Ken Landreaux | |
---|---|
Center fielder | |
Born: Los Angeles, California, U.S. | December 22, 1954|
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
September 11, 1977, for the California Angels | |
Last MLB appearance | |
October 4, 1987, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .268 |
Home runs | 91 |
Runs batted in | 479 |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Kenneth Francis Landreaux (born December 22,1954) is an American former professional baseball center fielder. He played in Major League Baseball for the California Angels,Minnesota Twins,and Los Angeles Dodgers from 1977 through 1987.
After graduating from Dominguez High School in Compton,California,Landreaux was drafted by the Houston Astros in the eighth round of the 1973 Major League Baseball draft,but chose to attend Arizona State University. While at Arizona State,he played in the 1975 and 1976 College World Series on teams that included future major leaguers Floyd Bannister,Chris Bando,and Bob Horner.
Landreaux was selected by the California Angels in the first round of the 1976 Major League Baseball draft. In his major league debut with the Angels,on September 11,1977,against the Chicago White Sox,Landreaux threw out three base runners from the outfield. [1]
In 1979,the Angels traded Landreaux,Dave Engle,Paul Hartzell,and Brad Havens to the Minnesota Twins for Rod Carew. [2] In 1980,Landreaux set a Minnesota record with a 31-game hitting streak,tied for the longest in the AL since Dom DiMaggio's 34 in 1949. [3] He still holds the record for most consecutive games with a hit in Minnesota Twins history.
Landreaux was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for three prospects (Mickey Hatcher and two minor leaguers) in 1981. [3] Landreaux was a member of the 1981 World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers,and caught the final out of the 1981 World Series,a fly ball to center field off the bat of Bob Watson. Landreaux's best seasons were 1982 and 1983. Usually batting 2nd in the order,he combined with leadoff man Steve Sax to give the Dodgers two formidable "table setters." Landreaux hit over .280 and had at least 30 stolen bases in each of those seasons. He also hit a career high 17 home runs for the 1983 National League Western Division champion Dodgers. He remained with the Dodgers,completing his major league baseball career in 1987.
In 1264 games over 11 seasons,Landreaux compiled a .268 batting average (1099-for-4101) with 522 runs,180 doubles,45 triples,91 home runs,479 RBI,145 stolen bases,299 base on balls,421 strikeouts,.317 on-base percentage and .400 slugging percentage. Defensively,he recorded a .981 fielding percentage at all three outfield positions. In postseason play covering 24 games,he batted .221 (15-for-68) with 6 runs and 4 RBI.
After retiring,Landreaux abused substances. After achieving sobriety,he worked as a counselor at Bellwood Health Center in Bellflower,California. He and Darrell Jackson,a former baseball teammate,founded the Athletic Connection Team to aid athletes with substance use problems. [4] Landreaux spends his time teaching young baseball players at the Urban Youth Academy in Compton. [5] Ken Landreaux returned to Arizona State University in 2012 and earned a Bachelor of Liberal Studies Degree in 2014.
Landreaux is a cousin of former major league third baseman Enos Cabell. [6]
Shannon Harold Stewart is an American former professional baseball outfielder with the Toronto Blue Jays,Minnesota Twins and Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball.
Shawn David Green is an American former Major League Baseball right fielder. Green was a first-round draft pick and a two-time major league All-Star. He drove in 100 runs four times and scored 100 runs four times,hit 40 or more home runs three times,led the league in doubles,extra base hits,and total bases,won both a Gold Glove Award and a Silver Slugger Award,and set the Dodgers single-season record in home runs. Green was also in the top five in the league in home runs,RBIs,intentional walks,and MVP voting.
Charles Theodore "Chili" Davis is a Jamaican-American former professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder and designated hitter from 1981 to 1999 for the San Francisco Giants (1981–1987),California Angels,Minnesota Twins (1991–1992),Kansas City Royals (1997) and New York Yankees (1998–1999). His first MLB coaching position after his playing career was with the Oakland Athletics from 2012 to 2014. He also coached for the Boston Red Sox,Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets. Davis was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed. He is the first ballplayer born in Jamaica to appear in an MLB game.
Devon Markes Whyte,nicknamed "Devo",is a Jamaican-born American former professional baseball center fielder,best known for his defensive ability at that position. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the California Angels,Toronto Blue Jays,Florida Marlins,Arizona Diamondbacks,Los Angeles Dodgers,and Milwaukee Brewers. He currently serves as the first base coach for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons,but was briefly called up to the Blue Jays as first base coach in 2022.
Carl Reginald Smith is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder and afterwards served as a coach and front office executive. He also played in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for two seasons at the end of his playing career. During a seventeen-year MLB career (1966–1982),Smith appeared in 1,987 games,hit 314 home runs with 1,092 RBI and batted .287. He was a switch-hitter who threw right-handed. In his prime,he had one of the strongest throwing arms of any outfielder in the MLB. Smith played at least seventy games in thirteen different seasons,and in every one of those thirteen seasons,his team had a winning record.
James Michael Eisenreich is an American former Major League Baseball player with a 15-year career from 1982 to 1984 and 1987 to 1998. He played for the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals of the American League,and the Philadelphia Phillies,Florida Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers of the National League. He played first base,outfield and designated hitter.
Ralph David Engle is a former Major League Baseball utility player who played for the Minnesota Twins,Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers of the American League and the Montreal Expos of the National League from 1981 to 1989.
Michael Vaughn Hatcher is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder,third baseman and first baseman from 1979 through 1990,most notably as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers when he replaced an injured Kirk Gibson in the 1988 World Series and hit .368 (7/19) with two home runs and five RBI to help the Dodgers win the world championship.
Shane Lee Mack is an American former professional baseball outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Justin Irvin Upton is an American former professional baseball outfielder. Nicknamed "J-Up",he played in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks,Atlanta Braves,San Diego Padres,Detroit Tigers,Los Angeles Angels,and Seattle Mariners. He has been a teammate of his brother B. J. Upton with both the Braves and the Padres. While primarily a right fielder throughout his career,Upton has since transitioned to left field for the Braves,Padres and Tigers.
Bradley David Havens is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins (1981–83),Baltimore Orioles (1985–86),Los Angeles Dodgers (1987–88),Cleveland Indians (1988–89) and Detroit Tigers (1989).
The 1980 Minnesota Twins season was a season in American baseball. The Twins finished 77–84,third in the American League West. 769,206 fans attended Twins games,the lowest total in the American League.
John Charles Werhas is a former Major League Baseball third baseman who was a pastor for The Rock Community Church in Anaheim Hills,California. He retired from this position on August 23,2015,and moved to Oregon to spend time with his wife of many years.
The 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers season got off to a strong start when rookie pitcher Fernando Valenzuela pitched a shutout on opening day,starting the craze that came to be known as "Fernandomania." Fernando went on to win both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards.
The 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers finished the regular-season with a 97–65 record,which earned them the NL pennant by two games over their arch-rivals,the San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers went on to win the World Series in seven games over the Minnesota Twins.
Below is a partial list of Minor League Baseball players in the Los Angeles Dodgers system.
Peter Christopher Bourjos is an American former professional baseball center fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim / Los Angeles Angels,St. Louis Cardinals,Philadelphia Phillies,Tampa Bay Rays,and Atlanta Braves.
Joc Russell Pederson is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers,Chicago Cubs,Atlanta Braves,and San Francisco Giants. He is a two-time World Series champion and a two-time All-Star.
Allen Lorenz "A. J." Pollock is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks,Los Angeles Dodgers,Chicago White Sox,Seattle Mariners,and San Francisco Giants.
Jason Martin is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Los Angeles Angels organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates,Texas Rangers,and in the KBO League for the NC Dinos.