Doug Ault
Encyclopedia
Douglas Reagan Ault was a Major League Baseball
first baseman
/designated hitter
who played for the Texas Rangers
(1976) and Toronto Blue Jays
(1977–1978, 1980). He batted right-handed and threw left-handed.
A native of Beaumont, Texas
, Ault was a varsity baseball star at Texas Tech
. He was signed by the Rangers in 1976 as an amateur free agent
and played nine games as a September call-up in his first season.
Ault joined the new Blue Jays franchise via the 1976 expansion draft. On April 7, 1977, in front of 44,649 Opening Day spectators at Exhibition Stadium
, Ault hit Toronto's first home run in the first-inning off Chicago White Sox
left-hander Ken Brett
. Ault homered again in the third inning, this time a two-run shot that tied the score at 4-4 in a game the Blue Jays went on to win, 9-5.
At the time, Ault's feat tied a major league record for the most home runs in an Opening Day game. Since then, George Bell (also a Blue Jay) hit three homers on 1988 opening day, Tuffy Rhodes
matched the feat in 1994, and Dmitri Young
equalled it in 2005.
Ault's 64 RBI
in 1977 set a club rookie record that lasted until Eric Hinske
drove in 84 runs in 2002.
In a four-year career, Ault was a .236 hitter with 17 home runs and 86 RBI in 256 games.
Following his playing career, Ault served as a manager
in the Blue Jays organization for the Single-A teams Dunedin
, Kinston
and St. Catharines
. He also managed the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs.
Ault died at his home in Tarpon Springs, Florida
, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 54 years old.
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...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
/designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
who played for the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
(1976) and 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 ....
(1977–1978, 1980). He batted right-handed and threw left-handed.
A native of Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
, Ault was a varsity baseball star at Texas Tech
Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball
The Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball team represents Texas Tech University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team competes in the Big 12 Conference and plays at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.-Early years:...
. He was signed by the Rangers in 1976 as an amateur 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....
and played nine games as a September call-up in his first season.
Ault joined the new Blue Jays franchise via the 1976 expansion draft. On April 7, 1977, in front of 44,649 Opening Day spectators at Exhibition Stadium
Exhibition Stadium
Canadian National Exhibition Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that formerly stood on the Exhibition Place grounds, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
, Ault hit Toronto's first home run in the first-inning off 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...
left-hander Ken Brett
Ken Brett
Kenneth Alven Brett was a Major League Baseball pitcher and the second of four Brett brothers who played professional baseball, the most notable being the youngest, George Brett.Ken played for 10 teams in his 14-year MLB career.Born in Brooklyn, Ken Brett grew up in southern California and was an...
. Ault homered again in the third inning, this time a two-run shot that tied the score at 4-4 in a game the Blue Jays went on to win, 9-5.
At the time, Ault's feat tied a major league record for the most home runs in an Opening Day game. Since then, George Bell (also a Blue Jay) hit three homers on 1988 opening day, Tuffy Rhodes
Tuffy Rhodes
Karl Derrick "Tuffy" Rhodes is a professional baseball player. He played six years in Major League Baseball in the US, and eleven years in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan....
matched the feat in 1994, and Dmitri Young
Dmitri Young
Dmitri Dell Young is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. Young is 6'2" and 275 pounds...
equalled it in 2005.
Ault's 64 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 1977 set a club rookie record that lasted until Eric Hinske
Eric Hinske
Eric Scott Hinske is a Major League Baseball outfielder, first baseman, and third baseman currently an Atlanta Braves organization...
drove in 84 runs in 2002.
In a four-year career, Ault was a .236 hitter with 17 home runs and 86 RBI in 256 games.
Following his playing career, Ault served as a manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
in the Blue Jays organization for the Single-A teams Dunedin
Dunedin Blue Jays
The Dunedin Blue Jays are a minor league baseball team based in Dunedin, Florida. They play in the Florida State League, and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball club...
, Kinston
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
and St. Catharines
New York - Penn League
The New York – Penn League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the northeastern United States. It is classified as a "Short-Season A" league; its season starts in June, after major-league teams have signed their amateur draft picks to professional contracts, and ends in early...
. He also managed the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs.
Ault died at his home in Tarpon Springs, Florida
Tarpon Springs, Florida
Tarpon Springs is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The population was 21,003 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates, the city had a population of 22,554....
, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 54 years old.