Washington Senators / Texas Rangers (1970–1973) Biittner played two seasons in the minor leagues from 1968 to 1970, while spending almost all the 1969 season serving in the
US Army. During his
rookie year in 1971, he finished fourth in the
American League (AL) in
assists (6) and
errors (5) by a
right fielder, despite playing only 44 games defensively. He spent the first part of the 1974 season with the
Memphis Blues (the Expos' Class-AAA affiliate), before being promoted to the major league roster in August. However, he was limited to pinch-hitting appearances. He was later asked what his best pitch was, and he jokingly answered, "The home run ball!"[Chicago
Tribune, July 5, 1977, p.55 or sec.4 p.1] He fell a
triple short of
hitting for the cycle on September 26 of that same year. He was limited to just 42 games that year due to the
strike. In 1982, he hit .310 with two home runs and 24 RBIs before being released at the end of the season. Later in December 1982, the Texas Rangers signed Biittner as a free agent. He played his final major league game on September 29, 1983, at the age of 37. He was ultimately released at the end of the season on October 31, 1983. In 1,217 games over 14 seasons, Biittner posted a .273
batting average (861-for-3151) with 310
runs, 29
home runs, 354
RBI, and 236
bases on balls. Defensively, he recorded a .985
fielding percentage playing at first base and all three outfield positions. ==Personal life==