Richie Sexson

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Richie Sexson

Seattle Mariners — No. 44
First base
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
September 14, 1997 for the Cleveland Indians
Selected MLB statistics
(through Sep. 30, 2006)
Hits     1135
Home runs     274
RBI's     844
Batting Average     .269
Teams

    Richmond Lockwood Sexson (born December 29, 1974 in Portland, Oregon) is an American baseball player who currently plays for the Seattle Mariners. Standing at 6 feet 8 inches tall, he is often called "Big Sexy" by his fans.

    Contents

    [edit] High school career

    At Prairie High School in Brush Prairie, Washington, Richie Sexson was an All-State performer in baseball, basketball, and football. He also set the school record for the most RBIs and home runs in a career.

    [edit] Baseball Career

    Richie Sexson was drafted in 1993 by the Cleveland Indians in the 24th Round (671st overall) of the baseball amateur draft. He made his first appearance in Major League Baseball in 1997, when he played in 5 games for the Indians. He appeared in 49 games the following year, collecting 174 at-bats. Richie had a breakout year in 1999, playing 134 games while collecting 479 at-bats, 122 hits, and 31 home runs.

    Richie Sexson playing first base, May, 2005.
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    Richie Sexson playing first base, May, 2005.

    In 2000, Richie was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, with a player to be named later Marco Scutaro, for Bob Wickman, Steve Woodard, and Jason Bere. In 2001, Richie played in 158 games for the Brewers, hitting 45 home runs (the still-standing Brewers record for home runs in a single-season) with a .271 batting average, but also set the then single-season record for strikeouts by a Brewer player with 178, which was surpassed by José Hernández in 2002. In 2002, he represented the Milwaukee Brewers in the MLB All-Star Game. In 2003, Sexson played in every inning of all 162 games, hit .272 and blasted 45 home runs to tie his own record, while earning a selection to the 2003 MLB All-Star Game.

    Richie was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in December of 2003 along with pitcher Shane Nance and a player to be named later (Noochie Varner) for infielders Junior Spivey, Craig Counsell, Lyle Overbay, catcher Chad Moeller, and pitchers Chris Capuano and Jorge de la Rosa. This trade proved to be disastrous for the Diamondbacks, as Sexson missed most of the 2004 season after twice suffering a reverse subluxation of his left shoulder while attempting to check his swing.

    Prior to the 2005 season, Sexson signed a four-year contract with the Seattle Mariners worth $50 million. Soon after signing the contract, he was charged with a DUI, for which he was charged with one count of negligent driving, to which he pled guilty. Sexson hit 2 home runs in his first game as a Mariner on opening day against the Minnesota Twins. Sexson played well in the 2005 season, hitting 39 home runs and 121 RBIs. He was nominated for the Viagra Comeback Player of the Year Award, but was beat out by Jason Giambi of the New York Yankees.

    On Mother's Day, May 14, 2006, Sexson was one of more than 50 hitters who brandished a pink bat to benefit the Breast Cancer Foundation.

    [edit] Transactions

    • June 3, 1993: Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 24th round of the 1993 amateur draft.
    • July 28, 2000: Traded by the Cleveland Indians with a player to be named later, Kane Davis, and Paul Rigdon to the Milwaukee Brewers for Bob Wickman, Steve Woodard, and Jason Bere. The Cleveland Indians sent Marco Scutaro (August 30, 2000) to the Milwaukee Brewers to complete the trade.
    • December 1, 2003: Traded by the Milwaukee Brewers with a player to be named later and Shane Nance to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Junior Spivey, Craig Counsell, Lyle Overbay, Chad Moeller, Chris Capuano, and Jorge de la Rosa. The Milwaukee Brewers sent Noochie Varner (minors) (December 15, 2003) to the Arizona Diamondbacks to complete the trade.
    • November 1, 2004: Granted free agency.
    • December 15, 2004: Signed as a free agent with the Seattle Mariners.

    [edit] Salaries

    • 1997 Cleveland Indians $150,000
    • 1998 Cleveland Indians $175,000
    • 1999 Cleveland Indians $219,000
    • 2000 Cleveland Indians $247,000
    • 2001 Milwaukee Brewers $1,125,000
    • 2002 Milwaukee Brewers $3,125,000
    • 2003 Milwaukee Brewers $5,125,000
    • 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks $8,725,000
    • 2005 Seattle Mariners $6,000,000
    • 2006 Seattle Mariners $13,000,000

    Career (may be incomplete) $37,891,000

    [edit] See also

    [edit] External links