Kevin Mitchell (baseball)
Kevin Mitchell | |
---|---|
San Diego, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
Professional debut | |
MLB: September 4, 1984, for the New York Mets | |
NPB: April 1, 1995, for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | |
Last appearance | |
NPB: August 8, 1995, for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | |
MLB: August 3, 1998, for the Oakland Athletics | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .284 |
Home runs | 234 |
Runs batted in | 760 |
NPB statistics | |
Batting average | .300 |
Home runs | 8 |
Runs batted in | 28 |
Teams | |
| |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Kevin Darnell Mitchell (born January 13, 1962) is an American
Early life
Mitchell was born in
Mitchell reportedly did not play high school baseball. He was signed by the New York Mets as an undrafted free agent following an open tryout at Grossmont College. He was given a $1,500 signing bonus plus $600 monthly in salary.[5]
Playing career
New York Mets
In Amazin', Peter Golenbock's oral history of the New York Mets, Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter said he gave Mitchell the nickname "World" for his ability to play in the infield and outfield. Carter spoke fondly of Mitchell's talents.[6]
In the tenth inning of Game 6 of the
In a July 2007 radio interview with San Francisco sports talk radio station KNBR, Mitchell disputed that he was out of uniform at the time, and stated that he never wore a cup, even when playing infield. When asked why he never wore a cup, Mitchell responded, "I couldn’t find one big enough for my junk." The interviewer then commented that maybe the increased mobility helped Mitchell to make the famous 1989 barehanded catch of Ozzie Smith's fly ball.[7]
On December 11, 1986, the Mets traded Mitchell, Shawn Abner, Stan Jefferson, Kevin Armstrong, and Kevin Brown to the San Diego Padres for Kevin McReynolds, Gene Walter, and Adam Ging.[8] Mitchell played for the Padres for half a season.[9]
San Francisco Giants
On July 4,
- Most Valuable Player
After two seasons playing primarily at third base, he had his best season with the Giants in
- The barehanded catch
Mitchell set the tone for his charmed 1989 season early in the year with a unique defensive play on April 26. Sprinting toward the left field foul line in
Later years
Mitchell was a two-time
In the next two years, he played for four major league teams (Cincinnati, Boston, Cleveland, Oakland), showing flashes of his former ability.[9]
In May 1997 while with the Cleveland Indians, after teammate
Since his retirement, Mitchell lives in San Diego,[9] and plays in the San Diego Adult Baseball League for the championship team, the San Diego Black Sox.
Arrests and suspension
Mitchell was the subject of a rape investigation in Chula Vista, California, in December 1991. No charges were filed.[9][18]
After being released from Major League Baseball for the last time, he was arrested in 1999 for assaulting his father during an argument.
In 2010, Mitchell was arrested for alleged misdemeanor battery at the Bonita Golf Club in Bonita, California.[20] He was ordered to perform community service and attend anger management classes.[9]
Career in review
In his 13-season career with eight teams, Mitchell batted .284, with 234 home runs, 760 runs batted in, 630
Mitchell's cousin, Keith Mitchell, also played in the major leagues for four teams across four seasons (between 1991 and 1998), ending his career with a .260 batting average and eight home runs.[21]
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders
References
- ^ a b Sherwin, Bob (February 16, 1992). "Kevin Mitchell – At Home In The Hood – New Mariner Escaped Ghetto, Not Questions About Him And His Friends". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-313-28431-1. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- ^ Moran, Malcolm (15 May 1989). "Caring Eyes Watch Over Mitchell". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- ^ Appleman, Marc (27 August 1986). "WHAT A TANGLED TALE: : Story of Mets' Mitchell Confusing, Controversial". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
- ^ Curtis, Jake (June 19, 1989). "From A Raw Prospect To A Rare Pro". San Francisco Chronicle. Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on December 30, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ Golenbock, Peter. Amazin': The Miraculous History of New York's Most Beloved Baseball Team (Macmillan, 2003)
- ^ a b [1] Archived January 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Durso, Joseph (December 12, 1986). "METS TRADE FIVE FOR McREYNOLDS IN EIGHT-MAN DEAL". The New York Times. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
- ^ New York Times, May 7, 2016.
- Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the originalon September 12, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ Cardillo, Mike (May 1, 2013). "MLB is Finally Uploading Content to YouTube, Here's Kevin Mitchell Making a Barehanded Catch". The Big Lead. Archived from the original on August 6, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ "Former MVP Kevin Mitchell Latest to Grab Ball, Bat and Head to Japan," Los Angeles Times, February 23, 1995.
- ^ "Kevin Mitchell leaves Japan" Deseret News, May 26, 1995.
- ^ Costello, Rory. "Brian Traxler". SABR. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ Lee, Edward (February 9, 2005), "Sour notes in clubhouse. Baseball: The pre- and post-game tunes that soothe one player have been known to enrage another", The Baltimore Sun, archived from the original on November 20, 2017, retrieved June 29, 2024
- ^ Carrillo, David (October 7, 2001), Major-league teams boogie to their own music, News OK, retrieved May 29, 2017
- ^ Berger, Ken (May 22, 1997). "Indians' Curtis injures thumb in scuffle with Mitchell". The Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ Gaw, Jonathan (1991-12-02). "Kevin Mitchell Arrested on Rape Charges in Chula Vista". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2001-12-02.
- ^ Tony Perry (1999-09-01). "Kevin Mitchell Attacks His Father". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
- ^ a b "Former Padre Kevin Mitchell arrested in battery case". Signonsandiego.com. July 26, 2010. Archived from the original on November 21, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ "Keith Mitchell Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved 2022-08-11.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)