John Olerud

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John Olerud

Position	First Base
Team	Retired
Years of Experience	16 years
Age	37 years
Height	6 ft 5 in
Weight	225 lb.
Bats	Left
Throws	Left
High School	Interlake High School
College	Washington State University
2005 Salary	$750,000
Place of Birth	Seattle, Washington
Selection	3rd round, 1989 amateur draft
Drafted by	Toronto Blue Jays
Major League Debut	September 3, 1989

John Garrett Olerud (born August 5, 1968 in Seattle, Washington) is a retired American first baseman in Major League Baseball who, last played in 2005 for the Boston Red Sox. Previously, Olerud played with the Toronto Blue Jays (1989-96), New York Mets (1997-99), Seattle Mariners (2000-2004) and New York Yankees (2004).

Known for having one of the smoothest swings in the game, Olerud was strictly a line drive hitter to all parts of the field. He was patient at the plate, usually drawing 90-100 walks a season. Despite being one of the slowest players in MLB, Olerud was also a very intelligent base runner. A three-time Gold Glove winner, he was a solid first baseman with a good throwing arm and an average range.

Contents 1 Career 2 Highlights 3 Facts 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] Career

In a 17-season career through 2005 spanning 2,234 games, Olerud posted a .398 on-base percentage, 500 doubles, 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.

Well known for not having played a game in the minor leagues until his late thirties, Olerud jumped directly to the majors after a stellar career at Washington State University where he was a pitcher noted for his performance. He was known for wearing a batting helmet in the field as a precaution since he suffered a brain aneurysm while playing in college. He had a metal plate in his head that was stronger than his skull. A ball would not have hurt him at all. The only reason he wore it was because he promised his dying mother he would.

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).

A two-time All-Star, Olerud was a member of two World Series champion teams with the Blue Jays (1992-93). He could not duplicate his success in the next three years, and was traded to the New York Mets in December 1996.

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.

Following the 1999 season, Olerud decided to sign with the Seattle Mariners to be near his family. He was a big 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 2000 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 amassed another 84 walks.

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 left by the injured Jason Giambi. 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 was due to pinch hit in game seven of the AL championship series, but the last out was made while he was in the on deck circle.

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 25-man roster on May 27, sharing time at first base with Kevin Millar and batting in the middle of the lineup (included several starts in the clean-up spot).

On December 6, 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.

[edit] Highlights

• 2-time All-Star (1993, 2001)
• 3-time AL Gold Glove Award at First Base (2000, 2002-03)
• Hutch Award (1993)
• Finished 3rd in voting for AL MVP (1993)
• Finished 12th in voting for NL MVP (1998)
• Twice led AL in Sacrifice Flies (10 in 1991 and 12 in 2002)
• Led American League in Batting Average (.363 in 1993)
• Led American League in On-base percentage (.473 in 1993)
• Led AL in OPS (1.072 in 1993)
• Led NL in Games (162 in 1999)
• Led AL in Doubles (54 in 1993)
• Led AL in Runs Created (156 in 1993)
• Led AL in Times on Base (321 in 1993)
• Led AL in Intentional Walks (33 in 1993)
• Toronto Blue Jays Career On-base percentage (.395) Leader
• Holds Toronto Blue Jays Single Season Record for Batting Average (.363), On-base percentage (.473) and Intentional Walks (33)
• New York Mets Career Batting Average (.315), On-base percentage (.425) and OPS (.926) Leader
• Holds New York Mets Single Season Records for Batting Average (.354), On-base percentage (.447), Walks (125), Runs Created (138) and Times on Base (309)
• Ranks 65th on MLB All-Time On-base percentage List (.398)
• Ranks 42nd on MLB All-Time Doubles List (500)
• Ranks 39th on MLB All-Time Walks List (1,275)
• Ranks 84th on MLB All-Time Runs Created List (1,408)
• Ranks 72nd on MLB All-Time Times on Base List (3,602)
• Ranks 90th on MLB All-Time Hit by Pitch List (88)
• Ranks 33rd on MLB All-Time Sacrifice Fly List (96)
• Ranks 31st on MLB All-Time Intentional Walks List (157)
• Ranks 36th on MLB All-Time Grounded into Double Plays List (232)
• Twice hit for the cycle (1997, 2001)
• In 14-postseason Series, he has 35 Runs, 10 Doubles, 9 Home Runs, 34 RBI, 31 Walks, .278 Batting Average, .366 On-base percentage, .435 Slugging Percentage, 1 Stolen Base and 2 Sacrifice Flies

[edit] Facts

• Olerud is perhaps best known throughout his career for being the only player to wear a helmet while playing first base. Supposedly while playing for Seattle in 2000, Rickey Henderson went up to Olerud, and remarked on Olerud's practice of wearing a batting helmet out on the field, noting that he "used to have a teammate in Toronto who did the same thing." To which Olerud was said to have replied, "That was me." The two men had also been together the previous season, with the 1999 New York Mets. The humorous anecdote was much-repeated, but Olerud has denied it ever happened.

• On September 29, 1993, Olerud tied the American League record for intentional walks in a season with 33. Ted Williams set the mark in 1957.

• Olerud finally played his first minor league game on May 23, 2005, when the 37-year-old, 17-year MLB veteran played first base for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. His first minors hit was a two-run home run. Olerud finished his three-game rehab assignment hitting .300 (3-for-10).

• Olerud is the cousin of former infielder Dale Sveum. Currently, Sveum is the third base coach for the Milwaukee Brewers.

• Olerud and his wife have a daughter, born in 2000 with a rare chromosome disorder. Seeing an opportunity to create awareness for special needs children and their parents, in 2003 the Oleruds founded the Jordan Fund.

• Olerud's father, John Olerud Sr., is the chairman of Dermatology at the University of Washington, Seattle. Olerud Sr played minor league baseball himself.

[edit] See also

• Players Never to Play Minor League Baseball

[edit] External links

• ESPN - Profile and daily updates
• Baseball Library - Article and career chronology
• Baseball Reference - Career statistics and analysis
• The Boston Globe - Olerud a pro with no cons

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