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Alan Bannister

Alan Bannister is an American former MLB utility player across 12 seasons, a Pan Am Games medalist, College Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, and was involved in a fatal on-field incident.

1. Overview

Alan Bannister, born September 3, 1951, is an American former professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) across 12 seasons. Primarily developed as a shortstop, he became a versatile utility player during his career, playing for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers. He represented the United States in international competition, earning a silver medal at the 1971 Pan American Games. His career was also marked by a tragic on-field incident in Japan in 1972 that resulted in a fatality. Following his playing career, Bannister transitioned into managing within minor league systems and was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010.

2. Early Life and Education

Bannister attended John F. Kennedy High School in La Palma, California. After high school, he continued his baseball career at the collegiate level, playing college baseball for Arizona State University. His performance in college was highly regarded, marking him as a promising prospect.

3. Professional Baseball Career

Alan Bannister's professional baseball career spanned 12 seasons in Major League Baseball, where he evolved from a highly-touted prospect into a versatile utility player.

3.1. Draft and Early Career

Bannister was a highly evaluated prospect during his college career. He was initially selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 5th round of the 1969 Major League Baseball draft, but he did not sign. He was later selected by the Philadelphia Phillies as their first-round pick (first overall) in the January phase of the 1973 Major League Baseball draft, and subsequently signed with them. He made his Major League Baseball debut with the Phillies. On December 10, 1975, Bannister was traded by the Phillies, along with Dick Ruthven and Roy Thomas, to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Jim Kaat and Mike Buskey.

3.2. Major League Seasons

Bannister played for several teams throughout his Major League career, demonstrating his versatility by playing every position except pitcher and catcher. He was known for his ability to play various infield and outfield roles, including shortstop, second baseman, and outfielder.

He began the 1975 season as the starting center fielder for the Philadelphia Phillies. However, his role changed after the acquisition of Garry Maddox from the San Francisco Giants on May 4, 1975.

Upon joining the Chicago White Sox, Bannister became the team's starting shortstop for the 1977 season, following the trade of Bucky Dent in April. This was the only season in his career where he played over 100 games at a single position. During the 1977 season, he led all American League shortstops in errors, committing 40. Despite this, he also led the American League in sacrifice flies with 11 during the same season.

After his tenure with the White Sox, Bannister continued his career with the Cleveland Indians from 1980 to 1983. He then played for the Houston Astros in 1984 and concluded his Major League playing career with the Texas Rangers from 1984 to 1985. Throughout his career, despite being highly touted in college, he was rarely a regular starter, often filling a utility role.

3.3. Career Statistics

Over his 12 major league seasons, Alan Bannister played in 972 games. He accumulated 3,007 at bats, scored 430 runs, and recorded 811 hits. His offensive statistics include 143 doubles, 28 triples, and 19 home runs. He drove in 288 RBIs and stole 108 stolen bases. Bannister also drew 292 walks. He finished his career with a .270 batting average, a .334 on-base percentage, and a .355 slugging percentage.

3.4. Post-retirement Activities

Following the conclusion of his playing career, Alan Bannister transitioned into a managerial role within professional baseball. He managed for two years in the Montreal Expos' minor league system. Subsequently, he spent three years managing for the AZL Giants, a team in the Arizona League.

4. International Competition

Alan Bannister represented the United States in international baseball competition. He participated in the 1971 Pan American Games, where he was part of the team that earned a silver medal.

5. Personal Incident

In July 1972, while still an amateur player, Alan Bannister was involved in a fatal on-field incident during a Baseball Federation tour in Japan. During a game against a Japanese team, Bannister attempted to complete a double play. As he made a throw to first base, the ball struck the head of Akira Tohmon, a runner who was advancing from first base to second base. Tohmon was immediately knocked unconscious. He was subsequently transported to a hospital, where he later died as a result of a cerebral contusion sustained from the impact.

6. Awards and Honors

Alan Bannister received significant recognition for his contributions to college baseball. In 2010, he was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame, an honor that acknowledges his outstanding collegiate career.

7. Impact and Evaluation

Alan Bannister's career in Major League Baseball was characterized by his exceptional versatility, allowing him to play almost every position on the field except pitcher and catcher. While he was highly regarded as a prospect coming out of college, he never consistently held a regular starting position at the Major League level, often serving as a valuable utility player. His ability to fill multiple roles made him a useful asset to the teams he played for, providing flexibility and depth.