Card-by-Yankees Card: The 1977 Topps Set, Cards #463, Jamie Quirk (Article 86)

by Paul Semendinger

(Continuing a series…)

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Jamie Quirk’s career lasted forever. It was an amazing career because he wasn’t an especially great player, but he could catch, and he hit left-handed. Maybe that’s why he lasted so long.

How long was Quirk’s career? It began when Gerald Ford was the President (1975) and ended the year Bill Clinton was elected (1992). 18 years.

In those seasons, Jamie Quirk:

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Played in 100 or more games just once (109 games, in 1987)

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Hit over .290 once (.304 in 1979 – 51 games played)

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Hit 10 or more homers, never (his best was 8 which he did twice)

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Hit under .220 six times

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Hit zero homers three times

It was an interesting career.

In his career, Jamie Quirk played catcher (525 games), first base (43 games), second base (1 game), shortstop (22 games), third base (118 games), left field (25 games), right field (9 games).

Jamie Quirk wasn’t a big time hitter (.240 lifetime batting average), but he was a DH in 87 games.

In his career, Jamie Quirk moved around a lot:

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Drafted by the Royals, reached the big leagues in 1975. Played for KC in 1975-76

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1977 – Played for the Milwaukee Brewers

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1978-82 – Played for the Royals (again)

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1983- Played for the St. Louis Cardinals

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1984 – Played for the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians

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1985-88 – Played for the Kansas City Royals (again, again)

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1989 – Played for the New York Yankees, Oakland A’s, and Baltimore Orioles

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1990-92 – Played for the Oakland A’s

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1993 – Signed with the Cincinnati Reds (but never played for them)

***

Jamie Quirk’s stay with the Yankees was brief and uneventful.

He played in all of 13 games as a Yankee. In 7 of those games, he was just a pinch hitter, but he didn’t much. In the other games, Quirk was a catcher, though he did appear as a shortstop once.

On April 7, 1989 in a game against the Cleveland Indians, Jamie Quirk singled to lead off the bottom of the third inning against Rich Yett.

On April 10, 1989, in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Jamie Quirk singled with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning off Dave Steib.

Those two singles were the only hits Jamie Quirk had as a Yankee. Overall, he batted .082 (2-for-24).

He never scored a run as a Yankee.

In his career, Jamie Quirk stole a grand total of five bases. He never stole a base as a Yankee, but he did get caught stealing once.

As a catcher, Jamie Quirk caught the following Yankees pitchers: John Candelaria, Lance McCullers, Andy Hawkins, Lee Guetterman, Dale Mohorcic, and Tommy John.

***

Jamie Quirk looked completely finished as a Yankee, but he went to the A’s and did well enough the next two years. In 1990, he batted .281 in 56 games and in 1991, he played in 76 games and hit .261. In his last season (1992), Quirk hit .220 in 78 games.

In total Jamie Quirk played 18 years in the big leagues. Not bad.

At all.

#1977ToppsBiographies