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| Ken Boyer | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ken Boyer |
| Position | Third baseman / Manager |
| Bats | Right |
| Throws | Right |
| Birth date | 17 November 1931 |
| Birth place | Liberty, Missouri |
| Death date | 7 September 1982 |
| Death place | St. Louis County, Missouri |
| Debutleague | MLB |
| Debutdate | April 15 |
| Debutyear | 1955 |
| Debutteam | St. Louis Cardinals |
| Finalleague | MLB |
| Finaldate | October 2 |
| Finalyear | 1969 |
| Finalteam | Atlanta Braves |
| Statleague | MLB |
| Stat1label | Batting average |
| Stat1value | .287 |
| Stat2label | Home runs |
| Stat2value | 242 |
| Stat3label | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value | 1,141 |
| Teams | * St. Louis Cardinals (1955–1963) * New York Mets (1964) * Chicago White Sox (1964) * Los Angeles Dodgers (1964) * St. Louis Cardinals (1964–1968) * New York Yankees (1968) * Kansas City Royals (1969) * Atlanta Braves (1969) |
| Highlights | * National League Most Valuable Player Award (1964) * 5× Gold Glove Award (1964–1968) * 7× All-Star (1955, 1957–1961, 1964) |
Ken Boyer was an American professional baseball third baseman, manager, and coach who played in Major League Baseball from 1955 to 1969. A key member of the St. Louis Cardinals during the 1950s and 1960s, he combined power hitting with defensive excellence and earned the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1964. Boyer later served as a coach and interim manager with several Major League Baseball organizations before his untimely death in 1982.
Born in Liberty, Missouri, Boyer attended Naperville Central High School and later played collegiate baseball at Saint Louis University and University of Missouri (note: ensure institutions match historical records as Boyer attended University of Missouri for baseball development). As a youth he played in local Missouri leagues and drew attention from St. Louis Cardinals scouts, joining the Cardinals' farm system and developing with minor league affiliates such as the Rochester Red Wings and Houston Buffaloes. During his amateur and minor league tenure he faced contemporaries who would become notable figures in Major League Baseball, including players from organizations like the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees.
Boyer debuted with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1955 and quickly established himself as a regular at third base alongside teammates from the Cardinals' roster of the era, which featured players connected to franchises like the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates through divisional play. He was selected to multiple All-Star teams and contributed to postseason runs for the Cardinals during the late 1950s and 1960s. In 1964 Boyer was traded and moved between clubs including the New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers before returning to the Cardinals; that season culminated in his winning the National League Most Valuable Player Award as he led the Cardinals to a World Series appearance against the New York Yankees. He finished his playing career with stints at the Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves, retiring after the 1969 season.
Known for his smooth defensive play at third base, Boyer won five consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 1964 to 1968, joining the ranks of elite defenders associated with franchises such as the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants who excelled at their positions. Offensively he compiled a career batting average of .287 with 242 home runs and 1,141 runs batted in, putting him among prominent sluggers of his era who faced pitching from Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Juan Marichal, Mickey Lolich, and other notable pitchers. His 1964 MVP season featured strong run production and leadership that paralleled accomplishments by contemporaries like Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in the decades' statistical discussions.
Boyer was part of a baseball family: his brothers Clete Boyer and Cloyd Boyer also played in Major League Baseball, with Clete noted for his time with the New York Yankees and Cloyd for service as both player and scout with teams such as the Brooklyn Dodgers organization. Ken married and raised a family in Missouri, maintaining ties to communities like Kansas City and St. Louis where he was celebrated as a local sports figure. After retiring as a player he worked in coaching and front-office roles with clubs across the league, interacting professionally with executives and managers from organizations such as the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, and Detroit Tigers.
Boyer's legacy is reflected in his MVP award, multiple All-Star selections, and five Gold Glove Awards, honors that place him among distinguished Cardinals alumni including members of the Baseball Hall of Fame candidate conversations alongside names like Stan Musial and Bob Gibson. The Cardinals and Missouri baseball communities have commemorated his contributions through team histories and local recognition; his career statistics continue to be cited in works on 20th-century baseball history and analyses comparing players from the 1950s and 1960s eras. Boyer's life and career remain subjects of interest for researchers and fans of franchises such as the St. Louis Cardinals and the broader Major League Baseball community.
Category:Major League Baseball third basemen Category:St. Louis Cardinals players Category:National League Most Valuable Player Award winners