Amos Joseph Otis (born April 26, 1947) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a center fielder from to , most prominently as an integral member of the Kansas City Royals team that won the franchise's first American League Western Division championship in 1976, and their first American League pennant in 1980. Although the Royals lost the 1980 World Series in six games to the Philadelphia Phillies, Otis produced a .478 batting average with three home runs in what would be his only World Series appearance. He was considered one of the best center fielders of his era, using his speed to earn three Gold Glove Awards. He ranks tenth among center fielders in Major League Baseball history in career putouts. He was named Royals Player of the Year three times and, finished among the Royals all-time leaders in hits (1,977), home runs (193), runs scored (1,074), stolen bases (340) and games played (1,891).

Otis also played for the New York Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates. After his playing career, he continued to work as a hitting instructor. Otis was inducted into the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame in 1986. However, he spent time in the outfield, third base, and first base while playing in the minors. In November 1966, the Mets drafted him and he jumped all the way to Triple-A in 1967. He saw some time with the Mets late in the 1967 season, but he spent 1968 at Triple-A again before making the major league roster in 1969. He was part of a trade package along with Ed Kranepool and Bob Heise when the Mets attempted to acquire the Braves' Joe Torre, who was later traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Orlando Cepeda instead.

Otis immediately clashed with Mets manager Gil Hodges, who tried to make him a third baseman. After four games, Otis was sent back to the minors for a month. On December 3, 1969, Royals general manager Cedric Tallis sent third baseman Joe Foy to the Mets in exchange for the young Otis and pitcher Bob Johnson. Foy was bogged down by drug problems and was out of baseball by 1971. Meanwhile, the Royals immediately moved Otis to center field, and he became the starter for most of the 1970s.

Otis made the American League All-Star team in each of his first four years with the team and won three Gold Gloves. He led the American League with 52 stolen bases that year.

Otis hit as many as 26 homers in a season, recorded 90 RBI or more three times, twice led the AL in doubles and once in stolen bases with 52. He compiled a career total of 341 steals, while being caught stealing 93 times.

Otis hit .478 with three home runs and 7 RBI in six games during the 1980 World Series.

Later in his career, Otis' offense began to decline, in part due to a hand injury. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, his fielding skills had diminished, and he lost his center field job to Willie Wilson near the end of his long run with the Royals. In 1983, he left the team before the season ended when told he was not in the Royals' future plans.

thumb|right|Otis, circa 1977

On December 19, 1983, Otis signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played in 40 games with Pittsburgh, batting just .165 with 10 RBI. On August 5, 1984, Otis was released by the Pirates.

See also

  • List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
  • List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
  • List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
  • List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
  • List of Major League Baseball annual stolen base leaders
  • List of Major League Baseball annual doubles leaders

References

  • 1980 World Series at Baseball-Reference.com