Jeff Newman | |
---|---|
Catcher / First baseman | |
Born: Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. | September 11, 1948|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
June 30, 1976, for the Oakland A's | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 7, 1984, for the Boston Red Sox | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .224 |
Home runs | 63 |
Runs batted in | 233 |
Teams | |
As player As manager | |
Career highlights and awards | |
Jeffrey Lynn Newman (born September 11,1948) is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. Newman was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 26th round of the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his MLB debut in 1976. He was an All Star in 1979. He served as the interim manager of the Oakland Athletics in 1986.
Newman was born in Fort Worth,Texas,and is Jewish. [1] [2] He attended Paschal High School,where he played baseball and basketball. [3] He later lived in Danville,California. [3]
Newman is a convert to Judaism,having in 1970 converted in an Orthodox ceremony. [4] [5] [6] [3] His son,Ryan,was an infielder for three years in the Pittsburgh Pirates' organization before becoming a coach for the 2005 Gulf Coast League Pirates.
Newman was a History major at Texas Christian University,where he earned a B.S. in Education and also earned All-America honors as a third baseman in 1968. [3] [7] In his sophomore year after batting .350 he was All-Southwest Conference First Team and All NCAA All-District First Team as well as NCAA All American Third Team,and in 1969 as a junior he batted .345,set university records in RBIs (44) and hits (57),and was All-Conference and All-District First Team. [7]
Newman was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 26th round of the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft. [3] [7] Originally,Newman played first,third and the outfield. He played for the GCL Indians of the Gulf Coast League in 1970 (batting .313,leading the league in RBIs with 55,and tying for the league lead in home runs with six,while playing primarily first base),for the Reno Silver Sox of the California League in 1971 (hitting 16 home runs in 234 at bats,while playing primarily outfield) and 1972 (hitting 20 home runs and 84 RBIs),and for the San Antonio Brewers of the Texas League in 1972. [8] [7] In 1974 he played for the Oklahoma City 89ers of the American Association and the Salt Lake City Angels of the Pacific Coast League (batting .303),in 1975 he played for Salt Lake City and for the Toledo Mud Hens of the International League,and in 1975 he again played for Toledo. [8]
He didn't begin catching until 1972 with the Reno Silver Sox. He spent six seasons in the Indians' farm system,batting .259 with 73 home runs and 333 runs batted in when the Oakland A's purchased his contract in October 1975.
Newman was called up to the majors in June 1976,when he was 27 years old,and spent the rest of the season backing up Gene Tenace behind the plate. [6] He backed up Manny Sanguillén in 1977,a season in which he threw out 51.8% of attempted base-stealers,third-best of all catchers in the American League. [2] He then moved into a platoon with Jim Essian from 1978 through 1980,while also backing up Dave Revering at first base.
He was batting .229 with 16 home runs and 52 RBIs when he was selected by AL manager Bob Lemon as Oakland's sole representative at the 1979 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. [9] For the season,he hit 22 home runs and drove in 71 runs,both career highs. [2] He also threw out 46.8% of attempted base-stealers,fourth-best of all catchers in the American League. [2]
Newman was involved in the first of two bench-clearing brawls with Lenny Randle and the Seattle Mariners on April 19,1981. [10] The A's won the first half of the strike shortened season with a 37–23 record to return to the postseason for the first time since 1975. In 1981 he also threw out 46.4% of attempted base-stealers,fifth-best of all catchers in the American League. [2] In his only career trip to the postseason,Newman went hitless in nine plate appearances in the American League West division series and ALCS. [2]
At the start of the December 1982 Winter Meetings,the A's sent Newman and outfielder Tony Armas to the Boston Red Sox for Carney Lansford,Garry Hancock,and minor leaguer Jerry King. [11]
When the Red Sox originally acquired Newman in 1982,it was with the intent that he would be the back-up to Rich Gedman behind the plate. However,he soon fell to third in the depth chart behind Gary Allenson. He was released during spring training in April 1985. [2]
Newman had perhaps his greatest hitting success against Wayne Garland,against whom he was 13–18 (.722) with two home runs,six doubles and a walk. He made his only appearance on the mound on September 14,1977. He pitched one scoreless inning,though he hit the first batter he faced (Hal McRae) with a pitch. [12]
As soon as his playing days ended,Newman returned to the Oakland A's as manager Jackie Moore's bullpen coach. When Moore was fired as A's manager on June 28,1986,Newman was named interim manager prior to the hiring of Tony La Russa. [13] The A's went 2–8 under Newman. Through 2018,he was one of eight Jewish managers in MLB history. [14] The others were Gabe Kapler,Bob Melvin,Brad Ausmus,Norm Sherry,Harold “Lefty”Phillips,Lou Boudreau,and Lipman Pike. [14] He remained a coach and manager with the A's at the minor league level through 1991,being named the Southern League's Manager of the Year in 1989 while managing the Huntsville Stars to a win–loss percentage of .573. [8]
He was Mike Hargrove's third base coach with the Cleveland Indians from 1992–1999,and served as the Baltimore Orioles' bench coach in 2000. He began wearing a tie for the first time in his career in 2002,serving as a field assistant for the Commissioner's Office of Major League Baseball until joining the Seattle Mariners as third base coach in 2005. [15] An August 2005 Achilles injury requiring surgery prematurely ended his coaching career in Seattle. [16]
Leo Ernest Whitt is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB),including twelve for the Toronto Blue Jays,and was the last player from the franchise's inaugural season of 1977 to remain through 1989. Whitt was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.
Richard Leo Gedman is an American professional baseball coach and former catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox (1980–1990),Houston Astros (1990–1991),and St. Louis Cardinals (1991–1992). He currently serves as hitting coach with the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox of the International League. Listed at 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m) and 210 pounds (95 kg),he batted left-handed and threw right-handed.
Fury Gene Tenace,better known as Gene Tenace,is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played as a catcher and first baseman in Major League Baseball from 1969 through 1983,most notably as a member of the Oakland Athletics dynasty that won three consecutive World Series championships between 1972 and 1974.
William Shawn Wooten is the assistant major league hitting coach for the Los Angeles Angels. He is a former professional baseball player. He played all or parts of five seasons in Major League Baseball with the Anaheim Angels (2000–03),Philadelphia Phillies (2004),and Boston Red Sox (2005). He bats and throws right-handed.
William Joseph Haselman is an American professional baseball coach and former player. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 13 seasons between 1990 and 2003. A first-round selection in the 1987 MLB draft,he played for the Texas Rangers,Seattle Mariners,Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers. He previously was the bullpen coach and first base coach for the Red Sox and the third base coach for the Los Angeles Angels. He has also served as a manager in Minor League Baseball.
Jerry Austin Narron is an American professional baseball manager,coach,and former player. He is the current catching coach for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He recently served as a major league instructor for the Chicago White Sox. Narron played in MLB,primarily as a catcher,for three teams during 1979–87. He has served as manager for the Texas Rangers (2001–02) and the Cincinnati Reds (2005–07).
Robert Paul Melvin is an American professional baseball manager and former catcher who is the current manager of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). Melvin has been named Manager of the Year three times.
David Edwin Duncan is an American pitching consultant for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is also a former professional baseball catcher and pitching coach. He began his MLB playing career in 1964 and played again consecutively from 1967 to 1976 for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics,Cleveland Indians,and Baltimore Orioles.
Ryan Francis Garko is an American former professional baseball outfielder,first baseman,and designated hitter. In college,he was a catcher. He played for the Cleveland Indians,the San Francisco Giants,and the Texas Rangers in Major League Baseball as well as the Samsung Lions in the Korea Baseball Organization. Garko was seen by former ESPN reporter John Sickels as a good hitter who hit to all parts of the field,but with poor defensive instincts. Through 2010,he had a .275 career average,427 hits,55 home runs,and 250 RBI in 463 games.
Jackie Spencer Moore is an American former professional baseball catcher,coach and manager. He spent all or parts of 12 years over five separate terms as a Texas Rangers coach,and 32 years in all as a coach for eight different Major League Baseball (MLB) teams. Moore managed the Oakland Athletics (1984–86),and played part of one season with the Detroit Tigers as a third-string catcher in 1965.
Michael Anthony Napoli is an American former professional baseball first baseman and catcher who is currently the first base coach for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB).
David Lawrence McKay is a Canadian professional baseball coach and former second baseman and third baseman who is the first base coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Minnesota Twins,Toronto Blue Jays,and Oakland Athletics,and has previously coached for the Athletics,St. Louis Cardinals,and Chicago Cubs. He is the father of former catcher Cody McKay.
Mark Alan Parent is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played from 1986 to 1998 and was the bench coach for the Chicago White Sox from 2012 to 2015.
Anthony Michael Brumley is an American former professional baseball utility player in Major League Baseball (MLB),who played primarily as a shortstop. He played from 1987 through 1995 for the Cubs (1987),Detroit Tigers (1989),Seattle Mariners (1990),Boston Red Sox (1991–1992),Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics (1994). Brumley was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed. He was the assistant hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs in 2014. He is the son of the catcher Mike Brumley.
Ronald Garry Hancock was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics in parts of six seasons spanning 1978–1984,primarily as a reserve outfielder. Listed at 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m) and 175 pounds (79 kg),he batted and threw left-handed.
Christopher Michael Bando is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the 1980s,spending most of his career with the Cleveland Indians before playing for the Detroit Tigers and Oakland Athletics. He currently manages the Texas AirHogs of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.
Nicholas John Hundley is an American former professional baseball catcher and current front office executive. He is currently a special assistant to the general manager for the Texas Rangers. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres,Baltimore Orioles,Colorado Rockies,San Francisco Giants,and Oakland Athletics. He was drafted in 2005 by the Padres in the second round,and made his major-league debut in 2008.
Ricky Joe Sweet is an American former professional baseball catcher and current manager of the Milwaukee Brewers' Triple-A affiliate,the Nashville Sounds. He played three seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1978 and 1983 for the San Diego Padres,New York Mets,and Seattle Mariners. Sweet became a major league coach in 1984 and spent two years as a scout before beginning his minor league managerial career in 1987.
Ryan Cole Lavarnway is an American-Israeli former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox,Baltimore Orioles,Atlanta Braves,Oakland Athletics,Pittsburgh Pirates,Cincinnati Reds,Miami Marlins,and Cleveland Indians. In international competition,he plays for Team Israel,and competed for them in the World Baseball Classic and in the Olympics.
Michael Accorsi Zunino is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners,Tampa Bay Rays,and Cleveland Guardians.