John Olerud

John Olerud
First baseman
Born: August 5, 1968 (1968-08-05) (age 43) Seattle, Washington
Batted: Left	Threw: Left
MLB debut
September 3, 1989 for the Toronto Blue Jays
Last MLB appearance
October 2, 2005 for the Boston Red Sox
Career statistics
Batting average	.295
Hits	2,239
Home runs	255
Runs batted in	1,230
Teams
Toronto Blue Jays (1989–1996) New York Mets (1997–1999) Seattle Mariners (2000–2004) New York Yankees (2004) Boston Red Sox (2005)
Career highlights and awards
2× All-Star (1993, 2001) 2× World Series champion (1992, 1993) 3× Gold Glove Award winner (2000, 2002, 2003) 1993 AL batting title 1993 Hutch Award

John Garrett Olerud ( /ˈoʊləruːd/; nicknamed Big Rude, and Johnny O; born August 5, 1968), is a former American first baseman in Major League Baseball. Olerud played with the Toronto Blue Jays (1989–96), New York Mets (1997–99), Seattle Mariners (2000–2004), New York Yankees (2004) and Boston Red Sox (2005).

A three-time Gold Glove winner, he was an excellent defensive first baseman and part of Sports Illustrated's "Greatest Infield Ever"^[1] with Edgardo Alfonzo, Rey Ordóñez, and Robin Ventura when he played for the Mets.

Career

Washington State University

In 1987, Olerud hit .414 with 5 HR and 20 RBIs. As a pitcher, he went 8-2 with a 3.00 ERA and was a freshman All-American.

In 1988, Olerud hit .464 with 23 HR, 81 RBIs, 108 hits, 204 total bases, and a .876 Slugging percentage. As a pitcher, he had an undefeated 15-0 season, and threw 113 Ks with a 2.49 ERA. He was a consensus All-American as both 1B and Pitcher and Baseball America College Player of the Year.

In 1989, while recovering from a brain aneurysm, Olerud hit .359 with 5 HR and 30 RBI in 78 plate appearances. He threw for three wins, two losses, and a 6.68 ERA. He was a Pac-10 North All-League Designated Hitter.

Professional

In a 17-season career through 2005 spanning 2,234 games, Olerud posted a .398 on-base percentage, 500 doubles, 255 home runs, 1,275 walks, 1,408 runs created, 3,602 times on base, 96 sacrifice flies and 157 intentional walks. He was also hit by a pitch 88 times and grounded into 232 double plays during his career. He is also one of only 26 players to ever hit for the cycle multiple times in their careers. He was a two-time All-Star and was a member of two World Series winning teams with the Blue Jays (1992-93).

Olerud jumped directly to the majors after a stellar career at Washington State University where he was a pitcher noted for his performance from 1987 to 1989. He was known for wearing a batting helmet in the field as a precaution since he had suffered a brain aneurysm while playing in college.

Olerud broke into MLB with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1989. He was platooned by Jays' manager Cito Gaston for the first few years of his career, until his breakout season in 1993, when he led the American League in batting average (.363), runs created (156), intentional walks (33), times on base (321), on-base percentage (.473), OPS (1.072), and doubles (54, also a career high), while posting career highs in home runs (24), RBI (107), runs (109), and hits (200). In 1993, he flirted with a .400 batting average for much of the season, with his average staying higher than .400 as late as August 24.

Despite putting up solid numbers over the next several years, he failed to meet the high expectations placed upon him following his breakout performance in 1993. After the 1996 season, Olerud was battling veteran Joe Carter and up-and-comer Carlos Delgado for a spot at either first base or designated hitter. Delgado was young and had a bright future and a low salary while Gaston preferred Carter to Olerud, feeling the latter wasn't aggressive enough at the plate.^[2] Therefore, Olerud was traded, along with cash, to the New York Mets on 20 December 1996 for Robert Person.

With the Mets, Olerud set team single season records for batting average (.354), on-base percentage (.447) and runs created (138) in 1998 and set their team records for most walks (125) and times on base (309) in a season in 1999. Also during his 1999 campaign, Olerud appeared on the cover of the September 6 issue of Sports Illustrated, along with fellow Mets infielders Edgardo Alfonzo, Rey Ordóñez, and Robin Ventura. The magazine raised the debate as to whether the four talented defensive players comprised the best infield in Major League history.

Following the 1999 season, Olerud returned home, agreeing to a three-year, $20 million contract with the Seattle Mariners. He was an important part of the Mariners' 116-46 2001 season with a .401 on-base percentage, 94 walks, 272 times on base and 19 intentional walks in 159 games. In 2002 he amassed 45 doubles, 102 walks, 10 sacrifice flies and 11 intentional walks. He recorded a .398 on-base percentage, 39 doubles, 98 walks, 269 times on base and led the American League in sacrifice flies (12). In 2003 he collected another 84 walks. Olerud also earned all three of his career Gold Gloves while playing first base for Seattle in 2000, 2002 and 2003.

After being released by the Mariners in the middle of the 2004 season, Olerud was signed by the New York Yankees to fill a void left at first base by the injury of Jason Giambi. Later that year the Yankees visited Seattle to play the Mariners. Olerud started the second game; his first time up, Mariner catcher Dan Wilson went to the mound to have a "conference" with pitcher Jamie Moyer. This gave time for about a minute long standing ovation for Olerud from the Seattle fans. His final game with the Yankees was Game 3 of the AL championship series when he was forced to leave due to an injured foot. Olerud pinch hit in Game 7 but struck out after a lengthy at bat against Pedro Martinez in a rare relief appearance.

On May 1, 2005, the Boston Red Sox and Olerud agreed to terms on a minor league contract. He had been recovering from surgery in November 2004 to repair torn ligaments in his left foot. Initially, Olerud reported to the club's spring training complex in Fort Myers, Florida. He was added to Boston's 25-man roster on May 27, sharing time at first base with Kevin Millar and batting in the middle of the lineup (including several starts in the clean-up spot).

On December 6, 2005 Olerud announced his retirement from baseball. At the time of his retirement, his 2,239 career hits represented the 143rd-highest total in Major League Baseball history. His career .398 OBP ranks 65th all-time, and his 500 doubles are good for 44th all-time.

In 2007 Olerud was inducted into the College Baseball Hall Of Fame.

Personal Life

Olerud lives with his family, Kelly (wife), Garrett (son),Jordan (daughter)and Jessica (daughter) in Clyde Hill, Washington.

See also

• List of baseball players who went directly to the major leagues
• List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
• List of Major League Baseball players with 2000 hits
• List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
• List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
• List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBIs
• Hitting for the cycle
• List of Major League Baseball batting champions
• List of Major League Baseball doubles champions

References

1. ^ Sports Illustrated, Sept. 6, 1999
2. ^ Top 50 All-Time Jays: #10 John Olerud

External links

• Career statistics and player information from ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or The Baseball Cube
• Baseball Library - Article and career chronology
• The Boston Globe - Olerud a pro with no cons
• John Olerud at the Internet Movie Database

Awards
Preceded by Frank Thomas Paul Molitor	American League Player of the Month April 1993 June 1993	Succeeded by Paul Molitor Rafael Palmeiro
Preceded by Edgar Martínez	American League Batting Champion 1993	Succeeded by Paul O'Neill

Persondata
Name	Olerud, John
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	August 5, 1968
Place of birth	Seattle, Washington
Date of death
Place of death