Joe McEwing
Encyclopedia
Joseph Earl McEwing is a former Major League Baseball
player who spent most of his career with the New York Mets
, where he played from through . Nicknamed "Super Joe", he was the prototypical utility player
who could play any position on the field well. McEwing is currently the third base coach for the Chicago White Sox
.
McEwing played college baseball
at the County College of Morris
in Randolph Township, New Jersey.
.275 in with 141 hits and nine home run
s, both career highs. He also amassed a 25-game hitting streak
, the fifth longest at that time by a rookie, and finished fifth in National League
Rookie of the Year balloting.
McEwing became an immediate fan favorite because of his energy, hustle and obvious love for the game. During his rookie season, McEwing played every position on the field, except for pitcher
and catcher
. In his honor, St. Louis Cardinals
fans created what was known as "Little Mac Land," in a play on words of the official "Big Mac Land" created in the upper deck of Busch Stadium for Mark McGwire
. McEwing had a streak of 230 errorless games, which at one point was the longest such streak by an active major league outfielder.
During Spring training
just before the start of the season, he was traded to the New York Mets for Jesse Orosco
. Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa admired McEwing so much that he requested a pair of the player's spikes upon the trade.
Released by the Mets toward the end of spring training
in (which especially upset David Wright), the Kansas City Royals
signed him to provide extra infield
insurance. The Royals called him up to the major leagues on March 12, when regular third baseman
, Mark Teahen
, went on the 15-day disabled list.
On March 30, , he was sent to the Houston Astros
by the Royals. In , he signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox
. On January 16, , McEwing officially announced his retirement from baseball.
. On November 3, 2008, he was named manager of the Winston-Salem Dash, the Class A affiliate for the Chicago White Sox
, for the season. During that season, Baseball America
rated McEwing as the top managerial prospect in the South Atlantic League
. McEwing was also named Manager of the Year for his work managing the Dash in 2009.
McEwing was named manager of the Charlotte Knights
, the White Sox triple-A affiliate for the 2011 season. On October 10, 2011, several sources reported that McEwing would be promoted to serve as the third-base coach for the White Sox
in 2012, serving under new manager Robin Ventura
. Several managerial and coaching positions opened up shortly before the end of the 2011 season when then White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen
announced that he would be leaving.
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 who spent most of his career with 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...
, where he played from through . Nicknamed "Super Joe", he was the prototypical utility player
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
who could play any position on the field well. McEwing is currently the third base coach for the 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...
.
McEwing played college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
at the County College of Morris
County College of Morris
County College of Morris is a public community college located in Randolph, New Jersey. The college was founded in 1966, and first opened its doors to students in 1968....
in Randolph Township, New Jersey.
Professional baseball career
His first full season in the majors was also his best. McEwing battedBatting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.275 in with 141 hits and nine 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, both career highs. He also amassed a 25-game hitting streak
Hitting streak
In baseball, a hitting streak refers to the number of consecutive official games in which a player gets at least one base hit.According to the Official Baseball Rules, such a streak is ended when a player has at least 1 plate appearance and no hits...
, the fifth longest at that time by a rookie, and finished fifth in National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
Rookie of the Year balloting.
McEwing became an immediate fan favorite because of his energy, hustle and obvious love for the game. During his rookie season, McEwing played every position on the field, except for pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
and catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
. In his honor, St. Louis Cardinals
St. 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...
fans created what was known as "Little Mac Land," in a play on words of the official "Big Mac Land" created in the upper deck of Busch Stadium for Mark McGwire
Mark McGwire
Mark David McGwire , nicknamed "Big Mac", is an American former professional baseball player who played his major league career with the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals. He is currently the hitting coach for the St...
. McEwing had a streak of 230 errorless games, which at one point was the longest such streak by an active major league outfielder.
During Spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
just before the start of the season, he was traded to the New York Mets for Jesse Orosco
Jesse Orosco
Jesse Russell Orosco is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who holds the major league record for career pitching appearances. He pitched most notably for the New York Mets in the 1980s. He won a World Series in 1986 with the Mets and in 1988 with the Dodgers. He threw left-handed,...
. Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa admired McEwing so much that he requested a pair of the player's spikes upon the trade.
Released by the Mets toward the end of spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in (which especially upset David Wright), 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...
signed him to provide extra infield
Infield
Infield is a widely used term in sports terminology, its meaning depends on the sport in which it is used.- In baseball :In baseball the baseball diamond plus a region beyond it , has both grass and dirt, in contrast to the more distant, usually grass-covered outfield...
insurance. The Royals called him up to the major leagues on March 12, when regular third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
, Mark Teahen
Mark Teahen
Mark Thomas Teahen is an American-Canadian professional baseball infielder for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball....
, went on the 15-day disabled list.
On March 30, , he was sent to the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
by the Royals. In , he signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. On January 16, , McEwing officially announced his retirement from baseball.
Post-playing career
In the 2008 season, McEwing started his baseball coaching career as the hitting coach for the Charlotte KnightsCharlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a minor league baseball team representing Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox of the American League...
. On November 3, 2008, he was named manager of the Winston-Salem Dash, the Class A affiliate for the 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...
, for the season. During that season, Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
rated McEwing as the top managerial prospect in the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
. McEwing was also named Manager of the Year for his work managing the Dash in 2009.
McEwing was named manager of the Charlotte Knights
Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a minor league baseball team representing Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox of the American League...
, the White Sox triple-A affiliate for the 2011 season. On October 10, 2011, several sources reported that McEwing would be promoted to serve as the third-base coach for the 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...
in 2012, serving under new manager Robin Ventura
Robin Ventura
Robin Mark Ventura is the current manager of the Chicago White Sox. He is a former professional baseball player, a third baseman who played for four major league teams, most notably for the Chicago White Sox...
. Several managerial and coaching positions opened up shortly before the end of the 2011 season when then White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen
Ozzie Guillén
Oswaldo José "Ozzie" Guillén Barrios is a Venezuelan-American former Major League Baseball player and current manager of the Miami Marlins. He managed the Chicago White Sox from 2004 to 2011 before asking for his release at the end of the 2011 season....
announced that he would be leaving.