Epstein was first brought up for six games by the
Baltimore Orioles in , at the age of 23. After the Orioles tried in vain to convert him to the outfield (they already had
Boog Powell at first base), they demoted him to Rochester again. The outspoken Epstein refused to report, going home to California and continuing his schooling instead. going from one of the best organizations in baseball to one of the worst. In 1970, he was second in the league in being hit by a pitch (13), while hitting 20 home runs, and leading all AL first basemen in range factor (10.08). In 1969, Williams made a special effort to instruct Epstein on how to improve as a hitter, with a focus on teaching Epstein to only swing at strikes. That year, Epstein had career highs in batting average, home runs,
bases on balls, runs batted in,
runs scored, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. In only 18 more at-bats in 1969 than 1968, he had 17 more home runs, 33 more runs and 52 more RBIs; and his batting average increased from .234 to .278. In 1970, however, Epstein's hitting declined as his average against left-handed pitching fell considerably. Going hitless in 16 at bats during the
World Series that fall, in addition to his feud with manager
Dick Williams over lack of playing time, resulted in the Athletics fulfilling his trade demand by sending him to the
Texas Rangers for
Horacio Piña on December 1, 1972. Additionally, the A's wanted to free up the first base position for
Gene Tenace who was the star of that same Fall Classic. Opening batting .188 with one homer and six RBIs, he was dealt along with
Rich Hand and
Rick Stelmaszek from the Rangers to the
California Angels for
Jim Spencer and
Lloyd Allen on May 20. In 1973, he was seventh in the league in hit by pitches (8). He was inducted as a member of the United States
National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. Through 2010, he was sixth all-time in career home runs (behind
Mike Lieberthal) among Jewish major league baseball players. == Coaching ==