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Damon Buford

Damon Jackson Buford

Position: Centerfielder
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Height: 5' 10", Weight: 170 lb.

Born: June 12, 1970 in Baltimore, MD
High School: Birmingham HS (Los Angeles, CA)
School: University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 10th round of the 1990 amateur draft.
Signed July 12, 1990. (All Transactions)
Debut: May 4, 1993 (Age 22.326, 13,897th in MLB history)   vs. MIN 3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1995 season [*]
Teams (by GP): Rangers/Cubs/RedSox/Orioles/Mets 1993-2001

Last Game: May 15, 2001 (Age 30.337)   vs. HOU 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Relatives: Son of Don Buford
    About biographical information

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Standard Batting

More Stats

Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB Pos Awards
1993 23 BAL AL 53 90 79 18 18 5 0 2 9 2 2 9 19 .228 .315 .367 .682 80 29 1 1 1 0 0 8D/79
1994 24 BAL AL 4 2 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .500 .500 .500 1.000 155 1 0 0 0 0 0 /D7
1995 25 TOT MLB 68 204 168 30 34 5 0 4 14 10 8 25 35 .202 .318 .304 .622 67 51 3 5 3 3 0 87/9
1995 25 BAL AL 24 42 32 6 2 0 0 0 2 3 1 6 7 .063 .205 .063 .268 -26 2 0 0 3 1 0 8/9
1995 25 NYM NL 44 162 136 24 32 5 0 4 12 7 7 19 28 .235 .346 .360 .706 90 49 3 5 0 2 0 78
1996 26 TEX AL 90 162 145 30 41 9 0 6 20 8 5 15 34 .283 .348 .469 .817 101 68 3 0 1 1 0 987/D
1997 27 TEX AL 122 404 366 49 82 18 0 8 39 18 7 30 83 .224 .287 .339 .626 60 124 8 3 3 2 0 *8/D
1998 28 BOS AL 86 241 216 37 61 14 4 10 42 5 5 22 43 .282 .349 .523 .872 122 113 5 1 0 2 1 8D/45
1999 29 BOS AL 91 324 297 39 72 15 2 6 38 9 2 21 74 .242 .294 .367 .661 65 109 5 2 1 3 0 8/D7
2000 30 CHC NL 150 556 495 64 124 18 3 15 48 4 6 47 118 .251 .324 .390 .714 82 193 9 8 4 2 3 *8/97
2001 31 CHC NL 35 89 85 11 15 2 0 3 8 0 0 4 23 .176 .213 .306 .519 35 26 3 0 0 0 0 8/9
9 Yrs 699 2072 1853 280 448 86 9 54 218 56 35 173 430 .242 .311 .385 .697 78 714 37 20 13 13 4
162 Game Avg. 162 480 429 65 104 20 2 13 51 13 8 40 100 .242 .311 .385 .697 78 165 9 5 3 3 1
BAL (3 yrs) 81 134 113 26 21 5 0 2 11 5 3 15 27 .186 .285 .283 .568 50 32 1 1 4 1 0
BOS (2 yrs) 177 565 513 76 133 29 6 16 80 14 7 43 117 .259 .317 .433 .750 89 222 10 3 1 5 1
TEX (2 yrs) 212 566 511 79 123 27 0 14 59 26 12 45 117 .241 .304 .376 .680 72 192 11 3 4 3 0
CHC (2 yrs) 185 645 580 75 139 20 3 18 56 4 6 51 141 .240 .309 .378 .686 76 219 12 8 4 2 3
NYM (1 yr) 44 162 136 24 32 5 0 4 12 7 7 19 28 .235 .346 .360 .706 90 49 3 5 0 2 0
AL (7 yrs) 470 1265 1137 181 277 61 6 32 150 45 22 103 261 .244 .308 .392 .700 77 446 22 7 9 9 1
NL (3 yrs) 229 807 716 99 171 25 3 22 68 11 13 70 169 .239 .316 .374 .691 79 268 15 13 4 4 3
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Player Value--Batters

WAR Explained (v2.2): 8+ MVP, 5+ A-S, 2+ Starter, 0-2 Sub, < 0 Repl
Year Age Tm Lg G PA Rbat Rbaser Rdp Rfield Rpos RAA WAA Rrep RAR WAR waaWL% 162WL% oWAR dWAR oRAR Salary Pos Awards
1993 23 BAL AL 53 90 -3 -2 -0 1 -1 -5 -0.5 3 -2 -0.2 .490 .497 -0.3 -0.1 -3 $109,000 8D/79
1994 24 BAL AL 4 2 0 0 0 0 -0 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 .505 .500 0.0 -0.0 0 $130,000 /D7
1995 25 BAL AL 24 42 -7 -0 0 2 -0 -5 -0.5 2 -3 -0.3 .480 .497 -0.5 0.2 -6 8/9
1995 25 NYM NL 44 162 -1 -2 0 0 -1 -4 -0.4 5 2 0.1 .492 .498 0.1 -0.1 1 $140,000 78
1996 26 TEX AL 90 162 -1 -1 -1 -1 -2 -6 -0.4 6 0 0.1 .494 .497 0.2 -0.2 1 $165,000 987/D
1997 27 TEX AL 122 404 -23 2 0 9 2 -10 -0.9 15 6 0.6 .492 .494 -0.3 1.1 -3 $225,000 *8/D
1998 28 BOS AL 86 241 7 0 0 -4 0 4 0.4 9 13 1.2 .504 .502 1.6 -0.3 16 $460,000 8D/45
1999 29 BOS AL 91 324 -14 2 0 8 1 -3 -0.2 12 9 0.9 .497 .498 0.2 0.8 2 $1,100,000 8/D7
2000 30 CHC NL 150 556 -9 -1 -1 -1 2 -10 -1.1 17 7 0.5 .494 .494 0.7 0.0 9 $1,100,000 *8/97
2001 31 CHC NL 35 89 -7 0 -0 0 1 -6 -0.6 3 -3 -0.4 .482 .496 -0.4 0.1 -4 $1,100,000 8/9
9 Seasons 699 2072 -58 -2 0 14 2 -44 -4.2 73 29 2.6 .494 .497 1.3 1.6 15 $4,529,000
BAL (3 yrs) 81 134 -10 -2 0 3 -2 -10 -1.0 5 -5 -0.5 .488 .497 -0.8 0.1 -8 $239,000
BOS (2 yrs) 177 565 -7 2 1 4 1 1 0.2 21 22 2.2 .501 .500 1.8 0.5 18 $1,560,000
TEX (2 yrs) 212 566 -24 1 -0 8 -0 -15 -1.3 21 6 0.7 .493 .495 -0.2 0.9 -2 $390,000
CHC (2 yrs) 185 645 -16 -1 -1 -1 3 -16 -1.7 20 4 0.2 .492 .494 0.3 0.1 5 $2,200,000
NYM (1 yr) 44 162 -1 -2 0 0 -1 -4 -0.4 5 2 0.1 .492 .498 0.1 -0.1 1 $140,000

Postseason Batting

Postseason Gamelog
Year Age Tm Lg Series Opp Rslt G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB
1996 26 TEX AL ALDS NYY L 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1998 28 BOS AL ALDS CLE L 3 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .500 .000 .500 0 0 1 0 0 0
1999 29 BOS AL ALDS CLE W 1 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0 0
1999 29 BOS AL ALCS NYY L 4 5 5 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 .400 .400 .400 .800 2 1 0 0 0 0
3 Yrs (4 Series) 10 10 9 3 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 .222 .300 .222 .522 2 1 1 0 0 0
3 ALDS 6 5 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .200 .000 .200 0 0 1 0 0 0
1 ALCS 4 5 5 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 .400 .400 .400 .800 2 1 0 0 0 0

Standard Fielding

More Stats

Adv Fielding w/ run summary
Year Tm Lg Age Pos G GS CG Inn Ch PO A E DP Fld% Rtot Rtot/yr RF/9 RF/G lgFld% lgRF9 lgRFG Awards
1993 BAL AL 23 OF 30 22 19 209.2 64 61 2 1 1 .984 1 3 2.70 2.10 .983 2.41 2.39
1993 BAL AL 23 CF 24 19 17 177.2 58 55 2 1 1 .983 -1 -7 2.89 2.38 .986 2.76 2.73
1993 BAL AL 23 DH 17 0
1993 BAL AL 23 LF 5 2 2 25.0 4 4 0 0 0 1.000 2 77 1.44 0.80 .985 2.23 2.20
1993 BAL AL 23 RF 1 1 0 7.0 2 2 0 0 0 1.000 0 0 2.57 2.00 .980 2.19 2.20
1994 BAL AL 24 DH 1 0
1994 BAL AL 24 LF 1 0 0 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 2.25 2.10
1994 BAL AL 24 OF 1 0 0 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 2.25 2.40
1995 TOT MLB 25 OF 63 46 40 432.1 111 107 2 2 0 .982 2 6 2.27 1.73 .980 2.20 2.20
1995 TOT MLB 25 CF 31 22 19 204.0 54 53 1 0 0 1.000 0 1 2.38 1.74 .986 2.60 2.58
1995 BAL AL 25 OF 24 11 9 116.0 40 40 0 0 0 1.000 2 23 3.10 1.67 .983 2.33 2.31
1995 BAL AL 25 CF 15 11 9 97.0 30 30 0 0 0 1.000 0 5 2.78 2.00 .987 2.73 2.70
1995 BAL AL 25 RF 9 0 0 19.0 9 9 0 0 0 1.000 2 114 4.26 1.00 .979 2.04 2.03
1995 NYM NL 25 OF 39 35 31 316.1 71 67 2 2 0 .972 0 0 1.96 1.77 .979 2.15 2.14
1995 NYM NL 25 LF 25 24 21 209.1 45 42 1 2 0 .956 0 2 1.85 1.72 .972 1.87 1.86
1995 NYM NL 25 CF 16 11 10 107.0 24 23 1 0 0 1.000 -0 -2 2.02 1.50 .984 2.48 2.47
1996 TEX AL 26 OF 80 34 26 380.1 96 93 3 0 0 1.000 -1 -3 2.27 1.20 .983 2.38 2.36
1996 TEX AL 26 RF 44 16 13 184.1 29 28 1 0 0 1.000 -2 -12 1.42 0.66 .979 2.17 2.16
1996 TEX AL 26 CF 25 13 10 137.1 49 47 2 0 0 1.000 -1 -12 3.21 1.96 .990 2.77 2.76
1996 TEX AL 26 LF 14 5 3 58.2 18 18 0 0 0 1.000 2 45 2.76 1.29 .979 2.18 2.17
1996 TEX AL 26 DH 3 0
1997 TEX AL 27 CF 117 102 92 909.2 294 284 7 3 4 .990 9 12 2.88 2.49 .988 2.71 2.68
1997 TEX AL 27 OF 117 102 92 909.2 292 282 7 3 4 .990 9 12 2.86 2.47 .982 2.32 2.30
1997 TEX AL 27 DH 3 0
1998 BOS AL 28 CF 67 52 45 488.0 139 135 4 0 1 1.000 -3 -8 2.56 2.07 .987 2.69 2.66
1998 BOS AL 28 OF 67 52 45 488.0 138 134 4 0 1 1.000 -3 -8 2.55 2.06 .985 2.31 2.29
1998 BOS AL 28 DH 14 0
1998 BOS AL 28 2B 1 0 0 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 5.40 4.80
1998 BOS AL 28 3B 1 0 0 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 -0 -720 0.00 0.00 2.70 2.50
1999 BOS AL 29 OF 84 76 70 683.0 198 189 6 3 2 .985 8 14 2.57 2.32 .984 2.30 2.27
1999 BOS AL 29 CF 82 71 68 644.0 188 181 4 3 2 .984 8 15 2.59 2.26 .985 2.72 2.68
1999 BOS AL 29 DH 5 0
1999 BOS AL 29 LF 5 5 2 39.0 10 8 2 0 0 1.000 -0 -6 2.31 2.00 .985 2.08 2.04
2000 CHC NL 30 OF 148 130 122 1189.1 345 336 4 5 1 .986 -1 -1 2.57 2.30 .981 2.24 2.22
2000 CHC NL 30 CF 140 124 116 1128.0 318 310 4 4 0 .987 -4 -4 2.51 2.24 .987 2.64 2.62
2000 CHC NL 30 RF 7 6 6 58.1 25 24 0 1 1 .960 2 45 3.70 3.43 .979 2.19 2.16
2000 CHC NL 30 LF 2 0 0 3.0 1 1 0 0 0 1.000 0 40 3.00 0.50 .980 1.80 1.90
2001 CHC NL 31 OF 34 23 16 208.1 53 53 0 0 0 1.000 0 2 2.29 1.56 .982 2.20 2.18
2001 CHC NL 31 CF 33 23 16 207.1 52 52 0 0 0 1.000 0 0 2.26 1.58 .986 2.59 2.56
2001 CHC NL 31 RF 1 0 0 1.0 1 1 0 0 0 1.000 0 360 9.00 1.00 .980 1.80 2.10
9 Seasons OF 624 485 430 4502.2 1297 1255 28 14 9 .989 14 4 2.56 2.06 .982 2.29 2.27
8 Seasons CF 519 426 383 3896.0 1152 1117 24 11 8 .990 8 2 2.64 2.20 .987 2.68 2.65
5 Seasons RF 62 23 19 269.2 66 64 1 1 1 .985 2 11 2.17 1.05 .979 2.16 2.14
6 Seasons LF 52 36 28 337.0 78 73 3 2 0 .974 4 14 2.03 1.46 .976 1.98 2.00
6 Seasons DH 43 0
1 Season 3B 1 0 0 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 -0 -720 0.00 0.00 2.70 2.50
1 Season 2B 1 0 0 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 5.40 4.80
9 Seasons TOT 626 485 430 4503.2 1297 1255 28 14 9 .989 14 4 2.56 2.05 .982 2.29 2.28
Lg Pos G GS CG Inn Ch PO A E DP Fld% Rtot Rtot/yr RF/9 RF/G lgFld% lgRF9 lgRFG Awards
Note: Complete player games played data.
Fielding stats are a combination of official records and RetroSheet records. Both are likely to have substantial errors and will not match perfectly.
View Complete Notes on Fielding Data
Leagues historically made no effort to balance team, league, and player fielding stats. Since 1990 or so, computers have made this feasible, but prior to that there are hundreds or thousands of discrepancies each year in games played (even whether a player played a position), putouts, assists, double plays and errors.
  • Pre-1930 SB & CS data for catchers is estimated from catcher assists, games started and opposition stolen bases.
  • From 1930 on SB, CS, Pickoff, & WP data for catchers and pitchers is taken from play-by-play accounts in the retrosheet files. There are several hundred games without pbp from 1930 to 1973 and for those we may not have any data.
  • CG & GS come from the retrosheet data and should be complete and pretty accurate from 1913 on.
  • Innings played (like SB and CS) come from the retrosheet play-by-play data and should be considered mostly complete from 1930 to 1973 and complete from then on.
  • Stats (PO,A,G, etc) for LF-CF-RF positions (since 1913) is taken from play-by-play or box score data as available.
  • Stats (PO,A,G,etc) for C,P,1B,2B,3B,SS,OF positions is taken from the official reported totals and may have been corrected at various times since their publication.
  • For detailed information on which games retrosheet is missing play-by-play from 1930 to 1973, please see their most wanted games list
  • For detailed information on the availability of data on this site by year, see our data coverage page

Appearances on Leader Boards, Awards, and Honors

Stats are Year-Value-Rank · Glossary

Double Plays Turned as CF (s.1954) s c a p y
1997 AL  4 (1st)

Double Plays Turned as OF s c a p y
1997 AL  4 (3rd)

Range Factor/9Inn as CF (s.1954)† †s c a p y
1997 AL  2.88 (4th)
Career  2.64 (80th)

Fielding % as CF (s.1954) s c a p y
Career  .990 (29th)

Range Factor/9Inn as OF† †s c a p y
1997 AL  2.86 (4th)
Career  2.56 (77th)

Fielding % as OF s c a p y
Career  .989 (76th)

                           

Hall Of Fame Statistics

Player rank in (·)

Hall of Fame StandardsBatting - 4 (2491), Average HOFer ≈ 50
JAWS Center Field (376th), 2.6 career WAR/3.2 7yr-peak WAR/2.9 JAWS
Average HOF CF (out of 19) = 71.1 career WAR/44.5 7yr-peak WAR/57.8 JAWS

Similarity Scores

Explanation of Similarity Scores
Similar Batters 
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 Compare Stats to Similars
  1. Travis Snider (967)
  2. Andres Torres (965)
  3. Charlie Spikes (962)
  4. George Thomas (960)
  5. Marty Keough (960)
  6. Adolfo Phillips (959)
  7. Michael Saunders (959)
  8. Desmond Jennings (957)
  9. Chuck Workman (957)
  10. Gabe Gross (956)
Most Similar by Ages 
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  1. Faye Throneberry (981)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  2. Gabe Gross (980)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  3. Gabe Gross (976)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  4. Leroy Stanton (972)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  5. Bill Robinson (971)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C

Transactions

The transaction information used here was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. We attempt to update transactions throughout the season.

Salaries

 Salaries may not be complete (especially pre-1985) and may not include some earned bonuses
Year Age Team Salary ServTm(OpnDay) Sources Notes/Other Sources
1993 23 Baltimore Orioles $109,000 ? 1996 Joint Exhibit 1
1994 24 Baltimore Orioles $130,000 ? 1996 Joint Exhibit 1
1995 25 New York Mets $140,000 ? 1996 Joint Exhibit 1
1996 26 Texas Rangers $165,000 ? 1997 Joint Exhibit 1 Includes $5,000 earned bonus
1997 27 Texas Rangers $225,000 ? 1997 AP survey
1998 28 Boston Red Sox $460,000 ? 4/3/98 USA Today
1999 29 Boston Red Sox $1,100,000 ? 4/6/99 USA Today
2000 30 Chicago Cubs $1,100,000 ? 4/5/00 AP
2001 31 Chicago Cubs $1,100,000 ? 4/6/01 USA Today
Career to date (may be incomplete)$4,529,000
Primary salary Data (about) courtesy Doug Pappas, and the Society for American Baseball Research.
Additional 1915-1969 salaries researched via Baseball Hall of Fame contract archives by Dr. Michael Haupert of UW-LaCrosse.
Salaries for mid-season call-ups or traded players may not be shown.
Salaries converted to alternate years using Consumer Price Index (CPI) data courtesy of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Board.
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Other Resources & Links

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Name and misspellings: Damon Damon Jackson Buford

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