Kenny Lofton
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Lofton is a former Major League Baseball
outfielder
known for his great speed on the base paths as well as in the field, award-winning defensive play (four Gold Glove awards), timely hitting, and playful spirit. He batted and threw left-handed
. During his career he played for the Houston Astros
, Cleveland Indians
(10 seasons), Atlanta Braves
, Chicago White Sox
, San Francisco Giants
, Pittsburgh Pirates
, Chicago Cubs
, New York Yankees
, Philadelphia Phillies
, Los Angeles Dodgers
, and Texas Rangers
.
He was his league's Player of the Week three times (twice with Cleveland, once with Atlanta), and was named to six All-Star teams (five times with the Indians, once with the Braves).
From 2001 to 2007 Kenny Lofton did not spend more than one season with a team. It was later parodied in a DHL
commercial in 2007 saying that he was being traded to several teams and then eventually Japan;
nevertheless, the commercial is a testament to Lofton's status as a perennial fan favorite with transcontinental appeal.
(to Craig McMillan
and Steve Kerr
) on an Arizona Wildcats
team that made it to the Final Four
of the 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
, and he set season and career school records for steals. He was the starting point guard the following year as Arizona made it to the Sweet Sixteen. Lofton is one of only two men to play in a college basketball Final Four
(1988, the first for the Arizona Wildcats) and a Major League Baseball World Series. The other is fellow East Chicago Washington High School alumnus Tim Stoddard
, who was a member of the N.C. State
team that won the 1974 NCAA Basketball Championship
. Stoddard later pitched for the Baltimore Orioles
in the 1979 World Series
.
Lofton decided to try out for the baseball team during his junior year. Although he did not see much playing time, his speed and potential were recognized by baseball scouts, and he was chosen by the Houston Astros
in the 17th round of Major League Baseball
's amateur draft. He played minor league baseball during the summer while completing his basketball eligibility at Arizona.
, although he did steal 26 bases in 30 attempts and was solid in the outfield.
Lofton returned to Auburn in , hitting .263 with 26 steals in 34 games. He then hit .329 with 14 steals in 22 games for Asheville in the South Atlantic League
. As his college basketball career came to an end, Lofton was able to concentrate fully on baseball and he improved rapidly, finishing second in the league in hitting at .331 while adding 62 steals for Osceola in the Florida State League
. He also drew 61 walks, demonstrating patience and intelligence as a hitter, while improving defensively.
After a great spring training
in , he jumped directly to Tucson Toros
of the Pacific Coast League
, skipping Double-A. He hit .308 with 30 steals and 52 walks for Tucson Toros
, with 19 doubles and 17 triples. At Tucson (where he was a local fan favorite due to his University of Arizona basketball career) he led his team to the PCL championship and made the league's All-Star squad. On September 14, 1991, the Astros promoted Lofton to the majors. In his major league debut, he had three hits and scored three runs against the Cincinnati Reds
.
Stellar debut aside, Lofton struggled during his brief stint in Houston, batting only .203. With future all-star Steve Finley
already firmly entrenched in Houston's center field, Lofton was traded during the off-season to the Cleveland Indians
for catcher Eddie Taubensee
and right-handed pitcher Willie Blair
.
The Indians would prove to be a good fit for the young center fielder. During his rookie season in Cleveland, in 1992, Lofton hit .285, his 66 stolen bases establishing an all-time record for an American League rookie and the most by a Major League rookie since Vince Coleman
's 110 in . He finished second (to Milwaukee's Pat Listach
) in AL Rookie of the Year balloting. His career blossomed from that point on, as Lofton proved to be one of the consistently excellent players, and perhaps the premier leadoff hitter of the 1990s. He appeared in six consecutive All-Star Games (1994–1999) and won four straight Gold Gloves
(1993–1996) for the Indians. Through the season, Lofton had tallied a .299 career batting average with 123 home run
s, 110 triples (2nd among active players), and 1,442 runs (6th among active players) in 1,967 games.
His 622 stolen bases rank him 15th all-time. He holds the Cleveland Indians record for stolen bases with 450 steals.
He played with the Indians until , when, as an impending free agent, he was traded near the end of spring training to the Atlanta Braves
along with Alan Embree
for Marquis Grissom
and slugger David Justice
. After one season with the Braves, Lofton rejoined the Indians in when he signed as a free agent. His second stint in Cleveland took him through 2001. From to 2007, Lofton played for eight teams, playing in the postseason for the San Francisco Giants
, the Chicago Cubs
, the New York Yankees
, and the Los Angeles Dodgers
. On July 27, 2007, Lofton was traded by the Texas Rangers
, his Major League record eleventh team played on, back to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for minor league catcher Max Ramírez
, marking the beginning of his third stint with the Cleveland Indians. A surprised Jacobs Field
crowd greeted Lofton with a standing ovation during his first at bat for this tour of duty with the Indians. Lofton noted, "I missed being in Cleveland... I enjoy Cleveland. It's the city that got me going." Lofton became a free agent at the end of the season. When no team offered him a contract, he retired from baseball.
He was known for an amazing catch he made on August 4, 1996, at Jacobs Field
in Cleveland. B.J. Surhoff
of the Baltimore Orioles
hit a fly ball deep into center field. It was headed out, but the acrobatic gloveman timed his leap perfectly, and while he was shoulder-high with the top of the fence, he reached over it and grabbed the ball as it was coming down into home run territory. He also shocked a Kingdome
crowd in Seattle when he scored from second base on a Dan Wilson
passed ball
in the sixth and final game of the 1995 ALCS, all but securing the 1995 pennant for the Indians.
On January 27, 2010, the Cleveland Indians announced that Lofton would become the newest member of the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame. On August 7, 2010, the Cleveland Indians inducted Kenny Lofton into their Hall of Fame during a ceremony before their game against the Minnesota Twins
.
, driving in David Bell from second.
In Game One of the 2003 NLDS, at Turner Field
in Atlanta, Kenny Lofton's single for Chicago put the Cubs ahead 4-1. Chicago went on to win, 4-2.
Back with the Indians, in Game One of the 2007 ALDS against New York
, he went 3-4 with 4 RBIs and 1 stolen base, tying him with Ricky Henderson for Major League Baseball's all-time post-season stolen bases record (33). In game two, he went 2 for 3 with two walks and scored the winning run in the 11th inning; then, in Game Three of the 2007 ALCS, he hit a two-run homer against the Boston Red Sox
. The durable speedster earned his 34th career post-season stolen base in Game Four of the 2007 ALCS, setting a new MLB record for playoff steals.
But Lofton also endured many heartbreaking postseason losses over the course of his career.
In 1995, he played on an Indians team that lost the World Series
to the Braves in six games despite finishing the regular season with a major league best 100-44 record in the strike-shortened year. The following season, the Indians again had the best record in baseball, but lost in the 1996 ALDS to the Baltimore Orioles in four games. Three years after that, the Indians held a two-games-to-none lead on the Boston Red Sox in the 1999 ALDS but then lost three in a row.
In 2002, he played on the Giants team that held a five-run lead in the seventh inning of Game Six of the World Series against the Angels. Eight outs away from a World Championship, the Angels rallied to win 6-5, then took Game Seven the following night to win the series.
The following season, he played on a Cubs team that held a three-run lead in the 8th inning of Game Six of the 2003 NLCS. The Florida Marlins
rallied to win that game and took Game Seven the following night to eliminate the Cubs.
After that, he played for the Yankees, who become the first Major League team to blow a 3-0 series lead in the 2004 ALCS against the Red Sox.
And in his final year in baseball, 2007, he returned to the ALCS with the Indians, who blew a 3-1 series lead against the Boston Red Sox.
In 2004 he appeared as a guest star on George Lopez
.
For the 2011 Spring Training, Lofton was hired by the Indians to coach base-running.
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...
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...
known for his great speed on the base paths as well as in the field, award-winning defensive play (four Gold Glove awards), timely hitting, and playful spirit. He batted and threw left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
. During his career he played for 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...
, Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(10 seasons), Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, 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...
, San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, 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...
, 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...
, and 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...
.
He was his league's Player of the Week three times (twice with Cleveland, once with Atlanta), and was named to six All-Star teams (five times with the Indians, once with the Braves).
From 2001 to 2007 Kenny Lofton did not spend more than one season with a team. It was later parodied in a DHL
DHL
DHL Express is a division of the German logistics company Deutsche Post providing international express mail services. DHL is a world market leader in sea and air mail....
commercial in 2007 saying that he was being traded to several teams and then eventually Japan;
nevertheless, the commercial is a testament to Lofton's status as a perennial fan favorite with transcontinental appeal.
College
In college, he was the backup point guardPoint guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
(to Craig McMillan
Craig McMillan
Craig Douglas McMillan is a former New Zealand international cricketer at Test, One Day International and Twenty20 level. He was a right-handed batsman and useful right-arm medium pace bowler and played for Canterbury in New Zealand first-class cricket...
and Steve Kerr
Steve Kerr
Stephen Douglas "Steve" Kerr is a retired American professional basketball player. He shot .454 from three point range over his career and currently holds the record as the most accurate three-point shooter in NBA history...
) on an Arizona Wildcats
Arizona Wildcats
-Athletic program:The University of Arizona participates in the NCAA's Division I-A in the Pacific-12 Conference Arizona participates in the conference's South Division, along with Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA, USC, and Utah...
team that made it to the Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
of the 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 17, 1988, and ended with the championship game on April 4 returning to Kansas City, Missouri...
, and he set season and career school records for steals. He was the starting point guard the following year as Arizona made it to the Sweet Sixteen. Lofton is one of only two men to play in a college basketball Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
(1988, the first for the Arizona Wildcats) and a Major League Baseball World Series. The other is fellow East Chicago Washington High School alumnus Tim Stoddard
Tim Stoddard
Timothy Paul Stoddard is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is one of only two known men to have played in both a World Series and an NCAA basketball national championship game....
, who was a member of the N.C. State
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
team that won the 1974 NCAA Basketball Championship
1974 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1974 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It was the first tournament to officially be designated as a Division I championship—previously, NCAA member...
. Stoddard later pitched for the 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...
in the 1979 World Series
1979 World Series
The 1979 World Series matched the National League's Pittsburgh Pirates against the American League's Baltimore Orioles , with the Pirates coming back from a three games to one deficit to win the Series in seven games...
.
Lofton decided to try out for the baseball team during his junior year. Although he did not see much playing time, his speed and potential were recognized by baseball scouts, and he was chosen by 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...
in the 17th round of 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...
's amateur draft. He played minor league baseball during the summer while completing his basketball eligibility at Arizona.
Minor leagues
Lofton struggled initially in his professional baseball career in the Houston Astros farm system. He hit .214 in 48 games for Auburn in the New York - Penn LeagueNew 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...
, although he did steal 26 bases in 30 attempts and was solid in the outfield.
Lofton returned to Auburn in , hitting .263 with 26 steals in 34 games. He then hit .329 with 14 steals in 22 games for Asheville 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...
. As his college basketball career came to an end, Lofton was able to concentrate fully on baseball and he improved rapidly, finishing second in the league in hitting at .331 while adding 62 steals for Osceola in the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
. He also drew 61 walks, demonstrating patience and intelligence as a hitter, while improving defensively.
After a great 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 , he jumped directly to Tucson Toros
Tucson Toros
The Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. They are owned by Tucson Baseball, LLC with Jay Zucker as chairman of the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager....
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
, skipping Double-A. He hit .308 with 30 steals and 52 walks for Tucson Toros
Tucson Toros
The Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. They are owned by Tucson Baseball, LLC with Jay Zucker as chairman of the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager....
, with 19 doubles and 17 triples. At Tucson (where he was a local fan favorite due to his University of Arizona basketball career) he led his team to the PCL championship and made the league's All-Star squad. On September 14, 1991, the Astros promoted Lofton to the majors. In his major league debut, he had three hits and scored three runs against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
.
Major Leagues
Steve Finley
Steven Allen Finley is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Early life:Finley, who grew up in Paducah, Kentucky, attended Paducah Tilghman High School and Southern Illinois University, where he earned a degree in physiology and played for the baseball team from 1984–87.-College, Team USA,...
already firmly entrenched in Houston's center field, Lofton was traded during the off-season to the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for catcher Eddie Taubensee
Eddie Taubensee
Edward Kenneth Taubensee is a former catcher in Major League Baseball.Taubensee played for three different ballclubs during his career: the Cleveland Indians , Houston Astros , and Cincinnati Reds . He made his major league debut on May 18, 1991, and played his final game on October 7, 2001...
and right-handed pitcher Willie Blair
Willie Blair
William Allen Blair is a former journeyman right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from -. Blair played baseball for Morehead State University before the Toronto Blue Jays drafted him in the 11th round of the amateur draft.-Playing career:Blair spent four seasons in the Blue Jays...
.
The Indians would prove to be a good fit for the young center fielder. During his rookie season in Cleveland, in 1992, Lofton hit .285, his 66 stolen bases establishing an all-time record for an American League rookie and the most by a Major League rookie since Vince Coleman
Vince Coleman
Vincent Maurice Coleman is an American former Major League Baseball player, best known for his years with the St. Louis Cardinals. Primarily a left fielder, Coleman played from to and set a number of stolen base records. He was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed.-Biography:Coleman attended...
's 110 in . He finished second (to Milwaukee's Pat Listach
Pat Listach
Patrick Alan Listach is a former Major League Baseball shortstop, minor league manager and bench coach.-Amateur career:...
) in AL Rookie of the Year balloting. His career blossomed from that point on, as Lofton proved to be one of the consistently excellent players, and perhaps the premier leadoff hitter of the 1990s. He appeared in six consecutive All-Star Games (1994–1999) and won four straight Gold Gloves
Rawlings Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
(1993–1996) for the Indians. Through the season, Lofton had tallied a .299 career batting average with 123 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, 110 triples (2nd among active players), and 1,442 runs (6th among active players) in 1,967 games.
His 622 stolen bases rank him 15th all-time. He holds the Cleveland Indians record for stolen bases with 450 steals.
He played with the Indians until , when, as an impending free agent, he was traded near the end of spring training to the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
along with Alan Embree
Alan Embree
Alan Duane Embree is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently a free agent. Previously, Embree played with the Cleveland Indians , Atlanta Braves , Arizona Diamondbacks , San Francisco Giants , Chicago White Sox , San Diego Padres , Boston Red Sox , New York...
for Marquis Grissom
Marquis Grissom
Marquis Deon Grissom is a former Major League Baseball player. He excelled in baseball at Lakeshore High School, under the tutelage of baseball coach Mike Juenger. He currently resides in College Park, Georgia...
and slugger David Justice
David Justice
David Christopher Justice is a former outfielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball who played for the Atlanta Braves , Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , and Oakland Athletics .-Early life:David was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of Robert and Nettie Justice...
. After one season with the Braves, Lofton rejoined the Indians in when he signed as a free agent. His second stint in Cleveland took him through 2001. From to 2007, Lofton played for eight teams, playing in the postseason for the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, and 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...
. On July 27, 2007, Lofton was traded by 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...
, his Major League record eleventh team played on, back to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for minor league catcher Max Ramírez
Max Ramírez
Maximiliano R. Ramírez is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball.-Atlanta Braves:...
, marking the beginning of his third stint with the Cleveland Indians. A surprised Jacobs Field
Jacobs Field
Progressive Field is a ballpark located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, and is the home of the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball and the American League. Along with Quicken Loans Arena, it is part of the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex...
crowd greeted Lofton with a standing ovation during his first at bat for this tour of duty with the Indians. Lofton noted, "I missed being in Cleveland... I enjoy Cleveland. It's the city that got me going." Lofton became a free agent at the end of the season. When no team offered him a contract, he retired from baseball.
He was known for an amazing catch he made on August 4, 1996, at Jacobs Field
Jacobs Field
Progressive Field is a ballpark located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, and is the home of the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball and the American League. Along with Quicken Loans Arena, it is part of the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex...
in Cleveland. B.J. Surhoff
B.J. Surhoff
William James "B. J." Surhoff is a former catcher, outfielder, first baseman, third baseman, and designated hitter in Major League Baseball. Over his 18-year major league career, he played every position except pitcher...
of the 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...
hit a fly ball deep into center field. It was headed out, but the acrobatic gloveman timed his leap perfectly, and while he was shoulder-high with the top of the fence, he reached over it and grabbed the ball as it was coming down into home run territory. He also shocked a Kingdome
Kingdome
The Kingdome was a multi-purpose stadium located in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood. Owned and operated by King County, the Kingdome opened in 1976 and was best known as the home stadium of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League , the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball , and the...
crowd in Seattle when he scored from second base on a Dan Wilson
Dan Wilson
Daniel or Dan Wilson may refer to:* Daniel Wilson , British-Canadian archaeologist, ethnologist and author* Daniel Wilson , Bishop of Calcutta...
passed ball
Passed ball
In baseball, a catcher is charged with a passed ball when he fails to hold or control a legally pitched ball that, with ordinary effort, should have been maintained under his control. When, as a result of this loss of control, the batter or a runner on base advances, the catcher is thereby charged...
in the sixth and final game of the 1995 ALCS, all but securing the 1995 pennant for the Indians.
On January 27, 2010, the Cleveland Indians announced that Lofton would become the newest member of the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame. On August 7, 2010, the Cleveland Indians inducted Kenny Lofton into their Hall of Fame during a ceremony before their game 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...
.
Post-season play
Lofton played in 95 post-season games and enjoyed much success. Beginning in 1995 (during his first stint with the Indians) and ending in 2007 (his third stint with Cleveland), he hit .247 with 7 home runs and 34 RBIs. In addition to his thrilling race from second to home on a passed ball in 1995, he hit the 2002 NLCS-winning single for the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, driving in David Bell from second.
In Game One of the 2003 NLDS, at Turner Field
Turner Field
Turner Field is a stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, home to Major League Baseball's Atlanta Braves since 1997. Turner Field was originally built as Centennial Olympic Stadium, it was completed in 1996 to serve as the centerpiece of the 1996 Summer Olympics...
in Atlanta, Kenny Lofton's single for Chicago put the Cubs ahead 4-1. Chicago went on to win, 4-2.
Back with the Indians, in Game One of the 2007 ALDS against New York
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, he went 3-4 with 4 RBIs and 1 stolen base, tying him with Ricky Henderson for Major League Baseball's all-time post-season stolen bases record (33). In game two, he went 2 for 3 with two walks and scored the winning run in the 11th inning; then, in Game Three of the 2007 ALCS, he hit a two-run homer against 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"...
. The durable speedster earned his 34th career post-season stolen base in Game Four of the 2007 ALCS, setting a new MLB record for playoff steals.
But Lofton also endured many heartbreaking postseason losses over the course of his career.
In 1995, he played on an Indians team that lost 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...
to the Braves in six games despite finishing the regular season with a major league best 100-44 record in the strike-shortened year. The following season, the Indians again had the best record in baseball, but lost in the 1996 ALDS to the Baltimore Orioles in four games. Three years after that, the Indians held a two-games-to-none lead on the Boston Red Sox in the 1999 ALDS but then lost three in a row.
In 2002, he played on the Giants team that held a five-run lead in the seventh inning of Game Six of the World Series against the Angels. Eight outs away from a World Championship, the Angels rallied to win 6-5, then took Game Seven the following night to win the series.
The following season, he played on a Cubs team that held a three-run lead in the 8th inning of Game Six of the 2003 NLCS. The Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
rallied to win that game and took Game Seven the following night to eliminate the Cubs.
After that, he played for the Yankees, who become the first Major League team to blow a 3-0 series lead in the 2004 ALCS against the Red Sox.
And in his final year in baseball, 2007, he returned to the ALCS with the Indians, who blew a 3-1 series lead against the Boston Red Sox.
Post-baseball Life
Lofton currently has his own television production company.In 2004 he appeared as a guest star on George Lopez
George Lopez (TV series)
"The George Lopez Show" redirects here. For the late-night program hosted by the same comedian, see Lopez Tonight.George Lopez is an American sitcom starring comedian George Lopez...
.
For the 2011 Spring Training, Lofton was hired by the Indians to coach base-running.
Highlights
- 6-time All-StarMajor League Baseball All-Star GameThe Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
(1994–99) - 4-time Gold Glove AwardGold Glove AwardThe Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
(1993–96) - Top 5 MVPMLB Most Valuable Player AwardThe Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
, (4th) in 1994 - 5-time league leader in stolen bases (1992–96)
- Led league in hits (1994)
- Led league in triplesTriple (baseball)In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(1995) - Led league in at-batsAt batIn baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
(1996) - Led league center fielders in assists, (14) in 1992
- Holds the MLB record (tie) for runs scored in the first inning in a season, (18) in 2000
- Holds the American League record for stolen bases by a rookie, (66) in 1992
- Holds the MLB record for post-season stolen bases (34)
- Holds the MLB record for most different teams played on in the playoffs (6)
- Drove in the NLCS winning run in 2002
- Baseball Weekly Top 10 Outfielders of the 90's
- Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame (Heritage Park)
- Led University of Arizona to the 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, setting school season record for steals, Making it all the way to the Final Four as back-up point guard to 5-time NBA champion Steve Kerr
- Led Arizona to second consecutive NCAA Men's division I Basketball Tournament as starting point guard, Making it to Sweet 16 round.
- One of only two men to play in the Final Four, and MLB World Series (Tim StoddardTim StoddardTimothy Paul Stoddard is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is one of only two known men to have played in both a World Series and an NCAA basketball national championship game....
being other)
See also
- List of major league players with 2,000 hits
- Major League Baseball titles streaksMajor League Baseball titles streaksAt the end of each Major League Baseball season, the league leaders of various statistical categories are announced. Leading the league in a particular category is referred to as a title....
- Major League Baseball titles leadersMajor League Baseball titles leadersAt the end of each Major League Baseball season, the league leaders of various statistical categories are announced. Leading the league in a particular category is referred to as a title....
- List of AL Gold Glove Winners at Outfield
- List of athletes on Wheaties boxes
- List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- List of Major League Baseball stolen base champions
- List of Major League Baseball triples champions
External links
- Baseball Library - biography and accomplishments
- Minor league biography