Remembering forgotten Pirates of the past: Freddie Patek

The Pittsburgh Pirates were one of the more dominant teams of the 1970s, winning two World Series titles, but they also came up short in four NLCS matchups through the decade. While these teams were well-rounded and included several stars, it’s possible the Pirates could have won more championships with the added help of an impact player they traded just before the run began.

Freddie Patek, known as “The Cricket” for being one of the shortest players in baseball at 5’5”, was traded to the Royals during the 1970 Winter Meetings. He had an incredible run in Kansas City as an outstanding fielder and base-stealer on Royals teams that competed for several AL pennants. Had Patek remained in Pittsburgh, and eventually succeeded Gene Alley, a lot could have changed. While this is purely speculation, it’s hard to argue with the numbers that back this up.

The Pirates' primary shortstop from 1974 to 1978 was Frank Taveras. He was like Patek in that he was a contact hitter that stole a lot of bases, but the comparisons end there. Taveras, outside of his ‘76 and ‘77 seasons, was a below-average starting player on teams that had greater ambitions. Patek was certainly a more valuable contributor to his team during this time. He was a three-time All-Star with the Royals, starting the 1978 Midsummer Classic. He finished sixth in MVP voting in 1971, and led the league in double plays turned from ‘71 to ‘74. Given that he was blocked by Alley, arguably a member of the greatest double play combo in history with Bill Mazeroski, it’s disappointing that Pittsburgh gave up on him so soon.

Patek was the Pirates' everyday shortstop in 1969, as Alley dealt with injuries that season as more of a utility player. Patek’s first season as a full-time player was rather underwhelming. He committed 30 errors, which definitely contributed to the Pirates' lack of confidence in his future. The other players involved in the trade with Kansas City weren’t as noteworthy. Bruce Dal Canton and Bob Johnson both had a few decent seasons with their new teams. It was the play of Patek that gave the Royals the easy win in this deal.

Pirates infielder Freddie Patek's career took off when he joined KC Royals

The Royals lost three consecutive AL championship series to the Yankees from 1976 to 1978. There is an infamous photograph of Patek alone on the bench in the dugout after the end of the ‘77 ALCS, a series that ended after he hit into a double play (on his birthday, no less). The Yankees came back to win that game, scoring three runs in the top of the ninth inning and shutting down the Royals in the final frame. The Pirates had an even more dramatic collapse in their Game 5 loss to the Reds in the 1972 NLCS, perhaps best known for being Roberto Clemente’s last performance. Patek actually found out he was getting traded by the Pirates from Clemente, as he was playing winter ball in Puerto Rico at the time.

The deal flipped a switch for him, as he went from being an average player to an All-Star caliber contributor in a short time. The most impressive accomplishment of his career, debatably, is his eight consecutive season streak of 30 or more stolen bases per year. While nowhere near the all-time record, Patek is currently tied for 83rd with 385 bags swiped, sharing this total with Tom Daly. Daly, who you’ve likely never heard of, was of short stature like Patek, and played mainly for the Brooklyn franchise in the 1890s.

While not necessarily forgotten as a player, as Royals fans of a certain generation remember him fondly, many may not realize that Patek was once a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, albeit briefly. He also played two seasons for the California Angels at the end of his career, but didn’t see much playing time. Newly acquired shortstop Rick Burleson took over in California, and Patek was eventually released at the beginning of the 1982 season. That year, the Halos finished first in the AL West, but lost to the Brewers in the Championship Series. By then, Patek had retired. Since his playing days, he has been actively involved in charitable efforts, which include founding the Kim Patek Foundation in honor of his daughter.

Patek served in the Air Force, and played baseball at the Randolph Air Force Base in his native Texas. He stood out there, and scouts from Pittsburgh took notice. Patek would later be drafted by the Pirates in the 1965 June Amateur Draft. He was a notable prospect in the minors before debuting at age 23 in 1968. Many likely doubted him due to his size. Patek played across 14 major league seasons. He would be inducted into the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame in 1992. Though a majority of his career was spent at Royals Stadium and not Three Rivers, his time in Pittsburgh remains an important aspect of his legacy.