Juan González (baseball player)

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For the journalist and radio host, see Juan Gonzalez; For the scientist and educator, see Juan E. González; for the former president of Paraguay, see Juan Natalicio González

Juan González in Cleveland Indians uniform
Juan González in Cleveland Indians uniform

Juan Alberto González Vázquez (born October 20, 1969 in Arecibo, Puerto Rico), better known as Juan González, and nicknamed "Juan Gone" or "Igor" (González being a fan of Sunshine Logroño's comedic character), is a Major League Baseball right fielder. González bats and throws right-handed. He was one of the premier run producers during the 1990s, averaging 117 runs batted in per season between 1991 and 1999.

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[edit] Early career

"Juan Gone" was signed by the Texas Rangers as an amateur free agent in 1986 and made his Major League debut on September 1, 1989 as a September call-up. Prior to making it to the major leagues, he played for the Caguas Criollos, a Puerto Rican professional baseball team based in Caguas.

[edit] Texas Rangers

González' first full season was 1991. It was his first of many 100-plus RBI seasons, proving himself a capable middle of the line-up run producer. He improved his batting average and home run totals over the next few seasons, leading the league in homers in 1992 (43) and 1993 (46). On August 28, 1993, Gonzalez had the last 3-homer game in the history of Arlington Stadium.

On the strength of González' steady production at the plate, Texas finished first in the AL West division in 1996, 1998 and 1999. Despite a ridiculious playoff output by Gonzalez in 1996, (.438 BA, 5 HR, 9 RBI, .526 OBP, 1.375 SLG% in 4 games) the Rangers were still defeated in the American League Division Series by the New York Yankees, as well as in 1998 and 1999. Between 1996-98, González averaged 45 home runs and 144 RBI in 140 games, the most productive period in his career. He won the American League MVP award in 1996 with a .314 BA, 47 HR and 144 RBI in just 134 games and 1998 with a .318 BA, 45 HR and 157 RBI in 154 games.

Fearing they would be unable to meet González' rising salary demands, Texas elected to trade him in the postseason, eventually settling on a deal with the Detroit Tigers. On November 2, 1999, he was traded with Danny Patterson and Gregg Zaun to Detroit for Frank Catalanotto, Francisco Cordero, Bill Haselman, Gabe Kapler, Justin Thompson and Alan Webb.

[edit] Detroit Tigers

The following season was a disaster for González and the Tigers as a team. 2000 was the opening year for Detroit's new ballpark, Comerica Park, and the team's management had counted on strong seasons from the team's new players to draw interest from fans. But, hampered by injuries, and being unable to adjust to Comerica's unfavorable dimensions, González had one of the poorest seasons of his career. Detroit had gambled on the one-year remaining on his contract hoping to spark fan interest and lost. However, this move turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Tiger fans, for it ultimately lead to the firing of General Manager Randy Smith in early 2002.

[edit] Cleveland Indians

González resurrected his career in 2001 with the Cleveland Indians, where he was asked to fill the void left behind as a result of Manny Ramirez' free agency departure to the Boston Red Sox. González batted .325 with 35 home runs and 140 RBI in 140 games, leading the Indians to the postseason where he hit .348 with 2 HR and 5 RBI in 5 games with a .739 SLG%.


[edit] 2002 -

Despite Gonzalez's great success throughout the 90s, he began to seriously struggle with injuries. After signing a 24 million 2 year contract with the Rangers in the offseason, he played in just 70 games and put up meager stats for a person of his reputation in the 2002 season. In 2003 Gonzalez got off to a great start, but could only stay healthy for half of the season. He finished the season with a .294 BA, 24 HR and 70 RBI in 82 games. After signing with the Royals in 2004, he played in just 33 games. Despite a thorough work-out regimen in an attempt to comeback in the 2005 season, Gonzalez suffered a major injury to his hamstring and was out for the rest of the season after just one at-bat.

[edit] Comeback attempt

On March 20, 2006, González's agent Alan Nero got a verbal agreement for a minor-league contract with the Boston Red Sox. No contract was actually signed, and after some negative comments coming from manager Terry Francona directed toward Gonzalez, Gonzalez decided to go elsewhere.

On June 1, 2006, González signed a contract with the Long Island Ducks of the Independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. His tenure with that team was rather unimpressive with continued sluggishness and prone to not fielding. Differing reports from fans had him as both appeasing and unpleasant.

For the 2006-07 winter season, Gonzalez is playing for the Gigantes de Carolina of the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League.

Has been known throughout his career as a player who secures a big contract, then puts the ski mask on.

[edit] Teams

[edit] Accomplishments

  • 3-time All-Star (1993, 1998, 2001)
  • American League MVP (1996, 1998)
  • 3-time Top 10 MVP (9th, 1997; 4th, 1993; 5th, 2001)
  • His 434 career home runs ranks 31st on the all-time list
  • 6 Silver Slugger Awards (1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001)
  • 2-time American League Home Run Champion (1992, 1993)
  • 5 40+ HR Seasons (1992, 43; 1993, 46; 1996, 47; 1997, 42; 1998, 45)
  • Finished Top 5 in RBI 5 times. (1993, 4th, 118; 1996, 2nd, 144; 1997, 3rd, 131; 1998, 1st, 157; 1999, 5th, 128; 2001, 2nd, 140)
  • Finished Top 5 in Slugging Percentage 5 times. (1992, 5th, .561%; 1993, 1st, .632%; 1996, 2nd, .643%; 1997, 4th, .589%; 1998, 2nd, .630%; 1999, 4th, .601%; 2001, 5th, .590)
  • Became just the 2nd player in MLB history in 1998 to have at least 100 RBI before the All-Star Break. (101, second to Hank Greenberg who had 103)
  • Ranks 5th on the All-Time HR/Plate Appearance List with 16.49
  • Ranks 7th on the All-Time RBI/G List with .831. The only other modern day player on the list is Manny Ramirez who ranks 6th with .833
  • Ranks 15th on the All-Time AB per HR list with 15.1 AB/HR.
  • Ranks 21st on the All-Time Slugging Percentage List with .561%
  • Tied for 1st in Postseason History in Home Runs in a single Division Series with Ken Griffey Jr. (Gonzalez - 5 HR in 4 games 1996, Griffey - 5 HR in 5 games in 1995)
  • Ranks 2nd in Postseason History in Slugging Percentage in a single Division Series (1.375% in 1996)
  • Ranks 2nd in Postseason History in OPS in a single Division Series (1.901 in 1996)
  • Tied for 2nd with 10 other players in Extra Base Hits in a single Division Series (5 in 1996 & 2001)
  • Ranks 3rd in Postseason History in Total Bases in a single Division Series (22 in 1996)
  • Ranks 7th in Postseason History in RBI in a single Division Series (9 in 1996)
  • Tied for 2nd in Postseason History in career HR in Division Series (8 HR, has 123 less Plate Appearances than Chipper Jones (1st) who has 9 HR and 144 PA less than Derek Jeter who also has 9 HR and is tied with Chipper Jones for 1st.)
  • Ranks 4th in Postseason History in career Slugging Percentage in the Division Series (.742)
  • Ranks 7th in Postseason History in career Extra Base Hits in Division Series (12)
  • Ranks 8th in Postseason History in career OPS in the Division Series (1.075)


[edit] Private life

González was married to Puerto Rican volleyball legend Elaine López, sister of fellow major leaguer Javy López, during the early 1990s. This marriage broke down when a local newspaper released a cover photo of singer Olga Tañón kissing González during a concert in San Juan. A scandal followed, with González divorcing Elaine López and marrying Tañón, who said she had no idea González was married to Lopez when she kissed him. González and Tañon had a daughter together, Gabriela González Tañón, in 1998. The marriage, González' fourth, ended in divorce less than two years later. Juan's daughter later became one of only fifty people in the world (and the first Puerto Rican) ever to have been diagnosed with Sebastian syndrome, a mild blood clotting disorder.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

{{succession box | before = Bernie Williams| title = [[Player of the Month|American years=1998| after= Manny Ramirez}}

Preceded by
Jose Canseco & Cecil Fielder		 American League Home Run Champion
1992–1993		 Succeeded by
Ken Griffey Jr.
Preceded by
Mark McGwire		 Home Run Derby Champion
1993		 Succeeded by
Ken Griffey, Jr.
Preceded by
Mark McGwire		 American League Player of the Month
July 1996		 Succeeded by
Alex Rodriguez
Preceded by
Mo Vaughn		 American League Most Valuable Player
1996		 Succeeded by
Ken Griffey, Jr.
Preceded by
Ken Griffey, Jr.		 American League Most Valuable Player
1998		 Succeeded by
Iván Rodríguez
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