Circuit Clouts - Rennie Stennett

HALL OF FAME CANDIDATE

Rennie Stennett
Second Baseman
Cleveland Barons (BOS, SF, TOR, STL, CHI)
1972-1987

What can be said about Rennie “Panamanian Devil” Stennett other than possibly, “Wait, who’s Rennie Stennett?” You didn’t even know he had a nickname, possibly because it was just created moments ago. His full name is Reinaldo Antonio Stennett Porte and he attended the same high school as Rod Carew. Ringing any bells yet?

Humble Big Innings
Rennie Stennett was a 4th round pick by the Cleveland Barons in 1971, drafted primarily for his promising glove at second base. Not much was expected of him otherwise. However, Stennett worked hard and honed his game, earning a call up in 1972, and didn’t look back. Never flashy, but always a steady presence up the middle. His breakout year came in 1975, when he slapped a .287 average and .344 OBP, leading to a 4.0 WAR. Stennett proved himself a reliable and legitimate on-base and contact guy. He was traded to the Chicago Colts in 1977, then subsequently traded to the Boston Federals a few short months later.

Getting Sum Where
It was with the Feds that Stennett really found his groove, and started to earn the kind of money he so richly felt he deserved. But the investment paid off as he became one of the premiere second sackers in the league. His split season in 1977 saw him post an impressive 5.4 WAR despite injury woes keeping him down for over a month of playing time. More injury affliction kept him from a full 1978 season, but by ’79, he was back in full form and force.

Playing for a contender seemed to drive him and in 1980 he celebrated several milestones including his first Gold Glove Award and a World Series ring with a Boston Federals team that finally won the UL title in their 30th season. Also in 1980, he was ensconced as a full fledge All-Star, landing on the roster in ’80 then again in ’82 thru ’85.

Road Warrior
Stennett’s contract demands kept him on the move in the '80s and played for six different teams throughout the decade. His resurgence year came in 1984, back with Cleveland, where he contributed with a .320 average, .376 OBP and 5.9 WAR. After that, he kept steady work until finally winding down his career bouncing back and forth to the minors.

Overview Renndered
Over the course of his career, Stennett showed mild, bordering on impressive power ending with 158 HR and 761 RBI. He finished a stone’s throw from 2000 overall hits (1,937) and walked more than he struck out. His WAR added up to 47.8. Maybe not the most impressive looking or memorable spiker at second base, but anyone who had him out there was glad they did. (Charlie Qualls)

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

Gold Glove Award (1980, 1983)

UL Championship (1968)

1-time Player of the Week

CAREER RANKINGS (as of 1991)

#50 - Hits

#50 - At Bats

REGULAR SEASON

Year Team Age G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB K SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS WAR

1972 Cleveland 20 129 410 120 22 3 4 37 37 14 54 4 4 .293 .316 .390 .707 1.5

1973 Cleveland 21 119 388 99 19 2 3 28 39 19 22 2 2 .255 .292 .338 .630 0.9

1974 Cleveland 22 147 532 131 26 4 13 59 63 43 27 4 2 .246 .302 .383 .685 1.8

1975 Cleveland 23 147 602 173 26 4 7 68 70 53 29 6 9 .287 .344 .379 .723 4.0

1976 Cleveland 24 128 434 117 18 1 8 41 49 45 23 7 7 .270 .337 .371 .708 2.8

1977 CLE/CHI/BOS 25 116 477 152 19 3 19 50 78 28 32 2 1 .319 .359 .491 .850 5.4

1978 Boston 26 37 153 45 4 0 5 19 24 11 13 0 1 .294 .343 .418 .761 1.2

1979 Boston 27 120 451 138 27 4 8 61 67 36 39 3 1 .306 .361 .437 .798 4.1

1980 Boston 28 146 524 164 22 1 15 76 54 39 36 4 3 .313 .359 .445 .804 5.0

1981 Boston 29 144 536 138 22 1 13 55 72 43 45 3 2 .257 .314 .375 .689 2.5

1982 San Francisco 30 138 542 159 27 0 16 54 71 45 45 5 3 .293 .353 .432 .785 3.9

1983 Cleveland 31 141 489 138 27 0 12 60 55 37 22 2 1 .282 .333 .411 .744 4.3

1984 Cleveland 32 147 519 166 27 1 16 72 60 46 35 4 2 .320 .376 .468 .844 5.9

1985 TOR/STL 33 120 434 119 16 1 11 41 53 38 34 0 5 .274 .337 .392 .729 2.9

1986 St. Louis 34 106 285 72 14 0 7 36 37 35 15 0 1 .253 .339 .375 .715 1.7

1987 Chicago 35 12 28 6 1 1 1 4 5 1 6 0 0 .214 .267 .429 .695 0.0

Total UL 16 yrs 1897 6804 1937 317 26 158 761 834 533 477 46 44 .285 .338 .409 .747 47.8

WORLD SERIES

Year Team Age G AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB K SB AVG OBP SLG OPS BR

1973 Cleveland 21 6 15 7 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 .467 .529 .533 1.063 2.3

1978 Boston 26 6 26 13 3 0 0 3 4 0 2 0 .500 .500 .615 1.115 3.6

1979 Boston 27 7 27 10 0 0 0 1 4 0 2 0 .370 .370 .370 .741 0.1

1980 Boston♦ 28 5 22 7 1 0 0 3 1 1 1 0 .318 .348 .364 .711 0.0

1985 St. Louis 33 injured

Total UL 2 yrs 24 90 37 5 0 0 8 10 3 5 0 .411 .430 .467 .897 5.9