Ed Kirkpatrick

Ed Kirkpatrick
Kirkpatrick in 1976.
Outfielder / Catcher
Born: (1944-10-08)October 8, 1944
Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Died: November 15, 2010(2010-11-15) (aged 66)
Mission Viejo, California, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 13, 1962, for the Los Angeles Angels
Last MLB appearance
October 2, 1977, for the Milwaukee Brewers
MLB statistics
Batting average.238
Home runs85
Runs batted in424
Teams

Edgar Leon Kirkpatrick (October 8, 1944 – November 15, 2010) was an American professional baseball outfielder and catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1962 through 1977 for the Los Angeles / California Angels, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers, and Milwaukee Brewers.[1]

Kirkpatrick helped the Pirates win the National League Eastern Division in the 1974 and 1975 seasons.

Over 16 seasons, he played in 1,311 games and had 3,467 at-bats, 411 runs, 824 hits, 143 doubles, 18 triples, 85 home runs, 424 RBI, 34 stolen bases, 456 walks, .238 batting average, .327 on-base percentage, .363 slugging percentage, 1,258 total bases, 25 sacrifice hits, 39 sacrifice flies, and 70 intentional walks.

Kirkpatrick recorded the final base hit (a single in the 8th inning) in the last game ever played at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City on October 4, 1972.

Kirkpatrick claimed the city of Glendora, California, where he graduated from high school, as his hometown. Glendora annually presents the Ed “Eddie" Kirkpatrick Award to a citizen who has done the most for local youth.

In 1981, Kirkpatrick was leaving a charity event in La Habra, California, when he was involved in a seemingly minor car accident; however, a blood clot traveled from a bruised area of his neck into his brain overnight. He suffered a heart attack during a subsequent brain surgery.[2] He was in a coma for 5½ months and was left permanently paralyzed.[3][4]

He died at the age of 66 in Mission Viejo, California, after a long battle with throat cancer.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Former Angels outfielder Ed Kirkpatrick dies at 66". Los Angeles Times. November 15, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
  2. ^ Smith, Sarah (May 8, 1985). "The sons also rise: Kirkpatrick rallies to thrive, not just survive, on the diamond". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  3. ^ Markusen, Bruce (July 1998). "Designated Hitter Born 25 Years Ago". Baseball Digest. p. 79.
  4. ^ Former Angels outfielder Ed Kirkpatrick dies at 66
  5. ^ "Former major league outfielder Ed Kirkpatrick dies". fox11az.com. Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2010.