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{{short description|Canadian baseball player (born 1950)}}
{| class="infobox bordered" style="width: 250px; font-size: 95%; float: right;" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" align="right" width="250"
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
|+ <big>'''John Balaz'''</big>
{{Infobox baseball biography
|-
|name=John Balaz
| align="center" colspan="2" |
<!-- Deleted image removed: ] --> |image=John Balaz.jpg
|position=]
|-
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1950|11|24}}
| '''Primary Position''' || ]
|birth_place=], ], Canada
|-
|bats=Right
| '''Uniform number''' || 8 (1974), 9 (1975)
|throws=Right
|-
|debutleague = MLB
| '''Draft''' || 1970 : 5th Round (106th)
|debutdate=September 10
|-
|debutyear=1974
| '''Age''' || 56
|debutteam=California Angels
|-
|finalleague = MLB
| '''Height''' || {{convert|6|ft|3|in|m|abbr=on}}
|finaldate=September 28
|-
|finalyear=1975
| '''Weight''' || {{convert|180|lb|abbr=on}}
|finalteam=California Angels
|-
|statleague = MLB
| '''Bats''' || Right
|stat1label=]
|-
|stat1value=.241
| '''Throws''' || Right
|stat2label=]s
|-
|stat2value=2
| '''College''' || ]
|stat3label=]
|-
|stat3value=15
| '''Place of Birth''' || ], ], ]
|teams=
|-
* ] ({{baseball year|1974}}–{{baseball year|1975}})
| '''Drafted by''' || ]
}}
|-
'''John Lawrence Balaz''' (born November 24, 1950) is a Canadian former professional ] player. Balaz was 23 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 10, 1974, with the ].
| '''Major League experience''' || 2
|-
| '''Major League Debut'''|| ], ] (Age 23)
|-
|'''Last Major League Game'''|| ], ] in baseball|1975]]
|}


==Career==
'''John Balaz''' (born Friday, ], ], in ], ], ]) was a professional ] player. Balaz was 23 years old when he broke into the big leagues on ], ], with the ].


== Career ==
===California Angels=== ===California Angels===
On ], ] Balaz was drafted by the California Angels in the 5th round of the 1970 amateur ]. Balaz attended ] in San Diego, CA. He then went on to ] while attending there he was drafted by the ] in the 5th round (108th overall) of the ].


An outstanding ] hitter who led three leagues in ], Balaz made his ] in an unusual way on ], ] at ]. In a game against the ], he was announced as a ] for ] ] in the bottom of the 6th. Kansas City made a pitching change, so manager ] decided to have ] pinch hit for Balaz, who had to go back and take a seat on the dugout bench. He got into a game three days later, starting in ] against the ] at ], and went 0-for-3 against ]. On ] he had a big game against the Royals in Kansas City, with a ] and 4 RBI. An outstanding ] hitter who led three leagues in ], Balaz made his major league debut in an unusual way on September 10, 1974 at ]. In a game against the ], he was announced as a ] for ] ] in the bottom of the 6th. Kansas City made a pitching change, so manager ] decided to have ] pinch hit for Balaz, who had to go back and take a seat on the dugout bench. He got into a game three days later, starting in ] against the ] at ], and went 0-for-3 against ]. On September 24 he had a big game against the Royals in Kansas City, with a ] and four RBI.


Balaz spent more time with the Angels in 1975, hitting .242 (29-for-120) in 45 games with 1 HR and 10 RBI. He was in the starting lineup for 30 of those games as a left fielder, ], and ]. Balaz spent more time with the Angels in 1975, hitting .242 (29-for-120) in 45 games with 1 HR and 10 RBI. He was in the starting lineup for 30 of those games as a left fielder, ], and ].


Career totals include 59 games played, a .241 ] (39-for-162), 2 ], 15 ], 14 ], and a .340 ]. Career totals include 59 games played, a .241 ] (39-for-162), 2 ]s, 15 ], 14 ], and a .340 ].


Balaz began to play in 1974, and appeared in 6 games at home, where he had 15 ], drove in 0 ], scored twice, had 2 ] (0 ] / 0 ] / 0 ]s), ] 2 times (0 intentional), ] 4 times, was ] 0 times, ] 1 time (1 hit & 0 flies), stole 5 bases, was caught ] 4 times, ] 5 double plays, and finished at home with a .133 ], .235 ] and .133 ]. Balaz began to play in 1974, and appeared in 14 games that season, in which he had 42 ]s, scored four times, had 10 ] (nine ]s and one home run), ] 5 runs, ] twice, ] 10 times, had one ], and was ] once. He finished with a .238 ], .289 ] and .310 ].

On the road, Balaz appeared in 8 games, had 27 at-bats, drove in 5 runs, scored 2 times, had 8 hits (0 doubles / 0 triples / 1 home run), walked 0 times (0 intentional), struck out 6 times, was hit by a pitcher 1 time, sacrificed 0 times (0 hits & 0 flies), stole 5 bases, was caught stealing 4 times, ground into 5 double plays, and finished at home with a .296 batting average, .321 on base percentage and .407 slugging percentage.


===Boston Red Sox=== ===Boston Red Sox===
On ], during ] 1976, the Angels traded John Balaz, ], and ] to ] for former ] star reliever ]. On March 3, 1976, during ], the Angels traded Balaz, ], and ] to the ] in exchange for reliever ]. Balaz was sent down to the minor leagues, and never played for the Red Sox. It was reported that Drago was sent to the Angels as ''the player to be named later'' for ] (acquired the previous June). The Red Sox still sent minor league ] Chuck Ross to the Angels two days later to make everything look more legitimate.{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}}


==Post major league career==
Balaz never played an ] for Boston. It was reported that Drago was sent to the Angels as "the player to be named later" for ] (acquired the previous June). The Red Sox still sent minor league ] ] to the Angels two days later to make everything look more legitimate.
Balaz never again appeared in a big league game. After playing for the ] in 1976, he split the 1977 season between the ] and ] minor league organizations. He continued his career in Mexico while playing for the ] club. Balaz gained prominence when he played in the 1979 ] playoffs where his team made it to the finals.<ref>http://216.239.51.104/search?q=cache:LMVDazKu7bIJ:www2.leonesdeyucatan.com.mx/noticias.php%3Fid%3D558%26PHPSESSID%3Da126906e75fba796e478fa2899ec593c+%22john+balaz%22+mexico&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=4&client=firefox-a {{Dead link|date=June 2009}}</ref>


Balaz now lives in Las Vegas Nevada with his wife Bonnie and their children Lauren and Justin.
==Post Major League Career==
Balaz never again appeared in a big league game. However, he continued his career in Mexico playing for ] national team. Balaz gained prominence when he played in the 1979 Mexican ] where his team made it to the finals.<ref>http://216.239.51.104/search?q=cache:LMVDazKu7bIJ:www2.leonesdeyucatan.com.mx/noticias.php%3Fid%3D558%26PHPSESSID%3Da126906e75fba796e478fa2899ec593c+%22john+balaz%22+mexico&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=4&client=firefox-a</ref>


==Facts==
Balaz now lives in ], California with his wife Bonnie, and two Children Lauren, and Justin.
Balaz hit his first major league home run off ] pitcher ] (Royals Stadium, September 24, 1974), and his second and last against ] of the ] (Anaheim Stadium, July 26, 1975).


==Records and Achievements== ==Achievements==
Balaz led in several leagues throughout his career.
*Balaz led in several leagues throughout his career. He led the ] with 14 HR and 51 RBI while playing for the ] in 1971, led the ] with 28 HR and 113 RBI while playing for the ] in 1973, and led the ] with 111 RBI while playing for the ] in 1974.


He topped the ] with 14 HR and 51 RBI while playing for the ] in 1971.
*He hit a combined .306 (11-for-36) against ] ], ], ], ], and ]


He then led the ] with 28 HR and 113 RBI while playing for the ] in 1973, and led the ] with 111 RBI while playing for the ] in 1974.
*He hit his first ] home run against ] of the Kansas City Royals {Royals Stadium -- ], ]}, and both his second and last against ] of the ] {Anaheim Stadium -- ], ]}


==References==
*Balaz invented "carport baseball" while living in the Loma Palisades apartment complex in San Diego during the 1960s. The game was played in an empty apartment complex carport with a rubber ball and regulation baseball bat.{{Fact|Novermber 2007|date=November 2007}}
{{reflist}}


== References ==

{{reflist}}
==External links== ==External links==
{{Baseballstats|br=b/balazjo01|brm=balaz-001joh}}
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{{Texas League Player of the Year}}
{{inote|Use MLA style citation format for books, encyclopedias, and periodicals}}


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Latest revision as of 23:32, 30 December 2024

Canadian baseball player (born 1950)

Baseball player
John Balaz
Left fielder
Born: (1950-11-24) November 24, 1950 (age 74)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Batted: RightThrew: Right
MLB debut
September 10, 1974, for the California Angels
Last MLB appearance
September 28, 1975, for the California Angels
MLB statistics
Batting average.241
Home runs2
Runs batted in15
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

John Lawrence Balaz (born November 24, 1950) is a Canadian former professional baseball player. Balaz was 23 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 10, 1974, with the California Angels.

Career

California Angels

Balaz attended Point Loma High School in San Diego, CA. He then went on to San Diego City College while attending there he was drafted by the California Angels in the 5th round (108th overall) of the 1970 amateur baseball draft.

An outstanding minor league hitter who led three leagues in runs batted in, Balaz made his major league debut in an unusual way on September 10, 1974 at Anaheim Stadium. In a game against the Kansas City Royals, he was announced as a pinch hitter for left fielder Bruce Bochte in the bottom of the 6th. Kansas City made a pitching change, so manager Dick Williams decided to have Rudy Meoli pinch hit for Balaz, who had to go back and take a seat on the dugout bench. He got into a game three days later, starting in left field against the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park, and went 0-for-3 against Jim Kaat. On September 24 he had a big game against the Royals in Kansas City, with a home run and four RBI.

Balaz spent more time with the Angels in 1975, hitting .242 (29-for-120) in 45 games with 1 HR and 10 RBI. He was in the starting lineup for 30 of those games as a left fielder, right fielder, and designated hitter.

Career totals include 59 games played, a .241 batting average (39-for-162), 2 home runs, 15 RBI, 14 runs scored, and a .340 slugging percentage.

Balaz began to play in 1974, and appeared in 14 games that season, in which he had 42 at bats, scored four times, had 10 hits (nine singles and one home run), drove in 5 runs, walked twice, struck out 10 times, had one sacrifice hit, and was hit by pitch once. He finished with a .238 batting average, .289 on-base percentage and .310 slugging percentage.

Boston Red Sox

On March 3, 1976, during spring training, the Angels traded Balaz, Dick Sharon, and Dave Machemer to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for reliever Dick Drago. Balaz was sent down to the minor leagues, and never played for the Red Sox. It was reported that Drago was sent to the Angels as the player to be named later for Denny Doyle (acquired the previous June). The Red Sox still sent minor league pitcher Chuck Ross to the Angels two days later to make everything look more legitimate.

Post major league career

Balaz never again appeared in a big league game. After playing for the Rhode Island Red Sox in 1976, he split the 1977 season between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres minor league organizations. He continued his career in Mexico while playing for the Indios de Ciudad Juárez club. Balaz gained prominence when he played in the 1979 Mexican League playoffs where his team made it to the finals.

Balaz now lives in Las Vegas Nevada with his wife Bonnie and their children Lauren and Justin.

Facts

Balaz hit his first major league home run off Kansas City Royals pitcher Paul Splittorff (Royals Stadium, September 24, 1974), and his second and last against Vic Albury of the Minnesota Twins (Anaheim Stadium, July 26, 1975).

Achievements

Balaz led in several leagues throughout his career.

He topped the Pioneer League with 14 HR and 51 RBI while playing for the Idaho Falls Angels in 1971.

He then led the California League with 28 HR and 113 RBI while playing for the Salinas Angels in 1973, and led the Texas League with 111 RBI while playing for the El Paso Diablos in 1974.

References

  1. http://216.239.51.104/search?q=cache:LMVDazKu7bIJ:www2.leonesdeyucatan.com.mx/noticias.php%3Fid%3D558%26PHPSESSID%3Da126906e75fba796e478fa2899ec593c+%22john+balaz%22+mexico&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=4&client=firefox-a

External links

Texas League Most Valuable Player Award
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