James Cory Snyder (born November 11, 1962 in Inglewood, California

Inglewood, California

Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...

) is a former Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...

 player for the Cleveland Indians

Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...

, Chicago White Sox

Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...

, Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....

, San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....

, and Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...

 from 1986 to 1994. Snyder's best season came in 1987 with the Indians when he hit 33 home run

Home run

In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...

s and had 82 runs batted in. He was well known for his powerful throwing arm, home run power, and a high tendency to strike out. Snyder's overall career numbers were hurt due to injuries.

Snyder was a three-time All-American for Brigham Young University

Brigham Young University

Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...

, and also a member of the 1983 BYU team (which at one point in the season was ranked No. 1). In his very first game with BYU, during his first three at-bats, he hit three home runs on three consecutive pitches.

In 1984, Snyder was on the first Olympic Baseball team for the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, which earned a Silver Medal.

Snyder managed the Golden Baseball League's

Golden Baseball League

The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico....

 St. George Roadrunners from 2007 to 2009. In 2010, he managed the Na Koa Ikaika Maui, who play in the North American League.

In 2008, a poll by the Cleveland Plain Dealer ranked Snyder #5 on its list of Greatest Indians Players of all Time.

Snyder is currently a coach for the Jackson Generals, a Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.

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