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Glenn Davis (baseball)

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Glenn Davis
First baseman
Born:(1961-03-28)March 28, 1961(age 63)
Jacksonville, Florida,U.S.
Batted:Right
Threw:Right
Professional debut
MLB:September 2, 1984, for the Houston Astros
NPB:April 7, 1995, for the Hanshin Tigers
Last appearance
MLB:May 23, 1993, for the Baltimore Orioles
NPB:June 9, 1996, for the Hanshin Tigers
MLB statistics
Batting average.259
Home runs190
Runs batted in603
NPB statistics
Batting average.252
Home runs28
Runs batted in95
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Glenn Earl Davis(born March 28, 1961) is an American formerMajor League Baseball(MLB)first basemanwho played for theHouston AstrosandBaltimore Oriolesfrom 1984 to 1993 and finished in the top ten inNational League MVPballoting three times (1986,1988and1989).

Early life

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Davis' parents divorced when he was six years old. While attendingUniversity Christian SchoolinJacksonville, Florida,the school's athletic director, George Davis, took an interest in Glenn. While they are not related to Glenn, he and his wife, Norma, practically adopted him, and they are the biological parents of former major leaguepitcherStorm Davis.Though they are not related, Glenn and Storm have long considered themselves brothers.[1] At University Christian, Glenn and Storm led the Christians to back-to-back state titles (1978–79).[2]

Both were drafted in the1979 Major League Baseball draftby theBaltimore Oriolesupon graduation from University Christian High School (Storm seventh round, Glenn 31st). While Storm chose to sign with the Orioles, Glenn accepted abaseballscholarship and played one season at theUniversity of Georgiaand then transferred toManatee Junior Collegeto make himself eligible sooner for the MLB draft. In 1980, Davis playedcollegiate summer baseballwith theChatham A'sof theCape Cod Baseball League(CCBL) where he was named a league all-star.[3][4]He was named to theCCBL Hall of Famein 2023.[5]TheHouston Astrosselected Davis in the first round of the draft's secondary phase in 1981 and signed him for $50,000.

Houston Astros

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Davis developed into one of the top power-hitting prospects in the Astros' farm system, hitting 71home runsbefore receiving his first call up to the majors in September1984.In his first full season,1985,Davis batted.271 with 20 home runs and 64runs batted into finish fifth inNational Leaguerookie of the year balloting. In Houston, he earned his nickname, "The Big Bopper".

Davis had a break-out season in 1986. He had 60 RBIs and 20 home runs at theAll-Star breakto make his firstAll-Star team.For the season, he clubbed 31 home runs and had 101 RBIs with a.265batting averageto win theSilver Slugger Awardat first base, and finish second to thePhiladelphia Phillies'Mike Schmidtin NL MVP voting.

The Astros handily won theNational League Westby ten games over theCincinnati Redsto face theNew York Metsin the1986 National League Championship Series.The only scoring in the game one pitchers' duel betweenMike ScottandDwight Goodenwas a solo home run by Davis in the second inning, which he hit in his first ever postseason at-bat.[6]From there, Mets pitching would contain Davis until the classic game six extra-innings marathon. Davis went three-for-seven with a run scored and two RBIs, including the finalrunof the game as the Astros attempted to come back from a 7–4 deficit in the 16th inning, although they would wind up losing the game and series.[7]It would be his only postseason experience, and he had seven total hits in the series.

Davis remained one of the top sluggers in the NL through 1989, earning a second All-Star selection in 1989, and finishing in the top ten in MVP voting in 1988 and 1989. In the 1990 season opener, Cincinnati Reds pitchers hit Davis with pitches in three of his sixplate appearances.[8]He hit three home runs in a loss to theSan Francisco Giantson June 1.[9]However, a rib injury caused Davis to miss the entire month of July and limited him to just 93 games all season. Despite his limited time on the field, Davis still managed to put up respectable numbers, hitting 22 home runs and driving in 64. In 1989, he became the first Astro to hit at least 20 home runs in five consecutive seasons. Davis still ranks fifth all-time in Astros career home run leaders.

In the offseason, he was part of what many consider to be the worst trade inBaltimore Orioleshistory when he was traded to the Orioles for three future All-Stars,Steve Finley,Pete HarnischandCurt Schilling.[10]After the trade Davis signed a then club record $3.275 million, one-year contract with the Orioles.

Baltimore Orioles

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Davis suffered a nerve injury in his neck during his firstspring trainingwith the Orioles on a swing that he felt two pops in immediately. He tried to play through the injury, which resulted in neck spasms on his right side. The injury he was found to have suffered was damage to his spinal accessory nerve.[11][12]He was batting.244 with four home runs and eight RBIs through April 24, 1991 when this injury landed him on thedisabled list,and kept him from the Orioles' line-up through the middle of August. Upon his return, he never regained his power hitting form, and ended the season with 10 home runs, 28 RBIs and a.227 average in 49 games. In 1992, Davis had a decent but unspectacular season for the Orioles, with a.276 batting average, 13 home runs, and 48 RBIs in 106 games.

The 1993 season was a disaster for Davis. Splitting time fairly evenly between first base and designated hitter, Davis was batting just.177 with one home run and nine RBIs through May when his jaw was broken in a bar fight.[13]After a brief stint with the Triple-ARochester Red Wings,Davis's return to action was delayed when, while he was sitting in the dugout during an Orioles game on August 1, he was hit in the head by a line drive foul ball of the bat of teammateJeffrey Hammonds.[14]He was finally reactivated on September 6, but, following an argument with Orioles managerJohnny Oatesabout being left out of the starting line-up against left-handed pitcherDave Fleming,was released by the club two days later on September 8 without playing another game. Glenn Davis holds the record of most home runs in career history (190) without ever hitting a grand slam.[15]

Later career

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Davis joined the New York Mets forspring training1994, but did not make the club. He later joined theOmaha Royalsand, despite a very solid season in which he produced a batting average of.282 with 27 home runs and 97 RBI, he was not given another opportunity to play in the Majors. From 1995 to 1996 Davis played for theHanshin Tigersin Japan. He came back to the US and spent the end of the 1996 season playing forSt. Paul Saintsin theNorthern Leaguebefore retiring from baseball.

Personal life

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Davis is married to Teresa Beesley Davis fromColumbus, Georgia.The couple has three daughters: Sharayah, Tiffany, and Gabrielle. Davis is the CEO of the Cascade Group, which develops hotels in the southeast region of the country.

In 1992, Davis founded The Carpenter's Way home for disadvantaged children in Columbus, Georgia, and in 2008 he and his wife helped start the Arebella Home for girls.[16]He currently serves as an elected city councilman for the city of Columbus[17]and owns the Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites hotels located in Columbus, Georgia.[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^Jack Friedman (August 25, 1986)."A Painful Childhood Behind Him, Houston Astro Glenn Davis Only Slugs Baseballs Now".People Magazine.Archivedfrom the original on June 25, 2016.RetrievedApril 20,2011.
  2. ^[1]Archived2016-10-03 at theWayback Machine,Florida Times-Union, 9/7/10
  3. ^"Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League"(PDF).capecodbaseball.org.Archived(PDF)from the original on December 7, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 9,2020.
  4. ^"All-Stars Play at Stadium Monday".The Cape Codder.Orleans, MA. July 25, 1980. p. 27.Archivedfrom the original on December 1, 2021.RetrievedMay 28,2022.
  5. ^"2023 CCBL Hall of Fame Class Announced".capecodbaseball.org. June 9, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on June 10, 2023.RetrievedJune 10,2023.
  6. ^"1986 National League Championship Series, Game One".Baseball-Reference.October 8, 1986.Archivedfrom the original on April 25, 2017.RetrievedMarch 27,2018.
  7. ^"1986 National League Championship Series, Game Six".Baseball-Reference.October 15, 1986.Archivedfrom the original on November 6, 2018.RetrievedMarch 27,2018.
  8. ^"Cincinnati Reds 8, Houston Astros 4".Baseball-Reference.April 9, 1990.Archivedfrom the original on October 31, 2020.RetrievedMarch 27,2018.
  9. ^"San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros 5".Baseball-Reference.June 1, 1990.Archivedfrom the original on April 25, 2016.RetrievedMarch 27,2018.
  10. ^Peter Schmuck (July 9, 2004)."Big Swap, Huge Flop".The Baltimore Sun.Archived fromthe originalon October 22, 2012.
  11. ^Thom Loverro (April 15, 2011)."It's still a big deal".The Washington Examiner.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^"Archived copy".Archivedfrom the original on August 21, 2019.RetrievedAugust 15,2023.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ^"A Good Break for Bosio".Gainesville Sun.June 8, 1993.Archivedfrom the original on April 22, 2023.RetrievedNovember 29,2020.
  14. ^"Foul Ball to the Head Latest Misfortune for Orioles' Davis".The Bulletin.August 2, 1993.Archivedfrom the original on April 22, 2023.RetrievedNovember 29,2020.
  15. ^"Orioles Bite Bullet, Release Glenn Davis".Toledo Blade.September 9, 1993.Archivedfrom the original on April 22, 2023.RetrievedNovember 29,2020.
  16. ^The Carpenter's Way – Our History, Founder Glenn DavisArchived2007-05-03 at theWayback Machine,carpentersway.org; retrieved February 2007
  17. ^City CouncilArchivedFebruary 4, 2007, at theWayback Machine,columbusga.org; retrieved February 2007
  18. ^Tony Adams (July 23, 2004)."Glenn Davis, Former Major League Baseball Player, a Managing Director in the $10 million Hilton Garden Inn in Columbus, Georgia".Columbus Ledger.Archivedfrom the original on April 22, 2023.RetrievedNovember 29,2020.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Topps Rookie All-Starfirst baseman
1985 		Succeeded by
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