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Bill North
Bill North
Bill North
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William Alex North (born May 15, 1948) is an American former center fielder in Major League Baseball, from 1971 to 1981. He played for the Chicago Cubs (1971–72), Oakland Athletics (1973–78), Los Angeles Dodgers (1978) and San Francisco Giants (1979–81). He was a switch hitter and threw right-handed.

Key Information

In an 11-year career, North compiled a career batting average of .261 (1016-for-3900) with 20 home runs and 230 runs batted in. One of the fastest men in the game, he also recorded 395 stolen bases.

Career

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1969–75

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North was drafted by the Cubs in the 12th round of the 1969 amateur draft. The speedy outfielder was traded to the Athletics after the 1972 season and started in center field on Oakland's 1973 World Series champions. Batting leadoff, he posted career highs in batting average (.285) and runs scored (98). However, on September 20, in a loss to the Minnesota Twins, North tripped over first base; the resulting ankle sprain not only cost him the American League stolen base title (his 53 steals placed him second, only one behind Tommy Harper), it also sidelined him for the remainder of the season and cost him the chance to play in the post-season.

In 1974, North led the league in steals, with 54, on an Athletics team that won its third consecutive World Series title. He was also involved in a not-so-memorable moment on June 5 of that season. He and Reggie Jackson engaged in a clubhouse fight at Detroit's Tiger Stadium that resulted in Jackson injuring his shoulder. Ray Fosse, attempting to separate the combatants, suffered a crushed disk in his neck, costing him the next three months on the disabled list.[1]

1976–81

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North also led the American League in steals in 1976 with 75, at the time the second-highest in a season in franchise history, trailing only Eddie Collins' 81 in 1910 with what were then the Philadelphia Athletics. As of 2012, only Rickey Henderson has stolen more bases for the Athletics, surpassing North's total three times, each with at least 100 steals: an even 100 in 1980, a still-standing Major League record 130 in 1982 and 108 in 1983.

Injuries limited North to only 56 games in 1977, and after a slow start in 1978, the Athletics traded him to the Dodgers for Glenn Burke. His Dodgers won the National League pennant, but lost to the New York Yankees in the World Series. After the season, the San Francisco Giants signed him as a free agent; in 1979 he returned to form with 58 stolen bases, the most by a Giant in the live-ball era. Injuries, however, kept him out of 20 games and prevented him from breaking the overall franchise record of 62. After a similar season in 1980, he tailed off in 1981.

Notable moments and statistics

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In addition to stealing bases, North also utilized his speed in the field to lead American League outfielders three times in total chances per game, twice in putouts, and once each in assists and double plays. In the second game of a July 28, 1974 doubleheader, he accomplished an unassisted double play against the Chicago White Sox. North caught Brian Downing's fly ball and continued to the second-base bag to double up Dick Allen, who had been running on the play.

North was the first player in Oakland Athletics history to serve as a designated hitter. He went 2-for-5 in the Athletics's 1973 season opener, an 8–3 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum.

North was an ineffective hitter in postseason play; in two World Series, two American League Championship Series and one National League Championship Series covering 20 games, North posted only a .051 batting average (3-for-59), among the lowest batting averages in the postseason for a position player. However, he made the most of his baserunning opportunities, scoring 8 runs, drawing 7 base on balls, stealing 3 bases and recording 3 RBI.

Former Dodgers teammate Dusty Baker invited North as an honorary coach for the 2023 MLB All-Star Game, played at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. As players, North and Baker were teammates in 1978. Baker was manager of the American League All-Star team, having managed the Houston Astros to the 2022 World Series.[2]

See also

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References

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Bill North

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William Alex North (born May 15, 1948) is an American former who played eleven seasons in (MLB) from 1971 to 1981, primarily as a for the Chicago Cubs, , [Los Angeles Dodgers](/page/Los Angeles_Dodgers), and Giants. Known for his speed and defensive prowess, North led the in stolen bases twice, with 54 in 1974 and a league-high 75 in 1976, while accumulating 395 steals over his career. He was a member of the ' World Series championship teams of 1973 and 1974, serving as their starting in the regular season, and appeared in five postseason series with the A's (1974 ALCS and , 1975 ALCS) and Dodgers (1978 NLCS and ). Born in Seattle, Washington, as the youngest of five children, North attended Garfield High School, where he excelled as a , notably completing an . He continued his baseball career at Central Washington State College (now University), batting .476 as a sophomore in 1969 and leading the team to the NAIA tournament finals, earning honorable mention All-American honors. Drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 12th round of the 1969 MLB Draft, North debuted in the majors in 1971 after progressing through the minors, where he led the Pioneer League in stolen bases with 42 in his first professional season. His career batting line stood at .261/.365/.323 with 20 home runs and 230 RBIs in 1,169 games, complemented by exceptional fielding, as he led AL center fielders in putouts from 1973 to 1975. North's time with the Athletics was marked by both success and controversy, including a notable 1974 clubhouse altercation with teammate amid the team's championship runs. After leaving Oakland following the 1977 season—during which he faced dismissed charges from a drug-related arrest—he played briefly with the Dodgers in 1978 before finishing his career with the Giants from 1979 to 1981. Post-retirement, North earned a sociology degree from the in 1992 and transitioned into a career as a while occasionally teaching hitting techniques to young players.

Early life and education

Early life

William "Bill" North was born on May 15, 1948, in , Washington, as the youngest of five children to mother Frances North, who raised the family amid various hardships. North later reflected on his upbringing positively, noting, “Mom never raised us with any bitterness... I had a great childhood.” North attended Garfield High School in , where he honed his early athletic talents. There, he primarily played second base on the team and gained local attention for completing an during one game. His initial interest in baseball stemmed from local youth leagues and high school competitions, where he emphasized his natural speed and infield skills before later shifting toward positions. After graduating in 1966, North briefly transitioned to at Central Washington State College.

College career

North enrolled at Central Washington State College (now ) in , in 1966, shortly after graduating from high school, and majored in . He played for the Wildcats baseball team from 1967 to 1969, emerging as a key contributor during his sophomore and junior seasons. As a in 1968, North batted .322 and earned honorable mention NAIA All-American honors. That year, he helped guide Central Washington to the NAIA , where the Wildcats won two games before finishing third overall. His performance established him as a standout speedster and , with 19 stolen bases that season. North's junior year in 1969 marked his most dominant performance, as he hit .443 with 29 stolen bases—both single-season school records—and was named a first-team NAIA All-American. Over his three-year college career, he maintained a .364 batting average and accumulated 50 stolen bases, another program record. Although he left school a few credits short of graduation to pursue professional baseball, North later completed his sociology degree in 1992.

Professional career

Minor leagues and draft

North was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 12th round, 278th overall, of the 1969 MLB June Amateur Draft out of . He signed with the organization shortly thereafter and began his professional career that summer with the Rookie-level Caldwell Cubs of the Pioneer League, where he appeared in 59 games, batted .266, scored 67 runs on 50 hits, and led with 42 stolen bases. In 1970, North advanced to the Class A Quincy Cubs of the , hitting .292 with 15 stolen bases in 42 games before a midseason promotion to the Double-A Spurs of the , where he batted .208 over 25 games. He returned to for the full 1971 season in the , posting a .291 with 10 home runs, 45 RBI, 47 stolen bases, and 91 runs scored in 125 games, highlighting his emerging speed and plate discipline. Across his tenure from 1969 to 1971, North compiled a .278 , 18 home runs, 88 RBI, and 123 stolen bases in 287 games, establishing himself as a dynamic leadoff prospect valued for his baserunning and on-base skills. These performances earned him a call-up to the Cubs, where he made his major league debut on , 1971.

Chicago Cubs

North made his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs on September 3, 1971, as a 23-year-old , appearing in eight games and batting .375 with three runs scored and one over 16 at-bats. This brief stint came after a strong minor league season in Double-A , where he batted .291, led the with 91 runs scored and 47 s, and earned honors, showcasing his speed and potential. In 1972, North served as a part-time and occasional for the Cubs, but struggled with consistency against major league pitching, batting .181 in 66 games with 22 runs scored and six stolen bases. His playing time was limited due to a falling out with manager , leading to two optionings to Triple-A Wichita in May and July, where he hit over .400 during a 16-game ; despite these challenges, his switch-hitting ability and base-stealing prowess hinted at untapped speed potential. On November 21, 1972, the Cubs traded North to the in exchange for Bob Locker, marking the end of his brief and underwhelming tenure in , hampered by youth and adjustment to the big leagues.

Oakland Athletics

North was acquired by the from the Chicago Cubs in a trade following the 1972 season, in exchange for Bob Locker. In 1973, North established himself as the Athletics' everyday and , batting .285 with 98 runs scored and 53 stolen bases while helping the team secure its second consecutive title in the franchise's Oakland era. However, a severe ankle sprain late in the regular season sidelined him for the entire postseason, including the and . The following year, 1974, North batted .260 and led the with 54 stolen bases, contributing to Oakland's second consecutive championship despite a modest 1-for-17 performance (.059 ) over five games in the Fall Classic. From 1975 through 1977, North remained a consistent presence in the ' lineup, showcasing his speed and defensive prowess as a key component of owner Charlie Finley's dynasty. He batted .276 in 1976, leading the AL with a career-high 75 stolen bases that season, and demonstrated exceptional range in center field by recording the most outfield putouts among major-league outfielders from 1973 to 1976. Injuries limited him to 56 games in 1977. Following the season, North faced charges from a drug-related at his Bay Area home involving cocaine possession and trafficking, which were dismissed after review by an Oakland Municipal Court magistrate. He appeared in just 24 games for Oakland in 1978 before being traded to the on May 17 for outfielder . Over his tenure with the Athletics from 1973 to 1978, North appeared in 669 games, compiling a .269 , .361 , and 232 stolen bases while earning two rings.

Los Angeles Dodgers

On May 17, 1978, the acquired Bill North from the in exchange for Glenn , seeking to bolster their outfield speed amid a competitive NL West race. North, whose prior success as a and base stealer with Oakland had established him as one of the league's fastest players, quickly integrated into the Dodgers' lineup. North appeared in 110 games for the Dodgers that season, primarily as the center fielder in a arrangement with , where he batted leadoff or second and focused on getting on base and disrupting defenses. He hit .234 with a .371 , drawing 65 walks while stealing 27 bases—second on the team—and scoring 54 runs, providing consistent speed and solid defense that helped stabilize during the club's push for the . His contributions were instrumental in the Dodgers clinching the NL West division title with a 95-67 record and advancing to the . In the postseason, North played in all four games of the NLCS against the Philadelphia Phillies, going 0-for-8 with one walk as the Dodgers won the series 3-1. He then appeared in four games of the against the New York Yankees, managing just 1 hit in 8 at-bats—including a double—for a .125 average, one , and two runs scored, though the Dodgers fell in six games. Overall, across eight playoff games, North batted 1-for-16 with a .118 , offering defensive reliability and base-running threats in limited opportunities. North's tenure marked a transitional phase for the Dodgers, delivering solid if not dominant output with his elite speed (27 steals in 110 games) and range, but his modest power and average production led to the club offering him a multiyear contract that he declined in favor of free agency. He was granted free agency on November 2, 1978, ending his brief but impactful stint with the team.

San Francisco Giants

North signed with the Giants as a on March 9, 1979, after a brief and underwhelming stint with the the previous year. He quickly established himself as the team's and primary , leveraging his speed and plate discipline to set the table for the lineup. In his first season with the Giants, North enjoyed a strong resurgence, batting .259 with a .386 over 142 games, while leading the team with 58 stolen bases and 96 walks. His performance earned him recognition as the Giants' outstanding player by local sportswriters and prompted a three-year contract extension worth over $200,000 annually. The following year, 1980, showed signs of regression possibly due to age, as North hit .251 with a .373 and 45 stolen bases in 128 games, though he still drew 84 walks. North's production continued to decline in 1981 amid a players' strike that disrupted the season; he appeared in just 46 games, batting .221 with a .354 and 26 stolen bases while platooning in center field. The Giants released him on August 4, 1981, marking the end of his 11-year major league career. Over his three seasons in , North compiled a .251 , .373 , and 129 stolen bases in 316 games.

Playing style and achievements

Playing style

Bill North excelled as a and , leveraging his elite speed to disrupt opposing defenses throughout his career. As a switch-hitter, he demonstrated strong on-base skills with a career .365 , 43 points above the league average, allowing him to set the table effectively for power hitters behind him. However, his power was limited, as evidenced by just 20 home runs over 11 major league seasons. North's speed was a hallmark of his game, amassing 395 stolen bases with a 71% success rate, including American League-leading totals in 1974 (54) and 1976 (75). He employed an aggressive base-running style, frequently taking extra bases and treating the basepaths as his domain once he reached first, which complemented his leadoff role. Defensively, he was a standout in center field, leading the American League in outfield putouts in 1973 and 1975 with exceptional range that covered vast ground efficiently. Despite these strengths, North experienced occasional slumps, such as batting .061 in his first 33 at-bats of 1974 and struggling to a .261 average in 56 games in 1977. His confrontational personality sometimes strained team dynamics, as seen in high-profile incidents like a 1974 clubhouse fight with teammate , which highlighted his combative nature but also contributed to tensions within the .

Notable achievements

Bill North was a key contributor to the ' back-to-back championships in 1973 and 1974, earning rings as the team's starting during their dynasty run. Despite a modest postseason batting line of 3-for-59 (.051 average) across 20 games in the and , his speed and defense helped anchor the outfield during those successful playoff campaigns. North's base-stealing prowess defined much of his offensive impact, leading the with 54 stolen bases in 1974 and 75 in 1976, while amassing 395 stolen bases over his 11-year career. Defensively, North excelled in center field, leading outfielders in putouts in 1973 and 1975, showcasing his range and reliability in patrolling the outfield. During the Athletics' 1974 playoff run, he executed key steals, including one in the ALCS and another in the World Series, contributing to the team's momentum. That same year, North's fiery personality came to the forefront in a widely publicized clubhouse altercation with teammate Reggie Jackson on June 5 at Tiger Stadium, where the two exchanged blows, resulting in minor injuries to both and drawing national attention to the internal tensions within the championship squad. Over his career, North compiled 1,016 hits and batted .261 in 1,321 games, establishing himself as a consistent and defensive specialist across four teams.

Post-playing career and legacy

Post-playing career

After retiring from at the end of the 1981 season with the Giants, Bill North completed his bachelor's degree in sociology from in 1993, having departed the institution a few credits shy of in 1969 to begin his career. North entered the financial services sector shortly after his playing days, initially selling in the Bay Area before moving back to the region in 1991. By 1995, he was working as a in , drawing on the business skills acquired through his time in . Throughout his post-playing years, North stayed engaged with by conducting hitting clinics and providing instruction to high school, , and professional athletes, with a particular emphasis on speed and base-running techniques that defined his own career. He held no formal front-office positions but sustained connections to the sport via these personal coaching efforts. North has contributed to community baseball events and made sporadic media appearances, frequently discussing the Oakland Athletics' successful teams of the 1970s. In 2023, for example, he joined the coaching staff as an honorary coach for Major League Baseball's in .

Legacy

Bill North is remembered as a pivotal contributor to the ' dynasty in the early 1970s, particularly for filling the center field vacancy left by Rick Monday's departure and helping secure titles in 1973 and 1974 as part of the team's from 1972 to 1974. His speed and defensive reliability stabilized the outfield during a turbulent era marked by owner Charlie Finley's aggressive management style, allowing stars like and to thrive in the A's scrappy, high-energy lineup. North played a significant role in the 1970s resurgence of base stealing in , amassing 395 career stolen bases with a 71% success rate and leading the in 1974 (54 steals) and 1976 (75 steals), which exemplified the aggressive, opportunistic style that defined the A's under manager . Falling just short of 400 career stolen bases, his contributions helped elevate team totals, such as Oakland's league-leading 341 steals in 1976, influencing a broader trend toward speed-oriented play in the decade. Regarded as an underrated defender, North led outfielders in putouts from 1973 to 1976, recording 437 putouts and 9 assists in 1974 alone, while his clubhouse presence as a vocal agitator—most notably in a 1974 brawl with Jackson—fostered the A's combative identity that fueled their success amid internal conflicts. This feisty dynamic under Finley contributed to the team's reputation for resilience and grit, though it also highlighted the era's volatility. North received limited consideration for the Baseball Hall of Fame, hampered by the era's intense competition and his lack of selections or Gold Glove awards, garnering just two MVP votes in his career; however, he is celebrated in biographies and retrospectives for his integral role in the franchise's championship legacy. Culturally, North features prominently in books chronicling , such as ' No More Mr. Nice Guy and Bruce Markusen's Baseball's Last Dynasty: Oakland's Three Champions, 1972-1974, where his on-field exploits and personality are highlighted as emblematic of the period's intensity. A 1977 drug bust at his Bay Area home, involving an undercover purchase of —though charges were ultimately dismissed—added a layer of controversy to his narrative, underscoring the off-field challenges faced by players of that time without eclipsing his athletic achievements.

References

  1. https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/bill-north/
  2. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/northbi01.shtml
  3. https://wildcatsports.com/news/2021/8/6/baseball-hall-of-fame-fridays-bill-north.aspx
  4. https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1027&context=cwu_baseball_softball
  5. https://wildcatsports.com/honors/hall-of-fame/bill-north/34
  6. https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=cwu_hall_of_fame
  7. https://www.mlb.com/player/bill-north-119845
  8. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=north-001wil
  9. https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/trades.php?p=northbi01
  10. https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1972-transactions.shtml
  11. https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1974_WS.shtml
  12. https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/bill-north
  13. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=northbi01&t=b&year=1978&team=LAD
  14. https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/1978.shtml
  15. https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1978_NLCS.shtml
  16. https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1978_WS.shtml
  17. https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/today-in-baseball-history-teammates-reggie-jackson-and-bill-north-duke-it-out
  18. https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/high-school/flashback-garfields-north-sprinted-all-the-way-to-big-leagues/
  19. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/astros/article/astros-all-star-dusty-baker-bill-north-18178199.php
  20. https://baseballhall.org/discover/card-corner/1976-topps-bill-north
  21. https://www.sbnation.com/advertiser-content/22234816/oakland-athletics-stolen-bases-1976-minnesota-twins-bill-north-don-baylor-claudell-washington
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