Stephen Bradley Dillard (born February 8, 1951) is an American former professional
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding tea ...
player and manager. He played eight seasons in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB) for the
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
,
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
,
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
, and
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
. Dillard, a reserve
infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.
Standard arrangement of positions
In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles. ...
, played mainly as a
second baseman.
Early life
Born in
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Shelby County in the southwest part of the state; it is situated along the Mississippi River. With a population of 633,104 at the 2020 U.S. census, Memphis is the second-mos ...
, Steve Dillard was raised in
Saltillo, Mississippi
Saltillo is a city in Lee County, Mississippi, located in the northern part of the Tupelo micropolitan area. The population was 4,922 at the 2020 Census.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , o ...
.
He played
shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball or softball fielding position between second and third base, which is considered to be among the most demanding defensive positions. Historically the position was assigned to defensive specialists who ...
for Saltillo High School.
[ Dillard was drafted by the ]San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...
in the 13th round of the 1970 Major League Baseball draft
First round selections
The following are the first round picks in the 1970 Major League Baseball draft.
''*'' Did not sign
Other notable Selections
''*'' Did not sign
References
External links Complete draft list from ''The Basebal ...
, but did not sign as he had been awarded a full scholarship to the University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi (byname Ole Miss) is a public research university that is located adjacent to Oxford, Mississippi, and has a medical center in Jackson. It is Mississippi's oldest public university and its largest by enrollment.
...
.[ After two years of college, he was drafted by the ]Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
in the second round of the 1972 MLB draft
First round selections
The following are the first round picks in the 1972 Major League Baseball draft.
''*'' Did not sign
Other notable selections
''*'' Did not sign
Background
The Montreal Expos had perhaps their best draft in franc ...
.[
]
Playing career
Boston Red Sox (1972–1977)
Dillard began his professional career in 1972 playing for the Winston-Salem Red Sox
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the Li ...
of the Class A Carolina League
The Carolina League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated along the Atlantic Coast of the United States since 1945. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 unti ...
, with whom he played the entirety of the 1973 season. After recovering from offseason shoulder surgery,[ Dillard was assigned to the Double-A ]Bristol Red Sox
The Bristol Red Sox baseball club was an American minor league baseball franchise. Based in Bristol, Connecticut, it was the Double-A Eastern League farm system affiliate of the Boston Red Sox for ten seasons (1973–82) and played at Muzzy Fi ...
of the Eastern League for 1974.[ After approximately one month, he was promoted to the Triple-A ]Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox, known colloquially as the PawSox, were a professional minor league baseball club based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. From 1973 to 2020, the team was a member of the International League and served as the Triple-A affiliate ...
in the International League
The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball ...
.[
Though having started the 1975 season at Triple-A, more shoulder problems in the first half resulted in a rehab assignment at Double-A.][ Dillard was called up to the ]Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
in the final week of the season. He made his major league debut on September 28, scoring two runs on two hits
Hits or H.I.T.S. may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* ''H.I.T.S.'', 1991 album by New Kids on the Block
* ''...Hits'' (Phil Collins album), 1998
* ''Hits'' (compilation series), 1984–2006; 2014 - a British compilation album se ...
and stealing a base.
He began the 1976 campaign with Boston, but was sent down to the Triple-A Rhode Island Red Sox for two months in an attempt to convert him to second, where as he had primarily played as a shortstop up until this time.[ While in Boston, Dillard became a valuable backup for second baseman ]Denny Doyle
Robert Dennis Doyle (January 17, 1944 – December 20, 2022) was an American professional baseball second baseman who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, California Angels, and Boston Red Sox. Listed at and , h ...
, and eventually for shortstop Rick Burleson
Richard Paul "Rooster" Burleson (born April 29, 1951) is an American former Major League Baseball shortstop. Burleson, who played for three American League teams over 13 seasons, was a very intense ballplayer. Former Boston Red Sox teammate Bil ...
and third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball or softball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. In the scoring system us ...
Butch Hobson
Clell Lavern "Butch" Hobson Jr. (born August 17, 1951) is an American former professional baseball third baseman and manager. He is the current manager for the Chicago Dogs of the American Association of Professional Baseball.
Hobson played in ...
. Dillard played the entire 1977 season with Boston, but saw little playing time. Across three seasons with the Red Sox, he appeared in 124 games, including 63 at second base, 21 at shortstop, 18 at third base, and 13 as a designated hitter
The designated hitter (DH) is a baseball player who bats in place of another position player, most commonly the pitcher. The position is authorized by Major League Baseball Rule 5.11. It was adopted by the American League in 1973 and later by th ...
.[
]
Detroit Tigers (1978)
After the Red Sox acquired second baseman Jerry Remy
Gerald Peter Remy (November 8, 1952 – October 30, 2021) was an American professional baseball player and sports broadcaster. Remy played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a second baseman for ten seasons—three with the California Angels (197 ...
from the California Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ha ...
, Dillard was sent to the Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
in exchange for two minor leaguers and cash considerations on January 30, 1978.[ He provided solid support for young infielders ]Lou Whitaker
Louis Rodman Whitaker Jr. (born May 12, 1957), nicknamed "Sweet Lou", is an American former professional baseball second baseman.
Whitaker spent his entire career with the Detroit Tigers. From 1977 to 1995, he appeared in 2,390 games for the ...
(second base) and Alan Trammell
Alan Stuart Trammell ( ; born February 21, 1958) is an American former professional baseball shortstop, manager and coach and member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a player. His entire 20-year playing career in Major League Baseball ( ...
(shortstop) for a full year.[ He appeared in 54 games, including 41 at second base, for the Tigers in 1978.][
]
Chicago Cubs (1979–1981)
During 1979's spring training
Spring training is the preseason in Major League Baseball (MLB), a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for Schedule (workplace), roster and position spo ...
, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
for a player to be named later (Ed Putman
Eddy William Putman is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He played parts of three seasons in the major leagues between and . He played mostly behind the plate, but also played some first base and third base
A third baseman, abbreviated ...
).[ His most productive season came in his first year at Chicago, when he hit a career-high .283 ]batting average
Batting average is a statistic in cricket, baseball, and softball that measures the performance of batters. The development of the baseball statistic was influenced by the cricket statistic.
Cricket
In cricket, a player's batting average is ...
with five home run
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
s and 31 runs in 89 games played
Games played (GP) is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated (in any capacity); the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.
Basebal ...
. The following season, he posted career-numbers in games (100), hits (55), and RBI (27).[ He played three seasons with the Cubs, appearing in 242 games, including 130 at second and 67 at third.][
]
Chicago White Sox (1982)
Dillard was released by the Cubs after the 1981 season, and he later signed as a free agent with the Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
for 1982. He played the majority of the season with the Triple-A Edmonton Trappers
The Edmonton Trappers were a minor league baseball team in Edmonton, Alberta. They were a part of the Triple-A level in the Pacific Coast League, ending with the 2004 season. Their home games were played at Telus Field in downtown Edmonton.
The ...
of the Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade bel ...
, but was called up for 16 games, all at second base, near the season's end. He was released after the season.[
In an eight-season career, Dillard was a .243 hitter (246-for-1013) with 13 home runs and 102 RBI in 438 games, including 148 runs, 50 doubles, 6 ]triples
TripleS (stylized as tripleS; Help:IPA/English, /ˈtɹɪpəl:ɛs/; ) is a South Korean girl group formed by MODHAUS. They aim to be the world's first decentralized K-pop idol group. The members will rotate between the group, sub-unit, and solo ac ...
, and 15 stolen bases.[
]
Managerial career
Following his playing retirement, Dillard started a managing
Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business.
Management includes the activities o ...
career in the Chicago White Sox minor league system. In 1983 and 1984, he managed their rookie
A rookie is a person new to an occupation, profession, or hobby. In sports, a ''rookie'' is a professional athlete in their first season (or year).
In contrast with a veteran who has experience and expertise, a rookie is usually inexperienced ...
Gulf Coast League White Sox
The GCL White Sox were a Gulf Coast League minor league baseball team that played from 1966 to 1977 and from 1980 to 1997. The club was affiliated with the Chicago White Sox.
They won two league championships, in 1970 and 1977 - both under manager ...
. He was reassigned to the Double-A Glens Falls White Sox The Glens Falls Tigers (formerly the Glens Falls White Sox) were an Americans, American minor league baseball team from Glens Falls, New York that played in the Eastern League (1938–2020), Eastern League from 1980 until 1988, the team's ballpark ...
of the Eastern League for 1985, but returned to the GCL White Sox in 1986 and 1987. He managed the Class A South Bend White Sox
South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west.
Etymology
The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþaz' ...
in the Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Minor League Baseball league established in 1947 and based in the Midwestern United States. A Class A league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganizat ...
in 1988.[
From 1989 to 1990, Dillard worked for the ]Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...
as their Minor League Infield Instructor. He continued in the Astros organization as manager of the Class A Short Season
Class A Short Season (officially Short-Season A) was a level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States from 1965 through 2020. In the hierarchy of minor league classifications, it was below Triple-A, Double-A, Class A-Advanced (cre ...
Auburn Astros
Auburn may refer to:
Places Australia
* Auburn, New South Wales
* City of Auburn, the local government area
*Electoral district of Auburn
*Auburn, Queensland, a locality in the Western Downs Region
*Auburn, South Australia
*Auburn, Tasmania
*Aub ...
of the New York–Penn League
The New York–Penn League (NYPL) was a Minor League Baseball league that operated in the northeastern United States from 1939 to 2020. Classified as a Class A Short Season league, its season started in June, after major-league teams signed th ...
(1991–1992) and Quad Cities River Bandits
The Quad Cities River Bandits are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Their home games are played at Modern Woodmen Park (formerly John O'Donnell Stadium) in Davenport, Iowa, one ...
of the Midwest League (1993–1994). In 1995, he was the hitting coach
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, who determines the starting lineup and batting order, decides how to substitute players during the game, and makes strategy decisio ...
for the Chicago Cubs' Class A Rockford Cubbies Rockford or Rockfords may refer to:
Places United States
* Rockford, Illinois, a city, the largest municipality of this name
*Rockford, Alabama, a town
* Rockford, Idaho, a census-designated place
* Rockford metropolitan area, Illinois, a United St ...
in the Midwest League.[
After taking time off to see his children play baseball in high school,][ he returned to baseball in 2000 as skipper of the ]Jackson DiamondKats
The Jackson DiamondKats played one year in the independent Texas-Louisiana League, struggling to a last place finish in 2000 (38-74) and finishing 6th of 8 teams in attendance (37,066). Managed by Steve Dillard, they had no All-Stars. Ryan Creek ...
of the independent Texas-Louisiana League
The Central Baseball League, formerly the Texas–Louisiana League, was a independent baseball league whose member teams were not affiliated with any Major League Baseball (MLB) franchises.
In 1991, potential owners, Dallas businessman Byron P ...
.[ In 2006, he joined the ]St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals hav ...
organization. He served as hitting coach for the Quad Cities Swing/River Bandits from 2006 to 2007, but was moved up to coach hitters with their Class A-Advanced
High-A (officially Class High-A, formerly known as Class A-Advanced, and sometimes abbreviated "A+" in writing) is the third-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States and Canada, below Triple-A and Double-A, and abov ...
Palm Beach Cardinals
The Palm Beach Cardinals are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They are located in the town of Jupiter in Palm Beach County, Florida, and play their home games at Roge ...
in the Florida State League
The Florida State League (FSL) is a Minor League Baseball league based in the state of Florida. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following ...
during the 2007 season. He returned to Quad Cities as their manager in 2008 and 2009.[
]
Personal life
His son, Tim Dillard
Timothy Charles Dillard (born July 19, 1983) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers. He is a pregame and postgame analyst for Brewers television broadcasts on Bally ...
, a right-handed sidearm pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
, has appeared in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division. The Brewers are named for t ...
.
References
External links
o
Retrosheet
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dillard, Steve
1951 births
Living people
American expatriate baseball players in Canada
Baseball players from Memphis, Tennessee
Boston Red Sox players
Bradenton Explorers players
Bristol Red Sox players
Chicago Cubs players
Chicago White Sox players
Detroit Tigers players
Edmonton Trappers players
Major League Baseball second basemen
Minor league baseball managers
Navegantes del Magallanes players
American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela
Ole Miss Rebels baseball players
Pawtucket Red Sox players
People from Saltillo, Mississippi
Rhode Island Red Sox players
Winston-Salem Red Sox players