Pete Incaviglia

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Pete Incaviglia
Left fielder
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 8, 1986
for the Texas Rangers
Final game
September 27, 1998
for the Houston Astros
Career statistics
Batting average     .246
Home runs     206
RBI     655
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Peter Joseph Incaviglia (born April 2, 1964, in Pebble Beach, California) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He was drafted in the 1st round (8th overall pick) by the Montreal Expos in the 1985 amateur draft out of Oklahoma State University, but was traded later the same year to the Texas Rangers. He debuted in the major leagues on April 8, 1986 without having spent any time in the minor leagues. Pete played for 12 seasons from 1986 to 1998 with 6 different teams. His last game was on September 27, 1998. He was noted for his power, but also for his tendency to strike out. He led the majors in strikeouts by a hitter in 1986 and 1988. He struck out 1,277 times in his career. He still owns the single-season NCAA home run record, with 48, and RBI record, with 143.

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[edit] College career

At Oklahoma State, Incaviglia became one of the greatest power hitters in College Baseball history. In 3 seasons he amassed 100 home runs (in 213 games) and had a career slugging percentage of .915. In his junior season, he hit 48 home runs and finished the year with an NCAA record 1.140 slugging percentage.[1] He also led the Cowboys to the College World Series in each of his three seasons. He is still the NCAA Division I baseball all-time leader in home runs in a career and home runs in a season.

In honor of his college accomplishments, he was elected to the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.[2]

Though he was unable to attend for personal reasons, Brad Walker of OSU accepted the honor on Incaviglia's behalf giving Incaviglia credit for helping to create more national interest in college baseball.

[edit] Major League Career

Incaviglia's rookie season came in 1986. Drafted by the Montreal Expos, he refused to play a day in the minor leagues. He was traded to the Texas Rangers who would grant the request and make him only the 4th player in Major League history to debut in the majors without ever playing minor league ball since the amateur draft began in 1965.[1] He had the tenth most home runs in the league (30) and set a Rangers club record, but also struck out the most times in 1986, and currently holds eighth-place on the single-season strikeout record. His rookie season set a standard that he would be unable to match the rest of his career. In 1987, his home run output decreased by 3, but his batting average climbed 21 points, he had a better slugging percentage, and he cut down his strikeouts by 17.

The highlight of his career came in 1993 when he helped lead the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series. He was involved with a scandal that same year in which he reportedly lashed out verbally at fans and stormed out of an autograph session at the Granite Run Mall in Media, PA.

Hampered by weight gain, he finished his career in 1998 with lifetime totals of 206 home runs, 655 RBIs, a .246 average, and a 104 OPS+.

[edit] Pete Incaviglia Rule

As a result of the Expos trading Incaviglia immediately after signing him, Major League Baseball instituted a rule whereby a team cannot trade a drafted player until he has been under contract to the club for at least one year. This is now known as the Pete Incaviglia Rule.[3]

[edit] Coaching career

Incaviglia was the hitting coach for the Erie Seawolves, the Detroit Tigers' AA affiliate in the Eastern League, for the three seasons, but was dismissed at the end of the 2006 season.

In a recent newspaper interview, Incaviglia expressed interest in coaching college baseball.

According to the Dallas Morning News.[4] on October 22, 2007, Incaviglia is set to be announced as the first manager of the Grand Prairie AirHogs.

[edit] Grimsley affidavit

On December 20, 2007 Incaviglia was named in Jason Grimsley's unsealed affidavit as an alleged user of amphetamines.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Heiss, Dana (1999-05-01). Pete Incaviglia, College Baseball's Home Run Champion, Retires. Baseball Weekly. Retrieved on 2007-06-13.
  2. ^ Lynn, Olerud head College Baseball Hall class. The Sports Network (2007-04-10). Retrieved on 2007-06-13.
  3. ^ Ringolsby, Tracy. Arizona owners show true colors Rocky Mountain News, 20 April 2007
  4. ^ Reports, Staff (2007-12-22). Incaviglia to manage Grand Prairie AirHogs. Dallas Morning News. Retrieved on 2007-12-23.
  5. ^ Affidavit: Grimsley named players. CNN (2007-12-20). Retrieved on 2007-12-31.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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