Dal Maxvill

Major League Baseball infielder

What is Dal Maxvill known for?

Born on February 18, 1939, Charles Dallan "Dal" Maxvill is a celebrated figure in Major League Baseball (MLB), hailing from Granite City, Illinois. He is remembered not just as a skilled shortstop, but also as a significant coach and general manager in the MLB. Known for his comprehensive contribution to the sport, Maxvill has been part of four World Series-winning teams and seven league champions throughout his diverse career.

Maxvill's journey in baseball started in high school in his hometown of Granite City. Furthering his education, Maxvill attended the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, where he bagged a degree in electrical engineering. His professional baseball career kicked off in 1960 when he signed his first contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Over his 14-year major league career, Maxvill appeared in 1,423 regular-season games and played for teams such as the Oakland Athletics and Pittsburgh Pirates, besides the Cardinals. With a batting average of .217, six home runs, and a total of 252 runs batted in, Maxvill exhibited a commendable performance throughout his MLB journey. His best batting season was in 1968 with the Cardinals, setting his career highs in batting average (.253), on-base percentage (.329), and slugging percentage (.298). During the same year, he received his only Most Valuable Player award votes and won his only Gold Glove.

As a player, Maxvill was part of the World Series championship wins in 1964, 1967, 1972, and 1974. After his successful playing career, he continued to contribute to baseball as a coach and executive. His teams consistently performed well and made the playoffs until his last season in 1987. Post 1987, the Cardinals under Maxvill's leadership performed admirably, finishing above .500 in 1989, 1991, 1992, and 1993.

For more on Dal Maxvill's career, consider visiting his page on Baseball Reference or the MLB's official website. Information about Granite City, Illinois, his place of birth, can be found here.