Craig Counsell
Encyclopedia
Craig John Counsell is a Major League Baseball
infielder
.
Counsell grew up in Whitefish Bay
, Wisconsin
, and attended Whitefish Bay High School
, where he played baseball. His father worked for the Milwaukee Brewers. He attended college at the University of Notre Dame
.
Counsell has also spent off-seasons coaching middle school basketball at University School of Milwaukee
.
He and his wife Michelle have 4 children, sons Brady and Jack and daughters Finley and Rowen.
MVP award while on his first tenure with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Counsell was on-base for the winning scoring plays of two World Series
Game 7's. He scored the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning of Game 7 of the 1997 World Series
for the Marlins on an Edgar Rentería
single over pitcher Charles Nagy
's head, after tying that game in the bottom of the ninth with a sacrifice fly. He was also hit by a pitch by Mariano Rivera
to load the bases for Luis Gonzalez
in the bottom of the 9th inning of Game 7 of the 2001 World Series
, after which Gonzalez drove in the winning run for the Diamondbacks, a bloop single over the drawn-in infield which ended the Yankees hopes of four straight World Series titles. He recorded his 1,000th career hit on August 16, 2008 against Derek Lowe
of the Los Angeles Dodgers
.
In front of a sold out crowd on his final game with the Arizona Diamondbacks on October 1, 2006, Counsell hit a solo home run, his fourth of the season.
His current at-bat music is "All Along the Watchtower
" by Jimi Hendrix
.
On October 31, 2008, the Brewers declined Counsell's club option for 2009 and he became a free agent
. On January 26, , Counsell signed a one-year, $1 million deal to remain with the Brewers.
On December 14, 2009, Counsell re-signed a 1 year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers
.
He re-signed a 1-year contract with the Brewers to return in 2011.
In 2011, Counsell tied the all-time record for consecutive at bats without a base hit for a position player, going hitless over a streak of 45 at bats as a bench player and spot starter. The record was set by notoriously poor hitter Bill Bergen
in 1909 and later tied by infielder Dave Campbell.
By the SAFE: Spatial Aggregate Fielding Evaluation method of evaluating defense, Counsell is one of the highest rated 2nd and 3rd basemen, with an average runs saved of 10.18 and 5.86 respectively.
In 2011, he was the fourth-oldest player in the National League, and had the second-best career fielding percentage of all active second basemen (.991).
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...
infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
.
Counsell grew up in Whitefish Bay
Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
Whitefish Bay is a village in Milwaukee County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 13,508 as of the 2005 census.-Geography:Whitefish Bay is located at ....
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, and attended Whitefish Bay High School
Whitefish Bay High School
Whitefish Bay High School is a comprehensive public secondary school located in the village of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, United States. Approximately 950 students attend the school from September through June, in grades 9 through 12...
, where he played baseball. His father worked for the Milwaukee Brewers. He attended college at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
.
Counsell has also spent off-seasons coaching middle school basketball at University School of Milwaukee
University School of Milwaukee
The University School of Milwaukee is a private pre-kindergarten through secondary preparatory school located on in River Hills and Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
.
He and his wife Michelle have 4 children, sons Brady and Jack and daughters Finley and Rowen.
Professional career
Counsell won the 2001 National League Championship SeriesNational League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Championship Series is a round in the postseason that determines who wins the National League pennant and advances to Major League Baseball's championship, the World Series, facing the winner of the American League Championship Series. The reigning...
MVP award while on his first tenure with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Counsell was on-base for the winning scoring plays of two World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
Game 7's. He scored the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning of Game 7 of the 1997 World Series
1997 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 18, 1997 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, FloridaThe first World Series game in the state of Florida, Game 1 featured a youngster and a veteran facing each other on the mound...
for the Marlins on an Edgar Rentería
Edgar Rentería
Edgar Enrique Rentería Herazo , nicknamed "The Barranquilla Baby," is a Colombian professional baseball shortstop. He throws and bats right-handed. Previously, he has played for the Florida Marlins, the St...
single over pitcher Charles Nagy
Charles Nagy
Charles Harrison Nagy is an American former Major League Baseball All-Star right-handed pitcher who played for 14 seasons in the major leagues from to , mostly with the Cleveland Indians, and currently serves as the pitching coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks.-Early life and amateur career:Nagy...
's head, after tying that game in the bottom of the ninth with a sacrifice fly. He was also hit by a pitch by Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera is a Panamanian right-handed baseball pitcher who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. Nicknamed "Mo", Rivera has served as a relief pitcher for most of his career, and since 1997, he has been the Yankees' closer...
to load the bases for Luis Gonzalez
Luis Gonzalez (baseball outfielder)
Luis Emilio Gonzalez , nicknamed "Gonzo", is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder. A Cuban-American, Gonzalez spent his best years with the Arizona Diamondbacks and was one of the most popular players in that organization's history...
in the bottom of the 9th inning of Game 7 of the 2001 World Series
2001 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 27, 2001 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, ArizonaArizona showed no fear and chased Yankees starter Mike Mussina after just three innings. The Yankees gave up five unearned runs and the Diamondbacks rode Curt Schilling's seven strong innings to a 9–1 rout...
, after which Gonzalez drove in the winning run for the Diamondbacks, a bloop single over the drawn-in infield which ended the Yankees hopes of four straight World Series titles. He recorded his 1,000th career hit on August 16, 2008 against Derek Lowe
Derek Lowe
Derek Christopher Lowe is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. He throws and bats right-handed. He is 6'6" and 230 pounds.-Early years:...
of the 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...
.
In front of a sold out crowd on his final game with the Arizona Diamondbacks on October 1, 2006, Counsell hit a solo home run, his fourth of the season.
His current at-bat music is "All Along the Watchtower
All Along the Watchtower
"All Along the Watchtower" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. The song, which has been included on most of Dylan's greatest hits compilations, initially appeared on his 1967 album John Wesley Harding. Over the past 35 years, he has performed it in concert more...
" by Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
.
On October 31, 2008, the Brewers declined Counsell's club option for 2009 and he became a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. On January 26, , Counsell signed a one-year, $1 million deal to remain with the Brewers.
On December 14, 2009, Counsell re-signed a 1 year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
He re-signed a 1-year contract with the Brewers to return in 2011.
In 2011, Counsell tied the all-time record for consecutive at bats without a base hit for a position player, going hitless over a streak of 45 at bats as a bench player and spot starter. The record was set by notoriously poor hitter Bill Bergen
Bill Bergen
William Aloysius "Bill" Bergen was a Major League Baseball catcher in the early 20th century. Bergen was born in North Brookfield, Massachusetts on June 13, 1878...
in 1909 and later tied by infielder Dave Campbell.
By the SAFE: Spatial Aggregate Fielding Evaluation method of evaluating defense, Counsell is one of the highest rated 2nd and 3rd basemen, with an average runs saved of 10.18 and 5.86 respectively.
In 2011, he was the fourth-oldest player in the National League, and had the second-best career fielding percentage of all active second basemen (.991).