Eric Fox
Encyclopedia
Eric Hollis Fox was born on August 15, 1963 in Lemoore, California
. The 5'10", 180 pound former Major League Baseball player attended Fresno State University.
A switch hitter who threw left-handed, Fox was taken in the 22nd round (566th overall) of the 1984 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays
. He failed to sign and re-entered the draft. In 1985, the Philadelphia Phillies
took him in the 13th round, 330th overall. He did not sign. Finally, in the 1986 draft, the Seattle Mariners
took him 5th overall in the 1st round, and he signed with them.
Fox spent three seasons in the Mariners organization before being released on March 29, 1989. On that same day, the Oakland Athletics
quickly signed him. He spent the next few years in the Athletics' minor league system before making his major league debut on July 7, 1992, at the age of 28.
Fox's career highlight may have come on July 29, 1992, when Fox hit a game winning 3 run home run against the Minnesota Twins
. That win put the A's into a first place tie with the Twins and catapulted them towards the division title that season while the Twins finished in 2nd place, 6 games back of the A's. Many Twins fan blame that game and his home run towards the downfall of the franchise through the rest of the 1990s, only one year removed from winning the World Series
in 1991.
The minor league speedster did not live up to his 49-steal potential in the majors. In 116 career major league games, he stole only 5 bases (in 1178 minor league games, he stole 224 bases).
His final major league game was July 5, 1995, with the Texas Rangers
. Throughout his big league career, he had a .198 batting average.
After his final big league game, he still played minor league baseball until 1997, in the Los Angeles Dodgers
, Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles
organizations.
Lemoore, California
Lemoore is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Lemoore is located west-southwest of Hanford, at an elevation of 230 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. The 5'10", 180 pound former Major League Baseball player attended Fresno State University.
A switch hitter who threw left-handed, Fox was taken in the 22nd round (566th overall) of the 1984 draft by the 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 ....
. He failed to sign and re-entered the draft. In 1985, the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
took him in the 13th round, 330th overall. He did not sign. Finally, in the 1986 draft, the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
took him 5th overall in the 1st round, and he signed with them.
Fox spent three seasons in the Mariners organization before being released on March 29, 1989. On that same day, the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
quickly signed him. He spent the next few years in the Athletics' minor league system before making his major league debut on July 7, 1992, at the age of 28.
Fox's career highlight may have come on July 29, 1992, when Fox hit a game winning 3 run home run against the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. That win put the A's into a first place tie with the Twins and catapulted them towards the division title that season while the Twins finished in 2nd place, 6 games back of the A's. Many Twins fan blame that game and his home run towards the downfall of the franchise through the rest of the 1990s, only one year removed from winning the 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...
in 1991.
The minor league speedster did not live up to his 49-steal potential in the majors. In 116 career major league games, he stole only 5 bases (in 1178 minor league games, he stole 224 bases).
His final major league game was July 5, 1995, with 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...
. Throughout his big league career, he had a .198 batting average.
After his final big league game, he still played minor league baseball until 1997, in 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...
, Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
organizations.
Trivia
- He sported two uniform numbers when with the Athletics - 28 (from 1992-'93) and 31 (1994). When he was with the Rangers, his uniform number was 18.
- Fox is a minor league coach in the Arizona DiamondbacksArizona DiamondbacksThe Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
organization. - Hit an Opening Day Grand Slam