Mo Vaughn

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Mo Vaughn
First base
Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB Debut
June 27, 1991 for the Boston Red Sox
Final game
May 2, 2003 for the New York Mets
Career Statistics
Slugging Percentage     .523
OPS     .906
Home Runs     328
Teams
Career Highlights and Awards

Maurice Samuel 'Mo' Vaughn (born December 15, 1967 in Norwalk, Connecticut), nicknamed "Hit Dog", (a nickname given to him by his Omega Psi Phi fraternity brothers at Seton Hall University) was a Major League Baseball first baseman from 1991 to 2003. Vaughn won the American League MVP award in 1995 and was a key factor in the Boston Red Sox's 1995 and 1998 playoff teams.

He was noted for "crowding the plate"; his stance was such that his front elbow (protected by plastic armor) often appeared to be hovering in the strike zone, which intimidated pitchers into throwing wide and outside. Because of Vaughn, Barry Bonds, and others like them, Major League Baseball instituted regulations in 2001 that put limits on the size and thickness of body armor that batters would be allowed to wear. At the same time, the office of the Commissioner of Baseball issued directives to the umpires that put emphasis on calling the strike zone as it is defined in the rule book, with particular emphasis on the "high strike".

Contents

[edit] Early career

Vaughn was given the nickname 'Mo' while attending Trinity-Pawling High School in upstate New York. A 12-varsity letter athlete (in football, basketball, and baseball), he was given the nickname by basketball and baseball coach Miles Hubbard.

In the summer of 1988, while attending Seton Hall, Vaughn played first base for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League. One of his teammates was former MLB second baseman Chuck Knoblauch.

Vaughn was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 1st round (23rd pick) of the 1989 amateur draft and made his Major league debut on June 27, 1991.

[edit] Best years

Vaughn became the center of the Red Sox's line-up in 1993, hitting 29 home runs and contributing 101 RBIs, but his reputation as one of the most feared hitters in the American League wasn't grounded until after the 1994 strike-shortened season when Vaughn hit 39 home runs with 126 RBIs and a .326 average in 1995. He also pitched in with 11 stolen bases, although he was considerably slimmer earlier on. His efforts, which led the Red Sox to the playoffs (only to lose to the Cleveland Indians in the American League Division Series), were rewarded with the American League MVP award.

Vaughn continued to improve over the next several seasons, batting .315 or higher from 1996 to 1998 and averaging 40 home runs and 118 RBIs. The Red Sox lost in the American League Division Series in 1998, once again to the Cleveland Indians, although Vaughn played well, hitting two home runs and driving in seven runs in game one.

[edit] Last season with the Sox

Though Vaughn's powerful personality and extensive charity work made him a popular figure in Boston, he had many issues with the Red Sox management and local media; his disagreements with Boston Globe sports columnist Dan Shaughnessy and Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette were particularly acute. As an outspoken clubhouse leader, Vaughn repeatedly stated that the conservative Sox administration did not want him around. Incidents in which he allegedly punched a man in the mouth outside of a nightclub and crashed his truck while returning home from a strip club in Providence led to further rifts with the administration. Vaughn formed a formidable middle of the lineup with shortstop Nomar Garciaparra. The two combined for 75 home runs in 1998, Vaughn's final year with the club.

Vaughn hit a walkoff grand slam in the ninth inning of Opening Day at Fenway Park against the Seattle Mariners in 1998. Despite this auspicious start, the season was filled with acrimony, as Vaughn and the Sox administration sniped at each other throughout the year. After Cleveland knocked Boston out of the playoffs in the first round, Vaughn became a free agent. Almost immediately, he signed a six-year, $88-million deal with the Anaheim Angels, the highest contract in the game at that time. The Red Sox made little effort to retain him.

[edit] Anaheim and beyond

While he hit well for Anaheim when he played—he hit 30-plus home runs and knocked in over 100 runs in both 1999 and 2000—Vaughn was plagued by injuries in 1999 and didn't play a single game in the 2001 season. He started his Anaheim career by falling down the visitor's dugout steps on his first play of his first game, badly spraining his ankle. Vaughn was nevertheless seen as a viable middle of the line-up producer prior to the 2002 season and was traded to the New York Mets on December 27, 2001 for Kevin Appier.

Vaughn was unable, however, to resurrect his glory days of Boston or kick the injuries which had been nagging him. In 2003, after a poor 2002 season, Vaughn played only 27 games because of a left knee injury. He was advised by several doctors that attempting to play baseball again might lead to disability. These diagnoses put a close to Vaughn's career. He now owns and operates the Mo Vaughn Hit Dog baseball clinic, which runs at Tufts University.

Big Mo during his ill-fated Mets days
Big Mo during his ill-fated Mets days

[edit] Trivia

  • Vaughn wore the number 42 throughout his career in honor of Jackie Robinson. In 1997 Robinson's number was retired throughout the Major Leagues, but a grandfather clause enabled Vaughn to continue to wear it for the remainder of his career. Mariano Rivera is another player who is still allowed to wear the number 42
  • Played with John Valentin at Seton Hall along with the Boston Red Sox and the New York Mets.
  • When playing for Seton Hall in high school, Vaughn hit a home run that broke the window of a pharmacy an estimated 400 feet to left-center field.
  • In 2002, after being traded from the Anaheim Angels to the New York Mets, Mo Vaughn stated that he was happy to get off of the sinking ship that was the Angels. Ironically the Angels would go on to win their first World Series Champion that season.

[edit] Accomplishments

  • All-Star (1995, 1996, 1998)
  • American League MVP award winner (1995)
  • Finished 4th in American League MVP voting (1998)
  • Finished 5th in American League MVP voting (1996)

[edit] Teams

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Frank Thomas		 American League Most Valuable Player
1995		 Succeeded by
Juan González
Preceded by
Frank Thomas		 American League Player of the Month
May, 1996		 Succeeded by
Mark McGwire
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