1976 Topps #429 - Fred Stanley

• Fred “Chicken” Stanley was a backup shortstop from 1969-1982. He had a lifetime batting average of .216 in those 14 seasons. Fred was drafted by the Houston Astros in 1966. He played in Houston’s minor league system from 1966-1969. He didn’t play in 1967 (maybe due to military service?).

• Stanley was purchased by the Seattle Pilots on September 8, 1969. He batted .279 in 17 games at the end of the 1969 season. Fred was in the minors for most of the 1971 season. He played in six games and scored one run as a pinch runner but he didn’t have any plate appearances. The Cleveland Indians purchased Fred during spring training in 1971.

• Fred split the season between AAA and the Indians. He batted .225 in 60 games for the Indians in ’71. In 1972 Fred played in six games (2 for 12) for the Indians before being traded to the San Diego Padres on June 11 for Mike Kilkenny. Fred batted .200 in 39 games for the Padres in 1972.

• After the 1972 season Stanley was traded to the New York Yankees for a minor leaguer. He was in AAA for most of the 1973 and 1974 seasons. In 1973 Fred batted .212 in 26 games and in 1974 he batted .184 in 33 games.

• In 1975 Fred split time with Jim Mason at shortstop. Mason batted .152 in 94 games, which made Stanley’s .222 batting average in 117 games look majestic. In 1976 Fred batted .238 in 110 games (compared with Mason’s .180), but it was clear that the Yankees needed more offense from the position. Stanley batted .333 (5 for 15) in the 1976 ALCS and .167 (1 for 6) in the World Series.

• The Yankees acquired Bucky Dent to play shortstop in 1977 and Stanley’s playing time was greatly diminished. Stanley batted .261 in 46 at bats during the 1977 season and didn’t have any plate appearances in the postseason. He did play defensively in two games in the ALCS and in one game in the World Series. In 1978 Fred got more playing time and batted .219 in 81 games. He went 1 for 5 in both the ALCS and the World Series.

• Stanley batted .200 in 100 at bats in 1979 and batted .209 in 86 at bats in 1980. After the 1980 season Fred was traded to the Oakland A’s for Mike Morgan.

• Fred spent two seasons with the A’s. In 1981 Stanley batted .193 in 145 at bats. He went 0 for 6 in the 1981 AL Divisional Series and 1 for 3 in the AL Championship Series. Fred liked that .193 batting average so much that he did it again in 1982 (228 at bats this time). Stanley became a free agent after the 1982 season and retired.

• After his playing career Stanley has had a long career as a coach, manager and front office guy in several organizations. He was the director of instruction for the Oakland A’s from 1983-1985, director of baseball operations with the Houston Astros from 1986-1988, and coordination of minor league instruction with the Seattle Mariners in 1989 and 1990. Fred was the Milwaukee Brewers’ infield coach in 1991 and was their director of player development from 1992-1996. He was the Brewers’ assistant general manager from 1997-1999.

• Fred has been with the San Francisco Giants organization since 2000. He managed in the Giants’ system from 2000-2005 and has held various front office jobs since then. Stanley is now the director of player development for the Giants and lives in Scottsdale, AZ.

• Liked to face: Mike Cuellar (.389 in 18 AB); Paul Splittorff (.360 in 25 AB); Darrell Jackson (.455 in 11 AB)

• Hated to face: Doc Medich (.000 in 14 AB); Frank Tanana (.091 in 21 AB); Ken Kravec (.083 in 12 AB)