 55 RBI in 78 games that summer for the Walla Walla Padres. He was 5th in the Northwest League in average (between Douglas Meyer and Terrence Jones), 3rd in OBP (after William Hamilton and Meyer), 8th in slugging, 4th in OPS, 3rd in doubles (20), tied Pedro Guerrero for 5th in RBI and 3rd in walks. He was named the NWL All-Star third baseman.

He bounced between first, third and the outfield in 1975, but continued to hit with Reno (.304/.373/.504 in 34 G) and Alexandria (.304/.386/.404 in 95 G). He had 30 doubles and 81 RBI. He was on double shy of Dave Roberts for the lead among Padres farmhands and trailed only Butch Wynegar and Jerry Turner in RBI. Making it to AA with the 1976 Amarillo Gold Sox, he batted .331/.427/.467 with 83 runs, 90 RBI, 83 walks and 15 steals in 20 tries. He was among the Texas League leaders in average (3rd, behind Fred Frazier and Don Reynolds), OBP (6th, between Jose Ortiz and Rance Mulliniks), OPS (6th, between Mulliniks and Lee Mazzilli), runs (8th), hits (3rd, behind Wendell Kim and Willie Aikens), triples (tied for 2nd, 4 behind Alberto Lois), RBI (3rd, after Aikens and Gary Gray) and walks (5th, between Reynolds and Brian Nakamoto). He was named the TL All-Star DH. He tied Dave Hilton and Mike Gatlin for 4th in the Pads system in triples, was 4th in RBI (between Archie Amerson and Bobby Valentine), was 6th in walks, ranked 6th in average (between Gene Richards and Dan Graham), was 5th in OBP and 4th in OPS (between Hosken Powell and Doc Estes).

Despite his dominant season, he returned to AA in 1977. Now in the Milwaukee Brewers chain, he batted .301/.377/.374 for the Holyoke Millers, having topped .300 all four seasons as a pro. His batting line in the minors had been .317/.411/.442. In 399 games, he had 214 runs, 263 RBI, 228 walks and 29 steals in 38 tries. All he was missing was defense and some pop. He never was given a chance at AAA despite his performance.

Sources include Santa Clara Hall of Fame, 1975 Baseball Guide, At the plate, American Baseball Coaches Association, 1977 Baseball Guide