Keith Drumright

Keith Alan Drumright

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 170 lb.
• School University of Oklahoma
• High School Hillcrest High School (Springfield)
• Debut September 1, 1978
• Final Game October 4, 1981
• Born October 21, 1954 in Springfield, MO USA
• Died August 7, 2010 in Springfield, MO USA

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Biographical Information

Keith Drumright played for the Houston Astros in 1978 and the Oakland Athletics in 1981. With the Athletics, he appeared in post-season play in 1981.

Keith was born in Springfield, MO and attended the University of Oklahoma at a time when the team was going to the College World Series each year. The Oklahoman picked him for the OU All-Century Team. He was chosen by the Chicago Cubs in the fourth round of the 1976 amateur draft.

The Cubs started him at AA Midland, and he responded by hitting .319. The next year, 1977, he played for Midland and AAA Wichita, hitting .292 for the season. After the 1977 season, he was traded to the Houston Astros.

In 1978, Keith appeared in 124 games at Charleston, hitting .311 with 21 doubles. He also hit his first minor league home run (one of only three that he would hit in the minors). He came up to the majors in September to play 17 games with the Astros.

Art Howe was the regular second baseman for the Astros, and he would continue in that role in 1979. Drumright went back to Charleston where he hit .295. After the season, he was traded to the Kansas City Royals, although in the middle of 1980 he was sold back to the Cubs.

He appeared in 90 minor league games during the 1980 season, hitting .286. After the 1980 season, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics organization.

Keith spent a little time in the minors in 1981, appearing in 28 games at Tacoma. However, he was in more games at the major league level that season, playing in 31 games and hitting .291. Manager Billy Martin, although he won the division that year, used a variety of players at second base: Shooty Babitt was in 52 games at the position, Dave McKay was in 38 games, Drumright in 19, and Brian Doyle had 16 appearances at second. The 1981 Athletics hit .247 as a team, so Keith's .291 batting average was much higher than the team average. He went 1 for 4 in the ALDS as the A's swept the Kansas City Royals in three games, then was 0 for 4 with a walk as the A's were in turn swept by the New York Yankees in the 1981 ALCS.

In 1982 Drumright was back at Tacoma, this time hitting .329.

Keith Drumright's cousin, Kelly Snider, was a 1B in the Minnesota Twins chain.