George Hendrick

George Andrew Hendrick Jr.
(Silent George)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 195 lb.
• School East Los Angeles Junior College
• High School John C. Fremont High School
• Debut June 4, 1971
• Final Game October 2, 1988
• Born October 18, 1949 in Los Angeles, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

George Hendrick was the 1st overall selection in the 1968 January amateur draft and went on to play 18 years in the big leagues. He was in two World Series and four All-Star Games. He hit over .300 several times and slugged 20 or more home runs six times. In the 1972 World Series, he replaced Reggie Jackson as the Oakland Athletics' center fielder against the Cincinnati Reds after Jackson was hurt in the final game of the ALCS. In the 1982 World Series, he was the starting right fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals when they defeated the Milwaukee Brewers. Both series went seven games.

The most similar player, according to the similarity scores method, is Dusty Baker, a contemporary. In 1989, Hendrick played for the Gold Coast Suns of the Senior Professional Baseball Association. He hit .291 with 36 RBI for the club.

After his playing career, Hendrick was a coach for the St. Louis Cardinals (1996-1997), Anaheim Angels (1998-1999), and Los Angeles Dodgers (Aug./Sept. 2003). He joined the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for the 2006 season as their first base coach and stayed in the position until the end of the 2014 season. Hendrick was the St. Louis Cardinals' roving hitting/outfield instructor from 1993 to 1995. He was the San Diego Padres' minor league hitting instructor in 2000-2001, and managed the Lake Elsinore Storm in 2002. He was the hitting coach for the Las Vegas 51s in 2003-2004, and was the Los Angeles Dodgers' minor league hitting coordinator in 2005.

Notable Achievements

• 4-time All-Star (1974, 1975, 1980 & 1983)
• 2-time NL Silver Slugger Award Winner (1980/OF & 1983/1B)
• 20-Home Run Seasons: 6 (1973, 1975-1978 & 1980)
• 100 RBI Seasons: 2 (1980 & 1982)
• Won two World Series with the Oakland Athletics (1972) and the St. Louis Cardinals (1982)

Further Reading

• Joseph Wancho: "George Hendrick", in Chip Greene, ed.: Mustaches and Mayhem, Charlie O's Three-Time Champions: The Oakland Athletics 1972-74, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2015, pp. 199-203. ISBN 978-1-943816-07-1

Related Sites

• George Hendrick at the SABR Bio Project
• Top 100 Angels page