The number one pick in the 1974 draft, Almon spent 15 years playing in the majors for seven different teams. He hit .254 in 1,236 games with 25 home runs and 128 stolen bases. He was selected first by the San Diego Padres and he joined the team at the end of that season. He became the team’s starting shortstop in 1977 and remained a starter for them until he was traded to the Montreal Expos in 1980. Almon’s stay in Montreal did not last long as the Expos released him and he was picked up by the New York Mets. He joined the Chicago White Sox as a free agent in 1981 and enjoyed the best year of his career. He hit .301 that season with 21 steals and finished 19th in the American League MVP vote. Almon was a starter for the next two seasons in Chicago before signing with the Oakland A’s as a free agent. He started for two seasons for Oakland before moving on to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Almon remained in the majors until 1988 when he appeared in 20 games for the Philadelphia Phillies to conclude his career.
Almon’s first game came for the Padres in Atlanta against the Braves on September 2, 1974. He singled off Ron Reed to lead off the eighth inning for his first major-league hit. The Padres lost the game 4-0.
We featured JR Richard in March.
Bill Almon – career stats
