Broderick Perkins – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Broderick Perkins spent seven seasons in Major League Baseball from 1978 to 1984, mostly playing first base for the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Indians. Born on November 23, 1954, in Pittsburg, California, Perkins built a solid career during a wild time in baseball, when teams started changing up their approach to player development and strategy. His journey through the majors shows what it’s like for a reliable role player to make an impact with two franchises during the late ’70s and early ’80s.

Perkins wrapped up his career with a .271 batting average, 8 home runs, and 157 RBIs over 516 games. These stats might not blow you away, but they reflect the steady output teams really wanted from utility guys back then.

His best season? That was 1982, when he played in 125 games for the Padres, took over as their primary first baseman, and showed the kind of consistency that kept him in the big leagues for almost a decade.

Broderick Perkins’ Baseball Career Overview

Broderick Perkins played seven MLB seasons from 1978 to 1984, spending most of his time with the San Diego Padres before wrapping up with the Cleveland Indians.

His career batting average landed at .271, with 340 hits, 8 homers, and 157 RBIs in 516 games.

Start in Major League Baseball (MLB)

Broderick Phillip Perkins came into the world on November 23, 1954, in Pittsburg, California. He broke into the majors on July 7, 1978, with the Padres at age 23.

Perkins made his MLB debut as a first baseman during the ’78 season. That year, he appeared in 62 games and got 227 plate appearances.

He hit .240 with 52 hits in 217 at-bats as a rookie. Perkins managed 2 home runs and drove in 33 runs, mostly playing first base.

Even though his rookie numbers were modest, he showed flashes of promise. That first season set him up as a utility player who could help out both at the plate and in the field.

San Diego Padres Years

Perkins stuck with the Padres for five seasons, from 1978 to 1982. He played 379 games for San Diego and racked up 1,092 plate appearances during that run.

His best year with the Padres came in 1980. He hit .370 with a .432 on-base percentage in 43 games. That year, he hit 2 home runs and drove in 14 runs, showing better plate discipline than before.

In 1982, Perkins finally got a full-time shot. He played 125 games and hit .271 with 94 hits in 347 at-bats.

During his Padres stint, Perkins kept a .276 batting average and picked up 277 hits. He hit all 8 of his career home runs and drove in 129 runs in those five seasons.

Perkins mostly played first base but sometimes filled in the outfield. That flexibility made him a handy bench player for San Diego.

Cleveland Indians Tenure

The Cleveland Indians picked up Perkins before the 1983 season. He played his last two MLB years with them, from 1983 to 1984.

Perkins suited up for 137 games with the Indians. He got 273 plate appearances and 63 hits in 250 at-bats.

His numbers dropped off a bit in Cleveland. Perkins hit .252 there, down from his .276 average with the Padres.

In 1983, he played 79 games and hit .272 with 50 hits, driving in 24 runs as a utility infielder and designated hitter.

His last season in 1984 was rough. Perkins played 58 games and hit just .197, picking up only 13 hits in 66 at-bats.

Retirement in 1984

Perkins played his final MLB game in 1984 with Cleveland. He retired from pro baseball at 29.

After seven MLB seasons, Perkins finished with a .271 average, 340 hits, and 8 home runs.

That last season, his numbers really fell off. He drove in just 4 runs in 58 games, which basically signaled the end of the road.

Perkins played for two teams in both the National League and American League. His MLB career ran from 1978 to 1984, covering seven seasons.

Playing Style and Position

Broderick Perkins built his MLB career on defensive reliability and situational hitting. He played multiple positions and carved out a role as a dependable role player through his seven years.

Primary Role as First Baseman

Perkins made his mark as a steady defensive first baseman with both the Padres and Indians. He played most of his 516 big league games at first.

The stats back up his solid defensive fundamentals. As a rookie in 1978, he posted a .993 fielding percentage at first base.

He handled 583 chances his first full season, made just 4 errors, and turned 56 double plays.

First base fit his skills well throughout his career. He played 253 games at first over seven seasons, showing he could handle the job day in and day out.

Other Positions and Flexibility

Besides first base, Perkins offered some tactical flexibility by playing outfield spots when needed. He even filled in at right and left field for San Diego.

In 1980, he played 10 games in right field. Sure, his outfield defense wasn’t great, but just being willing to move around gave the roster more depth.

Perkins also played a little third base. That kind of flexibility made him a handy utility guy who could cover different spots as needed.

Being able to move around definitely helped him stick in the majors longer. Teams always appreciate depth at multiple positions.

Pinch Hitting Contributions

Perkins often came off the bench as a pinch hitter, especially later on with Cleveland. With a .271 career average, he was a pretty reliable bat in key spots.

He took on pinch hitting more as his career went on. In those last seasons, he shifted from starting to being a situational player who could step in for specific matchups.

Pinch hitting isn’t easy. Perkins had to stay sharp and keep his timing, even with irregular playing time and pressure situations.

His experience and baseball smarts helped him in that role. Veterans like Perkins often do well as pinch hitters because they know the game and can work a good at-bat.

Statistical Highlights and Achievements

Broderick Perkins finished with a .271 career batting average and 340 hits in 516 games over seven MLB seasons. His best year, stats-wise, came in 1980 when he hit .370 with a .952 OPS for the San Diego Padres.

Batting Average and Hitting Metrics

Perkins hit consistently across his career, ending up at .271. In 1980, he had his best year, batting .370 in 43 games.

That season really stands out. He put up a .432 on-base percentage and a .520 slugging percentage.

In 1980, he reached his peak with a 173 OPS+, ranking among the National League’s best that year.

He hit better in the National League than in the American League. With San Diego, he posted a .276 average, compared to .252 in Cleveland.

His career .313 on-base percentage shows he had decent plate discipline. He walked 80 times and struck out 116 times over his seven seasons.

Power Numbers: Home Runs and RBIs

Perkins hit 8 home runs in his MLB career, all during his time with the Padres. He didn’t hit any homers in two seasons with the Cleveland Indians.

His single-season high for home runs was two, which he managed in 1978, 1980, and 1981.

He drove in 157 RBIs over seven years. His top RBI season was 1981, when he knocked in 40 runs.

In 1982, he drove in 34 runs over 125 games. Playing first base put him in a good spot to rack up RBIs.

Even though his power numbers were pretty modest, Perkins added 62 doubles and 8 triples. Those extra-base hits showed he could drive the ball when he got hold of it.

Runs Scored and On-Base Performance

Perkins scored 127 runs in his MLB career. His best single-season total was 32 in 1982, and he scored 27 runs in 1981.

In 1980, even in just 43 games, he scored 18 runs. If he’d played a full season at that pace, he could’ve topped 60 runs.

He appeared in 516 games during his career, with 379 for San Diego and 137 for Cleveland.

His busiest season was 1982, with 125 games played. In the strike-shortened 1981 season, he played 92 games.

Perkins picked up 340 hits in his career, 277 of them coming with San Diego. In 1982, he set his single-season high with 94 hits.

Notable Game Logs

Perkins’ 1980 season was his high point in almost every category. He mainly played first base and set career bests in average, on-base percentage, and slugging.

In 1982, he showed he could handle a full-time job. He played 125 games and kept up a solid .271 average.

The move from San Diego to Cleveland in 1983 led to a dip in his numbers. He hit .272 his first year with the Indians but struggled in 1984.

His last season, 1984, was tough. He hit just .197 in 58 games before stepping away from the game.

In the field, Perkins did his job at first base. As a rookie in 1978, he posted a .993 fielding percentage.

Season-by-Season Breakdown

Broderick Perkins played seven MLB seasons from 1978 to 1984, splitting his time between the Padres and Indians. His top year was 1980, when he hit .370 in a smaller sample size, and in 1982 he showed he could handle a full-time first base role.

1978 Debut and Rookie Performance

Perkins made his major league debut with the Padres in 1978 at 23 years old. He played in 62 games as a rookie, starting 52 of them at first base.

His rookie stats were promising, even if not eye-popping. Perkins hit .240 with 52 hits in 217 at-bats. He added 14 doubles, 2 home runs, and drove in 33 runs.

In the field, he showed solid skills. Perkins posted a .993 fielding percentage, handled 583 chances, made only 4 errors, and turned 56 double plays.

He scored 14 runs and drew just 5 walks that first year. That low walk total hinted at his aggressive approach at the plate, a trait that stuck with him throughout his career.

Noteworthy Seasons with the Padres

Perkins had his standout season in 1980, hitting .370 in 43 games. That average came with a .952 OPS, and honestly, it’s the kind of number you don’t see every day when a guy finally gets regular playing time.

He picked up 37 hits in 100 at-bats that year. Nine of those were doubles, and he knocked out 2 home runs, driving in 14 runs along the way.

Perkins posted a .432 on-base percentage, which really showed some growth at the plate. You could tell he worked on his discipline.

The 1982 season was the only time Perkins played as a full-time player. He appeared in 125 games for the Padres, which was the most in his career.

Even with that bigger workload, he kept a .271 batting average. That’s pretty respectable, considering the jump in games.

In 1982, Perkins put together 94 hits in 347 at-bats. He added 10 doubles, 4 triples, and 2 home runs.

He drove in 34 runs that season, staying steady for the team. There was a sense that you could count on him game after game.

The 1981 season was a weird one, thanks to the strike. Perkins still managed to play 92 games.

He hit .280, racked up 71 hits, and drove in 40 runs. Not bad for a year that threw off everyone’s rhythm.

Transition to Cleveland

The Cleveland Indians picked up Perkins for the 1983 season, sending him to the American League. At 28, he played 79 games in his first year with them.

Perkins hit .272 with Cleveland, sticking near his career average. He picked up 50 hits in 184 at-bats, including 10 doubles.

He managed 24 RBIs, keeping his production going even as he got used to a new city and league. Adjusting to new teammates and coaches is never easy, but he handled it.

Perkins mostly played first base, but the team also used him at designated hitter and third base. That kind of flexibility isn’t always easy to find.

His fielding stayed solid in 1983. He stepped up wherever Cleveland needed him, showing a bit of that veteran presence.

Final Season: 1984

Perkins played his last major league season in 1984 with the Cleveland Indians. He was 29 and appeared in just 58 games, his lowest total since 1979.

The 1984 season turned out to be tough for him. He hit only .197, with 13 hits in 66 at-bats.

He hit just one home run in that final year, marking the end of his power numbers. His playing time dropped off as the season went on.

Perkins finished with only 4 RBIs and 5 runs scored that year. That season wrapped up his major league journey.

His last game came at the close of the 1984 season. Perkins retired with a .271 career batting average, 340 hits, and 8 home runs over seven seasons.

Career Transactions and Moves

Broderick Perkins started his MLB journey through the amateur draft and made one big move between leagues. He played seven seasons from 1978 to 1984, moving between the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Indians.

Draft and Entry to MLB

Perkins entered pro baseball through the amateur draft after finishing college at St. Mary’s College in California. The San Diego Padres picked him up and brought him into their system in the mid-1970s.

He worked his way up through the Padres’ minor league system before debuting in the majors in 1978. Standing 5’10” and weighing 180 pounds, Perkins hit and threw left-handed.

He showed he could handle first base and played with a versatility that coaches appreciate. His time at St. Mary’s definitely gave him a solid base for the pros.

San Diego Padres to Cleveland Indians Trade

The biggest transaction in Perkins’ career happened when the Padres traded him to the Cleveland Indians. That deal took him from the National League to the American League.

The trade gave Perkins a chance to keep his MLB career going with Cleveland. He adapted to the American League style and became a valuable contributor for their roster.

While playing for both teams, Perkins mostly stuck to first base. Switching leagues meant he had to adjust to different rules and styles of play.

Retirement and Release

Perkins wrapped up his MLB career in 1984 with the Cleveland Indians. He played parts of seven seasons from 1978 through 1984.

When his time on the field ended, so did his professional baseball career. Perkins finished with a .271 average, 340 hits, and 8 home runs in 516 games.

He retired during the 1984 season, closing out his big league run. Both the Padres and Indians had relied on him as a steady presence at first base.

Broderick Perkins’ Legacy and Impact

Broderick Perkins left a modest but meaningful mark on Major League Baseball. His steady play at first base and reliable contributions to two franchises say a lot about his value.

His career really shows what consistent performance and professionalism can do at the highest level of baseball.

Contribution to Teams

Perkins gave both the Padres and Indians valuable service during his seven seasons. He played in 516 games, mostly at first base.

His best years came with San Diego from 1978 to 1982. He became a dependable option at first, and in 1980, he hit .370 in 100 at-bats, flashing some real offensive upside.

The Padres used Perkins in 379 games over five seasons. He kept up a .276 batting average and drove in 129 runs while with San Diego.

Cleveland brought Perkins in after the 1982 season, trading for him and Juan Eichelberger in exchange for Ed Whitson. Perkins played 137 games for Cleveland before retiring in 1984.

Recognition Among First Basemen

Perkins earned a reputation as a solid defensive first baseman. He handled his responsibilities at the position with consistency.

During his time in San Diego, Perkins showed reliable glovework at first base. In his rookie 1978 season, he posted a .993 fielding percentage over 59 games.

He kept up that defensive consistency throughout his National League career. Perkins even played some outfield for the Padres, filling in at right and left field when needed.

His steady fielding helped both teams keep things stable at first base. Managers could count on him for reliable play throughout his career.

Reputation as a Consistent Player

People knew Perkins as a steady, reliable player. He just kept showing up and getting the job done, season after season. His career .271 batting average? That says a lot about how he managed to stay productive at the plate.

Over seven seasons, Perkins picked up 340 hits. He didn’t just swing at anything, either. He stepped up with discipline, drawing 80 walks and striking out 116 times, which really highlights how he controlled his at-bats.

Sure, he didn’t light up the stat sheet with power. He hit 8 home runs and 62 doubles, which isn’t flashy, but it’s steady. Perkins seemed to care more about getting on base and making contact than chasing big home run numbers.

As a first baseman, he kept things consistent for his teams. He played at least 43 games every single season he was in the majors. That kind of durability and reliability? Not everyone can pull that off.