Background
Alvis was born in Jasper, Texas, and graduated from Jasper High School (Jasper, Texas).
Alvis was born in Jasper, Texas, and graduated from Jasper High School (Jasper, Texas).
He attended the University of Texas at Austin.
A third baseman, he had a career.247 batting average and.956 fielding average. Alvis was signed by the Cleveland Indians as an amateur free agent in 1958. He played his first professional game on September 11, 1962, with the Cleveland Indians.
Alvis became the everyday third baseman for the Indians in 1963.
He enjoyed single-season career-high numbers in batting average (274), Reserve Bank of India (67), runs (81), hits (165), doubles (32) and triples (7). He added 22 home runs (also a personal high), and appeared to be on his way to stardom, but a bout with spinal meningitis disabled him for six weeks in 1964 (a season in which he hit 18 homers in only 381 at-bats).
Alvis made a remarkable comeback in 1965, hitting 21 home runs, and was rewarded by being selected for the All-Star game, representing the American League. He turned in a solid 18 Human Resources performance in 1966 and led the team with 21 in 1967.
His batting average fell to.223 as a full-time player in 1968, and he was relegated to spot duty with Cleveland in 1969, appearing in only 66 games.
As a backup in Milwaukee, he hit.183 with three homers in 62 games, being released at the end of the season. Alvis was interviewed for the book Portrait of a Franchise: An Intimate Look at Cleveland Indians Baseball During the Rockin" Sixties by Doug Kurkul. He reflected on the friendships he made during his years with the Indians, and on the quality arms on those teams" pitching staffs.