Ken Boyer

From BR Bullpen

Kenton Lloyd Boyer

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 200 lb.

• Debut April 12, 1955
• Final Game August 9, 1969
• Born May 20, 1931 in Liberty, MO USA
• Died September 7, 1982 in St.Louis, MO USA

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[edit] Biographical Information

Ken Boyer, the 1964 National League MVP, played 15 seasons in the big leagues as a third baseman. He won five Gold Gloves and was the pre-eminent third baseman in the league in the late 1950's and early 1960's. He was named to seven All-Star teams, in 1956 and 1959-1964.

The brother of Clete Boyer, Cloyd Boyer, Len Boyer and Ron Boyer, Ken Boyer went on to spend two seasons as a St. Louis Cardinals coach and two and a half as their manager, finishing as high as third in 1979. His players included Ted Simmons, Keith Hernandez, and an elderly Lou Brock.

His Gray Ink total of 138 is close to the average Hall of Famer total of 144. In Hall of Fame voting by the BBWAA, Ken Boyer got as high as 25% in 1988, one vote higher than Ron Santo had that year. In the 2005 Veterans Committee voting, Boyer received 19%, and was # 11 in the voting, behind Roger Maris and Marty Marion

None of the ten most similar players, according to similarity scores, is in the Hall of Fame, with the most similar player being Bobby Bonilla. However, Bonilla played at a time when averages were higher, and Bonilla never won either an MVP award nor a Gold Glove. Other players on the list include Robin Ventura, Ron Cey, and Ron Santo. Boyer is unfairly hurt by the similarity scores method because he played during the second dead-ball era when averages were lower - as a result, the most similar player probably should be Santo, who also played during the same era. Santo broke in in 1960, while Boyer had started in 1955. Their careers also ended five years apart, as Santo finished in 1974 while Boyer finished in 1969. Boyer won his Gold Gloves in 1958-1961 and 1963, while Santo won his in 1964-1968. Interestingly, while Ron Santo is only # 10 on the similarity scores list of the most similar players to Boyer, Boyer is # 2 on the list of the most similar players to Ron Santo.

Boyer held the record for the most home runs in four straight seasons with the same number (24, 1961-1964). Adam Dunn eventually shattered the record, hitting exactly 40 each year from 2005 to 2008.

While in the minors, Boyer missed the 1952-1953 seasons due to military service.

[edit] Notable Achievements

• 7-time NL All-Star (1956 & 1959-1964)
• NL MVP (1964)
• 5-time NL Gold Glove Winner (1958-1961 & 1963)
• NL RBI Leader (1964)
• 20-Home Run Seasons: 8 (1956 & 1958-1964)
• 30-Home Run Seasons: 1 (1960)
• 100 RBI Seasons: 2 (1963 & 1964)
• 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 3 (1958, 1961 & 1964)
• Won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964

NL MVP
1963	1964	1965
Sandy Koufax	Ken Boyer	Willie Mays

Preceded by Vern Rapp

St. Louis Cardinals Manager 1978-1980

Succeeded by Whitey Herzog

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