Kevin Collins – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Kevin Collins ended his Major League Baseball career in 1971 after six seasons as a utility infielder with three different teams. He grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts, born in 1946, and signed with the New York Mets at just 17 for $25,000. Collins broke into the majors in 1965 as one of the youngest players around.

Collins played his last MLB game on September 29, 1971, with the Detroit Tigers. He finished with a .209 batting average over 201 games. His journey through pro baseball took him from the upstart Mets, then to Montreal, and finally to Detroit. In his last two seasons, he mostly pinch-hit.

His stats might look modest—6 home runs, 34 RBIs—but Collins played a unique role in baseball history. He helped lay the groundwork for the Mets’ 1969 World Series team. His story really shows what utility players went through in an era when teams needed roster flexibility. You can see how he experienced the transformation of one of baseball’s most famous franchises as they went from lovable losers to champions.

Early Life and Baseball Beginnings

Kevin Michael Collins was born August 4, 1946, in Springfield, Massachusetts. His parents valued both sports and education.

He showed talent for several sports early on. In high school baseball, he stood out and grabbed the attention of professional scouts while he was still a freshman.

Family Background

Kevin grew up as the only son, sandwiched between sisters, in Springfield. His dad, Mike, worked as an insurance salesman and really shaped both his sports and life outlook.

The Collins family gave him a supportive home for athletics. His dad encouraged baseball but never pushed too hard. “He encouraged me, but he never pushed me,” Kevin said in a 2008 interview. “We had a great relationship.”

Collins often played above his age group, despite being young for his grade. His mom, Virginia, leaned toward education, while his dad just supported whatever Kevin wanted to do.

Education and Amateur Baseball

At Springfield High School of Science and Technology, Collins played several sports. He earned All-City selection in basketball and played halfback in football.

Baseball was always his best sport, though. He played shortstop and batted lefty for Springfield Tech’s baseball team, helping them win two Western Massachusetts championships.

Even though Massachusetts wasn’t a big baseball state, Collins still faced strong competition. He played against future major leaguers like Mark Belanger from Pittsfield High and Fran Healy from Holyoke.

Scouts started watching him as early as his freshman year. His steady play at shortstop made him a hot prospect for several organizations.

Signing as a Bonus Baby

After graduating in 1964, Collins had to pick between college and pro baseball. The University of Massachusetts and other schools recruited him, but so did the New York Yankees and Mets.

At 17, he signed with scout Red Fazio and the Mets for $25,000. His mom wanted him to go to college, but Collins felt drawn to chase his baseball dreams.

“My mother wanted me to go to college, but I didn’t want to be looking back when I was 50 years old, wondering if I was going to make it,” he explained. His father just told him to “follow your conscience and follow your heart.”

The Mets put Collins on their 40-man roster as a bonus baby. He joined other young prospects like Ron Swoboda and Tug McGraw as new faces in the organization.

Major League Debut and Teams

Kevin Collins played in the majors from 1965 to 1971, spending time with three teams. He started with the New York Mets at 19, moved to the Montreal Expos after a big trade, and wrapped up his career with the Detroit Tigers.

Joining the New York Mets

Collins signed with the Mets in 1964 for $25,000, choosing pro baseball over college. The left-handed shortstop made his debut on September 1, 1965, at age 19.

He pinch-hit for pitcher Rob Gardner in the second game of a doubleheader against Houston at Shea Stadium. Collins was supposed to debut in April, but a shoulder injury during warmups kept him out for months.

He struck out looking against Houston’s Turk Farrell in his first at-bat. His first big league hit came three weeks later—a single off Pittsburgh’s Bob Friend at Forbes Field.

Collins mostly worked as a utility infielder with the Mets, backing up shortstop Bud Harrelson.

Trade to the Montreal Expos

In June 1969, the Mets traded Collins to the Montreal Expos with three minor leaguers (Steve Renko, Dave Colon, and Bill Carden) for first baseman Donn Clendenon. The trade proved huge for the Mets’ championship season.

Collins got a shot with Montreal, playing second and some third base with Coco Laboy. He made Expos history by hitting their first pinch-hit home run on July 17, 1969.

That three-run homer came off Pittsburgh’s Jim Bunning. Collins later called the trade “bittersweet,” but he picked up a lot from Expos manager Gene Mauch.

At the 30-year Mets reunion, Collins remembered beat writer Jack Lang saying, “The Mets wanted Clendenon, but Gene Mauch wanted you.”

Years with the Detroit Tigers

Montreal sold Collins’ contract to the Detroit Tigers in 1970. He spent the rest of 1970 and all of 1971 in Detroit, mainly as a pinch-hitter.

Collins hit .208 in 1970 under manager Mayo Smith. In 1971, he improved to .268 under Billy Martin. That final year was his best at the plate.

He roomed with veteran outfielder Gates Brown in 1971. Since interracial roommates were rare then, the media noticed. Collins brushed it off, saying, “People are people. That’s the way I was brought up.”

He played his final MLB game on September 29, 1971, against Cleveland. Collins retired after the 1971 season, ending a seven-year run with a .209 average over 201 games.

Career Highlights and Achievements

Kevin Collins found his place in baseball history with several standout moments and by playing many positions. His biggest achievement came with the Montreal Expos, though his versatility made him valuable for all three teams.

First Pinch-Hit Home Run for Montreal Expos

On July 17, 1969, Collins hit the first pinch-hit home run in Montreal Expos history. He took Pirates pitcher Jim Bunning deep for a three-run shot.

This was more than just a personal highlight. It was a big milestone for the Expos in their first season. The pinch-hit homer came at a key moment and showed Collins was a reliable bench player.

Collins joined the Expos in a four-player deal for Donn Clendenon. The trade worked out for both teams, as Collins saw more playing time in Montreal.

Notable Games and Performances

Collins hit his first MLB home run on August 6, 1968, with the Mets. He smashed a two-out, three-run homer off Dave Giusti in the ninth to break a 1-1 tie against Houston. Collins drove in all four runs in that 4-1 win.

On June 15, 1968, he collected three doubles in three at-bats off Giants ace Juan Marichal. That game helped convince manager Gil Hodges to keep him on the roster.

His best offensive season came in 1971 with Detroit. Collins hit .268 in 41 at-bats, with a .439 slugging percentage. That was a big jump over his career .209 average.

Utility Roles: SS, PH, PR, and More

Collins’s ability to play all over the field made him valuable. He started as a shortstop in the minors but took on utility roles in the majors.

He played first, second, and third base, shortstop, and both corner outfield spots. Collins also pinch-hit and pinch-ran, especially during his Detroit days.

With the Tigers, managers Mayo Smith and Billy Martin mostly used him as a pinch-hitter. His flexibility made him a useful bench player who could fill in anywhere.

At third base, Collins showed solid defense and toughness. His willingness to do whatever the team needed kept him in the big leagues for six seasons.

Statistical Overview

Kevin Collins put up modest numbers over his MLB career from 1965 to 1971. His .209 average, 6 home runs, and 34 RBIs in 201 games show just how tough life was for a utility infielder during baseball’s second dead-ball era.

Batting Average and Offensive Stats

Collins finished with a .209 batting average in 388 at-bats. His on-base percentage was .245, and he slugged .320.

His best offensive year came in 1971 with Detroit. He hit .268 in 41 at-bats, his only season above .250.

Career hitting breakdown:

• 81 hits in 201 games
• 30 runs scored and 34 RBIs
• 17 doubles, 4 triples
• 20 walks, 97 strikeouts

Collins actually hit better in the American League (.246) than the National League (.201). In 1969, split between the Mets and Expos, he had his highest single-season hit total with 29.

Home Runs and Key Hitting Records

Collins hit 6 home runs in his MLB career. His power numbers fit his utility role during a low-offense era.

He hit his first home run in 1968 with the Mets. He added three more in 1969 and two in Detroit.

Power stats:

• 124 total bases in his career
• .320 slugging percentage
• 6 home runs in 388 at-bats

In 1971, Collins slugged .439 in limited action. That last season was his most productive at the plate.

Defensive Contributions

Collins played all over the infield. He appeared at third base, second base, shortstop, and first base.

His defensive numbers show he had solid fundamentals. At third base in 1968, he posted a .955 fielding percentage—his busiest year on defense.

Defensive highlights:

• 89 games at third base (main spot)
• Perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 1965 and 1967
• 7 double plays turned in 1968

His ability to handle several positions kept him in the majors. That defensive reliability made him valuable even when he wasn’t hitting much.

Final Season and Retirement in 1971

Kevin Collins played his last big league season with the Detroit Tigers in 1971, batting .268 in 35 games under Billy Martin. He left baseball for good in 1974 at age 27, choosing family stability over chasing more pro opportunities.

1971 Season Performance

Collins wrapped up his final major league season as a pinch hitter for the Detroit Tigers. He played in 35 games and hit .268, his best average since joining Detroit.

That .268 average looked a lot better than his .208 from 1970. Manager Billy Martin mostly used Collins as a reserve.

For Collins, the 1971 season finally felt stable with Detroit. He’d come over partway through 1970 when Montreal sold his contract.

During that year, Collins roomed with veteran outfielder Gates Brown. Reporters noticed the pairing of a white and a black player, but Collins shrugged it off. “People are people. That’s the way I was brought up,” he told The Sporting News.

He played his last major league game on September 29, 1971. By the end of his six-season career, Collins carried a .209 lifetime batting average.

Reasons for Retirement

Collins decided to step away from professional baseball in 1974 at age 27. He mainly left because of family considerations, not because of his stats.

He just didn’t want to keep moving his family around for baseball. All the team changes and minor league assignments wore him down.

He married Linda Laflamme in 1968. They’d met when Collins was 17, on the same day he signed his first big league contract.

After some time in the minors following 1971, Collins chose stability instead of chasing more baseball jobs.

Transition from Baseball

Once he left baseball, Collins jumped into the automotive supply business. He stuck with it for twenty years and found success in that world.

He stayed in touch with former teammates, especially Gates Brown. Their friendship lasted well past their playing days.

Collins finally got the stable family life he wanted, without all the moving. He felt good about that.

Looking back, Collins felt proud of his baseball career, even if it was short. He liked knowing he played a part in the trade that brought Donn Clendenon to the 1969 championship Mets.

Post-Baseball Life and Legacy

Kevin Michael Collins walked away from baseball in 1974 at age 27, picking family stability over the chaos of pro sports. He died in Naples, Florida in 2016 at age 69, remembered as a utility player who made a real impact for his teams, even if his stats weren’t flashy.

Professional Life After Baseball

Three years after his last big league game, Collins made the tough call to retire. He grew up in Massachusetts and wanted his family to have a steady home instead of bouncing around the minors.

“He did not want to uproot his family anymore,” say the old accounts of his decision. That pretty much sums up Collins—practical, steady, and level-headed, just like he was on the field.

Not much is out there about Collins’ specific career steps after baseball. Guys from his era often went into coaching, business, or wherever their discipline and experience could take them.

Collins ended up settling in Naples, Florida. That warm weather must have felt worlds away from Massachusetts and all the cities he played in.

Personal Life and Passing

Collins married Linda Laflamme, who he met at 17—the same day he signed his first contract. Their 1968 wedding even got a mention in The Sporting News, with Tug McGraw as an usher.

Their relationship started right as Collins took off on his baseball journey. Linda stuck by him through the tough times in the minors and the rollercoaster of being a utility guy in the majors.

Collins died on February 20, 2016, in Naples, Florida, at 69. His life stretched from the 1960s expansion era into baseball’s modern age.

He spent his retirement years in Florida, soaking up the sunshine and, probably, still following the game he loved.

Impact on the Baseball Community

People in the baseball world respected Collins for being a “hard-nosed, steady utility player” who always stood up for his teammates. Managers like Gil Hodges and Gene Mauch valued him because he could play multiple positions.

In 1971, Collins roomed with Gates Brown, which caught the media’s eye since interracial roommates were pretty unusual back then. Collins just shrugged it off, telling The Sporting News, “I don’t consider this a breakthrough of any kind. People are people. That’s the way I was brought up.”

Collins made a little bit of history with the Montreal Expos when he hit the franchise’s first pinch-hit home run on July 17, 1969, off Pittsburgh’s Jim Bunning. That three-run shot carved out his spot in the team’s record books.

When Montreal traded him in 1969, it turned out to be a big deal for the New York Mets’ championship hopes. He was part of the deal that brought Donn Clendenon to New York. Collins liked to joke years later about how important he was to the Miracle Mets.