Position: DH Number: # Bats:R Throws: R Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 Birthdate: August 22, 1956 Major League Service: 18 years, 119 days
PROFESSIONAL CAREER: 1977: Earned MVP honours and Prospect of the Year as he led Burlington to the Midwest League title...Won the Midwest League's batting crown with his .346 batting average...Averaged better than a hit per game (79H/64G)
1978: Earned American League Rookie of the Year honours from the Sporting News and Baseball Digest...Led the Brewers with 30 stolen bases...Batted .315 at County Stadium
1979: Set a club record with 16 triples...Led the team with 188 hits and 33 stolen bases...Hit .306 vs nine of the thirteen AL opponents...Hit .330 after the sun went down and .385 off lefties...Earned the Harvey Kuenn Award for hitting excellence
1980: Hit .344 in April and .380 in May, leading the AL in hitting before pulling a ribcage muscle on June 6...On the 15-day DL from June 24- July 18...Ended the season with 17 consecutive steals without having been caught...Voted to start at second base in the All-Star Game
1981: Started the year in centerfield for the Brew Crew...After just 18 games, tore ligaments in his left ankle while running the bases on May 3 at Anaheim...Had surgery May 5 and was placed on the 60-day DL...Returned to action August 12...Led all Milwaukee DH's with a .350 batting average...Batted .325 with men on base
1982: Set then personal highs in games played (160), at-bats (666), runs (136) and HR (19)...The 136 runs were the most since Ted Williams' 150 in 1949...Had a team high 17 game hitting streak...AL Player of the Week for the week ending September 19 batting .429 over that span...Was first season at third base
1983: Bothered by a wrist injury for most of the season...Hit in 38 of 42 games batting .360 from June 29- August 10...Had 14 three-hit games to go along with a four-hit game and a five-hit game...Second consecutive season with double figures in HR (15)
1984: Injured right elbow on March 22 in spring training game vs the Cubs...Started the year on the roster limited to DH and pinch hitting duties...Placed on the DL May 2...Underwent surgery May 21 replacing a ligament in his right elbow with a tendon taken from his left forearm...Also had a muscle which was partially torn away from the bone re-attached...Played in a career low 13 games
1985: Voted Brewers Comeback Player of the Year...Led the squad in runs (93), stolen bases (21) and hitting (.297)...5 of 10 homers came during June...On the DL with a sprained ankle from August 13-29...Hit safely in 32 of 34 games to end the season...Named to the All-Star team for the second time playing in his home state of Minnesota
1986: Was eighth time leading the Brewers in steals (20) despite hamstring problems...On the DL three times (May 10-30, June 2-17 and June 19-July 8)...Returned to action on July 8 playing his first 9 games at DH before returning to third base...12 game hit streak from August 7-19 (.360, 4HR, 15RBI)...Hit .300 at County Stadium and .326 during night games...Received the Athletes For Youth "Good Guy" Award
1987: Set career highs for batting average (.353), doubles (41), stolen bases (45)...Put together a 39 game hitting streak- the fifth longest hitting streak in modern ML baseball history and seventh overall...Began the streak on July 16 (68-154/.415, 7HR, 33RBI, 15SB)...The streak was stopped by Cleveland's John Farrell at County Stadium as he went 0-4...Brewers played (76-41/.644) ball when he was in the lineup...Led the AL in doubles (41) and runs (114)...His .353 batting average represented the highest average for a runner-up since Mickey Mantle hit .357 behind Ted Williams' (.388) in 1957...Hit .449 with runners in scoring position...Selected to the Sporting News' AL All-Star and Silver Slugger teams...DL'd from June 27 through the All-Star break due to a strained right hamstring...Selected to the Associated Press Major League All-Star Team...Tied a Major League record as he stole 3 bases in an inning vs Oakland on July 26...AL Player of the Week for two consecutive weeks (August 10-16 and 17-23)...Scored at least 1 run in sixteen straight games from September 9-25...Played 41 games at third base and 58 as designated hitter
1988: Voted the starting second baseman in the All-Star Game in Oakland despite having played just one game at that position...Selected to The Sporting News Silver Slugger team...Chosen to the AP and UPI All-Star Teams as the AL designated hitter...Led the Brewers in batting average (.312), runs (115), on-base percentage (.384) and tied for the lead in hits (190)...Maintained a .360 batting average during day games...Posted two 10 game hitting streaks and two eight game streaks...Registered four 4-RBI contests...Won fourth Harvey Kuenn Award for hitting excellence
1989: Started the season on the DL after dislocating his right ring finger on March 30...Activated April 14...Was fifth in the AL in hits (194), tied for sixth in batting average (.315), sixth in multi-hit games (55), tied for eighth in doubles (35) and tied for ninth in stolen bases (27)...AL Player of the Month for September (49-107/.458) including a 19 game hitting streak (41-77/.532)- longest since his 39 gamer in 1987...Hit .343 on turf and .354 as the DH
1990: Broke his right thumb vs the Angels on April 1 during a spring training game...Placed on the 15 day DL the following day...Returned to action April 21...Again on the DL from June 17- July 30 after fracturing his knuckle on his left index finger...Earned the Distinguished Citizen Award sponsored by the Milwaukee Council on Alcoholism...Led the Brewers with a .464 slugging percentage...Batted .333 from the seventh inning on...Tore a muscle in his left forearm on September 26 vs Toronto after colliding with Jim Gantner chasing a pop-up...Underwent surgery September 28 to repair the forearm as well as his right shoulder (labrum and acromion)
1991: Selected Brewers Most Valuable Player...Earned his fifth Harvey Kuenn Hitting Award...Chosen for the AL All-Star Team for the fourth time...Finished second in the AL in batting average for DH (.321)...Led the Major Leagues in runs (133), hits (216), at bats (665) and plate appearances (752)...Tied for first in the AL in triples (13), second in multi-hit games (65), fourth in total bases (325), fifth in batting (.325) and seventh in on-base percentage (.399)...Recorded career hit #2000 on July 30 vs Kansas City's Bret Saberhagen...Posted six 4-hit games...Hit .326 with runners in scoring position
1992: Collected his ninth career steal of home on April 14 at Minnesota...Posted career high 89 RBI in 158 games with the Brewers...Used mainly as a DH and first baseman...Committed just 2 errors in 489 total chances at first base...Nine of twelve HR came as a DH...Scored 4 runs on June 16 at Oakland tying a Brewers club record...Selected to his fifth All-Star Game and collected his first ever All-Star hit off Atlanta's John Smoltz...Selected American League Player of the Week for the week ending August 30- batted .464...Led the AL in batting average vs LHP .424(56-132)...Led the Majors in batting average when behind in the count .313(71-227)...When leading off, posted a .383(59-154) on-base percentage...Led the AL with 62 multi-hit games, third in hits (195), tied for third in times on base (271), fourth in batting average (.320), tied for fourth in sacrifice flies (11), sixth in on-base percentage (.389) and tenth in total bases (281)...36 doubles were the second highest total of his career (41 in 1987)...His 12 intentional passes tied him for eighth in the AL...Has played 316 games combined over the last 2 seasons- the most in 2 successive years during his 15 year career...Selected as the Brewers' MVP and winner of the Harvey Kuenn Award for hitting excellence
1993: Marked the first season for Paul in another uniform... other than that of the Brewers...Finished the year with career highs in RBI(111), HR(22) and Games Played (160)...Career RBI # 800 came April 24 vs Chicago...Was AL Outstanding DH...April 26 vs Texas, notched career hit # 2300 off Lefferts...Tied Toronto record for runs in a game with 4 runs scored, three times...Had 5th career two HR game on May 16- first since April 25, 1989 vs Minnesota...AL and Labatt "Blue" Player of the Month for May (.374, 43H, 25R, 2-2B, 1-3B, 5HR, 22RBI)...Scored at least 1 run in nine straight contests from July 21-30...Recorded career hit # 2400 on July 22 at Texas...Hit first career HR vs Brewers on August 6, giving him at least 1 HR vs every AL team...Co-winner of the Labatt "Blue" Player of the Month award for August (Alomar)- hit 39-110/.355, 9-2B, 24RBI, .555 slg. pct...Had 6 consecutive hits September 3 & 4...Stole home in the final game of the regular season becoming first Blue Jay to accomplish the feat since Lloyd Moseby did it on July 27, 1987 vs Boston...Oldest player (37) in Major League history to have his first 100 RBI season as well as the oldest to have a 20 home run/20 stolen base year...6th player in Major League history to hit .325 or better for 2 different teams...9th time in Major League history that a player has collected 200 hits, 20 or more HR's and 20 or more SB(22) and first since Bobby Bonds in 1970...In the AL was first in hits (211), second in BA (.332), Runs (121), multi-hit games (63), seventh in total bases (324), eighth in RBI (111), ninth in OBA (.402), tied for ninth in doubles (37) and tenth in slugging pct. (.509).
1995 SEASON In his 18th Major League season hit .270 with 15 HR, 60 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 130 games, all as the DH, for the Blue Jays...did not make an appearance in the field...led all designated hitters in at-bats (525) and stolen bases...was hampered early in the season by wrist and shoulder injuries...had a season-high 13-game hitting streak...on 6/17 vs Texas hit an inside-the-park HR...on 6/28 at Boston off Derek Lilliquist hit his 200th career HR, joining Bobby Bonds, Joe Morgan and Rickey Henderson as the only players in history with 200 HR and 450 stolen bases...from 8/26-8/27 tied the club record with 8 consecutive hits...those hits were part of a 3-game stretch in which he reached base 10 consecutive times, also tying a club record...was 12-for-12 in stolen base attempts and has successfully stolen 36 consecutive bases, second-longest streak in American League history...following the season had arthroscopic surgery to remove scar tissue in his right shoulder.
1996 SEASON There are no signs of slowing down for this hitting machine, as he plastered American League pitching to the tune of a .341 batting average. He collected a career-high 225 hits and 113 RBI, and his .341 average tied for the highest mark in his career. The highlight of a truly spectacular season came on September 16 as he collected his 3,000th hit off of Kansas City's Jose Rosado. He was the fist 40-year old since Sam Rice in 1930 to have 200 hits and the second 40-year old player this century to have 600 at bats. He also became only the second player since 1950 (Tommy Herr in 1987) to drive in more than 100 runs with fewer than 10 home runs. He led the Twins in games, at-bats, hits, total bases, runs batted in, sacrifice flies, intentional walks, and was tied for the lead in batting with Chuck Knoblauch. He pieced together a season-high 14-game hitting streak, going 25-58 (.431) with five doubles and 10 RBI from August 13-27. He hit safely in 126 of 161 games and established a career high in games played. He was named the designated hitter on the Associated Press' Major League All-Star team and won the Sporting News' Silver Slugger Award.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Paul Leo Molitor was selected by Milwaukee in the first round (third overall) of the June 1977 free-agent draft...originally was selected by St. Louis in the 28th round of the June 1974 draft but chose to attend the University of Minnesota...spent his first 16 professional seasons in the Brewers organization...became a free agent following the 1992 season and signed with Toronto...following the '95 campaign signed as a free agent with Minnesota...spent just 1 season in the minors...is a 7-time All-Star...appeared in World Series for the Brewers in 1982 and Blue Jays in 1993...in 1982 became the only player ever to record 5 hits in a World Series game (Game 1)...in 1993 was voted the World Series MVP...his 33 career leadoff HR ranks second in history to Rickey Henderson's 67...among active players ranks second in hits, doubles and runs; fourth in at-bats; fifth in games; and sixth in stolen bases...ranks among the all-time leaders in games (83rd), at-bats (43rd), runs (T41st), hits (36th), doubles (30th), stolen bases (38th) and total bases (48th)...among all players during the last 5 seasons ranks fourth with a .318 batting average and second with a .350 BA with runners in scoring position...in 1978 was named Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News and Baseball Digest after hitting .273 with 6 HR, 45 RBI and 30 stolen bases...in 1984 played in a career-low 13 games because of an injured right elbow, but the following season was named the Brewers' Comeback Player of the Year after hitting .297 with 10 HR, 48 RBI and 21 stolen bases...in 1987 hit a career-high .353 to finish second in the AL, the highest runner-up average since Mickey Mantle hit .357 behind Ted Williams' .388 in 1957...that season had a career-high 39-game hitting streak, the seventh-longest streak in history...on 7/26/87 vs Oakland tied a Major League record with 3 stolen bases in an innning...in 1993 was named the Oustanding DH in the American League after hitting .332 with career highs in HR (22) and RBI (111)...that season became the oldest player in Major League history (37) to record his first 100-RBI season and to have a 20 HR/20 SB season.
CAREER NOTES: Ranks second only to Rickey Henderson in career leadoff homers with 33 (Henderson owns 66)...Hit for the cycle on May 15, 1991 at the Metrodome off Kevin Tapani...His 454 stolen bases ranks 44th All-Time, 1 behind Ron LeFlore (455)...His 2647 hits is 57th All-Time...Since the start of 1991 he owns more hits (777) and runs (429) than any other Major Leaguer...Played 591 games over the last 4 seasons- most during any 4 year stretch of his career...Winner of 1993 Bart Giamatti Award...Shares the Major League record for most stolen bases in an inning (3) on July 26, 1987 (1st inning).
POST SEASON EXPERIENCE: 1981: Batted .250 vs the Yankees in the strike play-off...His lone RBI came in Game # 3 at New York on his only HR...1982: 3 of his 6 hits went for extra-bases vs the Angels in the ALCS (2HR, 1 double)...His 2 home runs and 5 RBI led all Brewers hitters...Conversely, all 11 hits in the World Series vs St. Louis were singles as he finished second to teammate Robin Yount (.414) in batting average- .355...Had a 5 hit game in the opening game of the series- only player in World Series history to record a 5-hit game...1993: Was second to Devon White in BA vs Chicago in ALCS (.391) with 4 of 9 hits going for extra-bases...Led Toronto batters with 5 RBI...Voted World Series MVP...Batted an even .500(12-24) with a pair of HR's (Game #3 & #6)...6 of 12 hits went for extra-bases vs the Phillies...On an 8-game post season hitting streak (14-30/.467)...His 17 runs scored over the 2 series' is a post season record.
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