Rocky Colavito

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

A nine-time All-Star, Colavito averaged 33 home runs per year for his first eleven seasons, exceeding 40 home runs three times and 100 runs batted in six times. He is the fifth player in the history of the American League (AL) to have eleven consecutive 20 home run seasons (1956–1966). In 1959, he hit four consecutive home runs in one game and was the AL home run champion. He was also the first outfielder in AL history to complete a season without making an error. After his playing career, Colavito worked as a television sports color commentator for WJW (TV) before returning to the playing field to serve as a coach with the Indians and the Kansas City Royals. In 2001, Colavito was voted one of the 100 greatest players in Cleveland Indians' history by a panel of veteran baseball writers, executives and historians. He was inducted into the Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame in 2006.

In Their Own Story

The trade that sent Colavito to Detroit on April 17, 1960, remains one of the most unpopular in franchise history. However, his relationship with Detroit Free Press writer Joe Falls turned tense after Falls began tracking Colavito's "Run Not Batted In" (RNBI) statistic. The friction escalated when Falls, acting as an official scorer, charged Colavito with a controversial error, leading to a confrontation. Tensions also flared on May 12, 1961, when Colavito was ejected for climbing into the stands at Yankee Stadium to protect his father and wife from a drunken fan. Despite holding out for a higher salary than star Al Kaline in 1962, Colavito continued to perform, hitting 37 home runs that year. He eventually returned to Cleveland in January 1965 as part of a three-team deal involving the White Sox and Royals, where he hit a two-run homer at the home opener before leading the AL in RBI with 108.

Reader's Guide

Colavito was born and raised in the Bronx, New York City, a devoted New York Yankees fan. He dropped out of Theodore Roosevelt High School at age 16 to play semi-professional baseball. The Cleveland Indians signed him at age 17 as an undrafted amateur free agent on January 1, 1951. He made his MLB debut on September 10, 1955, for the Cleveland Indians. In 1958, he batted a career-high .303 with 41 home runs and 113 RBI, leading the AL in slugging (.620). In 1959, he hit 42 home runs, tied for the AL lead, and on June 10 became the second player in AL history to hit four consecutive home runs in a nine-inning game. He was selected for both All-Star Games in 1959 and homered in Game 2. On April 17, 1960, he was traded to the Detroit Tigers for Harvey Kuenn. In 1961, he hit a career-high 45 home runs, 140 RBI, and 129 runs scored. He was selected for both All-Star Games again in 1961 and homered in Game 2. In 1962, he was selected for both All-Star Games for the third time and homered in Game 2. On November 18, 1963, he was traded to the Kansas City Athletics. On September 11, 1964, he became one of the youngest players to reach 300 home runs. In January 1965, he returned to Cleveland in a three-team trade. In 1965, he led the AL in RBI (108) and walks (93), and was selected for his eighth All-Star Game. He played all 162 games without an error.

Did You Know?

• Colavito pitched three hitless innings for Cleveland against the Detroit Tigers on August 13, 1958.
• He hit four home runs in a doubleheader against the Washington Senators in 1961, three in Game 2.
• Colavito was the highest-paid player on the Kansas City Athletics in 1964 with a $50,000 salary.
• He threw a ball over the center-field wall from home plate while playing in the Pacific Coast League.