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Baseball Freak Echoes is a blog that captures the resonance between numbers and stories.
Beyond scores and stats, it explores the lingering questions and emotions left after the game.
From NPB to MLB, we echo the voices of baseball that extend beyond the diamond.
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2025/11/10
[Column] 📖第3回：Steve Pearce 📖Part 3: Steve Pearce — The Man with 3 Home Runs and 8 RBIs in the World Series
A batting average of .254—what do you feel when you see this number?
Impressions like "rotational player," "pinch hitter," or "journeyman" might come to mind.
However, **Steve Pearce** transcended this number, displaying a memorable explosive power.
In the 2018 World Series, he hit 3 home runs and drove in 8 RBIs—the man who was crowned **MVP** embodied the **"value of memory"** that cannot be measured by statistics.
🧍 Who is Steve Pearce?
Steve Pearce, born in 1983 in Florida, is a right-handed infielder.
He made his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2007 and was a **"journeyman"** who played for seven teams: the Yankees, Orioles, Astros, Rays, Blue Jays, and Red Sox.
He primarily played first base and outfield, often utilized as a hitter strong against right-handed pitchers.
With a career batting average of .254 and an OPS of .769, his stats alone suggest he was nothing more than a "utility player."
However, his **explosive power in the 2018 postseason**, especially in the World Series, left a lasting impact on memory.
📊 Steve Pearce Career Stats (2007–2019)
Category
Statistics
Games Played
766
Batting Average
.254
Home Runs
106
RBIs
316
On-base Percentage
.332
Slugging Percentage
.437
OPS
.769
Postseason Games
13
Postseason OPS
.982
2018 WS—Explosive Power Rewrote the Memory
In 2018, the Red Sox won 108 games and entered the postseason with overwhelming strength.
Their World Series opponent was the Los Angeles Dodgers. The series was decided in Game 5, and at its center was Steve Pearce.
**Game 4**—A game-tying two-run homer in the 8th, followed by a decisive solo shot in the 9th.
**Game 5**—A go-ahead two-run homer in the 1st, and an RBI hit in the 8th.
From a reserve player to the top—the moment he was **named MVP**, he became a symbol of the **"value of memory."**
The commentator yelled, **"Pearce delivers again!"**, and fans praised him on social media, saying, "There's no argument against him being the MVP."
An **"explosive power"** that statistics couldn't fully tell was etched into memory.
The Stats Gap—Contributions Beyond Statistics
A career average of .254 and an OPS of .769 are certainly not the numbers of a star player.
However, his postseason OPS was **.982**, with an abnormal value of **OPS 1.167** in 2018.
Though a reserve in the regular season, his concentration and clutch hitting in short series were outstanding.
His career WAR is 7.9. While average in defense and baserunning, his true value lies in his **"instant offensive firepower."**
Pearce was a player with "explosive power that statistics cannot measure."
Baseball Freak Analysis—Why is he Remembered?
Pearce is remembered because of his **"situational prowess"** and **"narrative."**
A journeyman who played for seven teams winning the World Series MVP late in his career—this narrative strongly stimulates memory.
He was, in a sense, the **"hope for reserve players."**
Mediocre by the numbers, but special in the moment.
As Baseball Freak, we focus on the **"explosive power behind the statistics."**
Pearce had the **"instantaneous brilliance"** needed to be remembered.
The Lineage—Other Players of "Memory's Value"
Other players like Steve Pearce possess value that statistics can't articulate.
Player
Memorable Contribution
Bucky Dent
Legendary for "that one swing"
Tony Womack
Game-tying hit in the 2001 WS
Mike Brosseau
Walk-off HR off Chapman
They are all players connected to the **"lineage of memory."**
Unmeasurable by stats, yet deeply imprinted in memory.
A Question and Resonance
Who is your **"hero with a .220 average"** that you remember?
Can it be explained by numbers?
Or is it that one hit, that one defensive play, that one moment that remains in your heart?
Baseball Freak will continue to pursue the **"story behind the numbers."**
Next up: "Mark Lemke Edition." We will delve into the mystery of why the man with a .246 average shone in the postseason.
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