Rocky Colavito
| Birthdate | 8/10/1933 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1955 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Athletics, Dodgers, Indians, Tigers, White Sox, Yankees |
| Position | Right Field |
Thanks to 11 straight 20-homer seasons, only 2 AL right-handed batters had more career homers than Rocky Colavito when he retired in 1968.
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Rocky Colavito found immediate success at the big league level in 1955
Rocky Colavito found immediate success at the big league level in 1955
The runner-up in Rookie of the Year balloting in 1956, Rocky Colavito immediately established himself as a fan favorite for the Cleveland Indians. After hitting 87 home runs in his first three seasons Colavito had a breakout season in 1959, leading the league in homers and total bases in his first All Star season.
In his first 11 years in the big leagues, Colavito averaged 33 bombs per season, eclipsing the 40-homer mark three times. The strong-armed right fielder was also the the first outfielder in American League history to complete a season without making an error.
Colavito played in nine All Star games, finishing his career with 374 home runs. The Indians inducted him into their team Hall of Fame in 2006.
In the collection is this government postcard signed by Colavito in 1959. That season he joined Lou Gehrig as the only men in American League history to homer in four straight at bats in a nine-inning game. Colavito also hit a homer in the ’59 All Star game and led the junior circuit with 42 clouts.
Rocky Colavito hit his 90th career homer on 4/25/59, the day this autographed card was postmarked
Rocky Colavito hit his 90th career homer on 4/25/59, the day this autographed card was postmarked
Government postcards like this one signed by Rocky Colavito provide context to the signature. This card was postmarked in Cleveland on April 25, 1959. That day Colavito hit his 90th career homer in a four-run 7th inning against the Chicago White Sox.
Rocky enjoyed a 14-year big league career that included 374 homers and 1,159 RBI. For those who prefer analytics, Colavito’s OPS+ was a robust 132 while his career WAR stands at 44.8. Wildly popular in Cleveland, he was inducted into the franchise’s Hall of Fame in 2006.
Though Colavito signatures are fairly common, vintage signatures verifiably from the 1950s remain desirable.
On 4/16/1960 the Indians traded the AL home run leader for reigning batting champ Harvey Kuenn
On 4/16/1960 the Indians traded the AL home run leader for reigning batting champ Harvey Kuenn
In April, 1960 the Tigers and Indians teamed up for one of the most memorable deals in baseball history. The swap of Rocky Colavito for Harvey Kuenn remains the only trade of a reigning home run leader for a reigning batting champ.
Indians fans were horrified to see their hero sent packing. Just 26 years old at the time of the trade, Colavito slugged 83 home runs in the previous two seasons combined. Each of the campaigns he finished in the top-5 of MVP voting.
Despite their dismay, Kuenn was no slouch. Then 29 years old, he was coming off of a nice run. The 1953 Rookie of the Year had 7 straight All Star seasons under his belt. His .353 average the year before the trade was 26 points ahead of the AL’s second-leading hitter, teammate Al Kaline.
The trade didn’t work out so well for Cleveland. Though he hit .308 and made the All Star team for the Tribe, Kuenn spent just one year with the Indians. He then spent six more lackluster seasons in the majors and topped the .300 mark just once in that span.
Colavito remained a force in Detroit where he spent the rest of his 20s. Twice an All Star for the Tigers, he slammed 139 homers and drove in 408 runs in his quartet of seasons in Detroit. Colavito played 9 more seasons after the trade and averaged 27 dingers per year after leaving Cleveland.
Shown here is a 1963 Topps baseball card autographed by Harvey Kuenn. More on the 1959 American League batting champion can be seen by clicking here.
Here is Don Baylor's signed lineup card as manager the night Sammy Sosa passed Rocky Colavito on the all-time home run list
Here is Don Baylor's signed lineup card as manager the night Sammy Sosa passed Rocky Colavito on the all-time home run list
Rocky Colavito played in nine All Star games and ended his 14-year Major League career with 374 home runs. A prolific slugger, Colavito averaged 33 homers per season from 1956 to 1966.
At the time of his retirement in 1968, only two AL right-handed hitters topped Colavito’s career total.
Among the hitters who have since passed Colavito’s home run tally is Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa. That happened on August 18, 2000 in a night game at Arizona’s Bank One Ballpark. Behind a complete game effort by Diamondbacks pitcher Curt Schilling, Arizona bested the Cubs 11-2. Both Cubs runs came courtesy of Sosa solo shots.
On Schilling’s first pitch in the top of the fourth, Sosa crushed the ball well over the centerfield wall. The bomb pushed Sosa’s career home run total to 375 – one more than Colavito.
Sosa wasn’t done. In the 9th inning, Sosa again ambushed Schilling’s first offering, hitting his 376th homer to tie Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk on the all time list.
The bottom of the lineup card is signed by Cubs manager Don Baylor.
Great memories of a GREAT Player!!
ROCKY COLAVITO IS BY FAR THE BEST BASEBALL PLAYER TO EVER WEAR A CLEVELAND INDIAN UNIFORM!!!
SEND ROCKY COLAVITO TO COOPERSTOWN
To say the best is totally ridiculous. He was probably the most well liked, but now near the best
Rocky Colavito was why I became a baseball fan. Doing the famous behind the neck stretch, and finishing your warm up swings with the bat pointed at the pitcher’s head…
and let’s not forget his trip into the stands at Yankee Stadium to stop the drunk who was assaulting Rocky’s wife and father.
The man should be in the HOF.
Kaline and Colavito were the heart and soul of the Tigers line up in the early 60’s. The Colavito stretch was unforgettable .
Why isn’t ROCKY COLAVITO not in MLB Hall Of Fame????????
Just imagine if he was playing today in these bandbox tiny stadium he would have 800 home runs A real gentlemen was to his house in Reading Pa with a friend of his from Milford Pa. Had one of the greatest arms ever in baseball. A great great player
I remember him when I was a child. My favorite. Always looking for that Rocky Colavito baseball card in the bubble gum package. A great player&great man.
Didn’t he have a lot of home runs in the minor league? Seems like over 60 in 1 year??
If you add Rocky Colavito’s minor league home runs to his Major league total Rocky Colavito had 524 total home runs. What I find sad is by the Indians trading Rocky, Rocky lost that one team his whole career luster that turns a player into a legend. Also, the timing of the DH, just a couple years too late for Rocky to stay in shape for so he could have boosted his numbers. His defense was solid and his throwing arm tremendous. Imagine have an error free year when any throw to the infield could have been airmailed into the stands because he could throw the ball so far.
One of my favorite KC Athletic.
ROCKY was and is and will always be my favorite ballplayer.as a kid growing up is missed ROCKY’S first seasons in cleveland.i new him as a detroit tiger and living in texas we didn’t have a major league team so mine was the tigers (even though they didn’t treat rocky right). in 1974 ROCKY was coaching with cleveland.when they played the rangers i waited outside the clubhouse and asked if i could to ROCKY he came out and talked to me for at least 30 minutes what a wonderful man.it’s nice to know your hero is such a wonderful man.i felt like i was 10 again.he signed his rookie card and his last year.i had a 64 giant he said “i’ll sign this one personally for you what’s your name i said it’s rocky he said “where did you get that name i said i got from you. i have that card it says to rocky best wishes ROCKY COLAVITO i plan to be buried with it.not only is ROCKY a hof player he’s hof human being.i could’nt have picked a better hero.
He belongs in Cooperstown, and you know it.
When Colavito fielded 1.000, Vic Davalillo must have felt like he was playing half of right field as well as center.