Former Major League Baseball first baseman Pat Putnam, who spent eight seasons in the majors with the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins, has died at the age of 72.
Putnam died on August 25, with news of his passing reported by Florida Weekly on September 6. According to the report, the former first-round draft pick died from natural causes. Andy Hill, a longtime friend who knew Putnam from their days playing Little League baseball together in Fort Myers, Florida, said a neighbor discovered him in his bedroom.
Putnam leaves behind a baseball career that included more than 600 major-league appearances, a memorable minor-league Triple Crown and a successful two-year stint playing professional baseball in Japan.
A First-Round Selection by Texas
Putnam’s journey to the major leagues began after he attended Miami-Dade College. The New York Mets originally selected him in the draft, but Putnam decided not to sign with the organization.
He later transferred to the University of South Alabama, where his performances helped raise his profile among professional scouts. The Texas Rangers eventually selected Putnam with the 22nd overall pick in the 1975 MLB Draft.
The first baseman quickly demonstrated why the Rangers viewed him as a promising prospect.
In 1976, Putnam played for the Asheville Tourists in the Class A Western Carolinas League and produced one of the most impressive offensive seasons of his minor-league career. He finished the campaign with a remarkable .361 batting average, 24 home runs and 142 RBIs.
Those numbers were enough to earn Putnam the league’s first Triple Crown. He also received the Western Carolinas League Player of the Year award, establishing himself as one of the organization’s most exciting young hitters.
Breakthrough With the Rangers
Putnam eventually made his way to the Rangers’ major-league roster, and his first full season in the majors came in 1979.
The young first baseman appeared in 139 games for Texas and finished the season with a .277 batting average. He also hit 18 home runs and drove in 64 runs.
His performance earned recognition in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. Although he did not win the award, Putnam finished fourth in the race, a strong indication of the impact he made during his first full campaign.
Over the next several seasons, Putnam remained an important part of the Rangers’ lineup. His combination of power and run production made him a dependable offensive contributor at first base.
Putnam ultimately spent six seasons with Texas from 1977 through 1982, establishing the longest major-league chapter of his career with the organization that originally drafted him.
Trade to Seattle
The Rangers eventually decided to move on from Putnam, trading him to the Seattle Mariners in December 1982.
Texas sent Putnam to Seattle in exchange for pitcher Ron Musselman, giving the first baseman an opportunity to continue his career with a new organization.
The move proved productive for Putnam.
During his first season with the Mariners in 1983, he posted a .269 batting average while hitting 19 home runs and collecting 67 RBIs. His offensive production made a strong impression on his teammates, who selected him as the team’s Most Valuable Player.
Putnam’s 1983 campaign represented one of the strongest seasons of his major-league career. He continued to demonstrate the power that had made him such a highly regarded prospect during his minor-league days.
Final MLB Season With Minnesota
Putnam’s time in Seattle lasted only two seasons. In August 1984, he was traded to the Minnesota Twins.
The move placed him in the middle of a postseason race as Minnesota attempted to challenge for the division title. Although the Twins ultimately fell short of their goal, Putnam had another opportunity to contribute to a team competing for October baseball.
His major-league career effectively came to an end after the 1984 season.
Across eight MLB seasons with Texas, Seattle and Minnesota, Putnam appeared in 677 games. He finished his major-league career with a .255 batting average, 63 home runs and 255 RBIs.
While those numbers may not place him among baseball’s all-time greats, Putnam’s career was notable for his early success, his impressive minor-league accomplishments and the important contributions he made to each team he represented.
A New Chapter in Japan
Rather than immediately walking away from professional baseball after his major-league career ended, Putnam continued playing overseas.
He spent the 1985 season with the Kansas City Royals’ Triple-A affiliate before making the decision to take his talents to Japan.
Putnam signed with the Nippon-Ham Fighters, joining Japan’s top professional baseball league for the 1986 and 1987 seasons.
The move gave him an opportunity to extend his playing career beyond Major League Baseball. Putnam responded by hitting 27 home runs over his two seasons in Japan.
His experience with the Nippon-Ham Fighters became the final chapter of his professional playing career before he eventually stepped away from baseball.
Life After Baseball
Following his return to the United States, Putnam gradually moved away from the baseball industry.
He eventually settled in Fort Myers, Florida, the community where he had grown up playing baseball and where he had maintained friendships throughout his life.
Away from the diamond, Putnam became a businessman. He owned a company specializing in air and water purification, beginning a new professional chapter after years spent playing baseball at the highest levels.
Although he moved on from the sport professionally, his baseball career remained a significant part of his legacy.
From being selected 22nd overall by the Rangers in 1975 to winning a minor-league Triple Crown, earning Rookie of the Year votes and being named the Mariners’ team MVP, Putnam experienced several memorable milestones during his career.
His death marks the passing of a player whose professional journey stretched from American minor-league baseball to Major League Baseball and eventually Japan’s top league.
Pat Putnam was 72 years old.
His career statistics and accomplishments will remain part of the baseball record, while those who knew him personally will remember him beyond the numbers — as a longtime friend, former teammate and member of the Fort Myers community.
As the baseball world remembers Putnam, his story serves as another reminder of the many paths a professional baseball career can take. From a highly regarded college player and first-round draft selection to a major-league contributor and international baseball player, Putnam’s journey covered more than a decade of professional baseball.
His legacy ultimately extends beyond the 677 games he played in the majors. It includes the teammates he played alongside, the communities he became part of and the relationships he maintained long after his playing days were over.
