No. 42 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born: | Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. | September 21, 1965||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight: | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
High school: | Virginia Beach (VA) Kempsville | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
College: | Penn State | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NFL draft: | 1987 / round: 1 / pick: 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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William Henry "D.J." Dozier Jr. (born September 21,1965) is an American former professional National Football League (NFL) running back and Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder. He played five seasons with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions from 1987 to 1991,and played one season with the MLB's New York Mets in 1992. He currently resides in Virginia Beach,Virginia.
Dozier was born in Norfolk,Virginia. He attended Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach,Virginia,and later attended Penn State University. When D.J. was 12 years old,he played on a youth basketball team for Kempsville and made it to the Virginia Beach city championship game. His team played against the Green Run Suns,who had future NBA Hall of Fame player David Robinson on the team. Kempsville won the game,mainly in part to David Robinson (who was a small forward and not the tallest player on the team nor highest scorer) missing the game due to having come down with the mumps. Dozier,who would eventually grow to 6 feet tall,was already 5'9" or 5'10" by 12 years old. With his athleticism,skill and size,he dominated the undefeated Suns and won the city championship.
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Vertical jump |
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6 ft 0+1⁄4 in (1.84 m) | 204 lb (93 kg) | 31+1⁄4 in (0.79 m) | 10+1⁄4 in (0.26 m) | 34.0 in (0.86 m) |
Dozier, who was 6'0", 202 pounds and who threw and batted right-handed was originally drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 18th round in 1983 (459th overall). He opted not to sign and decided to go to college, where he would pursue his football career.
In 1990, the New York Mets signed him as an amateur free agent. He spent 1990 and 1991 in the minor leagues, where he showed good speed (he stole 33 bases with St. Lucie in 1990) and also some power (in 1990, he hit 13 home runs with St. Lucie). He played for the Williamsport Bills in 1991.
After spending some time in the minors in 1992, he was called up to the Major Leagues and made his debut on May 6, 1992, at the age of 26. In 25 games, he hit .191 with 4 stolen bases and 19 strikeouts in 47 at-bats. Defensively, he committed 1 error for a fielding percentage of .971.
On October 26, 1992, Dozier was traded with catcher Raul Casanova and pitcher Wally Whitehurst for shortstop/third baseman Tony Fernández. [2]
Octavio Antonio Fernández Castro, better known as Tony Fernández, was a Dominican baseball player who played as a shortstop in Major League Baseball (MLB) for seven teams from 1983 to 2001, most notably the Toronto Blue Jays. A five-time All-Star, Fernández was known for his defensive skills, winning four consecutive Gold Glove Awards (1986–1989). He batted over .300 four times, led the major leagues with 17 triples in 1990, collected 30 doubles six times and 20 stolen bases seven times. He also led American League shortstops in assists three times, and in putouts and fielding average twice each. After moving to the National League in a blockbuster trade following the 1990 season, he returned to the Blue Jays in a mid-season trade in 1993, and played a major role in helping the club repeat as World Series champions, batting .333 with nine runs batted in during the series.
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