Lyman Bostock
On September 23, 1978, Lyman Bostock, an All-Star outfielder for the California Angels, was in the wrong place at the wrong time. As he sat in the back seat of his uncle's car in Gary, Indiana, crossing town to take some friends to their destination, Bostock was fatally shot when one of the passenger's estranged husband drove up on them. At the time of his tragic death at the age of 27, Bostock was a career .311 hitter in just his fourth major league season. Bostock's father won a batting title in the Negro American League in 1941, but after he spent four years in the service during World War II, Lyman Sr. was never the same player.
Played For
Minnesota Twins (1975-1977)
California Angels (1978)
Born
Lyman Wesley (Jr.) Bostock was born on November 22, 1950, in Birmingham, AL.
Died
September 23, 1978, Gary, IN
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
Primary Position: OF
Primary Team: MIN
College: Cal St. Northridge
Major League Debut
April 8, 1975 ... Bostock was in center field in the starting lineup on Opening Day in 1975 for the Twins. He batted second behind Rod Carew. In the first inning, with Carew on base (already with a hit), Bostock walked against Fergie Jenkins. He scored a few batters later on an error. In the second inning, Bostock singled to right field off Jenkins for his first big league hit.
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1975
Willie Randolph
Jack Clark
Chet Lemon
Craig Reynolds
Dennis Eckersley
Roy Smalley
Ron Guidry
Donnie Moore
Lyman Bostock
Nicknames
Abdul Jibbar Jabber
Related Players
Bostock collected his first major league hit off Fergie Jankins... Bostock and Twins teammate Larry Hisle both left Minnesota as free agenst following the 1977 season. Friends, they used the same agents and worked out similar deals, Bostock with the Angels and Hisle with Milwaukee. Both deals were doomed. Bostock was killed near the end of his first season in California, and after Hisle hit 34 homers for the Brewers in '78 and finished third in MVP voting, he never again played more than 27 games in a season because of a string of injuries.
Batting Feats
Notes
Bostock started the 1978 season by going 2-for-31...
Transactions
Bostock signed a $450,000 free agent contract with the Angels in November of 1977. When he got off to a miserable start in 1978 (he hit .147 in April) he donated his first month's salary to charity. In June he hit a blistering .404 with 44 hits in 27 games.
Matchup Data
Lefties Ken Brett and Jim Kaat gave Bostock troubles... He ripped Luis Tiant (.529 with six RBI in 21 plate appearances) and had great success against Fergie Jenkins (.387) and Jim Slaton (14-for-28 for a .500 average).
Largest Weakness as a Player
Bostock had just over 2,000 official at-bats in the majors, so it's tough to analyze any trends there. His splits were typical of left-handed batters, however. His batting average against RHP's was .325 and his mark against lefties was .279.
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