[2] Collins was dubbed the "fastest white man in baseball" because he ran the 100-yard dash in 9.6 seconds and had high stolen base totals.

[3][4] Collins made his major league debut for the Angels on June 7, 1975, playing left field and batting leadoff, against the Milwaukee Brewers.

[6] After two seasons as a utility player and reserve outfielder with the Angels, Collins was selected by the Seattle Mariners with the 14th pick in the 1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft.

Collins was traded by the Yankees, along with Mike Morgan, Fred McGriff and cash to the Toronto Blue Jays in 1983 for Tom Dodd and Dale Murray.

Collins was traded in December 1984 by the Blue Jays, along with Alfredo Griffin and cash, to the Oakland Athletics, in exchange for Bill Caudill.

[11] Collins played briefly for the Fort Myers Sun Sox of the Senior Professional Baseball Association.

[4] Collins has volunteered at the Lighthouse Correctional Facility, conducting one-hour motivational and life skills sessions to young offenders, with the hope of enhancing and changing their lives.

[12] Collins was the first base coach for the Miami Marlins for part of the 2010 season, resigning after manager Fredi Gonzalez was fired.

[citation needed] In 2018, Collins was an assistant coach at Miami University Hamilton, with a focus on outfield and base running.