Buddy Biancalana
Encyclopedia
Roland Americo "Buddy" Biancalana (icon; born February 2, 1960 in Larkspur, California
) is a retired Major League Baseball
shortstop
.
Biancalana played for two teams in his career: the Kansas City Royals
(–) and Houston Astros
. He attended Redwood High School in Larkspur and was drafted by the Royals in the first round (25th overall pick) of the 1978 June Regular Phase draft. Biancalana made his Major League Baseball debut on September 12, 1982, and played his final game on October 4, 1987.
Biancalana was a member of the Royals team that won the World Series
in 1985. Although Buddy had only started 35 games all season, manager Dick Howser
benched regular shortstop Onix Concepcion
in favor of Biancalana on September 20. Biancalana started 13 of the next 15 games as the Royals won the American League West
division by one game over the California Angels
.
Biancalana was the starting shortstop for the Royals in all 14 post-season games, playing error-free defense in every game, and was an integral part in several run-scoring innings for the Royals in the World Series
. He batted .278 in the series with an on base percentage of .435, both well above his career numbers.
In 1985, during the countdown to Pete Rose
breaking Ty Cobb
's hits record, David Letterman
instituted a Buddy Biancalana countdown calendar. Biancalana later appeared as a guest on Late Night with David Letterman
, quipping "I'm closer to Cobb than you are to Carson
." Biancalana finished his big-league career with 113 base hits, over four thousand short of Cobb or Rose.
Biancalana is a former field manager for the Amarillo Dillas
of independent United League Baseball
, the Infield Coordinator of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the manager of two South Atlantic League (Class Low A) teams, the Lakewood BlueClaws (affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies) and the Charleston Riverdogs (affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays).
Biancalana is also the co-author of, 'The 7 Secrets of the World Class Athlete'.
In 2009, Buddy, was inducted into the first Redwood High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Biancalana played baseball all four of his years at Redwood, 1975 through 1978, garnering local and national honors along the way. In 1977 he was named to the Mythical National Champion Team, a squad composed of the best high school baseball players in America.
Larkspur, California
Larkspur is a city in Marin County, California, United States. Larkspur is located south of San Rafael, at an elevation of . As of the 2010 Census, the city's population was 11,926. Larkspur is located north of San Francisco near Mount Tamalpais. Larkspur's Police Department is shared with that...
) is a retired Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
.
Biancalana played for two teams in his career: the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
(–) and Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. He attended Redwood High School in Larkspur and was drafted by the Royals in the first round (25th overall pick) of the 1978 June Regular Phase draft. Biancalana made his Major League Baseball debut on September 12, 1982, and played his final game on October 4, 1987.
Biancalana was a member of the Royals team that won the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
in 1985. Although Buddy had only started 35 games all season, manager Dick Howser
Dick Howser
Richard Dalton Howser was an American Major League Baseball shortstop, coach and manager. He is best known as the manager of the Kansas City Royals during the 1980s, and for guiding them to the franchise's only World Series title in 1985.-Playing career:A native of Miami, Florida, Howser grew up...
benched regular shortstop Onix Concepcion
Onix Concepcion
Onix Cardona Concepción Cardona in Dorado, Puerto Rico, is a retired Major League Baseball shortstop. He is the cousin of former MLB player José Lind....
in favor of Biancalana on September 20. Biancalana started 13 of the next 15 games as the Royals won the American League West
American League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
division by one game over the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
.
Biancalana was the starting shortstop for the Royals in all 14 post-season games, playing error-free defense in every game, and was an integral part in several run-scoring innings for the Royals in the World Series
1985 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 19, 1985 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri-Game 2:Sunday, October 20, 1985 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri...
. He batted .278 in the series with an on base percentage of .435, both well above his career numbers.
In 1985, during the countdown to Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
breaking Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
's hits record, David Letterman
David Letterman
David Michael Letterman is an American television host and comedian. He hosts the late night television talk show, Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS. Letterman has been a fixture on late night television since the 1982 debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC...
instituted a Buddy Biancalana countdown calendar. Biancalana later appeared as a guest on Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night...
, quipping "I'm closer to Cobb than you are to Carson
Johnny Carson
John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host and comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years . Carson received six Emmy Awards including the Governor Award and a 1985 Peabody Award; he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987...
." Biancalana finished his big-league career with 113 base hits, over four thousand short of Cobb or Rose.
Biancalana is a former field manager for the Amarillo Dillas
Amarillo Dillas
The Amarillo Dillas were a professional baseball team based in Amarillo, Texas, in the United States. The Dillas were a member of United League Baseball, an independent professional league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
of independent United League Baseball
United League Baseball
United League Baseball was an independent baseball league that operated in Texas. It later merged with the Northern League and the Golden Baseball League to form the North American League.- History :...
, the Infield Coordinator of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the manager of two South Atlantic League (Class Low A) teams, the Lakewood BlueClaws (affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies) and the Charleston Riverdogs (affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays).
Biancalana is also the co-author of, 'The 7 Secrets of the World Class Athlete'.
In 2009, Buddy, was inducted into the first Redwood High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Biancalana played baseball all four of his years at Redwood, 1975 through 1978, garnering local and national honors along the way. In 1977 he was named to the Mythical National Champion Team, a squad composed of the best high school baseball players in America.