Rocky Colavito, the 1959 American League home run champion for the Cleveland Indians, has passed away. He was 91. He played for the Indians (1955-59, 1965-67), Detroit Tigers (1960-63), Kansas City Athletics (1964), Chicago White Sox (1967), Los Angeles Dodgers (1968), and New York Yankees (1968).
The Cleveland Guardians are deeply saddened by the loss of Rocky Colavito. Beloved by fans, Rocky spent eight of his fourteen MLB seasons with Cleveland. He represented the club in three All-Star Games while finishing top-5 in MVP voting on three occasions.
Our thoughts go out… pic.twitter.com/9oB22dwb7m
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) December 11, 2024
Known for his power bat and rifle of a throwing arm, over his 14-year career the right-handed-batting Colavito hit .266/.359/.489, 374 HR, 1,159 RBI, and 132 OPS+. He was worth 61 Fielding Runs Above Average in the outfield and registered 123 assists. A durable performer in his prime, he played at least 160 games in every season from 1961-65. With both offense and defense considered, he accumulated 44.9 WAR.
Indians Home Run Champ Rocky Colavito Passes Away
Colavito led the AL in home runs in 1959 with 42. That year, he slashed .257/.337/.512 with 111 RBI after hitting 41 homers the previous year. However, the six-time All-Star’s best season was in 1961 with the Tigers, when he hit .290/.402/.580, 45 HR, and 140 RBI. He also led the AL with 108 RBI in 1965. All told, he hit at least 30 homers six times. Amazingly, he struck out in just 11.6 percent of his plate appearances, below the 14.3 major league average during his career.
A Famous Trade
On April 16, 1960, the Indians famously traded Colavito to the Tigers for Harvey Kuenn, the 1959 AL batting champ. Kuenn, a shortstop converted to an outfielder, had hit .353/.402/.501. It was his only batting title but the fourth time he led the AL in hits. The controversial deal wasn’t popular with either fan base. Indians general manager Frank Lane defended the trade to United Press International. “I realize Colavito is very popular,” Lane acknowledged. “Colavito will hit a home run for you once in every 14 times at bat but it’s what happens the other 13 times that is frustrating.” This must be amusing to fans who note that today Colavito’s 1959 performance would earn him a Juan Soto-type contract.
Meanwhile, Tigers manager Jimmy Dykes praised Kuenn, telling the Associated Press, “No matter where Kuenn goes, he’ll hit .300 for you.” Kuenn hit .308 for Cleveland in 1960 and was traded again after the season. He hit .300 just one more time in his remaining six seasons.
The Colavito Curse
It was a better deal for Detroit despite Lane’s assertions. Colavito gave the Tigers 82 home runs over 1961-62. However, after dropping to 22 homers in 1963, he was traded to Kansas City, where he regained his home run stroke and belted 34 home runs. Colavito was then sent away, back to the Indians. He gave Cleveland three more solid years before finishing his career with three more teams.
Despite being reacquired by the Indians, the notion that the 1960 trade for Kuenn jinxed the franchise forever became popular. The Indians last won a World Series in 1948.
It’s been a rough month for former AL home run champs. Bill Melton, who won the title in 1971 for the White Sox, passed away last Thursday.
Photo Credit: © David Richard-Imagn Images
