Steve Huntz – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Steve Huntz stands out as one of baseball’s many journeyman players who carved out a respectable career during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Born Stephen Michael Huntz on December 3, 1945, in Cleveland, Ohio, he spent eight seasons in professional baseball before hanging up his cleats in 1975.

His story really reflects what so many players went through—working their way up from the minor leagues just to get a shot at the majors.

Huntz played five seasons in Major League Baseball from 1967 to 1975, suiting up for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, and San Diego Padres as a versatile infielder. He stood 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighed 204 pounds, and teams valued his defensive flexibility back then.

His career batting average of .206, with 16 home runs and 60 RBIs across 237 games, tells you he did more with his glove than his bat.

The journey from his college days at Villanova University to his last game in 1975 gives a window into the challenges and rewards of pro baseball during a time of big change in the sport. He bounced between teams and roles, which shows just how much resilience you needed to stick around on major league rosters as the competition kept getting tougher.

Early Life and Background

Stephen Michael Huntz was born on December 3, 1945, in Cleveland, Ohio, right after World War II, when baseball was really booming in American culture.

His education took him to some pretty well-known places, starting at St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland before moving on to play college ball.

Birth and Family Origins

Stephen Michael Huntz entered the world on December 3, 1945, in Cleveland, Ohio. Born under the sign of Sagittarius, he grew up in a city with a rich baseball tradition.

Cleveland in the 1940s was a busy industrial hub full of passionate baseball fans. That atmosphere probably had a big influence on Huntz’s early love for the game.

His birth name was Stephen Michael Huntz, but he later went by Steve Huntz in the pros. His family stayed in Cleveland during his childhood.

Cleveland’s strong baseball heritage, especially with the Cleveland Indians around, gave him a perfect environment to develop his skills and passion for the game.

Education and Amateur Career

Huntz went to St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio, where he started building his baseball skills. St. Ignatius had a reputation for solid academics and athletics.

After high school, he moved on to Villanova University. He also had some ties to Kent State University, but he didn’t play baseball there.

His college years really helped prepare him for professional baseball. The mix of tough academics and athletic training shaped the way he approached the game.

Physical Attributes:

• Height: 6 feet 1 inch
• Weight: 204 pounds
• Batting: Switch hitter
• Throwing: Right-handed

His size and education set him up nicely for his shot at pro baseball in 1967.

Major League Baseball Career

Steve Huntz played eight seasons in Major League Baseball from 1967 to 1975, making 237 appearances for three teams. He batted .206 with 16 home runs and 60 RBI, moving around the infield for the St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, and Chicago White Sox.

Debut and Teams Played For

Huntz made his Major League debut on September 19, 1967, with the St. Louis Cardinals at age 21. He got into just three games that year, picking up one hit in six at-bats for a .167 average.

He played shortstop, second base, and third base throughout his career. At 6’1″ and 204 pounds, he batted from both sides and threw right-handed.

During his eight-year run, Huntz played for three franchises. He spent the most time with the San Diego Padres, making 128 appearances over two stints.

The Cardinals gave him his first shot, and the Chicago White Sox offered his only American League experience.

St. Louis Cardinals Years

Huntz returned to the Cardinals in 1969 after missing the 1968 season. He played 71 games for them, starting at different infield spots and batting .194 with three home runs and 13 RBI.

The 1969 Cardinals mainly used Huntz as a utility player. He appeared in 52 games at shortstop, 12 at second, and six at third.

His defensive versatility kept him valuable, even though he struggled at the plate. He drew 27 walks in 166 plate appearances, which showed some patience, but his .194 average and .613 OPS made his offensive issues clear.

The Cardinals released him after that season, ending his first stint in the majors.

San Diego Padres Tenure

Huntz joined the San Diego Padres in 1970 and had his best season there. He played 106 games, splitting his time between shortstop (57 games) and third base (51 games).

The 1970 Padres gave Huntz regular playing time, and he put up his best numbers. He batted .219 with 11 home runs and 37 RBI in 352 at-bats, which was his highest average in the big leagues.

He drew 66 walks that season, showing better plate discipline. He finished with a .341 on-base percentage and a .676 OPS, his best offensive stats in the majors.

The Padres used him all over the infield, and that flexibility came in handy. He went back to San Diego in 1975 for his last year, playing 22 games and batting .151 with four RBI before calling it a career.

Chicago White Sox Experience

The Chicago White Sox picked up Huntz in 1971, giving him his only taste of the American League. He played 35 games for them, batting .209 with two home runs and six RBI.

Huntz mostly played second base (14 games) for the White Sox, with some starts at shortstop and third. His .266 on-base percentage showed he still had trouble offensively in Chicago.

They used him as a utility infielder, but he never hit above .210 for them. He struck out nine times in 86 at-bats and drew seven walks.

His time in Chicago lasted just one season before he went back to the National League.

Positions and Playing Style

Steve Huntz showed remarkable versatility as an infielder throughout his eight-year big league career. He played all three infield spots with confidence and became a reliable utility guy who could step in wherever needed.

Infielder and Roles

Huntz mainly played shortstop, second base, and third base during his time in the majors. His best year came in 1970 with the Padres, splitting time between shortstop and third base over 106 games.

He played 116 games at shortstop during his career. In 1970, he posted a .958 fielding percentage at the position, handling 252 total chances.

Third base was another important spot for Huntz. He played 57 games there, mostly in 1970 with San Diego. His .932 fielding percentage at third was a bit below average but still solid for that era.

At second base, Huntz played 28 games and showed steady hands and decent range. He finished with a 1.000 fielding percentage in those appearances, proving he could be trusted in the field.

Utility Infielder Responsibilities

As a utility infielder, Huntz gave teams flexibility with their rosters. Managers could use him as a late-game defensive sub or a spot starter when someone needed a break.

He batted from both sides of the plate, which added to his value. That switch-hitting skill gave managers more options late in games. His .206 career average reflected his defense-first role.

His versatility was especially obvious in 1970 with San Diego. Huntz started games at both short and third, moving around as the team needed. That flexibility kept him on the bench year after year.

Teams appreciated Huntz’s steady approach and professionalism. He accepted whatever role they gave him, even if it meant moving around the diamond. That adaptability helped him last with three different organizations.

Performance Statistics and Achievements

Steve Huntz finished his career with a .206 batting average, 16 home runs, and 60 RBI over 237 games in five big league seasons. His stats tell the story of a utility infielder who brought defensive skills more than offense.

Batting Average Overview

Huntz struggled at the plate, ending up with a .206 average over five seasons. His best year was 1970 with the Padres, where he hit .219 in 106 games.

That season, he had 77 hits in 352 at-bats and drew 66 walks, which helped him reach a .341 on-base percentage. His worst year came in 1975, when he hit just .151 in 22 games with San Diego.

Season-by-Season Batting Averages:

• 1967: .167 (3 games)
• 1969: .194 (71 games)
• 1970: .219 (106 games)
• 1971: .209 (35 games)
• 1975: .151 (22 games)

Home Runs and Milestones

Huntz hit 16 home runs in his big league career, with most of them—11, to be exact—coming in 1970 with San Diego.

That year made up almost 70% of his career home runs. The rest came in 1969 and 1971, with three for St. Louis and two for Chicago.

He didn’t hit any in his short 1967 debut or his last season in 1975. Power wasn’t really his thing, as he averaged about three homers per full season.

RBI Records

Huntz drove in 60 runs during his five years in the majors, with 37 of those RBI coming in his standout 1970 season.

In 1969 with St. Louis, he had 13 RBI in 71 games. The next year with San Diego, he jumped to 37 RBI.

With Chicago in 1971, he managed six RBI in 35 games. His last season in 1975 brought just four RBI.

Career RBI Distribution:

• 1970 (San Diego): 37 RBI
• 1969 (St. Louis): 13 RBI
• 1971 (Chicago): 6 RBI
• 1975 (San Diego): 4 RBI

Minor League Career and Pacific Coast League

Steve Huntz spent most of his 13-season pro career in the minors, playing over 1,000 games at the Triple-A level.

His biggest minor league years came with the Albuquerque Dukes in the Pacific Coast League, where he turned into a reliable utility infielder during the early 1970s.

Time with Albuquerque Dukes

Huntz joined the Albuquerque Dukes in 1972 as part of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. That first season, he showed up in 140 games and put up a .258 batting average with 18 home runs and 92 RBIs.

His 1972 numbers really stood out as some of his best in professional baseball. Huntz collected 123 hits in 477 at-bats, and he drew 88 walks, which boosted his on-base percentage to .374.

In 1973, things changed a bit. Huntz played 123 games for Albuquerque, but his offensive stats dropped off.

He batted .233 with just 4 home runs and 37 RBIs in 360 at-bats.

Even though his power numbers dipped, Huntz stuck with his patient approach at the plate. He drew 57 walks and struck out only 46 times, proving he could work the count and get on base.

Pacific Coast League Impact

Huntz really became a regular in the Pacific Coast League, spending most of his Triple-A career there. The PCL kept him facing tough competition all through the 1970s.

He brought a lot of value to PCL teams with his versatility as an infielder. Huntz could handle shortstop, second base, and third base, so managers liked having him in the lineup.

After his major league days ended, Huntz called the Pacific Coast League home. He stuck around the PCL through 1977, wrapping up his career with the Hawaii Islanders.

In his last PCL season with Hawaii, Huntz hit .283 with 7 home runs and 53 RBIs over 114 games. Not bad for the later years of his career, honestly.

Trades and Career Transitions

Steve Huntz bounced around the majors thanks to a series of trades that took him through three different organizations. The biggest shake-up in his career came when he got involved in the historic Tommy John trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Blockbuster Trades Involving Huntz

Huntz’s path took a turn when the St. Louis Cardinals traded him to the San Diego Padres after the 1969 season. That move actually helped him grow as a player.

San Diego gave Huntz his best shot at becoming a regular big leaguer. In 1970, he played 106 games for the Padres, which was the most action he ever saw in the majors.

He hit .219 that year, with 11 home runs and 37 RBIs. The Padres mostly used him as a shortstop and third baseman.

After his time in San Diego, Huntz landed with the Chicago White Sox before the 1971 season. That trade meant another big change, but his playing time dropped off in Chicago.

Involvement in Tommy John Trade

The most famous trade connected to Huntz put him in the mix with one of baseball’s legendary transactions. Details about Huntz’s exact role in the Tommy John trade web are a bit fuzzy, but he moved between teams during the same period when the future Hall of Fame pitcher was making a name for himself.

Tommy John’s time with the Los Angeles Dodgers lined up with Huntz’s own moves between National League teams. Trades in that era really shuffled a lot of players around, and Huntz was definitely caught up in those decisions.

Huntz played his last major league season in 1975 with the San Diego Padres. That wrapped up his eight-year big league run.

His career batting average of .206 shows just how tough it was to adjust as he switched teams and roles over the years.

Retirement and Legacy

Steve Huntz finished his Major League Baseball career on June 4, 1975. That ended an eight-year ride across three teams, full of some memorable moments even if the stats weren’t eye-popping.

Final Major League Season in 1975

In 1975, Huntz had a short farewell as a veteran infielder. He saw limited playing time in the early months and played his final game on June 4.

His numbers that year took a dive compared to his best seasons. Back in 1970 with the Padres, he played 106 games, hit .219, and knocked 11 home runs with 37 RBI.

By 1975, Huntz mostly filled a utility role. The .206 career batting average pretty much sums up the challenges he faced at the plate during his major league years.

Career Statistics Summary:

• Games Played: 237
• Batting Average: .206
• Home Runs: 16
• RBI: 60
• Teams: St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres

Post-Retirement Life and Influence

After he retired from professional baseball, Huntz quietly stepped away from the public spotlight that defined his playing days.

Unlike a lot of former players who stick around the game through coaching or broadcasting, Huntz just went his own way and kept things private.

His two separate two-home run games still stand out as his biggest career highlights. The first one happened on September 26, 1969, against the Montreal Expos while he played for St. Louis.

He pulled off the second on August 17, 1971, as a member of the Chicago White Sox, taking on Detroit Tigers pitcher Mickey Lolich.

Those two home runs in 1971 actually turned out to be a bit historic. They were the only home runs he hit that whole season, and, honestly, they ended up being his last two big league long balls.

His education at Villanova University helped set him up for life after baseball.

Huntz, a Cleveland native, has kept most details about his post-playing career under wraps, which really just fits his style of staying out of the baseball spotlight.