Joe Campbell (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Earl "Joe" Campbell (born March 10, 1944) is a retired professional baseball
player. He played the outfield
position, and batted and threw right-handed. Campbell was born in Louisville, Kentucky
. He played one game in Major League Baseball
with the Chicago Cubs
. Campbell had no hits
in that game. Campbell also played four seasons in the minor leagues
and over his career he batted
.238 with 252 hits, 46 doubles
, seven triples
, and 41 home runs in 342 games played. The majority of his games in the minors came in the outfield, however, Campbell also played third base
and first base. Outside of baseball, Campbell was a member of the United States Marine Corps
.
, Campbell was selected by the New York Mets
in the 44 round. This made him the first person selected from Morehead State University
in the baseball's amateur draft. Campbell began his professional career that season with the rookie-level Marion Mets
of the Appalachian League
. In eight games, Campbell batted .385 with 10 hits, one double, and one home run. Later that season, he was promoted to the Class-A Greenville Mets
of the Western Carolinas League
. With Greenville, he batted .220 with 37 hits, four doubles, three triples, and six home runs in 52 games. He also pitched one game for Greenville and gave up one earned run
in two innings pitched
. Combined on the 1965 season, Campbell batted .242 with 47 hits, five doubles, three triples, and seven home runs in 60 games.
Campbell played most of the 1966 season with the Class-A Greenville Mets, however, he also spent time with the Double-A Williamsport Mets
. With Greenville, Campbell .279 with 114 hits, 24 doubles, 3 triples, and 22 home runs in 120 games. That season, he led the Greenville Mets in home runs; and was second in doubles, and at-bats (408). At the Double-A level, Campbell batted .056 with one run
, one hit, one double, three runs batted in (RBIs), and nine bases on balls (walks) in nine games. On the season, he had a combined average of .270 between the two teams.
, Campbell was selected from the New York Mets' organization by the Chicago Cubs
. He missed most of spring training
with the Cubs due to obligations in the United States Marine Corps
, which he was a member of. Campbell played his first and only game in the majors on May 3, 1967 against the Atlanta Braves
. In that game, Campbell had three at-bats and struck out
in all of them.
, and the Class-A Winter Haven Mets
. With the Bulls, Campbell batted .198 with 26 hits, five doubles, three home runs, 11 RBIs, and three stolen bases in 42 games. In 38 games with Winter Haven, Campbell batted .165 with 17 hits, three doubles, four home runs, 14 RBIs, and three stolen bases. On the season, he had a combined batting average of .184. In his final professional season, 1968, Campbell played for the Class-A Raleigh-Durham Mets, and the Double-A Memphis Blues
. With Raleigh-Durham, he batted .259 with 36 hits, six doubles, and five home runs in 50 games. Campbell spent 23 games with the Blues and batted .172 with five runs, 11 hits, three doubles, 1 triple, and four RBIs.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. He played the outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
position, and batted and threw right-handed. Campbell was born in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. He played one game in 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...
with the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. Campbell had no hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in that game. Campbell also played four seasons in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
and over his career he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.238 with 252 hits, 46 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, seven triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, and 41 home runs in 342 games played. The majority of his games in the minors came in the outfield, however, Campbell also played third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
and first base. Outside of baseball, Campbell was a member of the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
.
New York Mets
In the first ever Major League Baseball amateur draft in 19651965 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1965 Major League Baseball Draft is the first year in which a draft took place for Major League Baseball.In Major League Baseball's first Free Agent Amateur Draft, the Kansas City Athletics selected Arizona State sophomore Rick Monday as the number one pick...
, Campbell was selected by the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in the 44 round. This made him the first person selected from Morehead State University
Morehead State University
Morehead State University is a public, co-educational university located in Morehead, Kentucky, United States in the foothills of the Daniel Boone National Forest in Rowan County, midway between Lexington, Kentucky, and Huntington, West Virginia. The 2012 edition of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S...
in the baseball's amateur draft. Campbell began his professional career that season with the rookie-level Marion Mets
Marion Mets
The Marion Mets were a minor league baseball team based in Marion, Virginia that played in the Appalachian League from 1965 to 1976. They were affiliated with the New York Mets and played their home games at the Marion High School baseball field....
of the Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
. In eight games, Campbell batted .385 with 10 hits, one double, and one home run. Later that season, he was promoted to the Class-A Greenville Mets
Greenville Braves
The Greenville Braves were an American minor league baseball franchise, based in Greenville, South Carolina, that served as the Class AA farm team of the Atlanta Braves between 1984 and 2004...
of the Western Carolinas League
Western Carolinas League
The Western Carolinas League was a Class D and a low Class A full-season league in American minor league baseball. The WCL changed its name prior to the 1980 season and has been known since as the South Atlantic League, a highly successful low Class A circuit with teams up the Eastern Seaboard...
. With Greenville, he batted .220 with 37 hits, four doubles, three triples, and six home runs in 52 games. He also pitched one game for Greenville and gave up one earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
in two innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. Combined on the 1965 season, Campbell batted .242 with 47 hits, five doubles, three triples, and seven home runs in 60 games.
Campbell played most of the 1966 season with the Class-A Greenville Mets, however, he also spent time with the Double-A Williamsport Mets
Williamsport Mets
The Williamsport Mets were a former minor league double-A affiliate of the New York Mets from 1964 through 1967. Williamsport played in the Eastern League at Bowman Stadium in Williamsport, PA....
. With Greenville, Campbell .279 with 114 hits, 24 doubles, 3 triples, and 22 home runs in 120 games. That season, he led the Greenville Mets in home runs; and was second in doubles, and at-bats (408). At the Double-A level, Campbell batted .056 with one run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, one hit, one double, three runs batted in (RBIs), and nine bases on balls (walks) in nine games. On the season, he had a combined average of .270 between the two teams.
Chicago Cubs
On November 28, 1966, during Major League Baseball's annual rule 5 draftRule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
, Campbell was selected from the New York Mets' organization by the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. He missed most of spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
with the Cubs due to obligations in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, which he was a member of. Campbell played his first and only game in the majors on May 3, 1967 against the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. In that game, Campbell had three at-bats and struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
in all of them.
Later career
After his only game in the majors, Campbell was returned to the New York Mets organization. He split the 1967 season between the Class-A Durham BullsDurham Bulls
The Durham Bulls are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the International League. The Bulls play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park located in the downtown area of Durham, North Carolina. Durham Bulls Athletic Park is often called the "DBAP" or "D-Bap". The Bulls are...
, and the Class-A Winter Haven Mets
Winter Haven Mets
In 1967 the Winter Haven Sun Sox were renamed the Winter Haven Mets after the New York Mets became the parent club for the Winter Haven, FL entry in the Florida State League. The Mets were an amazing 94-46, but the St. Petersburg Cardinals were even better and beat them for the western division...
. With the Bulls, Campbell batted .198 with 26 hits, five doubles, three home runs, 11 RBIs, and three stolen bases in 42 games. In 38 games with Winter Haven, Campbell batted .165 with 17 hits, three doubles, four home runs, 14 RBIs, and three stolen bases. On the season, he had a combined batting average of .184. In his final professional season, 1968, Campbell played for the Class-A Raleigh-Durham Mets, and the Double-A Memphis Blues
Memphis blues
The Memphis blues is a style of blues music that was created in the 1920s and 1930s by Memphis-area musicians like Frank Stokes, Sleepy John Estes, Furry Lewis and Memphis Minnie...
. With Raleigh-Durham, he batted .259 with 36 hits, six doubles, and five home runs in 50 games. Campbell spent 23 games with the Blues and batted .172 with five runs, 11 hits, three doubles, 1 triple, and four RBIs.