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This Day in Yankees History: David Wells is perfect

Roger Maris starts his home run binge, David Wells achieves baseball immortality, Jason Giambi has his signature moment, Johnny Damon completes Walk-Off Weekend

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Photo by Photo File/MLB Photos via Getty ImageThis Day in Yankees History (May 17)David Lee Wells (born May 20, 1963) is an American former baseball pitcher who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for nine teams, most notably the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. Nicknamed "Boomer", Wells was considered one of the league's top left-handed pitchers during his career and made three All-Star appearances. In 1998, he pitched the 15th perfect game in baseball history. Wells also appeared in the postseason as a member of six teams, tied for the most with Kenny Lofton, and won two World Series titles. Following his 2007 retirement, Wells served as a broadcaster for MLB on TBS and was the host of The Cheap Seats on FOX

Professional career

Toronto Blue Jays (1987–1992)

Wells debuted for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1987 as a reliever and did not secure a job as a full-time starter until he was 30 years old. During his six seasons with the Blue Jays, Wells compiled a 47–46 record and a 3.88 ERA. Wells was a member of the 1992 World Series winning team, the first time he got a championship ring. He was released by the Blue Jays during spring training on March 30, 1993.

Detroit Tigers (1993–1995)

A few days after he was released by the Blue Jays, Wells signed with the Detroit Tigers on April 3.^[1] In 1993, Wells made 32 appearances (30 starts) with an 11-9 record and a 4.19 ERA. In 1994, a season that was cut short due to a strike, Wells started 16 games, finishing 5-7 with a 3.96 ERA and 5 complete games. He emerged as a top-flight pitcher in 1995, when he was 32. After starting the year at 10–3 with a 3.04 ERA for the struggling last-place Tigers, Wells made his first All-Star Game appearance.^[1]

Cincinnati Reds (1995)

On July 31, Wells was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for C. J. Nitkowski, Mark Lewis, and minor leaguer Dave Tuttle. With Cincinnati, Wells compiled a 6–5 record and a 3.59 ERA.^[1]

Baltimore Orioles (1996)

After the 1995 season, Wells was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for Curtis Goodwin and minor leaguer Trovin Valdez.^[1] In 1996, he pitched a then-career high 224 innings but finished with an 11–14 record and a 5.14 ERA.^[1]

New York Yankees (1997–1998)

In 1997, Wells signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees, his favorite team because of a lifelong interest in baseball legend Babe Ruth. He asked for uniform number 3, Ruth's long-retired number, and was of course denied. He ended up taking 33 for the Yankees. On June 28, 1997, Wells took the mound wearing an authentic 1934 Babe Ruth hat, which he had bought for $35,000. Manager Joe Torre made Wells take it off after the first inning because it didn't conform to uniform standards. He also fined Wells $2,500, which Wells was happy to pay and later said it was a small price to pay for the thrill of wearing the hat on the field even for one inning—even though Wells then blew a 3–0 lead as the Cleveland Indians won 12–8. After posting a 16–10 mark in 1997, Wells pitched very well in the Yankees' record-setting 1998 season. He rang up an 18–4 record, finished fifth in the league in ERA (3.49), was third in voting for the Cy Young Award, and won a second World Series ring.Sports.com.

Perfect game

Main article: David Wells' perfect game

On May 17, 1998, Wells pitched the 15th perfect game in baseball history, when he blanked the Minnesota Twins, 4–0. Wells attended the same San Diego high school, Point Loma High School, as Don Larsen, whose perfect game for the Yankees in the 1956 World Series was the only perfect game or no-hitter ever thrown in postseason play until 2010, and was until then the only perfect game thrown by a Yankee. David Cone would add a third Yankee perfect game in 1999. Wells claimed that he threw the perfect game while having a "raging, skull-rattling hangover".^[7][8][9] Comedian Jimmy Fallon, who partied with Wells the night before the game, backed up this claim.^[10]

On September 1, 1998, Wells came fairly close to recording a second perfect game. Pitching against the Oakland Athletics, he allowed no walks and only two hits, the first of which came with two outs in the seventh inning when Jason Giambi fought off an 0–2 count and singled.^[11]

Second stint with the Toronto Blue Jays (1999–2000)

After the season, Wells returned to the Blue Jays as part of a trade for Roger Clemens, along with Homer Bush and Graeme Lloyd. He continued to win north of the border, with records of 17–10 and 20–8 over the next two years.

During this stint with the Blue Jays, Wells appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated just prior to the 2000 All Star Game.^[12] Though Wells said it was an honour to be on the cover, he criticized the article, "The David Wells Diet: Chips, Beer and American League batters" written by Jeff Pearlman, saying that Pearlman focused on Wells' diet and body shape instead of his accomplishments.^[12]

Chicago White Sox (2001)

Wells and pitcher Matt DeWitt were traded to the Chicago White Sox, in a deal that was quickly mired in controversy. The primary player being traded by the White Sox, starting pitcher Mike Sirotka, was injured at the time of the deal and never pitched in the major leagues again. Toronto's general manager, Gord Ash, had not made the deal contingent on the results of a medical examination, however, and MLB ruled in favor of the White Sox. The Blue Jays thus received only Kevin Beirne, Brian Simmons, and minor leaguer Mike Williams, and the mistake ultimately cost Ash his job.^{[citation needed]}

The deal did not turn out particularly well for the White Sox, either, as Wells struggled with back problems in 2001 and pitched only 100⅔ innings, finishing the 2001 season with a 5–7 record and a 4.47 ERA.

Second stint with the New York Yankees (2002–2003)

After a short season with the White Sox, Wells returned to the Yankees, a deal that was again immersed in controversy as he had already reached an oral agreement to join the Arizona Diamondbacks.^[13] Despite having lost some velocity from his fastball, he retained his excellent curveball and his control, and posted an outstanding 19–7 record in 2002.

Wells was the subject of some controversy prior to the 2003 season, when his autobiography Perfect I'm Not: Boomer on Beer, Brawls, Backaches and Baseball, was published. The book upset the Yankees' management, and Wells was fined $100,000 by the team for disparaging comments which appeared in it.^[14] One of them included himself having a hangover when he pitched his perfect game.^[14][15] Among the other controversial statements were claims that he strengthened his pitching arm as a youth by throwing rocks at homeless people^[15] and that his minor league team, the Kinston Blue Jays, had segregated stands in 1983 despite ample evidence to the contrary. Wells claimed to have been misquoted in the book, which was presumably penned by a ghost writer. The problems didn't carry over to the field, however. Wells posted a 15–7 record and the Yankees won another pennant.^[1]

On September 28, 2003, the final day of the regular season, Wells earned the 200th win of his career in a game managed by Clemens, who had won his 300th game earlier in the season and was thought to be retiring from baseball (Clemens ended up delaying his retirement). Regular Yankees manager Joe Torre let Clemens manage the final game of the regular season, and Clemens pulled Wells from the game in the eighth inning.^[16]

Wells was criticized by some Yankees fans for not being able to pitch during Game 5 of the 2003 World Series. He started the game, but left during the first inning because of a bad backache, which forced Torre to use his bullpen to finish the game.^[17] The Yankees lost the game and the series to the Florida Marlins in six games.

San Diego Padres (2004)

On January 1, 2004, Wells was signed as a free agent by the San Diego Padres to a one-year contract. Wells posted a 12–8 record with a 3.73 ERA to start off his second stint in the National League.

Boston Red Sox (2005–2006)

On December 11, 2004, Wells signed a two-year deal with the Boston Red Sox and took the uniform number 3, in honor of Babe Ruth. Getting off to a bad start, many fans questioned the decision of general manager Theo Epstein, but after coming off of the DL and getting rocked in his first start back in Oakland — and changing his uniform number from 3 to 16 – David Wells became the same dominating pitcher he was in the past. He went on to post a 15–7 record, with a 4.45 ERA. Wells pitched much better than his ERA may show, but had a few very poor outings, which caused his ERA to "balloon." After the 2005 season, Wells requested a trade back to the West Coast, but he eventually withdrew that request and resigned himself to one last year pitching for the Red Sox.

Wells pitching for the Red Sox in 2006

Wells began the 2006 season on the disabled list, as he was still recovering from surgery performed on his right knee. After pitching one game on April 12, he was again placed on the 15-day disabled list. He announced that if his knee did not improve he would retire. Wells came off the disabled list on May 26, to make his second start of the year against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Second stint with the San Diego Padres (2006–2007)

On August 31, 2006, with the Red Sox postseason chances fading, Wells' wish of finishing his career playing for a West Coast team and a playoff contender was granted when he was traded back to the Padres for top catching prospect George Kottaras.

Following the 2006 season, Wells filed for free agency. For players who are already planning on retiring, this is a customary move in case one changes his mind. Wells' agent had stated the pitcher will keep his options open but his physical condition will play a large part in making the final decision whether or not to return for another season.^[18] Eventually, Wells decided to stay with the Padres, agreeing in principle on a one-year deal worth $3 million in base salary with a possible $4 million more in incentives.

On March 18, 2007, the media revealed that Wells has been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. This form of diabetes is more closely associated with lifestyle factors, such as diet, but the condition of people with a genetic disposition for diabetes can be exacerbated with chronic high blood sugar, as insulin resistance can be an adaptation of insulin in the wake of too-high blood sugar over time.^[19]

On August 8, the Padres announced they would cut ties with Wells when Chris Young was ready to come off the disabled list.^[20]

Los Angeles Dodgers (2007)

On August 23, 2007, Wells was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers. His first start with the Dodgers was on August 26 against the New York Mets. He pitched five innings and allowed two earned runs. Wells also reached first base on a bunt single, scored a run, and earned the victory. He was the oldest pitcher to start a game for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

On September 13, 2007, against his former team, the San Diego Padres, Wells had his first multi-hit game of his 21-year career at the age of 44. He hit a single and a double off former teammate Greg Maddux. Wells finished the season with the Dodgers going 4–1 with a 5.12 ERA. Wells filed for free agency after the 2007 season.

Old Timers Day and retirement

On August 2, 2008, Wells took part in the 62nd Annual Old Timers Day at Yankee Stadium, where he said that he was not going to officially retire, but admitted that his pitching career was probably over.^[21]

Post-retirement activities

Personal life

Wells lives in San Diego with his wife and two sons.^[3] He has a tattoo of Babe Ruth.^[22]

Broadcasting

Wells with TBS

Beginning in 2009, Wells began working for MLB on TBS doing regular and postseason coverage. In 2011, Wells became host of The Cheap Seats on FOXSports.com. In 2019, Wells began providing color commentary for the YES Network.

Interviews, biographies, and autobiographies

In 2010, David Wells was interviewed by Jane Mitchell for the television show One on One. In addition to David's story in his own words, the interview featured Kevin Towers, Trevor Hoffman, Josh Barfield, Chris Young, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Clay Hensley, family, and friends, all sharing their personal experiences and thoughts about David.^[23]

Coaching

Wells served as a baseball assistant coach at his alma mater Point Loma High School for several years. The high school announced on June 17, 2014, that Wells would be its head baseball coach, starting with the 2014–2015 school year. The team's home field was named David Wells Field in 2010.^[24][25] In 2014, David Wells Field went through a $2-million renovation which was underwritten by the San Diego Unified School District and David Wells.^[26]

Career bests

• Wins in a Season: 20, with Toronto Blue Jays in 2000
• Strikeouts in a Season: 169, with Toronto Blue Jays in 2000
• Best Cy Young Result: 3rd, with New York Yankees in 1998
• Strikeouts in One Game: 16 with New York Yankees, against Oakland Athletics, July 30, 1997
• Innings Pitched in One Season: 231.2, with Toronto Blue Jays in 1999
• Best Single Season ERA as a Starting Pitcher: 3.14, with Toronto Blue Jays in 1990
• Fewest Walks Per 9 Innings in a Season: .85, with New York Yankees in 2003

59 years ago

Roger Maris had already played 28 games to this point in 1961 — slashing a weak .208/.345/.323 with just three home runs — but that changed today, when Maris popped his first dinger of the season at Yankee Stadium. From this day on, Maris slashed .281/.378/.678 with an incredible 58 home runs and 130 RBI in 133 games en route to his second straight MVP, the single-season home run record and a World Series championship.

Roger Eugene Maris (September 10, 1934 – December 14, 1985) was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He is best known for setting a new MLB single-season home run record with 61 home runs in 1961. The record remained unbroken until 1998 and remained the American League (AL) record until Aaron Judge broke it in 2022.

Maris played in the minor leagues from 1953 to 1956, and made his major league debut for the Cleveland Indians in 1957. He was traded to the Kansas City Athletics during the 1958 season, and to the New York Yankees after the 1959 season. Maris finished his playing career as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1967 and 1968. Maris was an AL All-Star from 1959 through 1962,^[a] an AL Most Valuable Player in 1960 and 1961, and an AL Gold Glove Award winner in 1960. Maris appeared in seven World Series; he played for Yankees teams that won the World Series in 1961 and 1962 and for a Cardinals team that won the World Series in 1967.

Maris's home run record was controversial, as the previous single-season home run record (60, set by Babe Ruth in 1927) was set during a period when MLB teams played 154 games per season. Before Maris broke Ruth's record, the AL baseball season had been extended to 162 games. Maris hit his 61st home run in the last game of the season, which led to questions about the legitimacy of his record.^[1] In 1998, Mark McGwire set a new MLB record with 70 home runs; the same year Sammy Sosa also surpassed Maris' record with 66 home runs. In 2001, Barry Bonds surpassed that mark with 73 home runs, though all three players used performance-enhancing drugs.^[2] Maris’ AL single-season home run record stood until 2022, when Aaron Judge hit 62 home runs in a single season for the New York Yankees.

Early years

Roger Eugene Maris was born on September 10, 1934, in Hibbing, Minnesota; in 1955, his father changed the surname from Maras to Maris.^[3][4] Roger's parents, Rudolph S. "Rudy" Maras and Ann Corrine "Connie" (née Perkovich) were born in Minnesota, and were of Croatian heritage.^[5][6][7]

Maris' brother Rudolph, who was a year older, developed polio at age 18 in 1951.^[8] Maris' parents had a turbulent marriage and divorced in 1960. His father died in Fargo in 1992 at age 81. The Maris family moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota, in 1938, and to Fargo, North Dakota, in 1946.^[7] Maris entered Fargo Central High School in 1948. In 1950, Maris, a Catholic, transferred to Bishop Shanley High School in Fargo, and graduated from there in June 1952. Maris played both baseball and football for the Shanley Deacons. In football, Maris set a national high school record, which still stands, for most return touchdowns in a game, with four (two kickoff returns, one punt return, and one interception return). In that 1951 game, he also scored a fifth touchdown on a 32-yard run from scrimmage.^[9] He met his future wife, Patricia, in the tenth grade at a high school basketball game.^[10]

Minor league baseball career

Maris began play for the Indians' minor league organization at Fargo (the Fargo-Moorhead Twins) in 1953. He was named rookie of the year in the Northern League, then moved on to Keokuk, Iowa, the next season. In four minor league seasons from 1953 to 1956, Maris hit .303 with 78 home runs. In game two of the 1956 Junior World Series, Maris, playing for the Indianapolis Indians of the American Association (Triple-A league), set a record by driving in seven runs.^[11] With all five teams for which Maris played in the minors, the clubs' win-loss records improved from the prior season.^[11]

Major league baseball career

Maris with the Cleveland Indians in 1957

Maris in 1960
Right fielder
Born: September 10, 1934 Hibbing, Minnesota, U.S.
Died: December 14, 1985 (aged 51) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 16, 1957, for the Cleveland Indians
Last MLB appearance
September 29, 1968, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
Batting average	.260
Home runs	275
Runs batted in	850
Teams
Cleveland Indians (1957–1958) Kansas City Athletics (1958–1959) New York Yankees (1960–1966) St. Louis Cardinals (1967–1968)
Career highlights and awards
7× All-Star (1959²–1962²) 3× World Series champion (1961, 1962, 1967) 2× AL MVP (1960, 1961) Gold Glove Award (1960) AL home run leader (1961) 2× AL RBI leader (1960, 1961) New York Yankees No. 9 retired Monument Park honoree

Cleveland Indians (1957–1958)

Maris made his major league debut on April 16, 1957, with the Cleveland Indians. Two days later, he hit the first home run of his career, a grand slam off Tigers pitcher Jack Crimian at Briggs Stadium in Detroit.^[11] He finished his rookie season with 14 home runs. On June 15, 1958, after playing in 51 games and hitting nine home runs for the Indians, he was traded to the Kansas City Athletics with Dick Tomanek and Preston Ward for Vic Power and Woodie Held.^[12]

Kansas City Athletics (1958–1959)

Maris played in 99 games and hit 19 home runs for Kansas City in 1958. In 1959, he played in 122 games and hit 16 home runs; he missed 45 games during the second half of the season as a result of an appendix operation. He was selected to play in the second of two All-Star Games held that year.^[13][14] In the late 1950s, Kansas City frequently traded their best young players to the New York Yankees—a practice which led them to be referred to as the Yankees' "major league farm team"^[15]—and Maris was no exception. In a seven-player deal in December 1959, he was sent to the Yankees with Kent Hadley and Joe DeMaestri in exchange for Marv Throneberry, Norm Siebern, Hank Bauer, and Don Larsen.^[16]

New York Yankees (1960–1966)

In 1960, Maris hit a single, double, and two home runs in his first game as a Yankee. He was named to the AL All-Star roster again and played in both games. He finished the season leading the AL in slugging percentage (.581), runs batted in (112), and extra base hits (64). He also hit 39 home runs and had a .283 batting average.^[12] He won the American League's Most Valuable Player award and was recognized as an outstanding defensive outfielder with a Gold Glove Award.  The Yankees won the American League pennant, the first of five consecutive pennants, but lost a seven-game World Series to the Pittsburgh Pirates culminating in Bill Mazeroski's dramatic walk-off home run. 

1961

Main articles: 1961 Major League Baseball season and 1961 New York Yankees season

Left to right: Babe Ruth's 60th home run bat (1927), Roger Maris's 61st home run bat (1961), and Mark McGwire's and Sammy Sosa's 70th and 66th home run bats (1998)

In 1961, the AL expanded from eight to ten teams. In the expansion draft, the newly created Los Angeles Angels and Washington Senators^[17] were restricted to drafting players from AL rosters. The perceived result was that American League team rosters had become watered down, as players who would otherwise have been playing at AAA, if not lower, were now in the AL. The Yankees, however, were left mainly intact.^{[citation needed]} In order to maintain a balanced schedule, AL owners extended the season from 154 games to 162 games in 1961. (The National League expanded its season to 162 games in 1962.)^[18] On January 23, 1961, an Associated Press reporter asked Maris whether the schedule changes might threaten Babe Ruth's single-season home run record; Maris replied, "Nobody will touch it ... Look up the records and you'll see that it's a rare year when anybody hits 50 homers, let alone 60." 

Maris (left) with Mickey Mantle in 1961

Yankee home runs began to come at a record pace. One famous photograph lined up six 1961 Yankees, including Mantle, Maris, Yogi Berra and Bill Skowron, under the nickname "Murderers Row", because they hit a combined 165 home runs the previous season (the title "Murderers Row", originally coined in 1918, had most famously been used to refer to the 1927 Yankees). As mid-season approached, it seemed quite possible that either Maris or Mantle, or perhaps both, would break Ruth's 34-year-old home run record. Sportswriters began to play the "M&M Boys" against each other, inventing a rivalry where none existed, as Berra would tell multiple interviewers. More and more, the Yankees became "Mickey Mantle's team" and Maris was ostracized as an "outsider" and "not a true Yankee."  Mantle, however, was felled by a hip infection causing hospitalization late in the season, leaving Maris as the single remaining player with the opportunity to break Ruth's home run record.^[1] In the middle of the season, baseball commissioner Ford Frick (a friend of Ruth) announced at a press conference that unless Ruth's record was broken in the first 154 games of the season, the new record should be shown separately in the "record books", with some "distinctive mark"^[19] next to it indicating it had been done in a 162-game season. The asterisk as such a mark was immediately suggested by New York Daily News sportswriter Dick Young.^[19] In spite of its formality, Frick's so-called ruling was merely a suggestion: Major League Baseball had no direct control over any record books until many years later.^[19] As he closed in on Ruth's record, Maris received death threats and NYPD detective Kieran Burke was assigned to watch over him.^[20]

Maris had 59 home runs after the Yankees' 154th game and therefore failed to beat Ruth's 60 home runs within the original season length. Maris hit his 61st home run on October 1, 1961, in the fourth inning of the last game of the season, at Yankee Stadium in front of 23,154 fans.^[21] Boston Red Sox pitcher Tracy Stallard gave up the record home run, which was caught by fan Sal Durante in the right field bleachers. Maris was awarded the 1961 Hickok Belt as the top professional athlete of the year^[22] and won the American League's MVP Award for the second straight year.^[23] It is said, however, that the stress of pursuing the record was so great for Maris that his hair occasionally fell out in clumps during the season. Within a few years the asterisk controversy died down and all prominent baseball record keepers listed Maris as the single-season record holder.^[19] Incidentally, it was later found that the Yankees stole signs from the bench that year, specifically having the help of pitcher Bob Turley and his distinct whistle; Tony Kubek noted that the stealing was so good that Turley wasn't allowed off the bench even when he got hurt, and he estimated that Mickey Mantle hit 50 home runs due to Turley. When Maris went up to the plate for that famous home run, Maris heard the sign relayed to him and hit it out for a home run (coincidentally, the third base coach of the Yankees in Frank Crosetti was a teammate of Ruth).^[24]

1962–1966

Maris signs a baseball for President John F. Kennedy in the 1962 season

In 1962, Maris made his fourth consecutive All-Star team appearance^[25] and his seventh and final All-Star game appearance. He made a game-saving play in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 1962 World Series against the San Francisco Giants. With the Yankees leading 1–0 and Matty Alou on first, Willie Mays doubled toward the right-field line. Maris cut off the ball and made a strong throw to prevent Alou from scoring the tying run; the play set up Willie McCovey's series-ending line drive to second baseman Bobby Richardson, capping what would prove to be the final World Series title for the Yankees until 1977.

In 1963, Maris played in only 90 games, hitting 23 home runs. Maris was injured in game two of the 1963 World Series,^[26] in which the Yankees were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in four games.

In 1964, he rebounded, appearing in 141 games, batting .281 with 26 home runs. Maris hit a home run in Game 6 of the 1964 World Series, in which the Yankees lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.^[27] In 1965, his physical problems returned, and he had off-season surgery to remove a bone chip in his hand. In 1966, the Yankees' and Maris's fortunes continued to decline as he played most of the season with a misdiagnosed broken bone in his hand. On December 8, 1966, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Charley Smith.^[28]

St. Louis Cardinals (1967–1968

Maris played his final two seasons with the Cardinals, helping the team to win the 1967 and 1968 pennants and the 1967 World Series. In the 1967 World Series, he hit .385, with a home run and seven RBI. It was the best World Series performance of Maris' career.^[29]

Later years and death

In the 1970s and 1980s, Maris and his brother owned and operated Maris Distributing, the Budweiser beer distributorship in Gainesville, Florida (and Ocala, Florida), where he moved after retiring from baseball after the 1968 season. Gussie Busch, who owned both the Cardinals and Anheuser-Busch, got Maris started into the beer business. Maris also coached baseball at Gainesville's Oak Hall High School, which named its baseball field after him in 1990.^[30]

Maris was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 1983. In response, Maris organized the annual Roger Maris Celebrity Golf Tournament to raise money for cancer research and treatment. Maris died of the disease at age 51 on December 14, 1985, at M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas. He was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Fargo, North Dakota.

22 year

David Wells may have partied hard on May 16, 1998, s agobut he could do no wrong on the diamond the next day. Wells sat down all 27 Twins batters he faced, pitching the second perfect game in Yankees history. It was quite a prolific period for Yankees pitching – Dwight Gooden pitched a no-hitter in 1996, Wells was perfect in 1998, David Cone was perfect in 1999, and Mike Mussina was one batter away from another perfecto in 2001. Wells struck out 11 Twins and held future Hall of Famer Paul Molitor to an 0-for-3 performance in the 4-0 Yankees win.

18 years ago

Jason Giambi authored his “Signature Yankees Moment” on this day versus the Twins in 2002. The Yankees were down by three in the 14th inning, but loaded the bases for the team’s pricey acquisition. Giambi promptly delivered the “Ultimate Grand Slam,” unloading the bases and giving the Yankees a come-from-behind 13-12 win. The teams combined for 40 hits in the game, but Giambi’s was undoubtedly the loudest.

Jason Gilbert Giambi (/dʒiˈɑːmbi/; born January 8, 1971) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter. In his Major League Baseball (MLB) career, which began in 1995, Giambi played for the Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, Colorado Rockies, and Cleveland Indians. He is the older brother of the late MLB player Jeremy Giambi.

Giambi was the American League (AL) MVP in 2000 while with the Athletics, and is a five-time All-Star, who led the AL in walks four times; in on-base percentage three times; and in doubles and slugging percentage once each; he also won the Silver Slugger Award twice. Giambi has publicly apologized for using performance-enhancing drugs during his career.^[1]

Early life

Giambi attended Sacred Heart Private Catholic School in Covina, California. He then attended South Hills High School in his native West Covina, where he was a three-sport standout. Giambi was on the baseball team, whose roster also included his brother Jeremy and three other future major league players: infielder Shawn Wooten, pitchers Aaron Small and Cory Lidle. He batted .386 during his three years of varsity baseball, leading his team to the state finals as a senior. He was voted MVP in both baseball and basketball. In American football, he was an All-League quarterback. Giambi was selected in the 43rd round (1,118th overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers during the 1989 MLB draft.^[2] He did not sign and went on to attend college.

College career

Giambi attended Cal State Long Beach, where he played college baseball for the Long Beach State 49ers baseball team. Giambi played collegiate summer baseball for the Alaska Goldpanners, in the Alaska Baseball League.^{[citation needed]}

Professional career

Draft and minor leagues

The Oakland Athletics selected Giambi in the second round (58th overall) of the 1992 Major League Baseball draft.^[3] He started his career that year with the short-season Single-A Southern Oregon A's of the Northwest League, where he hit .317 in 13 games. He was a member of the fourth place United States national baseball team at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. The Athletics invited Giambi to spring training in 1993.^[4] He then spent the 1993 season playing for the Modesto A's, the Oakland Athletics' Single-A farm team. Giambi also played for the Huntsville Stars in the Southern League and the Kauai Emeralds in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league.^{[citation needed]}

Oakland Athletics (1995–2001)

Giambi made his major league debut with the Athletics in 1995. Originally used occasionally as an outfielder, third baseman, and first baseman, Giambi assumed the full-time first base job upon the trade of Mark McGwire to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1997. Giambi led the team in 1998 with 27 home runs, 110 runs batted in and a .295 batting average. In 1999, Giambi hit .315 with 33 homers, 105 walks (second in the league), and 123 RBIs (sixth). He came in eighth in MLB Most Valuable Player Award voting.^{[citation needed]}

Giambi hit two home runs in Oakland's 2000 season opener on April 3, the first Athletics player to ever do so.^[5] In the 2000 season, he led the league in on-base percentage (.476; leading the majors) and walks (137; a personal high and still the most walks in the AL since 1991). He hit .333 (seventh in the league) with 43 homers (second; a career high), 137 RBIs (fourth; a career high), 108 runs (10th), and a .647 slugging percentage (third). Giambi narrowly won the American League Most Valuable Player Award over Frank Thomas.

His 2001 season was nearly identical. He led the league for the second year in a row in both on-base percentage (.477; a career best, and still the highest OBP in the AL since 1995) and walks (129). He also led the league in slugging percentage (.660; a career best), doubles (47; a career high), times on base (320), and extra base hits (87). He batted .342 (second in the American League; a career high) with 38 homers (seventh), 109 runs (sixth), and 120 RBIs (eighth). He was second in the league in intentional walks (24), the only time in his career that he was in the top 10 in this category. He finished a close second in MVP voting to Ichiro Suzuki, and won the Silver Slugger Award.

Both years, he led the Athletics to the post-season, both times losing in the American League Division Series to the New York Yankees in five games.

New York Yankees (2002–2008)

Giambi, as a member of the New York Yankees, during spring training in 2007

On December 13, 2001, Giambi signed a seven-year $120-million deal with the New York Yankees. In line with Yankee team rules, Giambi cut his long hair and shaved his goatee.^[6] The signing upset many Athletics fans, who felt betrayed by the departure of their team leader. Giambi became an object of the A's fans' wrath whenever New York visited Oakland. During a game on May 14, 2005, he was hit with a beer thrown by an unruly fan on his way back to the dugout.^[7]

Giambi continued slugging with New York in 2002. He led the league for the second consecutive year in times on base (300), had 109 walks (second), was third in the league with both a .435 OBP and 15 HBP, had 41 home runs (fourth), 120 runs (fourth; a career high), and a .598 slugging percentage (fourth), knocked in 122 runs (fifth), and batted .314 (sixth). He came in fifth in AL MVP voting, and again won the Silver Slugger Award. He also hit an "ultimate grand slam"—a walk-off grand slam against the Twins in a rain-soaked extra-inning game, that won that game 13–12.^[8]

Although his average dipped to .250 in 2003, he led the league in walks (129) for the third time in his career and in HBP (21) and percent of plate appearances that were walks (19.4%),^[9] maintained an extremely high on-base percentage (.412; third in the league), hit 41 home runs (fourth), and had 107 RBIs (eighth). He was also second in the major leagues in fly ball percentage (52.0%).^[10] He remained one of the most patient hitters in the majors. At the same time, he also led the league in strikeouts (140), the only season that he has even been in the top 10 in the league in that category. On July 30, 2004, test results confirmed that Giambi had a benign tumor, which placed him on the disabled list.^[11] He was treated for the tumor, and returned to the team for their game against the Kansas City Royals on September 14.^[12] That year, Giambi was voted in as the starting first baseman in the 2004 MLB All-Star Game despite finishing the year with a .208 batting average and just 12 home runs. Giambi's performance in 2004 was so poor that he was not added to the Yankees postseason roster.^[13]

Towards the middle of the 2005 season, Giambi saw a resurgence in his career. On July 31, he hit his 300th career home run off of Esteban Yan of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. This was his 14th home run of the month, tying Mickey Mantle for the Yankee record for home runs in July.^[14] Giambi ended the 2005 season leading the major leagues in walk percentage (20.6%)^[15] and leading the American League in walks for the fourth time in his career (109), and in OBP for the third time in his career (.440, as well as in fly ball percentage (47.7%);^[16] second in MLB to Todd Helton), and had an OPS of .975, placing him fifth in the AL. He hit 32 homers (10th in the league), the seventh time in his career in which he has hit 30 or more, and was fourth in HBP (19) and at-bats per home run (13.0). Giambi was named the AL Comeback Player of the Year.

In 2006, Giambi was named the American League Player of the Month for April, hitting .344 with nine home runs and driving in 27 runs. However, he was left off the 2006 American League All-Star roster. He finished the season leading the majors in walk percentage (19.8%)^[17] and leading the league in % Pitches Taken (64.4), second in walks (110), HBP (16), and pitches seen per PA (4.37), fifth in at bats per home run (12.1), sixth in on-base percentage (.416), seventh in home runs (37) and slugging percentage (.558), eighth in intentional walks (12), and ninth in RBIs (113), despite playing in only 139 games (half of them at DH, and half at 1B) for the second year in a row. He performed the unusual feat of having as many RBIs as hits, and for the third time in his career had more walks than strikeouts. Giambi's numbers were down precipitously in the 2007 season due to an injury, in which he hit just .236 with 14 home runs and 39 RBIs. He played in just 83 games, 53 of which as a designated hitter. Giambi got off to a horrible start in the 2008 season, hitting below .200 for more than a month. However, by June, he had turned his season around and become one of the team's most productive players.

On September 3, 2008, Giambi walked into a bathroom door in his hotel room while in Florida before playing against the Tampa Bay Rays. The accident caused him to split his eyelid open but he played through the injury later that night and went 1-for-4 with one RBI, helping the Yankees win the second game of the series.^[18]

On September 21, 2008, Giambi recorded the final hit in Yankee Stadium, when he drove in Brett Gardner with an RBI single.^[19]

Giambi ended the season with a home run every 14.3 at-bats, beating out Alex Rodriguez to lead the team by a small margin. He was also one of only three players to hit a home run while pinch hitting in 2008, and the only one to do it twice.^[20] However, on November 4, 2008, the Yankees declined their option on Giambi for the 2009 season making him a free agent.^[21]

Giambi during his tenure with the Oakland Athletics in 2009 spring training

Second stint with the Athletics (2009)

On January 6, 2009, Giambi agreed to sign with the Oakland Athletics.^[22] He officially re-joined the A's the next day, and was given his old No. 16 jersey.^[23] Giambi hit his first home run since returning to the Athletics on April 25, 2009.^[24]

On May 23, 2009, Giambi hit his 400th career home run in an 8–7 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.^[25] He was placed on the disabled list on July 20.^[26] At the time, Giambi had the lowest batting average in the majors, and fourth-lowest slugging percentage in the American League.^[27] On August 7, 2009, he was released by the A's.^[27]

Colorado Rockies (2009–2012)

Looking for a veteran bat to help their playoff push, the Colorado Rockies agreed to a deal with Giambi on August 23, 2009.^[28] He was assigned to their AAA affiliate, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox.^[29] Giambi chose to wear the number 23 for his jersey number. His first RBI with the Rockies came in the form of a bases loaded walk in his first plate appearance on September 1, 2009, after being promoted to the club upon roster expansion earlier that day.^[30] That year, he had many clutch hits which kept the Rockies in contention for the National League Wild Card. He quickly became a fan favorite in Colorado.

On January 23, 2010, Giambi reached an agreement to return to the Rockies.^[31] On September 12, Giambi hit a walk-off home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks, extending the winning streak for the Rockies to 10 games.^[32]

Giambi with the Colorado Rockies in 2011

The Colorado Rockies announced on January 17, 2011, a deal to put Giambi in the team's minor league organization with a spring training invite for the 2011 season. Giambi made the 2011 Opening Day roster out of spring training.^[33]

On May 19, 2011, against the Philadelphia Phillies, Giambi hit three home runs in one game, the first such game for him of his career. The three home runs came in his first three at-bats. Giambi is also the second oldest player to accomplish the feat; at age 41, Stan Musial was the oldest player to hit three home runs in one game on July 8, 1962.^[34]

Giambi became a free agent after the 2012 season and was a finalist for the Rockies major league managerial opening, which eventually went to Walt Weiss. Giambi was offered the position of Colorado's hitting coach but turned it down.^[35]

Cleveland Indians (2013–2014)

The Cleveland Indians signed Giambi to a minor league contract on February 9, 2013.^[36] Giambi made the Indians major league roster following spring training.^[37] On July 29, 2013, Giambi became the oldest player to hit a walk-off home run.^[38] He broke his own record for oldest player to hit a walk-off home run in a season saving win for the Indians against the White Sox on September 24, 2013.^[39]

Giambi was re-signed by the Indians on October 31, 2013, to a one-year minor league deal. The deal included an invitation to Spring Training.^[40] Giambi was hit by an Edwin Jackson pitch on March 7, 2014. This resulted in a broken rib, and Giambi missed the first 18 games of the season.^[41] He was activated on April 21.^[42]

On August 2, 2014, Giambi gave up his 25 jersey number to Jim Thome to have it unofficially retired by the Indians; Giambi switched his jersey number to 72 that day. On the jersey that he gave to Thome, Giambi put down a message to Thome saying "Jim, It was an honor to be the last person to wear your uniform number in Cleveland Indians history! – Jason Giambi" It was kept a secret from the fans, the players, Thome himself and his family, happening after Thome signed the one-day contract and threw out the first pitch.^[43]

On February 16, 2015, Giambi announced his retirement.^[44]

Awards[edit]

This section is in list format but may read better as prose. You can help by converting this section, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (February 2022)

• 1999 Oakland Athletics Player of the Year
• 2000 Oakland Athletics Player of the Year
• 2000 AL Most Valuable Player
• 2000 Hutch Award
• 2001 Oakland Athletics Player of the Year
• 2001 Baseball America 1st-Team Major League All-Star 1B
• 2001 AL Silver Slugger Award (1B)
• 2002 Home Run Derby Winner
• 2002 Baseball America 2nd-Team Major League All-Star 1B
• 2002 AL Silver Slugger Award (1B)
• 2005 AL Comeback Player of the Year

11 years ago

“Walk-off Weekend” ended for the Yankees on this date in 2009, when Johnny Damon delivered a walk-off home run in the 10th inning against the Twins (what is it about May 17 and debilitating losses to the Yankees for the Twins?). Melky Cabrera walked things off on Friday, Alex Rodriguez followed on Saturday and Damon kept the good vibes rolling on a weekend that got the 2009 Yankees on a run they’d never look back from.

★ ★ ★

Birthdays

A few Yankees have May 17 birthdays, including Ben Gamel, a former outfield prospect who has gone on to a respectable career for the Mariners and Brewers. Early 1990s pitcher Pascual Perez and mid-1970s outfielder Carlos May also celebrate birthdays today