Brent Mayne

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=#15317E
bgcolor2=#15317E
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
name=Brent Mayne
position=Catcher
birthdate =birth date and age|1968|4|19
bats=Left
throws=Right
debutdate=September 18
debutyear=by|1990
debutteam=Kansas City Royals
finaldate=October 2
finalyear=by|2004
finalteam=Los Angeles Dodgers
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.263
stat2label=Hits
stat2value=951
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=403
teams=
*Kansas City Royals (by|1990-by|1995)
*New York Mets (by|1996)
*Oakland Athletics (by|1997)
*San Francisco Giants (by|1998-by|1999)
*Colorado Rockies (by|2000-by|2001)
*Kansas City Royals (by|2001-by|2003)
*Arizona Diamondbacks (by|2004)
*Los Angeles Dodgers (by|2004)
highlights=

Brent Danem Mayne (born April 19, 1968 in Loma Linda, California) is a former Major League Baseball catcher who has played with the Kansas City Royals (by|1990-by|1995|95, by|2002-by|2003|03), New York Mets (by|1996), Oakland Athletics (by|1997), San Francisco Giants (by|1998-by|1999|99), Colorado Rockies (by|2000-by|2001|01), Arizona Diamondbacks (by|2004) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2004). Mayne batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was offered salary arbitration at the end of the 2004 season.

Brent Mayne was a major league catcher from 1989 to 2004. He played most of his career with the Kansas City Royals but also spent time with the Mets, A's, Giants, Rockies, Diamondbacks, and Dodgers. He ranks 75th in the history of baseball with 1,143 pro games caught, and has the distinction of being the only catcher in the twentieth century to have won a game as a pitcher. An All-American in college, he was drafted in the first round (13th pick overall) and inducted into the Orange Coast College Hall of Fame in 2006. Through his career, the well traveled Mayne was an effective catcher and an excellent handler of pitchers. He blocked the plate well and had a strong arm. Mayne was a decent hitter with occasional power and compiled a career high .301 batting average in consecutive seasons (1999-2000). In retirement, Mayne has gone on to serve on the board of directors of the Braille institute and the Center for Hope and Healing. He is also the author of a book titled "The Art of Catching" and creator of a website and blog www.brentmayne.com.

On August 22, 2000, the Colorado Rockies sent Mayne in as a relief pitcher in the 12th inning against the Atlanta Braves. Mayne, the Rockies' regular catcher, was unable to swing a bat due to a sprained left wrist and had missed the previous four games. Out of pitchers, manager Buddy Bell asked Mayne if he could pitch. Mayne, who later said he had never pitched at any level, responded, "Yeah, I can pitch." He pitched one inning, surrendering no runs with a fastball that topped out at 83 miles per hour. Colorado won the game the next inning when rookie Adam Melhuse, pinch-hitting for Mayne, singled with the bases loaded and two outs. Mayne thus became the first position player to be credited with a win since by|1968.

In a 15-year career, Mayne is a .263 hitter with 38 home runs and 403 RBI in 1279 games.

Author of a book called "The Art of Catching" and creator of website/blog www.brentmayne.com

External links

*Baseball Library (highlights) [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/M/Mayne_Brent.stm]
*Baseball Reference (statistics) [http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/maynebr01.shtml]
*ESPN (profile and daily update) [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=4603]
* [http://www.thediamondangle.com/crank/20000823.html The Were-Pitcher and Other Tales of Mound Madness]
* [http://www.royalsreview.com/2008/5/8/482638/the-100-greatest-royals-of The 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time, #56 Brent Mayne]