Neil Rasmussen

Neil P. Rasmussen

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 185 lb.
• High School Arcadia (CA) High School

• Born September 7, 1952

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Infielder Neil Rasmussen played in the minor leagues from 1971 to 1978.

He was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 1st round, 12th overall, of the 1971 amateur draft - between Tom Veryzer and Frank Tanana and three picks ahead of Jim Rice - and began his professional career that season. He hit .273/.297/.337 with just 9 walks in 67 games for the Covington Astros in 1971. He fielded .881, leading Appalachian League shortstops in errors (34) but also assists (160). In 1972, he moved to third base, where he fielded .917 for the Cocoa Astros, but he hit a meek .192/.239/.218. With the 1973 Cedar Rapids Astros, he produced at a .218/.278/.284 clip, fielded .909 at 3B and stole 15 bases in 17 tries. His 97 putouts led third basemen in the Midwest League.

The Astros wanted to make Rasmussen a pitcher, but he refused, and they let him go. He spent the remaining five years of his career in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He hit .251/.299/.331 for the '74 Danville Warriors and returned to regular action at SS (.906). In 1975, he hit .257/.311/.384 with a career-high 129 hits, 11 home runs, 68 runs and 62 RBI for the Burlington Bees while improving his fielding at SS to .930. He tied Dennis Holmberg for the most games played (130) in the Midwest League. He made it to AA with the 1976 Berkshire Brewers, hitting .252/.281/.311 as a utility man; he did make it to the mound and did well (1 UER in 5 IP).

In 1977, he hit .262/.321/.361 with 125 hits, 26 doubles and 60 RBI for the Holyoke Millers while fielding .920 at third base. He tied Otis Foster and Lanny Phillips for 6th in the Eastern League in two-baggers, while leading EL third basemen with 26 errors. Back with Holyoke in 1978, he hit .243/.271/.314 and scored 60 runs. He fielded .930 at the hot corner and allowed 9 runs and 14 hits in 6 innings pitched. He was named the EL All-Star third baseman, beating out Wade Boggs among others; Boggs had much better statistics but had no regular position (30 games at 3B, plus appearances at 2B, SS and in the OF and presumably DH).

Overall, he hit .244/.289/.322 with 748 hits, 115 doubles, 25 home runs and 318 RBI in 871 games over eight seasons.

His nephew is pitcher Rob Rasmussen.

Sources include 1972-1979 Baseball Guides, 1975 Milwaukee Journal article on Rasmussen