#44 RUFINO LINARES

FAVORITE BRAVES PLAYERS OF THE 1980'S

#44 RUFINO LINARES

ATLANTA BRAVES 1981-1984

I liked Rufino Linares. He was an aggressive player who hit for a high average (.298 in 1982) and was speedy enough to steal a base. The problem with Rufino was that he was often too aggressive at the plate and only had 19 career walks in 531 plate appearances as a Brave. Bill James would not approve.

Career batting highlight was almost certainly his 4-4 game against the Reds on April 13, 1982. It was Rufino's first four plate appearances of that season and would be the only four-hit game of his career. That game was also the Braves seventh win in a row on the way to a record setting 13-0 start to that season.

Sadly, Rufino died in an automobile accident in 1998 at the age of 47.