John Jaha

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John Emil Jaha (born May 27, 1966 Portland, Oregon) is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball who had a 10-year career from 1992 to 2001. He played for the Milwaukee Brewers and Oakland Athletics, both of the American League. He was elected to the American League All-Star team in 1999.

John Jaha graduated from David Douglas High School in Portland, Oregon in 1984. He still holds most offensive baseball records for the school. Jaha was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1984 and made his Major League debut with the Brewers on July 9, 1992. Earlier in 1992, while playing for Brewers Triple-A affiliate Denver, Jaha became only the second player (after Joey Meyer) to hit a ball into the upper deck at Mile High Stadium.

After an injury plagued Major League career with the Brewers, John Jaha signed a minor-league contract with the Oakland Athletics in 1999.

Although Jaha wasn't expected to make the team - in fact, he was left out of the team's media guide that spring - he turned in a remarkable comeback season. Earning his first All-Star berth along the way, he finished the season with 35 home runs (tying Dave Kingman for most by an Oakland designated hitter) and 111 RBIs and was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year.

It was his last season of significant productivity. Jaha played in just 33 games in 2000, fewer the following year. An enormously popular figure in the Oakland Athletics clubhouse, he drew a standing ovation from his A's teammates when he finally announced his retirement on June 30, 2001.

Jaha is of Lebanese descent.