Mike Greenwell
Encyclopedia
Michael Lewis Greenwell (born July 18, 1963 in Louisville, Kentucky
) is a former left fielder
in Major League Baseball
who played his entire MLB career with the Boston Red Sox
(1985–1996). He briefly played a few games for the Hanshin Tigers
in Japan
(1997), before retiring. Greenwell was nicknamed "The Gator." He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was voted fourth in Rookie of the Year voting in 1987. Greenwell was a leading contender for the AL MVP in 1988, but he lost out to José Canseco
, who pulled off the first 40 home run, 40 stolen base season in baseball history. Greenwell hit .325 with 22 HR and 119 RBI in 1988, setting career highs in all three categories.
by the Red Sox, and was signed by June 9, 1982. Throughout his Red Sox career, Greenwell suffered under the weight of lofty expectations for a Boston left fielder, as since 1940 the position had been occupied by Ted Williams
, Carl Yastrzemski
and Jim Rice
– all MVP
winners, regular triple crown
candidates, and eventual members of the Baseball Hall of Fame
. Although his play rarely reached the level of his predecessors, he provided a solid and reliable presence in the team's lineup
for several seasons. Well respected, he also served as the team's player representative for a time.
He signed with the Japanese Hanshin Tigers
for about 2.5 million dollars in 1997. His career in the major leagues heightened expectations from Japanese fans, but Greenwell left the team's spring training camp and returned to the United States
, stating that he had an injury. He did not return to Japan
until late April. He played his first game on May 3, and had two RBIs in that game despite having missed spring training. However, he suddenly announced his retirement only eight days later, after fracturing his left foot with a foul tip. He left Japan on May 16, and never returned again.
, on which he grows fruits and vegetables. He runs an amusement park in Cape Coral
, Florida
called "Mike Greenwell's", which opened in February 1992. He also coached both of his sons, Bo and Garrett.
stock cars. In May 2006 he made his Craftsman Truck Series
debut at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway
for Green Light Racing
, starting 20th and finishing 26th. In 2010, Greenwell had given up racing.
. He had captured an alligator, taped its mouth shut, and put it in Ellis Burks
's locker.
, the Lake County Captains
. Garrett, 18, is a first baseman who dreams of playing for the Red Sox.
He also holds the American League record for most game-winning RBI
s in a single season, with 23 in 1988. This record is safer than most because the game-winning RBI has since been discontinued as an official statistic.
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
) is a former left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
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 played his entire MLB career 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"...
(1985–1996). He briefly played a few games for the Hanshin Tigers
Hanshin Tigers
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(1997), before retiring. Greenwell was nicknamed "The Gator." He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was voted fourth in Rookie of the Year voting in 1987. Greenwell was a leading contender for the AL MVP in 1988, but he lost out to José Canseco
José Canseco
José Canseco Capas, Jr. is a Cuban-American professional baseball manager, outfielder, and designated hitter for the Yuma Scorpions of the North American League and former Major League Baseball player. He is the identical twin brother of former major league player and current teammate Ozzie Canseco...
, who pulled off the first 40 home run, 40 stolen base season in baseball history. Greenwell hit .325 with 22 HR and 119 RBI in 1988, setting career highs in all three categories.
Baseball career
He was drafted in the third round of the 1982 Major League Baseball Draft1982 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1982 Major League Baseball draft.- Other notable players :*Barry Bonds was drafted by the Giants in the 2nd round of the 1982 amateur draft, but did not sign...
by the Red Sox, and was signed by June 9, 1982. Throughout his Red Sox career, Greenwell suffered under the weight of lofty expectations for a Boston left fielder, as since 1940 the position had been occupied by Ted Williams
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
, Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Michael Yastrzemski is a former American Major League Baseball left fielder and first baseman. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. Yastrzemski played his entire 23-year baseball career with the Boston Red Sox . He was primarily a left fielder, with part of his later career...
and Jim Rice
Jim Rice
James Edward "Jim" Rice , nicknamed "Jim Ed", is a former Major League Baseball left fielder.Jim Rice played his entire career for the Boston Red Sox from 1974 to 1989...
– all MVP
MLB Most Valuable Player Award
The 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...
winners, regular triple crown
Triple crown (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, a player earns the Triple Crown when he leads a league in three specific statistical categories. For batters, a player must lead the league in home runs, run batted in , and batting average; pitchers must lead the league in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average...
candidates, and eventual members of the Baseball Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
. Although his play rarely reached the level of his predecessors, he provided a solid and reliable presence in the team's lineup
Batting order (baseball)
The batting order, or batting lineup, in baseball is the sequence in which the nine members of the offense take their turns in batting against the pitcher. The batting order is the main component of a team's offensive strategy. The batting order is set by the manager before the game begins...
for several seasons. Well respected, he also served as the team's player representative for a time.
He signed with the Japanese Hanshin Tigers
Hanshin Tigers
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly...
for about 2.5 million dollars in 1997. His career in the major leagues heightened expectations from Japanese fans, but Greenwell left the team's spring training camp and returned to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, stating that he had an injury. He did not return to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
until late April. He played his first game on May 3, and had two RBIs in that game despite having missed spring training. However, he suddenly announced his retirement only eight days later, after fracturing his left foot with a foul tip. He left Japan on May 16, and never returned again.
Later life
Greenwell owns a 890 acres (3.6 km²) ranch in Alva, FloridaAlva, Florida
Alva is a census-designated place in Lee County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,182 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Cape Coral–Fort Myers Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Alva is located at ....
, on which he grows fruits and vegetables. He runs an amusement park in Cape Coral
Cape Coral, Florida
Cape Coral is a municipality located in Lee County, Florida, United States, on the Gulf of Mexico. Founded in 1957 and developed as a master-planned, pre-platted community, the city grew to a population of 154,305 by the year 2010. With an area of , Cape Coral is the largest city between Tampa and...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
called "Mike Greenwell's", which opened in February 1992. He also coached both of his sons, Bo and Garrett.
Racing career
Upon his retirement from baseball, Greenwell began driving late-modelLate model
A "late model car" is a car which has been recently designed or manufactured, often the latest model. The term is broadly used in car racing, and often appears in common use, as in "The officer was driving an unmarked, late model sedan."There is no precise...
stock cars. In May 2006 he made his Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
debut at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway
Mansfield Motorsports Speedway
Mansfield Motorsports Park is a half-mile oval racetrack located in Mansfield, Ohio, United States. Featuring moderately high banks and a wide racing surface, it is suitable for close racing and passing. The track hosts an ARCA RE/MAX Series race in 2009...
for Green Light Racing
Green Light Racing
SS-Green Light Racing is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. Owned and operated by businessmen Ken Smith and Steve Urvan and former driver Bobby Dotter, the team fields the #07 Toyota Tundra for several drivers and the #81 Zachry Industrial, Inc. Toyota for David Starr...
, starting 20th and finishing 26th. In 2010, Greenwell had given up racing.
"The Gator"
Greenwell received his nickname during spring training in Winter HavenWinter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 32,577, making it the second most populated city in Polk County...
. He had captured an alligator, taped its mouth shut, and put it in Ellis Burks
Ellis Burks
Ellis Rena Burks is a former outfielder and designated hitter who played in Major League Baseball for 18 seasons...
's locker.
Personal life
Greenwell has a wife, Tracy, who is a nurse, and he also has two sons. Bo, 21, currently plays outfield for the low single A affiliate of the Cleveland IndiansCleveland 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...
, the Lake County Captains
Lake County Captains
The Lake County Captains are a minor league baseball team in Eastlake, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. The team, a Class A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, plays in the Midwest League....
. Garrett, 18, is a first baseman who dreams of playing for the Red Sox.
Career statistics
These are his regular season MLB career statistics (He only played for the Red Sox).| G Games played Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,... |
AB At bat In 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... |
R | H | 2B Double (baseball) In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice.... |
3B Triple (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.... |
HR 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... |
RBI | SB | CS Caught stealing In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt... |
BB Base on balls A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08... |
SO Strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters.... |
BA Batting 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 :... |
OBP On base percentage In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes... |
SLG | TB Total bases In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total.... |
SH | HBP Hit by pitch In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:... |
| 1269 | 4623 | 657 | 1400 | 275 | 38 | 130 | 726 | 80 | 43 | 460 | 364 | .303 | .368 | .463 | 2141 | 3 | 39 |
He also holds the American League record for most game-winning RBI
Game-winning RBI
Major league baseball kept record of game-winning RBI, or GW RBI, in the years 1980-1988. The game-winning RBI was credited to the batter whose at-bat was responsible for bringing his team ahead for the final time in the game...
s in a single season, with 23 in 1988. This record is safer than most because the game-winning RBI has since been discontinued as an official statistic.
External links
- MLB historical statistics
- Mike Greenwell's Profile on SawxHeads.com
- Baseball Library
- Nascar website
- Family Fun Park Website