Gregg Jefferies
Encyclopedia
Gregory Scott "Gregg" Jefferies (born August 1, 1967 in Burlingame, California
) is a retired infielder
/outfielder
in Major League Baseball
who had a 14-year career from 1987 to 2000.
in the first round of the 1985 amateur draft (#20 overall), Jefferies hit .331 in his first year in the minor leagues, moving from Kingsport
of the Appalachian League
(rookie) to Jackson
of the Texas League
(AA) in two years. He was named Minor League Player of the Year for both 1986 and 1987, hitting .367 with 20 home runs, 48 doubles and 101 RBI for Jackson in the latter year, earning Jefferies a brief call-up the New York Mets
at the end of the 1987 season. He went 3 for 6 in 6 games, at the age of 19, making him the youngest player in the Major Leagues that season.
The Mets decided they needed to make room for Jefferies, but didn't know where to play him, as the veteran team was full at the spots Jefferies played in the minor leagues (shortstop, third base and second base). The outfield was full also, with the team finding it difficult to get outfielders Lenny Dykstra
and Mookie Wilson
playing time alongside Darryl Strawberry
and Kevin McReynolds
, so Jefferies was sent to AAA Tidewater to start the 1988 season.
After spending most of the 1988 season at AAA (where he hit .282), Jefferies was recalled at the end of August and allowed to play out the year as a starter, mostly at third base. He responded by hitting .321 over the last 29 games of the 1988 season as the team finished with a 100-60 record to win the National League East.
The Mets made a full-time roster spot for Jefferies when they traded Wally Backman
to the Minnesota Twins
, leaving second base open for Jefferies. But Jefferies faltered, hitting .258 with little selectivity as a rookie in 1989.
In response to criticism from teammates, on May 24, 1991, Jefferies pleaded his case in an open letter read on WFAN
, New York's sports radio station. In the letter, Jefferies wrote: "When a pitcher is having trouble getting players out, when a hitter is having trouble hitting, or when a player makes an error, I try to support them in whatever way I can. I don't run to the media to belittle them or to draw more attention to their difficult times. I can only hope that one day those teammates who have found it convenient to criticize me will realize that we are all in this together. If only we can concentrate more on the games than complaining and bickering and pointing fingers, we would all be better off."
In 1990, Jefferies raised his batting average up to .283 while scoring 96 runs and hitting 40 doubles, but the team finished 2nd for the second straight year. He slipped in 1991, hitting .272 with 30 extra base hits in 486 at bats as the team slipped to 5th place. That offseason the team traded him, along with McReynolds and infielder Keith Miller, to the Kansas City Royals
for former All-Star pitcher Bret Saberhagen
and utility man Bill Pecota
, ending his stay with the Mets.
, where he would have his two best seasons, batting .342 and .325, respectively, while finding a home at first base and being named to the National League All-Star team in both the 1993 and 1994 seasons. He signed a lucrative contract with the Philadelphia Phillies after the 1994 season due to a dispute over a no-trade clause the Cardinals wouldn't give him, and he moved to the outfield for the Phillies, where he performed adequately over the 1995, 1996 and 1997 seasons, but injuries to his thumb and hamstring hampered his effectiveness. In 1998, he was traded mid-season to the Anaheim Angels
, where he hit .347 in 19 games before moving to the Detroit Tigers
the next year. He hit a collective .231 for the Tigers over two seasons before he retired in 2000.
For his career, Jefferies had a career .289 batting average with 126 home runs, 663 RBIs and 196 stolen bases.
Jefferies now resides in Pleasanton, California
with his wife Jeannie Marshall and son Jake. He is a hitting instructor at Total Players Center in Pleasanton, California. He coached, Troy Channing, who was selected in the MLB Draft.
Burlingame, California
Burlingame is a city in San Mateo County, California. It is located on the San Francisco Peninsula and has a significant shoreline on San Francisco Bay. The city is named after diplomat Anson Burlingame. It is renowned for its many surviving examples of Victorian architecture, its affluence, and...
) is a retired 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...
/outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in 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...
who had a 14-year career from 1987 to 2000.
New York Mets
Drafted by the Mets out of Junípero Serra High School in San Mateo, CaliforniaSan Mateo, California
San Mateo is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a population of approximately 100,000 , it is one of the larger suburbs on the San Francisco Peninsula, located between Burlingame to the north, Foster City to the east, Belmont to the south,...
in the first round of the 1985 amateur draft (#20 overall), Jefferies hit .331 in his first year in the minor leagues, moving from Kingsport
Kingsport Mets
The Kingsport Mets are a minor league baseball team based in Kingsport, Tennessee, United States. The team, which plays in the Appalachian League, is a Rookie League affiliate of Major League Baseball's New York Mets....
of the Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
(rookie) to Jackson
Jackson Mets
The Jackson Mets were a professional baseball team based in Jackson, Mississippi, from 1975 through 1990. As of 2010, they are the longest-tenured club to be based in the Jackson metropolitan area...
of the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
(AA) in two years. He was named Minor League Player of the Year for both 1986 and 1987, hitting .367 with 20 home runs, 48 doubles and 101 RBI for Jackson in the latter year, earning Jefferies a brief call-up the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
at the end of the 1987 season. He went 3 for 6 in 6 games, at the age of 19, making him the youngest player in the Major Leagues that season.
The Mets decided they needed to make room for Jefferies, but didn't know where to play him, as the veteran team was full at the spots Jefferies played in the minor leagues (shortstop, third base and second base). The outfield was full also, with the team finding it difficult to get outfielders Lenny Dykstra
Lenny Dykstra
Leonard Kyle "Lenny" Dykstra , nicknamed "Nails" and "Dude", is a former Major League Baseball center fielder. Dykstra played for the New York Mets during the late 1980s before playing for the Philadelphia Phillies during the early 1990s....
and Mookie Wilson
Mookie Wilson
William Hayward "Mookie" Wilson is an American former Major League Baseball center fielder and current coach for the New York Mets. He played 12 years in baseball for the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays . He was a switch hitter primarily known for his impressive speed and positive attitude...
playing time alongside Darryl Strawberry
Darryl Strawberry
Darryl Eugene Strawberry is a former American Major League Baseball outfielder who is well-known both for his play on the field and for his controversial behavior off it...
and Kevin McReynolds
Kevin McReynolds
Walter Kevin McReynolds is a former Major League Baseball outfielder with a 12-year career from 1983 to 1994...
, so Jefferies was sent to AAA Tidewater to start the 1988 season.
After spending most of the 1988 season at AAA (where he hit .282), Jefferies was recalled at the end of August and allowed to play out the year as a starter, mostly at third base. He responded by hitting .321 over the last 29 games of the 1988 season as the team finished with a 100-60 record to win the National League East.
The Mets made a full-time roster spot for Jefferies when they traded Wally Backman
Wally Backman
Walter Wayne Backman is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. He is best known for his time with the New York Mets from - and was a member of their 1986 World Series-winning team...
to 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...
, leaving second base open for Jefferies. But Jefferies faltered, hitting .258 with little selectivity as a rookie in 1989.
In response to criticism from teammates, on May 24, 1991, Jefferies pleaded his case in an open letter read on WFAN
WFAN
WFAN , also known as "Sports Radio 66" or "The FAN", is a radio station in New York City. The station broadcasts on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio...
, New York's sports radio station. In the letter, Jefferies wrote: "When a pitcher is having trouble getting players out, when a hitter is having trouble hitting, or when a player makes an error, I try to support them in whatever way I can. I don't run to the media to belittle them or to draw more attention to their difficult times. I can only hope that one day those teammates who have found it convenient to criticize me will realize that we are all in this together. If only we can concentrate more on the games than complaining and bickering and pointing fingers, we would all be better off."
In 1990, Jefferies raised his batting average up to .283 while scoring 96 runs and hitting 40 doubles, but the team finished 2nd for the second straight year. He slipped in 1991, hitting .272 with 30 extra base hits in 486 at bats as the team slipped to 5th place. That offseason the team traded him, along with McReynolds and infielder Keith Miller, to the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
for former All-Star pitcher Bret Saberhagen
Bret Saberhagen
Bret William Saberhagen is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher.-Early years:Bret Saberhagen attended Grover Cleveland High School, located in Reseda, California. Saberhagen starred in both basketball and baseball...
and utility man Bill Pecota
Bill Pecota
William Joseph Pecota , is a former professional baseball player who played infield in the Major Leagues from 1986-94. Pecota was drafted by the Royals in the 10th round of 1981 amateur draft after playing at DeAnza College in Cupertino, CA, and debuted in Kansas City in 1986...
, ending his stay with the Mets.
Post-New York
After playing the 1992 season with the Royals, he moved on to the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, where he would have his two best seasons, batting .342 and .325, respectively, while finding a home at first base and being named to the National League All-Star team in both the 1993 and 1994 seasons. He signed a lucrative contract with the Philadelphia Phillies after the 1994 season due to a dispute over a no-trade clause the Cardinals wouldn't give him, and he moved to the outfield for the Phillies, where he performed adequately over the 1995, 1996 and 1997 seasons, but injuries to his thumb and hamstring hampered his effectiveness. In 1998, he was traded mid-season to the Anaheim Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, where he hit .347 in 19 games before moving to the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
the next year. He hit a collective .231 for the Tigers over two seasons before he retired in 2000.
For his career, Jefferies had a career .289 batting average with 126 home runs, 663 RBIs and 196 stolen bases.
Jefferies now resides in Pleasanton, California
Pleasanton, California
Pleasanton is a city in Alameda County, California, incorporated in 1894. It is a suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area located about east of Oakland, and west of Livermore. The population was 70,285 at the 2010 census. In 2005 and 2007, Pleasanton was ranked the wealthiest middle-sized city in...
with his wife Jeannie Marshall and son Jake. He is a hitting instructor at Total Players Center in Pleasanton, California. He coached, Troy Channing, who was selected in the MLB Draft.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball doubles champions
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- Hitting for the cycleHitting for the cycleIn baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...