Mike Greenwell
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Michael Lewis Greenwell (Gator) (born July 18, 1963 in Louisville, Kentucky) is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Boston Red Sox (1985-1996). He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Greenie finished second in the AL MVP voting in 1988, losing out to Jose Canseco, who pulled off the first 40 home run, 40 stolen base season in baseball history. Greenwell hit .325 with 22 HR and 119 RBI in 1988, setting career highs in all three categories.
Career
In a 12-season career, Greenwell was a .303 hitter with 130 home runs and 726 RBI in 1269 games. In the postseason, he hit .146 (7-for-48) with one home run and three RBI in 17 games.
Throughout his Red Sox career, Greenwell suffered under the weight of lofty expectations for a Boston left fielder, as since 1940 the position had been occupied by Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice – all MVP winners and regular triple crown candidates. Although his play rarely reached the level of his predecessors, he provided a solid and reliable presence in the team's lineup for several seasons.
Highlights
- Twice All Star (1988-89)
- Top 10 American League MVP (2nd, 1988)
- Led AL in intentional walks (18, 1988)
- Hit for the cycle (September 14 1988)
- Hit an inside-the-park grand slam (September 1 1990)
- Finished fourth in the 1987 American League Rookie of the Year voting behind Mark McGwire, Kevin Seitzer and Matt Nokes
Racing Career
Upon his retirement from baseball, Greenwell began driving Late model stock cars. In May 2006 he made his Craftsman Truck Series debut at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway for Green Light Racing, starting 20th and finishing 26th.Facts
- On September 2, 1996 in Seattle, Greenwell got all nine RBI in a Boston 9-8 victory over the Mariners in ten innings.
- Attended same high school as Deion Sanders and Jevon Kearse (North Fort Myers High School)
- Played for the Red Sox for his entire career.
- Filled in as emergency catcher against the Oakland Athletics July 17, 1987.
From the news
Greenwell was the runner-up to José Canseco in the 1988 American League MVP voting, and now that Canseco has admitted steroid use, Greenwell feels that award is rightfully his.In 1988, Greenwell hit .325 with 22 home runs, 119 RBI and 16 stolen bases. Canseco hit .307 with 42 HRs, 124 RBI and 40 steals, becoming baseball's first 40-40 man. Canseco's unprecedented season garnered him 392 votes. Greenwell received 242, and third-place finisher Kirby Puckett got 219.
"Every time you renegotiate a contract, if you're an MVP, you have a different level of bargaining power. But in honesty, I don't care about the money. I respect what Jose did in the game. I don't respect that [he used steroids], but I do understand how these guys get caught up in it. There is so much pressure to perform that guys are willing to do anything to stay on top," Greenwell said. For more about it, see: [Boston Herald].
External links
- Mike Greenwell at:
- *[Baseball Library]
- *[Baseball Reference]
- *[link]
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