Nate Colbert
Nate Colbert | ||
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Runs batted in | 520 | |
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Career highlights and awards | ||
Nathan Colbert Jr. (April 9, 1946 – January 5, 2023) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a first baseman from 1966 to 1976, most prominently as a member of the newly formed San Diego Padres, who joined the league as an expansion team in 1969. He was among the inaugural inductees into the Padres Hall of Fame.
Colbert played six seasons with San Diego from 1969 to 1974, earning all three of his All-Star selections and becoming the first star player for the young franchise. Through the 2022 season, he still held the Padres' career record for home runs (163) and ranked among the Padres' top 10 in numerous offensive categories.[1] He also played for the Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, Montreal Expos, and the Oakland Athletics. A back injury prematurely ended Colbert's career after just 10 seasons.[2]
After his playing career, Colbert became a
Early life
Colbert was born on April 9, 1946, in
Professional career
Colbert was signed by his hometown Cardinals as an amateur
Throughout his career with the Padres from 1969 to 1974, he was a standout player and their biggest star as they finished in last place in the six-team
Colbert's best day in the majors was August 1, 1972, when he hit five home runs—matching Musial's record from 1954—and drove in 13 runs in a doubleheader, breaking the record of 11 RBIs,
After three All-Star seasons at first base from 1971 to 1973, San Diego moved Colbert to
Colbert was the first star for the Padres and remains the franchise's career home run leader with 163.[2][3] He also ranks among the top-10 in club history in RBIs (481), slugging percentage (.469), games played (866), runs scored (442) and base on balls (350). He was inducted as part of the inaugural class of the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame in 1999.[2][12][19][20]
In 10 seasons covering 1,004 games, Colbert compiled a .243 average, 173 home runs, and 520 RBIs.[2] He played on nine consecutive last-place teams from 1968 to 1976.[21][22]
Later life
After his playing career, Colbert spent several years as a
Personal life
Colbert met his wife, Kasey, while playing with Oakland. They had nine children together.[3] He died on January 5, 2023, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 76.[5][19][26]
See also
Notes
- ^ Mark Whiten of St. Louis tied Colbert with 13 RBIs in a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds in 1993.[13]
References
- ^ "San Diego Padres Top 10 Career Batting Leaders". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Wolf, Gregory. "The Baseball Biography Project: Nate Colbert". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Markusen, Bruce. "#CARDCORNER: 1969 TOPPS NATE COLBERT". National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Norcross, Don (June 25, 1993). "A 5-HR day eased pain for Colbert". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. PAGE-5. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Gould, Derrick (January 6, 2023). "St. Louis native Nate Colbert, Padres slugger who matched Musial's feat, dies at 76". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Wolf, Bob (June 21, 1989). "Aug. 1, 1972, Was Nate's Great Day : Padres' Colbert Made History With Five Homers in Doubleheader". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- .
- ^ a b c Sanders, Jeff (April 24, 2020). "Padres history (April 24): Nate Colbert starts slugging away". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
- ^ "Nate Colbert". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
- ^ a b Posnanski, Joe (March 29, 2021). "Letters From Spring: With Fernando Tatis Jr., the Padres are dreaming the biggest dreams". The Athletic. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ "24 Padres signed; Ivie's bat speaks". Evening Tribune. February 17, 1972. p. C-2. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
- ^ a b Center, Bill (July 10, 1999). "Padres Hall of Fame – Jones was club's first box-office draw". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. D-8. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ "Whiten (as in Hittin')". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. September 8, 1993. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
- ^ Acee, Kevin (May 26, 2020). "Padres by the numbers (17–24): Gwynn, Caminiti and what happened with No. 20". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ "Colbert set history 40 years ago". The San Diego Union-Tribune. August 2, 2012. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ Belleville, Gary. "August 2, 1975: Expos stun Phillies on Nate Colbert's pinch-hit, walk-off homer". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ "Colbert Traded In 3‐Team Deal," United Press International (UPI), Monday, November 18, 1974. Retrieved October 21, 2020
- ^ "A's Obtain Bahnsen on Deadline," The New York Times, Tuesday, June 17, 1975. Retrieved October 26, 2020
- ^ a b Sanders, Jeff (January 5, 2023). "Padres franchise home run leader Nate Colbert dies at 76". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ "San Diego Padres Hall of Fame". mlb.com. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ Dubuque, Patrick (June 22, 2015). "The Ironic Jersey Omnibus Lives". the Hardball Times. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ Clark, Michael J. (October 12, 2016). "The Padres First Power Hitter, Nate Colbert". East Village Times. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ Lockwood, Wayne (June 11, 1988). "Wayne Lockwood". The San Diego Union. p. C-1. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
'In spring training, it was kind of scary because we didn't know how good we were going to be,' said Colbert, now a hitting coach in the San Diego organization at Wichita.
- ^ "Former Padres star Colbert sentenced for lying to banks". Tampa Bay Times. September 18, 1991. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ McLeod, Paul (January 30, 1992). "Basketball Shooting Star Sets Her Sights at the Court's Outer Limits". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
- ^ Cassavell, AJ (January 5, 2023). "Nate Colbert, Padres' all-time HR leader, dies at 76". Major League Baseball. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet