Description
Joseph O'Neal Christopher is a former outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1959 through 1966. Listed at 5' 10", 175 lbs., he batted and threw right-handed.
Christopher is credited as the first baseball player from the Virgin Islands to appear in a major league game. He reached the majors in 1959 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, spending three years with them before moving to the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox.
While in Pittsburgh, Christopher was used as a backup in all three outfield positions for Bob Skinner, Bill Virdon and Roberto Clemente. He was first called up when Clemente was injured, making his debut in nothing less than Harvey Haddix?s pitching masterpiece of 12 perfect innings on May 26, 1959. As a member of the 1960 World Series Champion Pirates, he was a utility player, pinch-running in three games and scoring two runs.
Christopher became the Mets? fifth pick in the 1961 MLB Expansion Draft. In 1964 he enjoyed easily his finest season as a major-leaguer, hitting .300 with 16 home runs, 76 RBI, 78 runs, 163 hits, 26 doubles, and eight triples in 154 games, all career-highs.
Born
December 13th, 1935 in Frederiksted / Died: Oct 3rd, 2023 - aged 87
Last Changes
2023/10/04
The celebrity has been marked as passed away
2022/01/16
New Scanned Autograph (Bought/Probably Authentic)
2021/07/31
New Scanned Autograph (TTM/Probably Authentic)