Nick Esasky
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Andrew Esasky is a former Major League Baseball
first baseman
and third baseman
. During his career, which spanned just over seven-and-a-half years and was spent mostly with the Cincinnati Reds
(1983
to 1988
), the former first-round draft pick in 1978
hit .250
with 122 home run
s and 427 runs batted in.
Though he twice hit more than 20 home runs in a season with the Reds, his best statistical year came in 1989
as a member of the Boston Red Sox
to whom he was traded along with relief pitcher Rob Murphy
for switch-hitting
first baseman/outfield
er Todd Benzinger
and pitcher Jeff Sellers
. During that season, he hit .277 with 30 home runs and 108 runs batted in. That offseason, as a free agent, Esasky signed a three-year, $5.6 million contract with the Atlanta Braves
, but was forced to retire after playing just nine games due to developing vertigo
stemming from an ear infection. His salary was paid for by insurance.
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...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
and 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...
. During his career, which spanned just over seven-and-a-half years and was spent mostly with 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....
(1983
1983 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Baltimore Orioles over Philadelphia Phillies ; Rick Dempsey, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Mike Boddicker*National League Championship Series MVP: Gary Matthews...
to 1988
1988 in baseball
See also: 1988 Major League Baseball season-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers over Oakland Athletics ; Orel Hershiser, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Dennis Eckersley...
), the former first-round draft pick in 1978
1978 in baseball
-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Indios de Mayagüez *College World Series: USC*Japan Series: Yakult Swallows over Hankyu Braves *Little League World Series: Pin-Kuang, Pin-Tung, Taiwan-Awards and honors:*Most Valuable Player...
hit .250
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 :...
with 122 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 and 427 runs batted in.
Though he twice hit more than 20 home runs in a season with the Reds, his best statistical year came in 1989
1989 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Oakland Athletics over San Francisco Giants ; Dave Stewart, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Rickey Henderson*National League Championship Series MVP: Will Clark...
as a member of 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"...
to whom he was traded along with relief pitcher Rob Murphy
Rob Murphy
Robert A. "Rob" Murphy, Jr. is a former American professional baseball player who was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball for eleven seasons in the 1980s and 1990s. Murphy played college baseball for the University of Florida, and was picked by the Cincinnati Reds in the first round of the...
for switch-hitting
Switch hitter
In baseball, a switch-hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed.-Baseball:Usually, right-handed batters hit better against left-handed pitchers and vice-versa. Most curveballs break away from batters hitting from the same side as the opposing pitcher. Such pitches are often...
first baseman/outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
er Todd Benzinger
Todd Benzinger
Todd Eric Benzinger is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder who played from 1987 to 1995. Benzinger is a graduate of New Richmond High School in New Richmond, Ohio....
and pitcher Jeff Sellers
Jeff Sellers
Jeffrey Doyle Sellers is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox from 1985 through 1988...
. During that season, he hit .277 with 30 home runs and 108 runs batted in. That offseason, as a free agent, Esasky signed a three-year, $5.6 million contract with 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....
, but was forced to retire after playing just nine games due to developing vertigo
Vertigo (medical)
Vertigo is a type of dizziness, where there is a feeling of motion when one is stationary. The symptoms are due to a dysfunction of the vestibular system in the inner ear...
stemming from an ear infection. His salary was paid for by insurance.