Dwight Evans
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Dwight Michael Evans (born November 3, 1951 in Santa Monica, California), nicknamed "Dewey," is a former right fielder and right-handed batter who played for the Boston Red Sox (1972-90) and Baltimore Orioles (1991).
Evans was one of the finest defensive right fielders of his time, winning eight Gold Glove Awards (1976,1978-79 & 1981-85) despite playing in Fenway Park, one the toughest right fields in the majors. Also, his throwing arm was among the best in baseball during his prime. In the 1970s, Evans formed one of baseball's greatest outfields along with Jim Rice and Fred Lynn. In the 1980s, he joined forces with Rice and Tony Armas.
Evans started his career by winning International League MVP honors, but in his early major league career, he was primarily a defensive standout with a modest bat. In the second-half of his career, he became a powerful batter.
Evans made his Major League Baseball debut for the Boston Red Sox on Sept 16, 1972 in a game against the Cleveland Indians. The Red Sox won 10-0 behind the pitching of Luis Tiant who threw a 3-hit complete game (5 Ks, 2 Walks). Evans pinch ran for Reggie Smith in the 6th but was stranded at 2B, he played in right field where he recorded 1 PO. Evans went 0-1 at the plate in his debut. Evans played in 18 games in 1972 for the Red Sox, and had 57 plate appearances (.263 BA, 15 H, 2 R, 6 RBI, 1 HR).
Despite the strike-shortened 1981 season, Evans had his best all-around year. He paced the league in total bases (215), OPS (.937), walks (85), times on base (208), and tied Eddie Murray, Tony Armas and Bobby Grich for the home run title with 22. He also ranked second in runs scored (84) and on-base percentage (.415), and third in slugging percentage (.522). He added a .296 batting average with 71 runs batted in. In 1987, at age 35, Evans recorded career highs in batting average (.305), HRs (34) and RBI (123). He spent his final season with the Orioles, batting .270 with six homers and drove in 38 runs in 101 games.
Evans was named an Outfielder on the The Sporting News AL All-Star team in 1982, 1984 and 1987 and was also tabbed as an Outfielder on the AL Silver Slugger Team by The Sporting News in 1981 and 1987.
In his 20-year career, Evans batted .272, with 385 home runs, 1384 RBI, 1470 runs, 2446 hits, 483 doubles, 73 triples, and 78 stolen bases in 2606 games. Only Carl Yastrzemski (3308) played more games for the Red Sox than Evans (2505).
Evans hit a home run four times on Opening Day. On April 7, 1986, he set a MLB record by hitting the 1st pitch of the season for a home run, eclipsing the mark held by the Chicago Cubs' Bump Wills who hit the 2nd pitch for a HR on April 4, 1982.
During his playing days with the Red Sox - and his one season with the Orioles - Evans wore uniform number 24. Other Red Sox players to wear the same jersey number since Evans retired include Tom Brunansky, Kevin Mitchell, Mike Stanley and Manny Ramirez.
In 2000, Dwight Evans was selected to the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame.
In 2002, Evans served as hitting coach for the Red Sox and wore uniform number 25.
In 2006, Evans was a Player Development Consultant for the Red Sox.
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[edit] Curious Stance
Early in his career, Evans was known as "The Man of Thousand Stances", because he was always changing his batting stance. However, he was beaned during a game and suffered vertigo as a result.
Desperate to shed his image as a glove-only player, and worried that his plate behavior contributed to his beaning, Evans was taken under the wing of then Red Sox hitting coach Walt Hriniak, who was a disciple of the late hitting instructer Charlie Lau.
Hriniak impressed upon Evans the need for a fluid, balanced stance; however, he understood that every player became "balanced" and "fluid" in their own unique way. He worked Evans and developed Evans unusual stance, which cannot be adequately described here, but an attempt will be made.
When a pitcher was not in a throwing motion, but merely on the rubber, Evans would curl up almost into a fetal position, with his bat slumped lazily down his back, his hands resting on his back shoulder. Immediately, however, when the pitcher was about to release the ball, Evans would draw his lanky frame onto his back foot and extend himself upwards; the bat and his hands would be held high above his head, and back.
The rest of Evans's swing was perfectly normal; it was only the preparation that was hilarious. But it was this stance and hitting style that transformed Evans into powerful right-handed slugger that earned him a spot in Boston's hearts.
[edit] Career highlights
- 3-time All-Star (1978, 1981, 1987)
- 8 Gold Glove Award (1976, 1978-79, 1981-85)
- 4-time Top 10 MVP (1981-82, 1987-88)
- Led league in home runs (1981)
- Led league in extra bases hits and runs (1984)
- Twice led league in times on base (1981-82)
- Hit for the cycle (1984)
- 4-time hit a home run on opening days in his career, including one on the very first pitch of the season.
- Appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1988.
- In the 11th inning of Game Six of the 1975 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds, Evans made a spectacular running catch deep in the right field corner near Pesky's Pole, robbing Joe Morgan of a home run, then doubled Ken Griffey, Sr. off first. The Red Sox then won the game in the 12th on Carlton Fisk's famous walkoff home run.
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[edit] External links
| Preceded by: Reggie Jackson & Ben Oglivie |
American League Home Run Champion 1981 (with Tony Armas, Bobby Grich, & Eddie Murray) |
Succeeded by: Reggie Jackson & Gorman Thomas |
