Rowland Office – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Rowland Office spent 11 years in Major League Baseball, sprinting across the outfield for three teams before finally hanging up his cleats in 1983. Born in Sacramento, California, he debuted with the Atlanta Braves in 1972 when he was just 19. That made him the youngest player in the majors that year.

From 1972 to 1983, Office played 899 games and put up a .259 batting average while wearing the uniforms of the Atlanta Braves, Montreal Expos, and New York Yankees. He shared the outfield with Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, and along the way, he dealt with both career highs and injuries.

From those early days as a wide-eyed rookie in Atlanta to his final appearances with the Yankees, Office’s story shows the ups and downs of a pro baseball life. He made some memorable defensive plays, traveled through the major leagues, and eventually moved on to retirement. His career offers a peek into what it’s like to compete at baseball’s top level in the 1970s and early 80s.

Rowland Office’s Early Life and Background

Rowland Johnie Office was born on October 25, 1952, in Sacramento, California. He built his baseball skills through high school and college before jumping into pro ball.

His Sacramento roots really mattered. Local baseball programs there helped shape his athletic career.

Family and Upbringing in Sacramento

Rowland Johnie Office grew up in Sacramento during the 1950s and 60s. His October 25, 1952 birthday put him in a generation that benefited from California’s growing youth baseball scene.

Sacramento gave young players a strong baseball environment. With its mild climate, kids could play outside year-round and get plenty of practice.

That advantage helped Office and other Sacramento-area players sharpen their skills. His family supported his love for sports from the start.

Being in Sacramento meant he could join youth baseball leagues and get good coaching. The city already had a reputation for producing future pros.

He grew up in a community where baseball was a big deal. Sacramento saw several players make it to the big leagues, and Office got to compete and improve with them.

C.K. McClatchy High School Baseball Career

Office went to C.K. McClatchy High School in Sacramento, where he started to show off the skills that would take him to pro ball.

McClatchy had a solid baseball reputation. The program gave Office structured coaching and tough competition.

He played against other strong Sacramento schools, which meant he got to face some of the best amateur talent around. That exposure helped him grow as a player.

While at McClatchy, Office developed as an outfielder. Scouts and college recruiters started to pay attention to his defense and batting.

McClatchy’s baseball program had already sent several players to the majors. Office joined that tradition, moving from high school to the pro ranks.

Sacramento City College and Early Recognition

After McClatchy, Office played at Sacramento City College. That gave him more time to develop and catch the eyes of pro scouts.

Sacramento City College had a history of sending players to the majors. Talented coaches and a competitive atmosphere helped Office build his game.

He impressed scouts at Sacramento City College and became a real draft prospect. His skills as an outfielder kept improving during those college years.

Between McClatchy High and Sacramento City College, Office got a solid baseball foundation. Both schools had produced plenty of major leaguers, so he followed a path that worked for other local athletes.

By 1970, Office had developed enough to attract serious interest from major league teams.

Major League Baseball Career Overview

Rowland Office played in Major League Baseball from 1972 to 1983, putting up a .259 batting average with 626 hits, 32 home runs, and 242 RBIs. He played for three teams, starting with a long run in Atlanta, then moving to productive years in Montreal, and wrapping up with a short stop in New York.

Debut with Atlanta Braves

Office made his major league debut on August 5, 1972, with the Atlanta Braves at just 19. The Sacramento native played only two games that first season, but he got two hits in five at-bats for a .400 average.

He spent 1973 in the minors, then came back to Atlanta in 1974 as a regular. That year, he played 131 games, hit .246, and drove in 31 runs, mostly as a center fielder.

His best seasons at the plate came in 1975 and 1976. In 1975, he batted .290 with 103 hits in 126 games.

The next year, he hit .281, racked up 101 hits, and scored 51 runs in 99 games.

Key Atlanta Statistics:

• Games: 752
• Batting Average: .260
• Hits: 540
• Home Runs: 26
• RBIs: 211

Office stuck with Atlanta for seven seasons, from 1972 to 1978. He made his mark as a steady outfielder in the National League.

Stint with Montreal Expos

In 1980, Office joined the Montreal Expos. That first year, he batted .267 with 78 hits and 36 runs in 116 games.

The Expos used him mostly in center and right field. Office brought some veteran presence and steady defense to Montreal.

He improved his plate discipline in Montreal, drawing 40 walks in 1980—his best total since 1976.

Montreal Performance:

• Seasons: 1980-1982
• Games: 145
• Batting Average: .257
• Hits: 86
• Home Runs: 6

His role shrank in 1981 and 1982. He played just 29 games combined those last two seasons with the Expos.

Final Season with New York Yankees

Office finished his MLB career with the New York Yankees in 1983. This stint was short—he appeared in only two games.

He didn’t get a hit in his two at-bats with the Yankees, though he did drive in a run. Office couldn’t reach base in those limited chances.

His final MLB appearance came in the 1983 season. That marked the end of an 11-year career that started in Atlanta. Playing for the Yankees was the only time he played outside the National League.

His brief tenure in New York closed out a solid MLB run that spanned three franchises and more than a decade.

Career Highlights and Memorable Moments

Office’s 11-year run in the majors had some big moments. He put together a 29-game hitting streak in 1976, made a wild defensive play at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in 1975, and even got to play alongside Hall of Famer Hank Aaron during his last seasons with the Atlanta Braves.

29-Game Hitting Streak

In 1976, Office strung together a 29-game hitting streak—one of the best stretches of his career. The Braves were having a tough time that year, but Office kept getting on base game after game.

That streak showed how consistent he could be at the plate. Even while the team struggled, he found ways to get hits.

A knee injury in July 1976 cut his hot streak short. The injury slowed him down for the rest of the season and kept him from pushing the streak further.

Iconic Defensive Play at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium

In 1975, Office made one of the most memorable catches in Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium history. He leaped at the wall and robbed a batter of a home run.

That catch really showed off his defensive skills and athleticism. Fans who saw it still talk about it.

Office always played the outfield with a ton of energy. He’d throw himself into tough plays, sometimes risking injury just to make a catch.

Sharing the Field with Hank Aaron

In his early Braves years, Office played left field next to future Hall of Famer Hank Aaron. Aaron was nearing the end of his legendary career, and Office was just starting out.

At 21, Office got to learn from one of the best. Playing alongside Aaron gave him lessons about the game he’d never forget.

They worked together in the outfield during a pretty special time in baseball history. Aaron was still playing, and Office was carving out his own spot in the Braves’ lineup.

Statistical Performance and Achievements

Rowland Office played 11 seasons from 1972 to 1983, finishing with a .259 batting average, 626 hits, 32 home runs, and 242 RBIs in 899 games. His best years came with Atlanta and Montreal, though he sometimes struggled to stay consistent.

Batting Average and Offensive Records

Office’s career batting average sat at .259 across his 11 seasons. His top offensive year was 1975, when he hit .290 for the Braves with 103 hits in 355 at-bats.

He hit left-handed and showed decent contact skills early on. In his short 1972 debut, he went 2-for-5 for a .400 average. His best full season was 1975, when he also had a .337 on-base percentage.

Office never really mastered plate discipline. He walked 189 times but struck out 311 times over his career. His .315 on-base percentage showed he sometimes struggled to get on base.

His hitting tailed off late in his career. With the Yankees in 1983, he went hitless in two at-bats before stepping away from the game.

Home Runs and Notable RBIs

Office hit 32 home runs in the majors, with his best power year coming in 1978—he hit nine homers for Atlanta. Over 11 seasons, he drove in 242 runs, averaging about 22 RBIs per year.

He had his highest RBI total in 1978, driving in 40 runs. That year, he also had 101 hits and played 146 games, his busiest season.

He hit more doubles than home runs—101 two-baggers compared to 32 homers. He managed only 11 triples in his whole career, so he wasn’t really a burner on the bases.

Most of his runs and home runs came while playing for Atlanta. He knocked in 211 of his 242 RBIs and hit 26 of his 32 home runs as a Brave.

Career Longevity and Games Played

Office played in 899 games over 11 seasons, averaging about 82 games a year. His most active year was 1978, when he played 146 games for Atlanta.

He spent most of his career with the Braves, appearing in 752 games from 1972 to 1979. With Montreal, he played 145 games from 1980 to 1982.

Injuries started to catch up with him in the later years. He played just 26 games in 1981 and missed the Expos’ playoff run that season.

His career ended quickly with the Yankees in 1983. He appeared in only two games before retiring on April 20, 1983, at age 30. His final game came against the Chicago White Sox, where he picked up an RBI in his last at-bat.

Minor Leagues and Transition to Retirement

As Office’s pro baseball days wound down, he bounced around brief stints in different minor league systems. His last MLB appearance came in 1983 with the Yankees, after spending time in both the Philadelphia Phillies and Yankees organizations.

Minor League Stints with Braves and Phillies Systems

In 1982, Office went back to the minor leagues after getting limited playing time with the Montreal Expos. He joined the Oklahoma City 89ers, the Triple-A team for the Philadelphia Phillies.

He struggled quite a bit in Oklahoma City. Office batted just .183 over 26 games and 93 at-bats. He managed only 17 hits and drove in 5 runs during that stretch.

He did show some speed, swiping 6 bases, but overall, his offense just wasn’t up to his usual standards.

This was his first real stretch in the minors since 1973. Before that, he’d spent nearly a decade as a regular in the majors.

Experience with Columbus Clippers

Office’s final minor league assignment came with the Columbus Clippers in 1983. The Clippers were the Triple-A affiliate for the New York Yankees.

He actually turned things around in Columbus. Office batted .297 in 87 games, picking up 63 hits and driving in 45 runs over 212 at-bats.

He flashed some of his old power with 14 doubles and 8 home runs. That .514 slugging percentage stood out as his best since his early days.

The Yankees noticed and called him up for a brief stint. That turned out to be his last shot at playing in the majors.

Retirement Decision and Final MLB Game

Office played his last MLB game on April 20, 1983, against the Chicago White Sox. He logged 1 RBI in a single at-bat during that final appearance.

His time with the Yankees was incredibly short, just 2 games. He went 0-for-2 with 1 RBI in those limited chances.

At 30, Office decided he’d had enough of pro baseball. He wrapped up 11 seasons in the majors and 5 in the minors.

He started his career when the Atlanta Braves drafted him in 1970. Back in 1972, he was actually the youngest player in the majors.

Legacy and Influence in Baseball

Rowland Office definitely left his mark on the game, thanks to his defensive excellence and historic moments with the Atlanta Braves. His career spanned three teams, and he pulled off several notable achievements that baseball historians still talk about.

Impact on Atlanta Braves and MLB

Office made a splash as one of the youngest players in the league when he debuted in 1972. He shared the outfield with legends like Hank Aaron and Dusty Baker during his Braves years.

His glove work in Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium became the stuff of legend. In 1975, he pulled off a catch that fans still talk about, leaping to grab a ball that seemed destined to clear the wall.

He could swing the bat too. In 1975, Office hit .290, the best average on the Braves that year. The rest of the team only managed .244.

He holds the second-longest consecutive game hitting streak in Braves history at 29 games. That’s a pretty good sign of his consistency at the plate.

He played a part in one of baseball’s iconic moments, stepping in for Hank Aaron right after Aaron hit his record-breaking 715th home run.

Recognition in Baseball History

Office holds some unique spots in the record books. Up through 2008, he was the only major leaguer named Rowland and the only one with the last name Office.

His career numbers show a .259 batting average over 11 seasons. He racked up 626 hits in 899 MLB games.

He hit 32 home runs and drove in 242 runs as a pro. Not exactly a power hitter, but definitely a steady contributor.

Sites and stat databases still track his impact. That famous catch in 1975 keeps popping up in highlight reels of great defensive plays.

Post-Retirement Activities

There’s honestly not much out there about what Office did after he retired from professional baseball in 1983. In his last season, he played 87 games for the Columbus Clippers in the Yankees organization.

He wrapped up his minor league career on a high note, hitting .297 and slugging .514. In the majors, Office only got into two games for the Yankees before calling it quits.

His roots in Sacramento, California, where he went to McClatchy High School, still matter to a lot of people. The Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame recognized Office for what he brought to baseball.

Office’s story kind of echoes the path of a lot of pro athletes. Fans and historians still remember his defensive skills and those big moments he pulled off.