John Claiborn Mayberry Sr. (born February 18, 1949) is an American former Major League Baseball player who was active from 1968 to 1982 for the Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees.

After graduation, Mayberry was selected by the Houston Astros in the first round (sixth overall) of the 1967 Major League Baseball draft.

With 21 home runs, a .303 batting average, and a .522 slugging percentage, his power began to resemble the man he met the year before in the majors.

[2] Mayberry's second short stint in the majors did not result in his first hit, though he did make it on base with one walk in five plate appearances.

[5] That would not come until the following year; after playing 70 games at Oklahoma City and batting .273 with 13 home runs, Mayberry was called up to the Houston Astros.

Mayberry played in 50 games during his first extended stint in "the Show", with his first career hit coming in April 1970 before he was sent back down to AAA.

'"[4] Mayberry was traded along with minor league infielder Dave Grangaard from the Astros to the Kansas City Royals for Jim York and Lance Clemons at the Winter Meetings on December 2, 1971.

Mayberry led the league in walks (122) and on-base percentage (.417) while still batting .278, hitting 26 home runs, and driving in 100 for the second consecutive season.

[5] Mayberry's pure statistics, though, were even more remarkable in light of the fact the Royals had no other power hitters in the lineup to protect him.

[10] Mayberry finished second in American League MVP voting, behind Fred Lynn of the Boston Red Sox.

[5] On August 5, 1977, Mayberry went 4-for-5 against the Chicago White Sox, hitting a single off Chris Knapp, a home run and a triple off Bart Johnson, and a double off Don Kirkwood to complete the cycle; the Royals won the game, 12–2.

[12] During the 1977 American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees, Mayberry arrived late for the fourth game, which was played in the afternoon, after a late-night outing.

Mayberry played very poorly on both offense (striking out twice in two plate appearances) and defense (dropping a foul pop and a routine infield throw).

[5] Upon his retirement, he held both the Royals (34 in 1975) and Blue Jays franchise records for home runs in a single season,.