Dante Bichette

Dante Bichette
Dante Bichette
Runs batted in	1,141
Teams
	California Angels (1988–1990); Milwaukee Brewers (1991–1992); Colorado Rockies (1993–1999); Cincinnati Reds (2000); Boston Red Sox (2000–2001);
Career highlights and awards
	4× All-Star (1994–1996, 1998); Silver Slugger Award (1995); NL home run leader (1995); NL RBI leader (1995);

Alphonse Dante Bichette Sr. (/ˈdɑːnteɪ bɪˈʃɛt/; born November 18, 1963) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder for the California Angels (1988–1990), Milwaukee Brewers (1991–1992), Colorado Rockies (1993–1999), Cincinnati Reds (2000), and Boston Red Sox (2000–2001). He was also the hitting coach for the Rockies in 2013. He batted and threw right-handed.

Bichette was a four-time

runs batted in, slugging percentage, total bases and hits. The next year, he joined the 30–30 club with 31 home runs and 31 stolen bases

, and in 1998, again led the league in hits with 219. Each year from 1993−1998 he batted over .300, and in each year from 1995−1999, drove in at least 100 runs.

Career

Professional career

Bichette attended

Palm Beach Community College. The California Angels drafted Bichette in the 17th round of the 1984 Major League Baseball draft

.

Bichette made his MLB debut with the Angels in 1988, but was a streaky hitter and was traded to the

Blake Street Bombers" which also included sluggers Larry Walker, Andrés Galarraga, and Vinny Castilla

.

He finished the Rockies' first season with 21 home runs and a .310 batting average, his personal best for both at the time. Bichette also hit his first home run at the newly constructed

Triple Crown with a .340 batting average, 40 home runs and 128 RBIs and barely lost the MVP voting to the Cincinnati Reds' Barry Larkin

.

Bichette, 6 feet 3 inches (191 cm) tall and weighed 215 pounds (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb), began having knee problems in 1996, but was still successful as a hitter, with a .316 average, 31 home runs and 141 RBIs, plus 31

stolen bases. The 1996 season was only the second time ever that two players on the same team hit at least 30 home runs and collected 30 stolen bases, as Ellis Burks accomplished the same feat. Over the next three seasons, Bichette hit 26, 22 and 34 home runs for the Rockies. He remains in the top ten in many offensive categories for the Rockies.^[1] On June 10, 1998, Bichette became the first player to hit for the cycle in an interleague game, when he accomplished the feat against the Texas Rangers, capping it off with a walk-off single to win the game for the Rockies in 10 innings.^[2]^[3]

On April 4,

Estadio de Béisbol Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico, marking the first time Major League Baseball (MLB) commenced the regular season outside of the United States or Canada. Their opponent was the defending National League champion San Diego Padres. Bichette collected four hits, drove in four runs, and homered^[4]^[5]^[6] as Colorado won 8–2.^[7]

By the end of the 1999 season, his production was beginning to drop and the Rockies dealt Bichette to the Cincinnati Reds. However, his fielding was suffering tremendously and Bichette was eventually traded to the Boston Red Sox^[8] for a season and a half and then the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bichette retired before ever playing a game with the Dodgers, on March 22, 2002.

In August 2004, Bichette rejoined professional baseball as a designated hitter, pitcher and occasional outfielder for the Atlantic League's Nashua Pride. Bichette won the Atlantic League's Player of the Month award for August (his first full month back). He completed the month with a .361 average and 13 homers. On August 28, he batted 4-for-5 with two home runs and eight RBIs.

Coaching career

On November 13, 2012, Bichette was hired to be the Colorado Rockies hitting coach, replacing Carney Lansford.^[9] He announced on September 24, 2013 that he would not return for the 2014 season.^[10]

On July 24, 2020, it was confirmed during the opening game of the Toronto Blue Jays season that Bichette had been added to the Jays coaching staff full-time after the summer camp.^[11]

On February 4, 2021, it was announced that Bichette would be reassigned as a "Special Assistant" within the Blue Jays' organization "to continue to have an impact throughout multiple levels of the organization."

2021–22 Major League Baseball lockout, Bichette had been unable to train with Bo and prioritized family over his position.^[13]

Career statistics

In 1,704 games over 14 seasons, Bichette posted a .299

1995 NLDS, he hit .588 (10-for-17) with six runs, three doubles, one home run and three RBI.^[14]

Personal life

In 1992, Bichette was arrested in Palm Beach County after reports of a domestic dispute with his pregnant girlfriend, Mariana Peng. Police responded to another incident involving Bichette and Peng the following year at his off-season home in Palm Beach Gardens.^[15]

In August 2005, Bichette's oldest son

Porto Alegre, Brazil (their maternal grandfather is a native of China who immigrated to Brazil).^[17]

On June 11, 2024, Bichette's son Dante Jr., alleged that he had been abused by the elder Dante as a child while playing youth baseball.[18]

References

^ "Colorado Rockies Batting Leaders - Baseball-Reference.com". Archived from the original on June 23, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
^ Huber, Mike (April 30, 2005). "June 10, 1998: Dante Bichette completes first cycle in interleague play with an extra-inning, walk-off single". sabr.org. SABR. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
^ "Texas Rangers vs Colorado Rockies Box Score: June 10, 1998". Retrieved February 27, 2023.
^ "The Official Site of Major League Baseball: Events: Opening Day". Archived from the original on January 25, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
^ ESPN - Baseball Tonight Clubhouse: Weekend preview - MLB
^ "Bichette and Castilla spark Rockies in opener in Mexico". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 5, 1999. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
^ "Colorado Rockies at San Diego Padres box score". Baseball-Reference.com. April 4, 1999. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
^ "Red Sox deal for Bichette". CBS Sports. August 31, 2000. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
^ Colorado Rockies
^ Dante Bichette will leave Colorado Rockies as hitting instructor
^ TSN
^ "Blue Jays announce 2021 Major League coaching staff". MLB.com press release. February 4, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
^ "Bo Bichette says father Dante resigned from Blue Jays due to lockout".
^ "Dante Bichette Career Stats at Baseball Reference". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
^ Dolch, Craig (October 1, 1995). "Domestic abuse: Should sports get involved?". The Palm Beach Post. p. 45.^{[dead link]}
^ Hochman, Benjamin (June 8, 2011). "New York Yankees draft Dante Bichette Jr". Denver Post.
^ Neumann, Thomas (September 23, 2016). "Barry Larkin has ambitious plans to grow baseball in Brazil". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
^ "Dante Bichette Jr. says ex-Blue Jays staffer dad abused him as a child". dailyhive.com. Retrieved June 14, 2024.

External links

Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
Little League World Series 2005 Coach Photograph Archived November 19, 2007, at the Wayback Machine

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Jeff Conine Mike Piazza Jeff Bagwell	National League Player of the Month July 1995 September 1995 June 1996	Succeeded by Mike Piazza Barry Bonds Sammy Sosa
Preceded by Jeff Bagwell	National League Slugging Percentage Champion 1995	Succeeded by Ellis Burks
Preceded by Mike Blowers	Hitting for the cycle June 10, 1998	Succeeded by Neifi Pérez

[1] "Colorado Rockies Batting Leaders - Baseball-Reference.com". Archived from the original on June 23, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-01.

[2] Huber, Mike (April 30, 2005). "June 10, 1998: Dante Bichette completes first cycle in interleague play with an extra-inning, walk-off single". sabr.org. SABR. Retrieved February 27, 2023.

[3] "Texas Rangers vs Colorado Rockies Box Score: June 10, 1998". Retrieved February 27, 2023.

[4] "The Official Site of Major League Baseball: Events: Opening Day". Archived from the original on January 25, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2017.

[5] ESPN - Baseball Tonight Clubhouse: Weekend preview - MLB

[6] "Bichette and Castilla spark Rockies in opener in Mexico". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 5, 1999. Retrieved June 8, 2017.

[7] "Colorado Rockies at San Diego Padres box score". Baseball-Reference.com. April 4, 1999. Retrieved June 6, 2017.

[8] "Red Sox deal for Bichette". CBS Sports. August 31, 2000. Retrieved June 1, 2010.

[9] Colorado Rockies

[10] Dante Bichette will leave Colorado Rockies as hitting instructor

[11] TSN

[12] "Blue Jays announce 2021 Major League coaching staff". MLB.com press release. February 4, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.

[13] "Bo Bichette says father Dante resigned from Blue Jays due to lockout".

[14] "Dante Bichette Career Stats at Baseball Reference". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved September 14, 2022.

[15] Dolch, Craig (October 1, 1995). "Domestic abuse: Should sports get involved?". The Palm Beach Post. p. 45.^{[dead link]}

[16] Hochman, Benjamin (June 8, 2011). "New York Yankees draft Dante Bichette Jr". Denver Post.

[17] Neumann, Thomas (September 23, 2016). "Barry Larkin has ambitious plans to grow baseball in Brazil". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 8, 2019.

[18] "Dante Bichette Jr. says ex-Blue Jays staffer dad abused him as a child". dailyhive.com. Retrieved June 14, 2024.

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