Joe McEwing

Infobox MLB retired
name=Joe McEwing
position=Utility player (baseball)
bgcolor1=#003581
bgcolor2=#ff5731
textcolor1=White
textcolor2=White
birthdate=birth date and age|1972|10|17
deathdate=
bats=Right
throws=Right
debutdate=September 2
debutyear=by|1998
debutteam=St. Louis Cardinals
finaldate=May 21
finalyear=by|2006
finalteam=Houston Astros
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.251
stat2label=Hits
stat2value=443
stat3label=Home runs
stat3value=25
teams=
*St. Louis Cardinals (by|1998-by|1999)
*New York Mets (by|2000-by|2004)
*Kansas City Royals (by|2005)
*Houston Astros (by|2006)
highlights=
*141 hits in 1999

Joseph Earl McEwing (born October 17, 1972 in Bristol, Pennsylvania) is a minor league baseball coach and former Major League Baseball player who spent most of his career with the New York Mets, where he played from by|2000 through by|2004.

McEwing played college baseball at the County College of Morris in Randolph Township, New Jersey. [ [http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Joe%20McEwing&pos=&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=136607 Joe McEwing] , Minor League Baseball. Accessed November 11, 2007.]

Professional baseball career

Nicknamed "Super Joe", he was a utility player who played every position on the field, except for pitcher, throughout his major league career. McEwing was a fan favorite because of his energy, hustle and obvious love for the game. [ [http://ballhype.com/story/news_super_joe_finally_retires/ News: Super Joe Finally Retires - New York Mets, Baseball ] ] He had his best season in by|1999, while a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. In that season, he had 141 hits and 9 home runs, both career highs, as well as a 25-game hitting streak, the fifth longest at that time by a rookie. That same year, Cardinal fans created what was known as "Little Mac Land," in a play on words of the official "Big Mac Land" created in the upper deck of Busch Stadium for Mark McGwire. Fact|date=March 2007 McEwing also has the longest streak of 228 errorless games.Fact|date=March 2007 McEwing ended his streak in 2004 at 227 games.

Released by the New York Mets toward the end of spring training in by|2005, the Kansas City Royals signed him to provide extra infield insurance. The Royals called him up to the major leagues on March 12, when regular third baseman, Mark Teahen, went on the 15-day disabled list.

On March 30, by|2006, he was sent to the Houston Astros by the Royals. In by|2007, he signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox. [http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view.bg?articleid=169775&format=&page=2] On January 16, by|2008, McEwing officially announced his retirement from baseball.

Post playing career

He is currently the hitting coach of the Chicago White Sox's Triple-A affiliate, the Charlotte Knights. [cite web |url=http://www.charlotte.com/sports/story/453117.html |title= CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS: Bombard returns with new staff |publisher=Charlotte Observer| author=Cliff Mehrtens| date=2008-01-19 | accessdate=2008-01-22]

References

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mcewijo01.shtml Detailed player statistics]
* [http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Joe%20McEwing&pos=&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=136607 2007 Player Statistics]
* [http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050317&content_id=969920&vkey=spt2005news&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym McEwing's release hits Wright hard]