J. T. Snow

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**J.T. Snow**
Image:J.T. Snow 2006.jpg
Position	First Base
Current Team	Retired
Experience	15 years
Age	38
Height	6 ft 2 in
Weight	202 lb.
Bats	Left (Switch hitter until 1998)
Throws	Left
College	Arizona
2006 Salary	$2,000,000
Place of Birth	Long Beach, California
Selection	Amateur Draft, 1989 - 5th round
Drafted by	New York Yankees
Major League Debut	September 20, 1992
Awards	1995: American League Gold Glove at 1B 1996: American League Gold Glove at 1B 1997: National League Gold Glove at 1B 1998: National League Gold Glove at 1B 1999: National League Gold Glove at 1B 2000: National League Gold Glove at 1B 2001: National League Gold Glove at 1B

Jack Thomas "J.T." Snow, Jr. (born February 26, 1968 in Long Beach, California) is a former Major League Baseball player. As of 2005, he had played all but one game in his career as a first baseman, and spent the majority of his career with the San Francisco Giants. As of the end of the 2006 season, J.T. Snow retired from baseball and will be doing radio broadcasts with the San Francisco Giants in the 2007 season. He will also serve as an advisor to the Giants' general manager, Brian Sabean, and as a roving minor league instructor for the Giants.[1]

J.T. Snow (2002)

Drafted by the New York Yankees in the fifth round of the 1989 baseball amateur draft after playing three seasons at the University of Arizona, Snow broke into the majors with the Yankees in 1992. Traded to the California Angels that year as part of the Jim Abbott deal, Snow played for them from 1993 to 1996 before being traded to the Giants after the 1996 season for left-handed pitcher Allen Watson and minor league pitcher Fausto Macey.

Snow has been noted for his exceptional defense at first base. From 1995 to 2000, Snow won the Gold Glove Award at first base six times, twice in the American League and four times in the National League.

While a switch-hitter earlier in his career, Snow has batted exclusively left-handed in recent years. After a two year injury-riddled stretch from 2002-2003 where his average was .246, Snow rebounded in 2004 with a .327 average, hitting .387 after the All-Star break (which ranked second only to Ichiro Suzuki in the major leagues). As of 2005 his career statistics include 189 home runs and 873 RBIs with a career .268 batting average. He has 1500 career hits in 5597 at bats. In 2000 he led the league in sacrifice flies with 14.

The most well-known moment in Snow's career was probably in the 2002 World Series when Snow scored in Game 5 off a Kenny Lofton triple; then manager, Dusty Baker's 3-year-old son, Darren, who was the batboy ran to home plate to collect Lofton's bat before the play was completed and was quickly pulled off the field by Snow as he crossed home plate. Had Snow been a few steps slower and the play at home closer Darren could have been in serious danger. Following the incident, an age restriction was placed on Major League Baseball batboys.

Another memorable moment occurred in the 2000 National League Division Series against the New York Mets. With the Giants trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Snow hit a three-run pinch homer against Mets reliever Armando Benitez. However, the Giants failed to capitalize on their momentum, eventually falling in the 10th inning and going on to lose the series. The Giants' loss of the game and series ultimately robbed Snow's dramatic feat of much of its lustre.

Snow's tenure with the Giants effectively ended when the team declined to offer him salary arbitration before the 2006 season. He signed a one-year, two-million-dollar contract with the Boston Red Sox on January 6, 2006. The deal was perceived by many as a bargain rate for such an accomplished player. He served primarily in a platoon role with Kevin Youkilis at first base until he was designated for assignment June 19. He was officially "released" on June 27. In reality, JT Snow demanded the release.

[edit] Trivia

He is the son of former NFL Los Angeles Rams Pro Bowl wide receiver Jack Snow. After his father's death in 2006, Snow wore his father's number 84 in his honor. Snow is married and resides in the San Francisco Bay Area year-round.

"Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who was Snow's intro music for his at-bats. He also used "Right Now" by Van Halen for a time.