Endy Chávez
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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|---|---|
| New York Mets — No. 10 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Bats: Left | Throws: Left |
| Major League Baseball debut | |
| May 29, 2001 for the Kansas City Royals | |
| Selected MLB statistics (through 2006 Season) |
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| Average | .269 |
| HR | 15 |
| RBI | 148 |
| SB | 67 |
| Former teams | |
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Endy De Jesus Chávez (Pronounced: CHA'-vez) was born February 7, 1978 in Valencia, Carabobo State, Venezuela) is an outfielder in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets.
Chávez bats and throws left-handed and is known for good fielding skills, speed, and ability to hit to all parts of the field.
In his first six seasons Chávez had a .269 batting average with 15 home runs and 148 RBI in 569 games played.
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[edit] Minor League career
Chávez made his Minor League Baseball debut in 1996 with the Dominican Mets, a rookie-level affiliate of the New York Mets. In his first season with the team, he hit .354 in 48 games. He played the next four years in the Mets organization with the Kingsport Mets, Gulf Coast Mets, Capital City Bombers, and St. Lucie Mets. On March 30, 2001, Chávez was traded from the Mets to the Kansas City Royals organization. In 2001, Chávez played with Wichita Wranglers and the Omaha Royals before making his MLB debut with the Royals.
In 2002, Chávez joined the Montreal Expos organization, playing for the Ottawa Lynx. With Ottawa, Chávez was an International League all-star in 2002. Chávez finished out the 2004 season with the Expos affiliate Edmonton Trappers. In 2005, Chávez moved to the New Orleans Zephyrs, the triple-A affiliate of the relocated Montreal Expos, now known as the Washington Nationals.
[edit] Major League career
[edit] Kansas City Royals
In 2001, Chávez played his rookie season with the Kansas City Royals. He appeared in 29 games and compiled a career low batting average of .208.
[edit] Montreal Expos
In the winter of 2001 Chávez was traded to the Montreal Expos, playing 309 games over three years (2002-05). In 2002 and 2003, he helped the Expos compile competitive records of 83-79 in each season, contending for postseason play but falling short of the wild-card slot each time. Playing full-time in 2003 and 2004, Chávez batted first in the lineup and started in center field. Stealing 18 bases in 2003 and 32 in 2004, Chávez proved himself a serious running threat. On October 3, 2004, Chávez recorded the final out in Montreal Expos history in their 8-1 loss to the New York Mets at Shea Stadium. The following Spring, he joined the team in its new incarnation, the Washington Nationals.
[edit] Washington Nationals
In 2005, Chávez played in only seven games for the Nationals before being traded to Philadelphia.
[edit] Philadelphia Phillies
With the Philadelphia Phillies, Chávez played in 91 games, usually joining the game in later innings. He batted .215 and stole only two bases.
[edit] New York Mets
| 2006 Season | |
| Batting Average | .306 |
| Home Runs | 4 |
| Runs Batted In | 42 |
| Hits | 108 |
| Runs Scored | 48 |
| Stolen Bases | 12 |
| On Base Percentage | .348 |
| Slugging Percentage | .431 |
On December 23, 2005, the New York Mets signed Chávez to a one-year, $500,000, major league deal.
During Spring Training, Mets manager Willie Randolph convinced Chávez to alter his batting style to favor contact hitting over power. Chávez's speed and his modified batting style sparked a 50-point jump in his batting average with 12 stolen bases during a season he saw limited playing time (often as an injury replacement for regular left fielder Cliff Floyd). This, in addition to his excellent defensive skills, helped the Mets win the National League East and qualify for the 2006 baseball postseason.
[edit] "The Catch"
Chávez's catch in Game 7 of the 2006 National League Championship Series is seen by many as one of the most remarkable catches in postseason history. In the top of the sixth inning, Chávez leaped over the 8-foot-high left field wall to rob a potential two-run home run from Cardinals third baseman Scott Rolen. Chavez reeled the ball in and threw to first base, doubling off center fielder Jim Edmonds for an inning-ending double play.
Commentators have compared it to such memorable catches as those of Tommie Agee and Ron Swoboda in the 1969 World Series, Sandy Amorós in the 1955 World Series, Dwight Evans in the 1975 World Series, Kirby Puckett during the 1991 World Series Joe Rudi during the 1972 World Series, and Willie Mays in the 1954 World Series.
The Mets went on to lose the game and the series, leaving the incredible highlight of Chávez's athleticism as a heroic feat.
[edit] Trivia
- Attended high school at Liceo Bataila Carabobo in Venezuela.
- Made the final out in Montreal Expos' history on October 3, 2004, in the Expos' 8-1 loss to the New York Mets at Shea Stadium.
- Like Endy, brother Ender Chávez (who reached AA-level baseball with the Harrisburg Senators in 2006) also played minor league baseball with an affiliate of the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, and Washington Nationals.
- The part of the wall where Chavez' catch in Game 7 of the 2006 National League Championship Series took place bore an advertisement for the insurance company AIG. The ad read, "The Strength To Be There."
- Chavez' Game 7 catch was named the top post-season moment in the 5th annual This Year in Baseball Awards.
- Chavez' catch is immortalized in the tune "Endy Chavez" by Kuff and the Buttheads.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Endy Chavez at ESPN.com
- Baseball Reference - statistics and analysis
- Article on the catch
- Video of the catch
