Rod Carew
Rod Carew | |
---|---|
First baseman / Second baseman | |
Born: Gatún, Panama Canal Zone | October 1, 1945|
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 11, 1967, for the Minnesota Twins | |
Last MLB appearance | |
October 5, 1985, for the California Angels | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .328 |
Hits | 3,053 |
Home runs | 92 |
Runs batted in | 1,015 |
Teams | |
As player
As coach | |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Member of the National | |
Baseball Hall of Fame | |
Induction | 1991 |
Vote | 90.5% (first ballot) |
Rodney Cline Carew (born October 1, 1945)
In 1977, Carew was named the recipient of the prestigious
Early life
Carew is the son of Olga Teoma, and Eric Carew Sr., a painter.
At age 14, Carew and his siblings immigrated to the United States to join his mother in the
Starting his minor league career, Carew was assigned to play
Major league career
Minnesota Twins
In the top of the second inning on April 11, 1967, at
Carew had hit for the
The start of the 1973 season was slow, Carew was only hitting .246 by the end of April.[26] Carew performed well during the summer months, including a 5-hit performance on August 14.[27] By the end of September he was back in the major league lead with a .353 average.[26] When the season concluded he won his third batting title, with a major league leading .350 batting average.[28] His 203 hits and 11 triples also led the AL.[19][29] The next season, Carew had his best year to date, from his first at bat on April 5, against the Kansas City Royals,[30] he never batted below .300 for the entire year.[31] Through June 27, he was batting .400[31] but cooled off near the end of the season. His 213 hits were a career-high, and led the majors,[32] and he collected his fourth career batting title with a .364 batting average.[19]
In 1975, Carew won his fourth consecutive AL batting title.
In the 1977 season, Carew batted .388, which was the highest since Boston's Ted Williams hit .388 in 1957; he won the 1977 AL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. He also set career highs with 239 hits (at that time the most by any player since 1930),[33] 100 RBIs and 128 runs scored. In the summer of 1977, Carew appeared on the cover of Time with the caption "Baseball's Best Hitter".[34] He won his seventh and final batting title in 1978 when he hit .333.[19] He had finished in the top 15 in AL MVP voting in every season between 1972 and 1978.[19]
California Angels
In 1979, allegedly frustrated by the Twins' inability to keep young talent, some
Though Carew did not win a batting title after 1978, he hit between .305 and .339 from 1979 to 1983.[19] In 1982, Carew broke his hand early in the season. Newspaper reports characterized him as swinging one-handed that season due to pain, but he put together a 25-game hitting streak at one point in the season.[38] He played in 138 games that year and hit .319. The Angels went to the playoffs in 1982, which was Carew's fourth and final appearance in postseason play. The team lost a five-game series (three games to two) to the Milwaukee Brewers. Carew played in all five games, but he hit .176 (three hits in 17 at-bats).[19] Carew grounded out to end the fifth and final game by hitting a routine groundball to shortstop Robin Yount off a pitch from Pete Ladd, a minor-league journeyman who replaced the injured Brewers closer Rollie Fingers.
On August 4, 1985, Carew joined an elite group of ballplayers when he got his
Through 2017, Carew still holds many places in the Twins record books, including: highest career batting average (.334), second-highest on-base percentage (.393, tied with
Career statistics
In 2,469 games over 19 seasons, Carew posted a .328
Outside baseball
Military service
During the 1960s, Carew served a six-year commitment in the United States Marine Corps Reserve as a combat engineer.[45] He later said that his military experience helped him in his baseball career. Carew said, "When I joined the Marine Corps, it was a life-changing event for me because I learned about discipline. When I first came up to the big leagues in 1967, I was a little bit of a hothead. But after two weeks of war games every summer, I realized that baseball was not do-or-die. That kind of discipline made me the player I became."[46]
Confusion over conversion to Judaism
There is no evidence that Carew ever formally converted to Judaism, although he wore a
A 1976 article written in Esquire magazine was one of the first publications to assert that Carew is Jewish. Sportswriter Harry Stein released his "All-Time All-Star Argument Starter" article which consisted of five different ethnic-based baseball teams. Carew was erroneously named the second baseman on Stein's All-Jewish team.[50] A 2007 Salon article named Carew one of the 18 best Jewish ballplayers of all time; the article clarified that Carew was not Jewish but commended him for raising his children in the faith and for marrying Levy in spite of death threats he received.[51] Carew and Levy, who began their relationship in 1968, were married in 1970 and divorced in 2000.[47]
Another source propagating the story is "The Chanukah Song", written and performed by Adam Sandler in 1994. The tune (which quickly became a holiday perennial) lists famous Jews of the 20th century: "...O. J. Simpson... not a Jew! But guess who is: Hall of Famer Rod Carew! He converted!" Carew later wrote Sandler and explained the situation, adding that he thought the song was "pretty funny". (Sandler dropped Carew from later versions of the song, but Neil Diamond mentions the ballplayer in his rendition, recorded in 2009.)[52]
After retirement
Carew moved to the community of
Carew married his second wife Rhonda in December 2001; she has two children, Cheyenne and Devon. Devout Christians, the family attends Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California.
On January 19, 2004, Panama City's National Stadium was renamed "Rod Carew Stadium".[55] In 2005, Carew was named the second baseman on the Major League Baseball Latino Legends Team.[56]
Carew's number 29 was retired by the Twins on July 19, 1987, and by the Angels in 1986. Carew was the fourth inductee into the Angels' Hall of Fame on August 6, 1991.[57][58] Carew was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991, his first year of eligibility, the 22nd player so elected; he went into the Hall with a Twins cap. In 1999, he ranked #61 on The Sporting News' list of 100 Greatest Baseball Players,[59] and was nominated as a finalist for Major League Baseball's All-Century Team. Carew was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame in 2010.[60]
Carew has three biological children from his first marriage—Charryse, Stephanie, and Michelle. In September 1995, his youngest of three daughters, Michelle, was diagnosed with
Carew began using chewing tobacco in 1964 and was a regular user up to 1992, when a cancerous growth in his mouth was discovered and removed. The years of use had severely damaged his teeth and gums, and Carew has spent a reported $100,000 in restorative dental work.[63]
In September 2015, Carew suffered a massive heart attack while on a California golf course.[64] He was hospitalized for more than six weeks, and had several surgical procedures, which culminated with implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).[65] Carew recovered sufficiently to take part in the Twins' 2016 spring training as an instructor, coach, and launch the Heart of 29 Campaign.[66] Further, Carew became involved in the branding and launching of a Left Ventricular Assist Device wear company, Carew Medical Wear. In February 2016, Carew indicated that his doctors informed him that he would eventually need a heart transplant.[66] The transplant was done on December 15, 2016.[67] Carew's transplanted heart was donated by former Baltimore Ravens tight end Konrad Reuland. Reuland had attended middle school with Carew's children and was inspired by Carew to become a professional athlete in elementary, after meeting him as a child. Reuland later became a high school athlete in baseball, as well as basketball and football.[68][69] Carew participated in the 2018 Rose Parade aboard the Donate Life float on New Year's Day, in honor of Reuland.[70]
In a pre-game ceremony before the 2016 MLB All Star Game in San Diego, the American League batting championship trophy was named the Rod Carew American League Batting Championship Award.[71]
In 2016, Rod Carew was awarded the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award.[72]
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career triples 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 career stolen bases leaders
- 3,000 hit club
- List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
- List of Major League Baseball batting champions
- List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders
- DHL Hometown Heroes
- Hispanics in the United States Marine Corps
References
- ^ "Rod Carew Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
- ^ "Minnesota Twins Top 10 Single-Season Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ^ "Single-Season Leaders & Records for Hits". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ^ Matt Snyder (July 13, 2016). "MLB All-Star Game: Batting title awards named to honor Tony Gwynn, Rod Carew". CBS Sports. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ^ "3,000 Hit Club Exhibit". National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rod Carew at the SABR Baseball Biography Project , by Joseph Wancho, Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ^ a b Goldman, Rob pp. 145
- ^ ISBN 1-892129-34-5.
- ^ "BEST OF Bumper to Bumper Friday, June 26: Rod Carew, Belinda Jensen, Lavelle Neal - Dan Barreiro".
- ^ a b c Schad, Chris (June 29, 2020). "Rod Carew: 'Baseball was the one thing that kept me from killing my father'". Bring Me The News. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
- ^ Goldman, Rob pp. 147
- ^ Goldman, Rob pp. 148
- ^ a b Goldman, Rob pp. 149
- ^ a b "Stealing Home Base Records by Baseball Almanac". Baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
- ^ a b "The Last of the Pure Baseball Men". The Atlantic. August 1, 1981. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
- ^ a b "Rod Carew Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. October 1, 1945. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
- ^ "Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles Box Score, April 11, 1967". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ^ "Washington Senators at Minnesota Twins Box Score, May 8, 1967". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Rod Carew Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
- ^ "1967 Awards Voting". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ^ a b "Major League Baseball Players Who Stole Every Base in an Inning". Baseball-Almanac.com. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- ^ "Detroit Tigers at Minnesota Twins Box Score, May 18, 1969". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- ^ a b Goldman, Rob pp. 150
- ^ "1969 AL Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- ^ "Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals Box Score, May 20, 1970". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- ^ a b "1973 Batting Game Log". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- ^ "Detroit Tigers at Minnesota Twins Box Score, August 14, 1973". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- ^ "1973 MLB Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- ^ "1973 AL Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- ^ "Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals Box Score, April 5, 1974". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- ^ a b "1974 Batting Game Log". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- ^ "1974 MLB Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- ^ "Batting Season & Career Finder: For Single Seasons, From 1871 to 1977, (requiring H>=239), sorted by greatest Hits". Stathead. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
- ^ "Baseball's Best Hitter (Cover)". Time. July 18, 1977. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ^ ISBN 0-87795-984-6.
- St. Petersburg Times. United Press International. January 30, 1979. Retrieved June 19, 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Carew, Rod. "STATEMENT FROM ROD CAREW ON CALVIN GRIFFITH" (PDF). KSTP. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
- Gainesville Sun. June 25, 1982. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ^ "After 19 Years, Carew Says He's Had Enough". Los Angeles Times. June 3, 1986.
- ^ a b Chass, Murray (January 18, 1995). "Baseball; Collusion Case Grants Unusual Damages". The New York Times. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
- ^ "Rod Carew Stats". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
- ^ "Minnesota Twins Top 10 Career Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ^ "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Top 10 Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
- ^ "Rod Carew top performances at retrosheet.org". retrosheet.org. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
- ^ Charley Walters (March 26, 2013). "Tubby Smith's firing leaves undetermined effect on 'Big Three' recruits". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
- ^ a b c Wancho, Joseph. "Rod Carew". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
- ^ Reyes, David. "Friends and Family Say Last Goodbye to Michelle Carew". Los Angeles Times. April 20, 1996.
- ^ Reyes, David. "Hundreds of Minnesotans Attend Funeral for Michelle Carew". Los Angeles Times. April 20, 1996.
- ^ Stein, Harry (July 1, 1976). "All-Time All-Star Argument Starter". Esquire.
- Salon.com. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
- ^ Mallenbaum, Carly. "Adam Sandler's 'Chanukah Song': Are all of those celebs in the song actually Jewish?". USA TODAY. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ McCurdie, Jim (October 13, 1986). "They Have Carew's Number". Los Angeles. Retrieved April 15, 2008.
- ^ "Minnesota Twins Youth Baseball & Softball Training Camps". Mlb.mlb.com. August 26, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
- ^ Connor, Joe (January 17, 2006). "Welcome to Panama". ESPN. Retrieved December 3, 2008.
- ^ "Chevrolet Presents the Major League Baseball Latino Legends Team unveiled today". MLB.com. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
- ^ "Retired Numbers: Rod Carew". Minnesota.twins.mlb.com. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
- ^ "Angels Retired numbers". Losangeles.angels.mlb.com. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
- ^ "100 Greatest Baseball Players by the Sporting News : A Legendary List by Baseball Almanac".
- ^ Price, DeAntae (July 13, 2010). "Roberto Clemente, Rod Carew honored at All-Star FanFest". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
- ^ Litsky, Frank (April 18, 1996). "Baseball; Rod Carew's Daughter Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
- ISBN 1592281591.
- ^ "The Tobacco Reference Guide by David Moyer". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved September 18, 2008.
- ^ Rushin, Steve (November 23, 2015). "Rod Carew Opens Up About His Private Life And His Near-Death Experience". Sports Illustrated. New York, NY.
- ^ Rosenthal, Ken (February 27, 2016). "Rod Carew's Return Is Everything We Love About Baseball". Fox Sports. New York, NY.
- ^ a b Rod Carew's Return
- ^ Former Angels great Rod Carew reportedly set for heart transplant. Orange County Register. December 15, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
- ^ "MLB Legend Rod Carew And The Former NFL Pro Who Gave Him A New Heart". September 28, 2018.
- ^ "Baseball great Rod Carew's new heart, kidney came from NFL player Konrad Reuland". April 14, 2017.
- ^ "Rod Carew pays tribute to organ donor, former Raven Konrad Reuland, on Rose Parade float". USA Today.
- ^ "NL, AL batting titles named after Gwynn, Carew". MLB.com. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^ "Act Of Valor Award Foundation Announces 2016 Winners – Act of Valor Award". actofvaloraward.org. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
Further reading
- Carew, Rod; Aron, Jaime (2020). One Tough Out: Fighting Off Life's Curveballs. ISBN 978-1629377643.
- Carew, Rod; Pace, Frank; Keteyian, Armen (2012). Rod Carew's Hit to Win: Batting Tips and Techniques from a Baseball Hall of Famer. MVP Books. ISBN 978-0760342664.
- Goldman, Rob; Ryan, Nolan (2006). Once They Were Angels. Sport Publishing, LLC. ISBN 9781582611631.
- "Major League Baseball's Connection to Gamboa/Santa Cruz Canal Zone". Gamboa 'Silver Town' Reunion.
- Retired Numbers: Rod Carew, Minnesota Twins at MLB.com
External links
- Rod Carew at the Baseball Hall of Fame
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet