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Duke Sims
Duke Sims
Duke Sims
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Duane B. "Duke" Sims (born June 5, 1941) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played eleven seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1964 to 1974 for the Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Dodgers, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, and Texas Rangers.[1]

Key Information

From 1964 through 1970 he was a mainstay of the Cleveland Indians and caught Indians pitcher Sam McDowell through his minor and major league career. The Indians pitching staff of 1965-1970 was recognized as one of the best 4 men staffs in an era with starters going every fourth day. After posting his best offensive year in 1971 playing left field, right field, first base and catching, Sims was traded 2 for 1 to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Alan Foster and Ray Lamb and hit a career high .274 in 1971.

Placed on waivers by the Dodgers, Billy Martin took him to the Detroit Tigers in August 1972. His first game with the Tigers resulted in a 3 for 5 day with a game-tying double and the game-winning single off Gaylord Perry, who would win the Cy Young Award that year. He subsequently hit .316 with 10 game-winning or game-tying hits while catching for the Tigers for the rest of that season, in which the Tigers won in the A.L. East Championship. Sims played in all 5 games in the championship series, both in left field and catching. He was the catcher in Game 2 when Oakland Athletics shortstop Bert Campaneris threw the bat at Tigers pitcher Lerrin LaGrow after being hit on the ankle.

Duke left the Tigers in September 1973, and caught the final game in Yankee Stadium before it was torn down and gutted. He joined the Yankees in the 1974 season in which they played their home games at Shea Stadium before being traded to the Texas Rangers on May 7 for Larry Gura and cash. Sims retired at the end of that 1974 season.

Duke holds the distinction of finishing his career with exactly 100 home runs, the current record for a player hailing from the state of Utah. Sims is also credited as the last person to hit a home run in the original Yankee Stadium in 1973. He did it as a member of the Yankees in an 8–5 loss to the Detroit Tigers on September 30.

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Duke Sims

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Duke Sims is an American former professional baseball catcher known for his eleven-season career in Major League Baseball from 1964 to 1974. He played primarily for the Cleveland Indians during the majority of his career, and also suited up for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, and Texas Rangers. A left-handed batter and right-handed thrower standing 6'2" and weighing around 197-205 pounds, Sims compiled 100 career home runs with a .239 batting average, .340 on-base percentage, and solid plate discipline over 843 games, establishing himself as a reliable power-hitting catcher. Born Duane B. Sims on June 5, 1941, in Salt Lake City, Utah, he attended Pocatello High School in Idaho and the University of Idaho before making his MLB debut on September 22, 1964, with the Cleveland Indians. His peak offensive years came in the late 1960s and early 1970s, highlighted by a career-best 23 home runs in 1970 with Cleveland, and he appeared in the postseason during the 1972 American League Championship Series with the Detroit Tigers. Sims concluded his playing career on September 26, 1974, with the Texas Rangers.

Early Life

Birth and Background

Duane B. Sims, professionally known as Duke Sims, was born on June 5, 1941, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Amateur Career

Duke Sims attended Pocatello High School in Pocatello, Idaho, where he played baseball. He went on to attend the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. In 1959, Sims was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cleveland Indians. This marked his entry into professional baseball following his time in high school and college.

Major League Baseball Career

Cleveland Indians (1964–1970)

Duke Sims made his Major League Baseball debut with the Cleveland Indians on September 22, 1964, appearing in two games as a September call-up and going hitless in six at-bats. He began to establish himself as a catcher in 1965, playing in 48 games primarily behind the plate while hitting six home runs in limited action. His role expanded over the subsequent seasons, with increased playing time and responsibility catching the Indians' pitching staff, including ace left-hander Sam McDowell as well as starters Luis Tiant, Sonny Siebert, and others during the late 1960s. Sims became a regular presence for Cleveland from 1967 onward, often serving as the primary catcher while also seeing time at first base and the outfield corners in later years. In 1968, he played in 122 games and tied for the American League lead among catchers with 13 passed balls. He delivered some of his strongest offensive production during this period, culminating in 1970 when he hit a career-high 23 home runs, batted .264, and drove in 56 runs while posting an .859 OPS in 110 games. That season, however, he lost his starting catching job to Ray Fosse amid reported conflicts with manager Alvin Dark. On December 11, 1970, the Indians traded Sims to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for pitchers Alan Foster and Ray Lamb, ending his seven-season tenure with Cleveland as the team sought to address other roster needs. This period marked his primary MLB experience, during which he developed into a reliable catcher known for his left-handed power at the position.

Later Career (1971–1974)

During the 1971 season with the Dodgers, he posted a career-high .274 batting average across 90 games, while hitting 6 home runs and recording 25 RBI. He appeared primarily as a catcher but also played left field, right field, and first base that year. On August 4, 1972, Sims was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Tigers from the Dodgers. In 38 games with Detroit, he batted .316 with 4 home runs and 19 RBI, providing a strong boost after the midseason move. His contributions included key late-season hits, and he appeared in the 1972 American League Championship Series for the Tigers. On September 24, 1973, Sims was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees from the Tigers. In his brief stint with New York, appearing in 4 games, he hit 1 home run, which proved to be the final home run ever hit in the original Yankee Stadium on September 30, 1973. On May 7, 1974, Sims was traded by the Yankees to the Texas Rangers in exchange for pitcher Larry Gura and cash. He played 39 games for the Rangers that season before his release on January 23, 1975, concluding his major league career with exactly 100 home runs.

Career Statistics and Achievements

Batting and Fielding Performance

Duke Sims played in 843 games over his 11-year Major League career, batting .239 with 580 hits, 100 home runs, and 310 RBI. He posted a .340 on-base percentage, a .401 slugging percentage, and a .741 OPS across 2,422 at-bats. His career Wins Above Replacement (WAR) totaled 12.8. Primarily a catcher, Sims appeared in 646 games at the position and recorded a career fielding percentage of .986 behind the plate.

Notable Moments and Records

Duke Sims concluded his Major League career with exactly 100 home runs, a figure that remains the record for players born in Utah. This milestone underscores his consistent power at the plate across an 11-year tenure, despite playing in an era often characterized by pitching dominance and lower offensive outputs. One of his most distinctive achievements occurred on September 30, 1973, while with the New York Yankees, when Sims hit the final home run in the original Yankee Stadium before its major renovation after the 1973 season. This blast came in the last game played at the historic venue in its pre-renovation form, adding a unique footnote to the ballpark's legacy. In 1972, after being acquired midseason by the Detroit Tigers, Sims delivered a strong partial campaign, batting .316 across 38 games with notable contributions including 10 game-tying or winning hits that helped the team in the late-season push. Throughout his career, Sims received no All-Star selections and earned no major individual awards.

Television Appearances

1972 American League Championship Series

Duke Sims appeared as himself in the 1972 American League Championship Series, a television mini-series that broadcast the playoff matchup between his Detroit Tigers and the Oakland Athletics. He was credited in 4 episodes as "Self - Detroit Tigers Catcher" and "Self - Detroit Tigers Left Fielder," reflecting the positions he played during the series. This television appearance resulted from his active role on the Tigers' roster in the 1972 postseason, where he participated in 4 of the 5 games. In those contests, he recorded a .214 batting average (3 hits in 14 at-bats), a .267 on-base percentage, and a .500 slugging percentage, contributing 2 doubles and 1 triple.

Later Life

Retirement and Personal Life

Duke Sims' Major League career came to an end after the 1974 season with the Texas Rangers. His final appearance in the majors occurred on September 26, 1974. He was released by the Rangers on January 23, 1975, marking the conclusion of his professional playing days. Little public information is available regarding Sims' life after retirement, including any post-baseball occupation, residence, or family details. He remains living, born on June 5, 1941.
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