Paul Molitor

3.1. Milwaukee Brewers (1978-1992)

Molitor made his MLB debut with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1978. He initially played as a shortstop but transitioned to second base when Robin Yount returned from a brief injury. His debut came on April 7, 1978, against the Baltimore Orioles. The following day, in a game against the same opponent, he hit his first major league home run and recorded five RBIs. In his rookie season, he played in 125 games, hitting .273 with six home runs, 45 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases. He finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting.

In 1979, Molitor improved significantly, batting .322 with 188 hits, 33 stolen bases, and a league-second-best 16 triples. The 1980 season saw him start strong, but a June injury sidelined him for over a month. Despite being selected for the All-Star Game, he had to decline due to the injury. He finished the season with a .304 batting average and 34 stolen bases. In 1981, he primarily played center field to mitigate injury risks associated with infield play, but another injury in May limited him to 64 games, where he hit .267 with two home runs and 19 RBIs. Despite the shortened season due to the 1981 Major League Baseball strike, the Brewers won the second half of the season, and in the 1981 American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, Molitor hit a go-ahead home run off Tommy John, though the Brewers ultimately lost the series.

Before the 1982 season, Molitor was converted to third base. He had a stellar year, batting .302 with 19 home runs, 71 RBIs, 41 stolen bases, and 201 hits. He also led the American League (AL) with 136 runs scored. On May 12, he hit three home runs against the Kansas City Royals, including a leadoff homer. The Brewers, known as "Harvey's Wallbangers," reached the 1982 World Series but lost in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals. Molitor was a standout performer in the series, batting .355 and setting a World Series record with five hits in Game 1.

Molitor's early career was frequently hampered by injuries, leading to six stints on the disabled list between 1980 and 1986. In 1984, he suffered from elbow problems and played in only 13 games, becoming the first position player to undergo Tommy John surgery in an effort to save his career. He bounced back in 1985, playing in 140 games and hitting .297 with 10 home runs and 48 RBIs, earning an All-Star selection. In 1986, he played in 105 games, recording a .281 average, nine home runs, and 55 RBIs, but also reinjured his hamstring.

In 1987, Molitor garnered national attention with a remarkable 39-game hitting streak from July 16 to August 25. Columnist Mike Downey famously quipped that "the amazing thing about Paul Molitor's recent bat-o-rama is not that he has hit in 33 straight games but that he has played in 33 straight games." The streak ended on August 26, 1987, against the Cleveland Indians when Rick Manning hit a game-ending single with Molitor in the on-deck circle, leading some fans to boo Manning for depriving Molitor of a chance at 40 games. This streak remains the fifth-longest in modern baseball history and the longest since Pete Rose's 44-game streak in 1978. Despite playing in only 118 games that season, he achieved career highs in batting average (.353), stolen bases (45), on-base percentage (.438), slugging percentage (.566), and led the league with 114 runs scored and 41 doubles. He also received his first Silver Slugger Award as a designated hitter.

He continued his strong performance in 1988 and 1989, recording batting averages above .300 and over 190 hits in both seasons. In 1991, Molitor's role as a designated hitter increased. On May 15, 1991, he achieved a cycle against the Minnesota Twins. That year, he had an outstanding season, hitting .325 with a league-leading 216 hits, 13 triples, and 133 runs scored. He maintained his consistent hitting in 1992, batting .320 with 195 hits. After the 1992 season, Molitor became a free agent.

3.2. Toronto Blue Jays (1993-1995)

Although Molitor expressed a desire to remain with the Milwaukee Brewers, their offer of a one-year contract with a significant pay cut (to 900.00 K USD) was surpassed by the Toronto Blue Jays' offer of a three-year, 13.00 M USD deal (equivalent to 26.00 M USD in 2024). This led him to sign with the Blue Jays on December 7, 1992. Upon joining Toronto, he changed his jersey number to 19, the same number worn by his former Brewers teammate and fellow Hall of Famer, Robin Yount.

Molitor quickly proved to be a pivotal acquisition for the Blue Jays. In 1993, he led the AL in plate appearances (725) and hits (211), while batting an impressive .332 with 22 home runs and 111 RBIs. His strong second half, where he hit .361, was crucial for the team's success. Molitor played a key role in the Blue Jays' second consecutive World Championship. In the 1993 American League Championship Series against the Chicago White Sox, he batted .391, including a four-hit, three-RBI performance in Game 1, as the Blue Jays won the series. In the 1993 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, Molitor delivered an exceptional performance, batting .500 (12-for-24) with two home runs, two doubles, two triples, and eight RBIs, earning him the World Series Most Valuable Player Award. He tied a World Series record for batting average. Despite serving as a designated hitter for most of the season, Molitor also played Game 3 of the World Series at first base and Games 4 and 5 at third base during the games played in Philadelphia. This marked his final postseason appearance, concluding his playoff career with an outstanding .368 batting average, six home runs, 22 RBIs, five doubles, three triples, and 28 runs scored in 29 games. He also received the Edgar Martínez Award (formerly the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award) in 1993.

In the strike-shortened 1994 season, Molitor continued his strong hitting, batting .341 with 14 home runs and 75 RBIs. He led the AL in games played (115) and singles (107). He also stole 20 bases without being caught, just one shy of Kevin McReynolds' 1988 major league record. His batting average dropped to .270 in 1995, his lowest mark in over a decade. After the 1995 season, Molitor became a free agent again.

3.3. Minnesota Twins (1996-1998)

On December 5, 1995, Molitor signed with his hometown Minnesota Twins for the final three seasons of his playing career. On September 16, 1996, in a game against the Kansas City Royals, Molitor achieved his 3,000th career hit with a triple to center field, becoming the first player in MLB history to reach the 3,000-hit plateau with a triple. At 40 years old, Molitor had an exceptional 1996 season, batting .341 with nine home runs and a career-high 113 RBIs. He led the league with 225 hits, becoming only the second 40-year-old player, after Hall of Famer Sam Rice, to record a 200-hit season. He also led the league in singles with 167. Molitor is the last MLB player to drive in 100 or more runs in a season while hitting fewer than 10 home runs (nine HR, 113 RBIs). He had anticipated playing alongside Twins superstar Kirby Puckett, but Puckett unfortunately developed career-ending glaucoma during spring training in 1996 and never played again. Molitor earned his second Edgar Martínez Award in 1996.

In 1997, Molitor continued to hit well, maintaining a .305 batting average, marking his twelfth season finishing above .300. His final season in 1998 saw him bat .281 with four home runs, 69 RBIs, and nine stolen bases. This was his first season since 1984 (a very brief injury-shortened year) in which he did not reach double-digit stolen base totals. On August 8, 1998, he recorded his 500th career stolen base against the Baltimore Orioles. Molitor announced his retirement in December 1998, stating, "My heart tells me I've done what I can do on the field and in this game. I'm happy to leave it playing my last season in a Twins uniform... Now I'm going to redirect my efforts to find out what else the future holds."

4.1. Playing Style and Skills

Molitor was known for his rare bat control and strong wrists, making him an outstanding hitter capable of combining both batting average and power. He was also an exceptional runner, possessing both speed and advanced base-running skills. His ability to ignite the offense, particularly from the leadoff position, earned him the nickname "The Ignitor." He recorded 33 leadoff home runs throughout his career, ranking him among the top ten all-time in that category.

Molitor is one of only five players in Major League Baseball history to accumulate at least 3,000 hits, maintain a lifetime batting average of .300 or higher, and record 500 or more stolen bases. The other four players to achieve this rare feat are Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Eddie Collins, and Ichiro Suzuki. Among this exclusive group, only Molitor and Ichiro played beyond 1930. Furthermore, Molitor is the sole player among these five to also hit at least 200 home runs, solidifying his reputation as one of the "most refined offensive players" in MLB history. While his defense was not as celebrated as his offense, Molitor demonstrated versatility by playing seven different positions during his career, excluding pitcher and catcher.

4.2. Career Statistics and Major Records

Molitor's career spanned 21 seasons, during which he amassed impressive totals across various offensive categories.

Molitor's career is marked by several significant records and milestones:

• He is one of only five players in MLB history with at least 3,000 hits, a .300 lifetime batting average, and 500 stolen bases. He is the only one among them to also hit at least 200 home runs.
• He batted .368 in five postseason series, showcasing his ability to perform in high-pressure situations.
• He was a seven-time All-Star.
• Despite missing nearly 500 games due to various injuries throughout his career, he achieved these impressive statistics.
• Molitor recorded eight 5-hit games and four 200-hit seasons in his 21-year major league career. He also compiled 56 4-hit games.
• He is the only player in World Series history to have at least two home runs, two doubles, and two triples in a single series (1993).
• He is a member of an exclusive club, hitting .300 or better in full seasons across three decades (1970s, 1980s, and 1990s), achieving this feat a dozen times in his career.
• As of 2021, Molitor is the last Major League player to execute the rare feat of stealing home plate at least ten times over the course of a career.

5.1. Hall of Fame Induction

Molitor was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 6, 2004, in his first year of eligibility, receiving 85.2% of the votes. His induction was particularly significant as he became one of the first players enshrined who had spent a substantial portion of his career as a designated hitter. True to his word, Molitor chose to be depicted on his Hall of Fame plaque wearing a Milwaukee Brewers cap, joining Robin Yount as the only Hall of Famers to be primarily associated with the Brewers on their plaques. At the time of his induction, Molitor was serving as the hitting coach for the Seattle Mariners.

5.2. Major Playing Awards

Molitor received several prestigious awards throughout his playing career, highlighting his offensive excellence and overall impact on the game:

• Silver Slugger Award: 4 times (1987, 1988, 1993, 1996) for his performance as a designated hitter.
• World Series Most Valuable Player Award: 1 time (1993), for his pivotal role in the Toronto Blue Jays' championship.
• Babe Ruth Award: 1 time (1993), recognizing his outstanding postseason performance.
• Edgar Martínez Award (Outstanding Designated Hitter Award): 2 times (1993, 1996).
• Player of the Month: 2 times (September 1989, May 1993).
• Lou Gehrig Memorial Award: 1 time (1997), recognizing his character and contributions both on and off the field.
• Hutch Award: 1 time (1987), given to a player who best exemplifies the spirit of Fred Hutchinson.
• Player of the Week: 5 times (September 19, 1982; August 16, 1987; August 23, 1987; August 30, 1992; July 24, 1994).
• Branch Rickey Award: 1 time (1998), for his exceptional community service.
• Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award: 1 time (1998), for his leadership and contributions to the players' union and community.
• He was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team in 1999.
• Molitor was a 7-time All-Star selection (1980, 1985, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994).
• He achieved a cycle on May 15, 1991.

5.3. Retired Numbers and Honors

On June 11, 1999, the Milwaukee Brewers retired Molitor's uniform number 4 during a ceremony at Milwaukee County Stadium. During this ceremony, Molitor announced his intention to enter the Hall of Fame as a Brewer, a promise he fulfilled upon his induction. In 1999, Molitor was also elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame.

6.1. Early Coaching Career

After concluding his playing career, Molitor remained with the Minnesota Twins for three seasons (2000-2002) as a bench coach. He was considered a strong candidate to manage the team when Tom Kelly retired after the 2001 season, but Molitor declined the opportunity, partly due to the Twins facing potential contraction at the time.

In 2004, Molitor took on a role as a hitting coach for the Seattle Mariners. However, the team struggled offensively, finishing last in the American League in runs scored, and Molitor was dismissed along with manager Bob Melvin. From 2005 to 2013, he returned to the Twins organization, serving as a roving instructor for minor league affiliates, focusing on baserunning and fielding. In 2014, Molitor officially rejoined the Twins' major league coaching staff, overseeing baserunning, bunting, infield instruction, and positioning.

6.2. Minnesota Twins Manager

On November 4, 2014, the Minnesota Twins announced Molitor as their 13th manager, a role he assumed for the 2015 season. He was introduced in a press conference, expressing his deep connection to the team.

In his first season, Molitor significantly improved the team's performance. The Twins, who had finished last or second-to-last in their division for the previous four seasons, achieved an 83-79 record, finishing second in the AL Central, just three games shy of a wild card spot.

At the end of the 2017 season, the Twins announced a three-year contract extension for Molitor, securing his position through 2020. This extension was a recognition of his exceptional leadership in guiding the Twins back to the postseason after a challenging 2016 season where they lost 103 games. The Twins became the first team in MLB history to reach the postseason after losing over 100 games the previous year. For this remarkable turnaround, Molitor was named the American League Manager of the Year in November 2017. He became only the second individual in baseball history to be elected to the Hall of Fame as a player and subsequently win the Manager of the Year Award, following Frank Robinson, who achieved the feat in 1989 with the Baltimore Orioles.

On October 2, 2018, the Twins dismissed Molitor as manager after the team failed to make the postseason that year. Despite his dismissal, the organization expressed interest in retaining him in some capacity. Molitor later rejoined the Twins as a special assistant, with duties including acting as a roving instructor for the team's minor league affiliates.

6.3. Managerial Record