Robin Ventura
Robin Ventura | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Runs batted in | 1,182 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Managerial record | 375–435 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Winning % | .463 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Teams | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As player
As manager | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Robin Mark Ventura (born July 14, 1967) is an
While playing college baseball for the Cowboys at OSU, Ventura was a three-time All-American who achieved a Division I-record 58-game hitting streak. In 1988, he won the Dick Howser Trophy and Golden Spikes Award and played for the gold medal-winning Olympic baseball team. In his MLB career, he hit 18 grand slams, ranking fifth all-time. In Game 5 of the 1999 National League Championship Series, Ventura hit the "Grand Slam Single" that won the game but did not actually become a home run because he was unable to complete the circuit around the base paths. Later in his playing career, cartilage and arthritis issues in his ankle hampered his abilities in the field.
After the 2011 season, the White Sox hired Ventura to be their manager. He managed the team from 2012 until 2016.
Amateur career
Born to parents John and Darlene Ventura
With the Cowboys, Ventura led the nation in runs (107),
Ventura helped OSU reach the finals of the
In 1988, Ventura earned a spot on the gold medal-winning Olympic baseball team, batting .409 during the tournament. He won both the Golden Spikes Award[8] and the Dick Howser Trophy for outstanding collegiate play, concluding his 3-year OSU career with a .428 batting average, a .792 slugging percentage, and 302 RBI.[9][10] On July 4, 2006, Ventura was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame as a member of its inaugural class.[11][12]
Professional career
Chicago White Sox
After being picked tenth in the
In 1993, Ventura saw his batting average drop 20 points to .262, though both his slugging and on-base percentages rose slightly. He also collected his 500th hit that May and won his third straight Gold Glove,[15] while becoming the first AL third baseman with three consecutive 90-RBI campaigns since Graig Nettles (1975–78). On August 4, 1993, during a game against the Texas Rangers, Ventura was hit by a pitch thrown by Nolan Ryan. Ventura charged the mound, where Ryan, 20 years Ventura's senior, placed Ventura in a headlock and punched him six times, causing a bench-clearing brawl.[16] This brawl was voted the top baseball brawl of all time by ESPN's SportsCenter.[17] The White Sox won the AL West that year, which resulted in Ventura's only playoff trip while in Chicago. They would lose in the ALCS to the Toronto Blue Jays.
When play resumed in
When spring training began in 1997 the White Sox were picked by many to win their division. In a spring training game at Ed Smith Stadium, Ventura slid into home plate and caught his foot in the mud, suffering a compound fracture and dislocation to his right ankle. The initial prognosis was that he would be lost for the season.[20][21] However, Ventura was able to return on July 24, more than a week ahead of the most optimistic predictions. He collected the game-winning hit that night, and homered in his first at-bat the next evening.[22][23] The White Sox did not make the playoffs, in part due to the "White Flag Trade". In 1998, Ventura's final season with the Sox, he won his fifth Gold Glove,[15] but only hit .263. His homer and RBI totals were close to his career averages, but the White Sox attempted repeatedly to trade him and declined to renew his contract, with owner Jerry Reinsdorf claiming that he was "deteriorating."[24]
New York Mets
Despite his injury, Ventura provided the game-winning, bases-loaded, two-out single in the eleventh inning against the Pirates on the final weekend of the regular season.[30] After sweeping Pittsburgh, the Mets defeated the Cincinnati Reds in a play-in game to determine the National League Wild Card team.[31][32] In Game 5 of the 1999 NLCS, with the Atlanta Braves up 3–2 in the fifteenth inning, a bases-loaded walk to Todd Pratt forced in the tying run and brought Ventura to the plate. Ventura hit a home run into right-center field. Pratt, however, did not see the ball leave the park and ran back to first base, hoisting Ventura into the air and lugging him off the field before he could round the bases. The hit was officially scored an RBI single, commonly referred to as the "Grand Slam Single."[33][34] The Mets eventually lost the series. He won his first NL Gold Glove that fall, bringing his career total to six.[35]
In 2000, still recovering from off-season surgery on both his knee and right shoulder,[36][37] he hit just .232 with 24 homers and 84 RBI. He spent part of July on the disabled list with inflammation in his repaired shoulder,[38][39] and was plagued with errors; but rebounded to hit .320 with three homers and 13 RBIs in the last two weeks of the season. When the Mets reached the World Series, he hit his only World Series home run against the Yankees' Orlando Hernández. In 2001, he batted .237 with 21 homers and 61 RBI.
New York Yankees
At the end of the season, the Mets traded Ventura to the Yankees for David Justice.[40] In 2002, Ventura batted .247 with 27 homers and 93 RBI, the eighth time he topped 90 RBI. He was selected to his second and final All-Star team, along with all other members of the Yankees infield.[41] In that year, Ventura had the lowest fielding percentage of all third basemen in the major leagues at .941. The Yankees lost the Division Series, where Ventura hit .286 with four RBI.
After hitting free agency, Ventura re-signed with the Yankees on a one-year deal with $5 million.[42][43] In 2003, he was platooned at third base with Todd Zeile, another former Met. Ventura struggled through the first few months of the year; by late July he hit nine homers and 42 RBI. He tied Shea Hillenbrand for the major league lead in errors by a third baseman, with 23.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On July 31, 2003, Ventura was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Bubba Crosby and Scott Proctor.[44] On August 3, he hit an inside-the-park home run in Atlanta for his first home run as a member of the Dodgers.[45] He spent most of the remainder of the season on the bench.
Re-signed by the Dodgers in December, Ventura entered
that ended in Ventura being relegated to a bench role as a backup infielder and pinch hitter.He had a game-winning RBI in the second game of the season against the
Post-playing career
Retirement
Ventura's first year of eligibility for the
He was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.[55] In January 2020, Ventura returned to Oklahoma State to complete his degree and serve as a student assistant coach for the baseball team.[7] He earned his bachelor's degree in 2022.[56] Ventura remained on staff with the Cowboys as a volunteer assistant for the 2023 season.[57]
Managerial career
In June 2011, Ventura joined the White Sox organization as special advisor to director of player development Buddy Bell.[58] Just four months later, he was hired as the 39th manager for the Chicago White Sox on October 6, 2011, succeeding interim manager Don Cooper (who succeeded Ozzie Guillén for two games). Ventura was the 17th former White Sox player to manage the club.[59][60] In his first season as their manager, the White Sox finished 85–77, three games behind the AL Central champion Detroit Tigers.[61] Ventura's first ejection as a manager came on May 30, 2012, when he was thrown out by umpire Mark Wegner while protesting Wegner's ejection of White Sox pitcher José Quintana.[62] Ventura was a finalist to be the American League Manager of the Year,[63] which was ultimately awarded to Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin.[64] Despite ending 2013 in last place, the White Sox re-signed Ventura for the 2014 season.[65]
Chicago planned to bring him back for the 2017 season, despite growing dissatisfaction with Ventura among the fan base.[66] However, after four straight losing seasons, he resigned after the 2016 season.[67]
Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Games | Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
CWS | 2012 | 162 | 85 | 77 | .525 | 2nd in AL Central | – | – | – | – |
CWS | 2013 | 162 | 63 | 99 | .389 | 5th in AL Central | – | – | – | – |
CWS | 2014 | 162 | 73 | 89 | .451 | 4th in AL Central | – | – | – | – |
CWS | 2015 | 162 | 76 | 86 | .469 | 4th in AL Central | – | – | – | – |
CWS | 2016 | 162 | 78 | 84 | .481 | 4th in AL Central | – | – | – | – |
Total | 810 | 375 | 435 | .463 | 0 | 0 | – |
Broadcasting
Ventura has also provided color commentary for the
Highlights
- Golden Spikes Award (nation's best amateur player) (1988)[citation needed]
- 2-time All-Star (1992, 2002)
- 6-time Gold Glove winner at third base (1991–93, 1996, 1998–99)[citation needed]
- Hit two grand slams in one game (September 4, 1995)
- Only player to hit one grand slam during each end of a double-header (May 20, 1999)[citation needed]
- Hit 18 career grand slams, placing him in a tie with Manny Ramírez (21), and Eddie Murray(19). 6.1% of his career home runs were grand slams, the highest ratio of any player with at least 250 career home runs.
- Hit a "Grand Slam Single" in the 1999 NLCS against the Atlanta Braves (see walk-off home run)
- Named American League Player of the Month, July 1991
- Was one of the first class of inductees into the College Baseball Hall of Fame on July 4, 2006[citation needed]
- Inducted into Oklahoma State University Athletic Hall of Fame on October 17, 2009, along with Barry Sanders, and Garth Brooks.[citation needed]
- Introduced as inductee into Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame on February 19, 2018.
Career rankings
Third basemen with most 90-RBI seasons
- Mike Schmidt – 11 (1974–1977, 1979–1981, 1983–1984, 1986–1987)
- Eddie Mathews – 10 (1953–1957, 1959–1962, 1965)
- Robin Ventura – 8 (1991–1993, 1995–1996, 1998–1999, 2002)
- Pie Traynor – 8 (1923, 1925–1931)
- Ken Boyer – 8 (1956, 1958–1964)
- Ron Santo – 8 (1963–1970)
- Chipper Jones – 8 (1996–2001, 2004, 2007)
Note: Schmidt also had one 90-RBI season as a first baseman; Jones had two 90-RBI seasons as a left fielder.
Third basemen with highest career slugging average (Minimum 1500 games at 3B)
- Chipper Jones – .533
- Mike Schmidt – .527
- Eddie Mathews – .509
- Matt Williams – .489
- George Brett – .487
- Scott Rolen – .474
- Ron Santo – .464
- Ken Boyer – .462
- Ken Caminiti – .447
- Ron Cey – .445
- Doug DeCinces – .445
- Robin Ventura – .444
See also
- List of Chicago White Sox award winners and league leaders
- List of College World Series broadcasters
- List of Major League Baseball career assists as a third baseman leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career double plays as a third baseman leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career putouts as a third baseman leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball single-game grand slam leaders
References
- ^ "Winning Comes 1st With Ventura - Chicago Tribune". August 1, 2013. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
- ^ Teri Ann Bengiveno (July 3, 2008). "President's Message" (PDF). the American Italian Historical Association's Western Regional Chapter. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
San Diego has an active Little Italy Association and a few years ago it began a banner program to "honor Italian Americans and their contribution to the world as we know it today." The current banners feature Italian-American baseball players including Yogi Berra, Joe Torre, Tony La Russa, Robin Ventura and local boys Joe DiMaggio and Ken Caminiti.
- ^ "FIU's Wittels ties fourth-longest NCAA hit streak". ESPN.com. May 9, 2010.
- ^ "With DiMaggio's streak in the spotlight, Ventura recalls his own". MLB.com. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
- ^ "Baseball America - NCAA hitting streak". April 3, 2003. Archived from the original on April 3, 2003. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
- ^ "Hall of Fame Ceremony 19 January 2002". capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
- ^ a b "OSU Baseball Roster". Okstate.com. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- ^ "Golden Spikes Award Winners". USA Baseball. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
- ^ a b Brown Jr., Thomas J. "Robin Ventura – Society for American Baseball Research". Retrieved November 18, 2023.
- ^ "Robin Ventura, who hit .428 in three seasons at... - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
- ^ "Class of 2006 Inductees | College Baseball Hall of Fame". MLB.com. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
- ^ "Ventura Elected To College Baseball Hall Of Fame". Oklahoma State University Athletics. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
- ^ "VENTURA, 2 CUBS MINE GOLD". Chicago Tribune. November 6, 1992. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
- ^ "1992 MLB All-Star Game Roster - Major League Baseball - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Robin Ventura Awards by Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "When Robin Ventura charged the mound vs. Nolan Ryan". MLB.com. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Top 10 Baseball Brawls. ESPN. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
- ^ Huber, Mike. "September 4, 1995: Robin Ventura routs Rangers with two grand slams – Society for American Baseball Research". Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "VENTURA WINS 4TH GOLD GLOVE". Chicago Tribune. October 8, 1996. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Archives, L. A. Times (March 22, 1997). "Ventura Dislocates Ankle While Sliding". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "REINSDORF: VENTURA COULD RETURN IN '99". Chicago Tribune. September 23, 1998. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "Mets Sign Robin Ventura - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. December 2, 1998. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Brown Jr., Thomas J. "May 20, 1999: Mets' Robin Ventura hits grand slams in both ends of doubleheader – Society for American Baseball Research". Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "New York Mets The Best Infield Ever Sports Illustrated Cover by Sports Illustrated". Sports Illustrated Covers. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Sherman, Joel (October 1, 1999). "V: I SHOULD'VE RESTED ROBIN". Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "Mets have only themselves to blame after trading Ventura. | South Florida Sun-Sentinel (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service) (September 2002)". September 30, 2007. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates vs New York Mets Box Score: October 1, 1999". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Moland-Kovash, Seth. "October 3, 1999: Win or go home: Mets stay alive for NL wild card – Society for American Baseball Research". Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "Washingtonpost.com: Robin Ventura's 'Grand Single'". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Wright, Brian. "October 17, 1999: Robin Ventura's 'grand slam single' sends Mets to win in Game 5 – Society for American Baseball Research". Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "Ventura wins sixth Gold Glove". The Oklahoman. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Marchand, Andrew (February 22, 2000). "ROBIN SHOULD BE ARMED AND READY". Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "Ventura is still healing Mets' third baseman playing in pain". The Oklahoman. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "TIRED OF SHOULDERING PAIN, VENTURA SITS OUT". New York Daily News. July 15, 2000. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "Ventura On Highway To DL - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. July 15, 2000. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Olney, Buster (December 8, 2001). "BASEBALL; Mets and Yankees Find a Common Solution". The New York Times.
- ^ "2002 MLB All-Star Game Roster - Major League Baseball - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "Ventura re-signs with Yankees - UPI.com". UPI. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Reid, Jason (August 1, 2003). "They Need Bat Man, Get Robin". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "VENTURA LEGS OUT INSIDE-THE-PARK HR". New York Daily News. August 4, 2003. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "Dodgers Acquire Bradley". Los Angeles Times. April 5, 2004. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "Ventura HR gives Dodgers win". New Haven Register. August 2, 2004. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
- ^ "Angels 13-0 Dodgers (Jun 25, 2004) Game Recap". ESPN. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "Former Mets third baseman Robin Ventura is rockin' once again". New York Daily News. December 12, 2009. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Crowe, Jerry (June 19, 2011). "Ankle transplant surgery gave former baseball star Robin Ventura a new lease on life". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "Mets Hall of Fame case: Robin Ventura". December 23, 2015.
- ^ "2010 Hall of Fame Voting". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "Ventura Inducted Into Oklahoma Sports Hall Of Fame". Oklahoma State University Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/college/cowboys/2022/05/06/oklahoma-state-baseball-robin-ventura-graduate-osu-cowboys/9658759002/
- ^ "Ventura Tabbed As Cowboy Baseball Volunteer Assistant". Oklahoma State University Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "White Sox Add Ventura To Player Development Role - CBS Chicago". www.cbsnews.com. June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Singer, Tom (October 6, 2011). "White Sox tab Robin Ventura as new skipper". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
- ^ "White Sox hire former 3B Ventura as manager". ESPN.com. October 6, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "2012 American League Season Summary". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
- ^ "Left-hander Jose Quintana, White Sox manager Robin Ventura ejected in fourth inning | MLB.com: News". October 23, 2013. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "Richard Justice: Robin Ventura deserving of AL MOY in his first season | MLB.com: News". October 23, 2013. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "Melvin, Johnson top managers". ESPN.com. November 13, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
- ^ "Last-place White Sox extend manager Ventura's contract". Reuters. January 24, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Nightengale, Bob. "White Sox to retain Robin Ventura as manager". USA TODAY. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "Ventura announces departure from White Sox". October 2, 2016.
- ^ "Hostgator Promo Codes And Factors To Consider When Choosing A Web Host". ESPN Media Zone. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
- ^ Noble, Marty (January 11, 2008). "Ventura a marvel of modern medicine". MLB.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2008.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Robin Ventura managerial career statistics at Baseball-Reference.com
- Robin Ventura at Baseballbiography.com
- Baseball America Archived July 16, 2012, at the Wayback Machine – selection as greatest amateur player 1981–2001