Bernard Gilkey

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Otis Bernard Gilkey (born September 24, 1966 in St. Louis, Missouri) is a former Major League Baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, and Atlanta Braves. Primarily a left fielder, Gilkey occasionally played right field as well. He also played a small number of games as a center field, first baseman, and designated hitter. Gilkey was a right-handed batter.

[edit] Career

Gilkey graduated from St. Louis's University City High School in 1984 and signed a contract with his hometown Cardinals as an undrafted free agent. Gilkey reached the major league team in 1990. In 1992, Gilkey hit .302 in 131 games with the Cardinals. Gilkey would bat over .300 twice more during his career.

During the offseason in January 1996, Gilkey was traded by the Cardinals to the Mets. Gilkey arguably had his strongest season in 1996. His .317 average was eighth in the National League, while his 44 doubles ranked fourth (and also set a Mets single season record). Gilkey finished fourteenth in National League MVP voting that year. Gilkey and center fielder Lance Johnson formed a formidable offensive one-two punch as outfielders in their first year with the Mets. Gilkey also tallied 18 assists from the outfield that year - one of four double-digit assist years in his career.

Gilkey statistics dropped off substantially the next year. He batting average fell to .249. In 1998, Gilkey was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Gilkey offensive numbers were less impressive in the latter years of his career and his playing time declined, although he did rebound to hit .294 in 1999. Gilkey made the playoffs as a Diamondback in 1999 and in 2001 as a Brave. Gilkey's career ended after the 2001 season.

[edit] Trivia

Gilkey had a small role in the 1997 film Men in Black. The climax of the film took place in the Flushing, Queens neighborhood of New York City near Shea Stadium, home of the Mets. Gilkey appeared in his real life role as a Mets outfielder. Gilkey was distracted by a massive spacecraft above Shea Stadium and was hit on the head by a fly ball.

Off the field, Gilkey has dealt with legal problems. He was arrested for DUI once in 1998, twice in 2000, and once more in 2001. He was arrested again in 2001 on an outstanding warrant for his most recent DUI charge.