Campy became just the second player in history at the time to accomplish the feat, joining Bob Nieman who accomplished the feat in 1951, and joined since then by three others.
Considering the guy would stick around for 19 years and play another 2327 games before he was through, the fact that he’d only hit another 76 homers makes his debut that much more special.
Of course slugging notwithstanding, Campaneris would go on the become an all-star shortstop in the 1970’s as part of the three-time World Champion Oakland A’s teams that also featured guys like Reggie Jackson, Gene Tenace and Joe Rudi.
I’ve always dug the odd season of 1970 when he slugged 22 homers, the only season in his career that he even hit double-digits, let alone 20+! With his second highest total would be the eight homers he hit in 1972.
By the time he retired after the 1983 season after 60 games with the New York Yankees, he finished with over 2000 hits, 1000 runs scored and 649 stolen bases, leading the American League six times with a high of 62 in 1968 and 1969, and was named to six all-star teams.
