Boots Day – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Charles Frederick “Boots” Day made his mark in baseball history during a six-season Major League run from 1969 to 1974. This left-handed outfielder from Ilion, New York, bounced around three teams but really came into his own with the Montreal Expos. There, he became a steady center fielder and leadoff guy at Jarry Park.

Boots played his final MLB game on September 24, 1974, against the Chicago Cubs. That wrapped up a career where he hit .256 with 8 home runs and 98 RBI in 471 games.

His stats might look modest now, but honestly, Day’s story is one you see all over baseball—players grinding it out, giving everything to the game in the early ‘70s.

He started out as a high school pitcher and somehow ended up as a big league outfielder. His journey says a lot about how players develop, the grind of pro baseball, and the sheer determination it takes to make it.

Even after retiring, Day stayed in the game, coaching and scouting. He passed along his baseball smarts and kept shaping the sport long after his last at-bat.

Boots Day: Early Life and Background

Charles Frederick “Boots” Day was born August 31, 1947, in Ilion, New York. He found his love for baseball early on and stuck with it throughout his childhood.

His baseball journey kicked off in this small Mohawk Valley town. He had strong local ties and made a name for himself in high school.

Birth and Family History

Charles Frederick Day entered the world on August 31, 1947, in Ilion, New York. This tight-knit community in central New York gave him the perfect place to get started with baseball.

People started calling him “Boots” when he was a kid. Folks in Ilion watched him go from a little league Yankee to a local legend through the ‘50s and ‘60s.

He showed off his athleticism from the start. As a midget league Yankee and then a Babe Ruth-level Elk, Day always seemed to be a step ahead of everyone else.

He stood out because he could do just about anything on the field. As a pitcher, his curveball was nasty, and as a hitter, he could really drive the ball.

St. Louis Cardinals Fandom and Inspiration

The St. Louis Cardinals played a huge part in shaping Day’s baseball dreams. Even though he grew up in upstate New York, he followed the Cardinals closely and loved the way they played.

Funny enough, the Cardinals ended up signing him right out of high school. That childhood fandom turned into a real shot at the pros.

He looked up to the Cardinals’ players and tried to copy their fundamentals. It definitely influenced how he played the game.

The Cardinals had a reputation for developing young talent, and Day knew joining them was his best shot at the big leagues.

Education and Mohawk Valley Community College

Day went to Central High School in Ilion, where he kept impressing scouts with his play. His high school numbers got him noticed all over the region.

Records about his time at Mohawk Valley Community College are a bit scarce. Still, his education definitely helped him handle the challenges he’d face in pro ball.

His grade school principal, who also scouted for the Cardinals, played a big role in getting Day on their radar.

In 1965, when he was just 18, Day signed with the Cardinals straight out of high school. That move kicked off a baseball career that would last more than half a century.

Major League Debut and 1974 Retirement

Boots Day’s MLB journey started with the St. Louis Cardinals in June 1969 and wrapped up with the Montreal Expos in September 1974. Along the way, he got traded to the Chicago Cubs and then to Montreal, where he spent his best years as a platoon center fielder.

First Game With St. Louis Cardinals

Day got his big league debut on June 15, 1969, with the Cardinals at age 21. He came in as a pinch runner for Vada Pinson in the eighth inning against the Houston Astros.

Three days later, on June 18, 1969, he had his first plate appearance, drawing a walk against Mike Wegener of the Montreal Expos. Ironically, the Expos would become his main team later on.

He only played 11 games with St. Louis that year and didn’t get a hit in six at-bats. The Cardinals wanted to see what he could do after he hit .295 with 17 homers for Double-A Arkansas the year before.

Trade to Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs

The Cardinals traded Day to the Cubs in December 1969 for pitcher Rich Nye. He made the Cubs’ opening day roster in 1970 but just couldn’t get regular at-bats.

After only 11 games with Chicago, the Cubs traded him again in May 1970, sending him to the Montreal Expos for catcher Jack Hiatt.

That move to Montreal changed everything for Day. He spent some time with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons/Winnipeg Whips, hitting .294 with 10 homers, and then got called up by the Expos.

He batted .269 in 41 games during his first run with Montreal. The Expos liked what they saw and gave him a shot as a platoon center fielder.

1974 Final MLB Season and Retirement

Before the 1974 season, the Expos picked up veteran center fielder Willie Davis from the Dodgers. That trade sent Mike Marshall to LA, where he’d go on to win the Cy Young Award.

Davis’s arrival meant Day saw the field a lot less. In 1974, Day played just 52 games, got 72 at-bats, and hit .236 in what turned out to be his last MLB season.

His final major league appearance happened on September 24, 1974, against the Cubs. He went hitless in his only at-bat, closing out his career with a .256 average.

After losing his roster spot, Day wrapped up the 1974 season in the minors with the Memphis Blues. The Expos gave his number 8 to rookie catcher Gary Carter in 1975, who’d go on to be a Hall of Famer.

Boots Day’s MLB Career Overview

Boots Day spent six seasons in the majors from 1969 to 1974, suiting up for three National League teams. He started with the St. Louis Cardinals, moved to the Chicago Cubs, and then found his groove with the Montreal Expos.

Positions Played and Teams Represented

Day mostly played center field, but he also filled in as a pinch hitter. He was a lefty, stood 5-foot-9, and weighed 160 pounds.

He kicked things off with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1969. At 21, he made his debut as a pinch runner for Vada Pinson in the eighth inning.

He didn’t get a hit in six at-bats with St. Louis, then got traded to the Chicago Cubs. Day made the Cubs’ opening day roster in 1970 but couldn’t find steady playing time.

The Montreal Expos picked up Day on May 12, 1970, in exchange for Jack Hiatt. That trade turned out to be a good break for him. “For me, the trade to Montreal was a great thing. I got the opportunity to play a lot more than I probably would’ve with the Cubs or the Cardinals,” Day said.

Notable Moments and On-Field Achievements

Day finished with a .256 batting average, 295 hits, 8 home runs, and 98 RBIs in 471 games. He scored 146 runs over his six seasons.

His first big league hit came on April 18, 1970, off Montreal reliever Carroll Sembera. He hit his first home run on May 11, 1971, taking Reggie Cleveland deep at Jarry Park.

The ball cleared the right-center fence, and Day held onto it. “Reggie was a teammate of mine in St. Petersburg in the Cardinals system in my second year,” Day remembered. “I still have that home run ball.”

He also played center field during Bill Stoneman’s no-hitter on October 2, 1972. That was the first major league no-hitter thrown outside the U.S.

Montreal Expos Years

Day’s best seasons came with the Montreal Expos from 1970 to 1974. He grew into a reliable leadoff hitter and center fielder at Jarry Park.

In 1971, he hit .283 over 127 games and became a regular in the lineup. By 1973, he was batting .275 in 101 games, helping the Expos chase the NL East pennant.

Montreal stayed in the hunt until the last weekend but ended up fourth in a tight race. Day enjoyed playing in Montreal. “I liked Jarry Park. It was quaint. The fans were close to the field,” he said.

After 1973, the Expos brought in Willie Davis from the Dodgers. That move sent Day to the bench and then down to the minors for 21 games in 1974.

Role with Detroit Tigers Organization

After his MLB days, Day joined the Detroit Tigers organization in 1975. He spent five years in the Tigers’ minor league system, from 1975 to 1980.

During that time, Day pitched in 87 games, showing off his two-way skills. Back in high school, he’d only lost one game as a left-handed pitcher.

He spent a lot of time with the Evansville affiliate during his post-MLB run. Day wrapped up his playing days in 1980 after eleven seasons in the minors.

The Tigers gave him a chance to keep playing after the majors. That experience helped him move into coaching, managing, and scouting later on.

Career Statistics and Performance

Boots Day finished his MLB career with a .256 batting average, 8 home runs, and 98 RBI in 471 games from 1969 to 1974. His best years came with the Montreal Expos, where he became a reliable outfielder and chipped in steady offense, even if he wasn’t a power guy.

Batting Average and Hitting Highlights

Day’s .256 career average showed he could get on base pretty regularly. His best season was 1971, when he hit .283 for Montreal in 127 games and picked up 105 hits in 371 at-bats.

He improved his plate discipline as his career went on. In 1971, for example, he drew 33 walks and struck out only 39 times, which is pretty solid. That year, he posted a .342 on-base percentage and made himself a nice leadoff choice.

Day didn’t hit for much power, but he was consistent. He had several seasons batting close to or above .270, including .275 in 1973. Managers could count on him to make contact and avoid long slumps, making him a dependable part of the lineup.

Home Runs and RBI Contributions

Power just wasn’t Day’s thing. Over six seasons, he managed only 8 home runs. His best single-season total? That was 4, which he hit in both 1971 and 1973.

Even with those low power numbers, Day still found ways to drive in runs. He relied on timely hitting and a sharp sense of game situations.

He picked up 98 career RBI, mostly by hitting doubles and coming through when runners were in scoring position. In 1971, he drove in a career-high 33 runs for Montreal.

Day had a knack for moving runners along, sometimes putting the team first over his own stats. Instead of home runs, he used his gap power to collect doubles and triples, helping his team manufacture runs with classic small ball.

Season by Season Breakdown

Day’s career started quietly in 1969, when he played just 11 games with St. Louis. In 1970, he split 52 games between two teams and then finally settled in as a regular.

His most productive stretch came with Montreal from 1971 through 1973. He played over 100 games each season and kept his average between .233 and .283.

The 1972 season was rough—his average dipped to .233. But he bounced back in 1973 and put up better numbers.

By 1974, his playing time dropped to 52 games, and his average slipped to .185. That season ended his major league run, though he kept playing in the minors until 1980.

Fielding Ability and Defensive Value

We don’t have a ton of defensive stats from Day’s era, but his long run as an outfielder says a lot. He mostly played center field for Montreal and handled the job with decent range and a solid arm.

Managers valued his defensive contributions, giving him regular starts even when his bat cooled off. He played all over the outfield, which made him even more useful.

That flexibility really helped Montreal, especially when they needed to shuffle the lineup. His steady glove paired well with his consistent approach at the plate.

Day understood positioning and game situations, always looking for ways to help his team on defense.

Post-Playing Career and Involvement in Baseball

After his major league career wrapped up in 1974, Day just couldn’t step away from baseball. He stayed involved for nearly fifty more years, taking on all sorts of roles—playing in the minors, coaching, and scouting right up until his retirement in 2021.

Minor League Playing and Pitching

Day didn’t stop playing after 1974. He joined the Detroit Tigers organization in 1975 and stuck around their minor league system until 1980.

He showed off some versatility too, pitching in 87 minor league games. In 1978 with Evansville, he put up a 2.40 ERA in 14 appearances, which was probably his best year on the mound.

Day spent five seasons with Evansville after leaving the majors. In 1978, he bounced between the outfield, first base, and the pitching mound. That kind of flexibility made him a real asset to those teams.

His minor league career ended up lasting eleven seasons. All that experience helped him develop coaching chops and kept him close to the game.

Coaching Roles in Major and Minor Leagues

Once Day hung up his spikes in 1980, he moved right into coaching. He worked with a bunch of big league organizations, including the Detroit Tigers, Indians, Royals, Yankees, Nationals, and St. Louis Cardinals.

He even coached in the independent leagues, spending two seasons with the Calgary Vipers in the Golden League.

In 2012, Day joined the Evansville Otters coaching staff under manager Andy McCauley. That was actually his third time working in Evansville.

The Frontier League honored him with the Darren Bush Coach of the Year award that season, thanks to his work developing players.

Day stuck around as the Otters’ bench coach. His long run with Evansville showed just how much he cared about helping young players and being a steady presence in pro baseball.

Scouting and Managerial Contributions

Day also took on scouting jobs for several major league teams. His long playing career gave him a sharp eye for talent at every level.

Throughout his 55 years in pro baseball, teams only gave him one-year contracts. That meant he always had to prove himself, whether he was coaching, managing, or scouting.

He managed teams too, adding to his value. His ability to wear so many hats made him a real asset for any organization.

Day finally retired from pro baseball in 2021, capping a career that started with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1966 and ended with the Evansville Otters. That’s one heck of a run.

Personal Life and Legacy

Charles Frederick “Boots” Day left the majors in 1974, but baseball never really left him. He stayed close to the sport and his community, building a legacy that went way beyond the numbers.

Nicknames and Personal Characteristics

Day got the nickname “Boots” as a kid growing up in Ilion, New York. The name stuck and became part of his identity in the baseball world.

At 5’9″ and 160 pounds, he was never the biggest guy on the field. But he made up for it with humility and a work ethic that teammates really respected.

He batted and threw left-handed, which gave him a bit of an edge. Solid fundamentals and natural talent helped him lead his teams to plenty of wins back in Central New York.

Connection to Fans and Lasting Impact

Day’s influence reached far past his last big league game. He spent 55 years in baseball, taking on roles as a scout, coach, and manager at just about every level.

He kept close ties to his hometown of Ilion. From 1955 to 1965, everyone knew “Boots Day” as the standout in local baseball, from the midget league Yankees up through Babe Ruth ball.

Later on, he became the hitting coach for the Evansville Otters in the Frontier League. He always said, “Baseball is all I knew,” and his dedication proved it.

Recognition by Baseball Community

Day’s story got fresh attention thanks to the book “Boots Day: A Life in Baseball” by Joseph D. Collea Jr. The biography follows his journey, taking him from a small-town kid all the way to the Major Leagues.

Former teammate Bob Turley didn’t hold back his praise for Day’s talent. He said, “We always knew that we had the best player on the field.” That kind of recognition from fellow players really says something about Day’s abilities.

Baseball scouts show us that talent pops up in the most unexpected places. Day proves that players from tiny Central New York villages can actually make it to the majors. His story still inspires young players from similar backgrounds, and honestly, who wouldn’t find that encouraging?