Oddibe McDowell
Encyclopedia
Oddibe McDowell is a former center fielder
in Major League Baseball
who played from to for the Texas Rangers
, Cleveland Indians
and Atlanta Braves
. McDowell was the first player to hit for the cycle
for the Rangers when he accomplished that feat on July 23, 1985. Mark Teixeira
, Gary Matthews, Jr.
, Ian Kinsler
and Bengie Molina
are the only other Rangers players to hit for the cycle.
His first name is pronounced "owed a bee" or "oh-ta-bee." Because it also sounds vaguely like a slurred rendition of "oh to be," ESPN
personality and announcer Chris Berman dubbed him Oddibe "Young Again" McDowell.
, which is given annually to the best amateur baseball player, in 1984 while playing at Arizona State University
. He wore uniform number 0 at ASU, and ASU has retired his number. McDowell also finished 4th in the American League Rookie of the Year voting for 1985.
He was a member of the 1984 United States Olympic Team.
McDowell stood out during his first stint with the Texas Rangers by wearing the very unusual uniform number 0. He wore the number 20 with the Indians, the number 1 with the Braves, and during his second time with the Rangers, he wore number 8.
Through June 16, 2009, McDowell was tied for second of all Rangers players ever in career leadoff home runs, one behind the 9 by Ian Kinsler
.http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090503&content_id=4551512&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
Today, Oddibe is the Head Coach for the Everglades High School Varsity Baseball team.
He was inducted in the College Baseball Hall of Fame
in 2011.
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
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 from to for 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...
, 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...
and 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....
. McDowell was the first player to hit for the cycle
Hitting for the cycle
In 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...
for the Rangers when he accomplished that feat on July 23, 1985. Mark Teixeira
Mark Teixeira
Mark Charles Teixeira , nicknamed "Tex" is an American Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees. Mostly a first baseman, he has also played third base and in the outfield...
, Gary Matthews, Jr.
Gary Matthews, Jr.
Gary Nathaniel Matthews, Jr. is an outfielder who is currently a free agent. Matthews is the son of Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Gary Matthews, who played 16 years in the majors as an outfielder. Matthews, Jr...
, Ian Kinsler
Ian Kinsler
Ian Michael Kinsler is a Major League Baseball All-Star second baseman for the Texas Rangers.Despite having been drafted in only the 17th round out of college, Kinsler has risen to become a two-time All Star, and a member of the Sporting News 2009 list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball...
and Bengie Molina
Bengie Molina
Benjamin José "Bengie" Molina , nicknamed "Big Money", is a former Major League Baseball catcher.He is the older brother of major league catchers José Molina and Yadier Molina....
are the only other Rangers players to hit for the cycle.
His first name is pronounced "owed a bee" or "oh-ta-bee." Because it also sounds vaguely like a slurred rendition of "oh to be," ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
personality and announcer Chris Berman dubbed him Oddibe "Young Again" McDowell.
Baseball career
He won the prestigious Golden Spikes AwardGolden Spikes Award
The Golden Spikes Award is awarded annually to the best amateur baseball player. It is awarded by USA Baseball and sponsored by the Major League Baseball Players Association. Though the award can be presented to any amateur player, it has always been given to a college baseball player.-Past...
, which is given annually to the best amateur baseball player, in 1984 while playing at Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
. He wore uniform number 0 at ASU, and ASU has retired his number. McDowell also finished 4th in the American League Rookie of the Year voting for 1985.
He was a member of the 1984 United States Olympic Team.
McDowell stood out during his first stint with the Texas Rangers by wearing the very unusual uniform number 0. He wore the number 20 with the Indians, the number 1 with the Braves, and during his second time with the Rangers, he wore number 8.
Through June 16, 2009, McDowell was tied for second of all Rangers players ever in career leadoff home runs, one behind the 9 by Ian Kinsler
Ian Kinsler
Ian Michael Kinsler is a Major League Baseball All-Star second baseman for the Texas Rangers.Despite having been drafted in only the 17th round out of college, Kinsler has risen to become a two-time All Star, and a member of the Sporting News 2009 list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball...
.http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090503&content_id=4551512&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
Today, Oddibe is the Head Coach for the Everglades High School Varsity Baseball team.
He was inducted in the College Baseball Hall of Fame
College Baseball Hall of Fame
The National College Baseball Hall of Fame, located in Lubbock, Texas, is a museum operated by the College Baseball Foundation serving as the central point for the study of the history of college baseball in the United States...
in 2011.