Davis went on in 1970 to hit a mixed .284 for 3 golf equipment, together with the Chicago Cubs, earlier than the Oakland A’s launched him, leaving Davis bitter. “Nobody gets released after hitting .284; you ever hear of that?” he requested at the time. And his wage was lower in half in the identical yr, from $80,000 at its peak with the Cubs.
But destiny intervened when the American League adopted the designated hitter rule in 1973, changing the pitcher in a batting lineup. With the Orioles, his tenth group in 15 seasons, Davis flourished as the full-time D.H., batting .306, the prime common in the league at that place. In 1974, he was as soon as once more the main designated hitter, ending with 181 hits and a .289 common.
“The designated hitter is taking care of this old man,” Davis instructed The Times. “It sure has helped me bring home the paychecks.”
When he did not make the Yankees in 1976, he completed that season as the D.H. for the Kansas City Royals. In his closing recreation, the 1,999th of his profession, in October, he had two singles and completed with a lifetime .294 batting common, 153 dwelling runs, 1,052 RBIs, and a couple of,121 hits.
After retiring at age 36, Davis stayed near baseball, working with the Dodgers neighborhood relations division till transferring to Arizona a few yr in the past.
He is survived by his second spouse, Carol A. Davis; 4 daughters, Morgana, Lauren, Carlyn and Leslie; a son, Herman; and numerous grandchildren.
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