| Andy Van Slyke | |
|---|---|
| Center fielder | |
| Born: December 21, 1960 Utica, New York |
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| Batted: Left | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| June 17, 1983 for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 1, 1995 for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| Career statistics | |
| Batting average | .274 |
| Home runs | 164 |
| Runs batted in | 792 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Andrew James Van Slyke (born December 21, 1960 in Utica, New York) is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder and former first base coach for the Detroit Tigers.
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Van Slyke earned All-American honors in baseball as a senior at New Hartford Central High school located in New Hartford, New York.
He was drafted in the first round (sixth overall pick) of the 1979 Major League Baseball amateur draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. Called up from the AAA Louisville Redbirds, he made his Major League debut with the Cardinals on June 17, 1983, collecting a double, an RBI and making three putouts in the outfield without an error.[1]
In 1985, he was one of five Cardinals to steal at least 30 bases. He stole 34 that season, part of the "Whiteyball" era.
He began his career the first two years by playing first base, third base, and all three outfield positions. Van Slyke mostly played right field the next two years on the strength of his excellent throwing arm, occasionally platooning with Tito Landrum or substituting for Willie McGee in center. During spring training of 1987, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates along with left-handed hitting catcher Mike LaValliere and minor league pitcher Mike Dunne for catcher Tony Pena. The trade occurred on April 1, with Van Slyke initially thinking it was an April Fools joke.[2] In Pittsburgh, he mostly played center field alongside stars Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla.
During the 1991 Gulf War, when the MLB decreed all players would wear both the Canadian and U.S. flags on their batting helmets as a patriotic gesture, Van Slyke scraped the Maple Leaf off his helmet because, in his words "Canada is a pacifist, socialist country." Van Slyke's insult to Canadian veterans and the country itself did not sit well with MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent, who ordered that the Canadian flag decal be re-inserted onto the helmet.[3]
Once Van Slyke became a full-time outfielder, he showed off one of the most accurate and powerful throwing arms in the majors. So much that the "Slyke Zone" was established at Three Rivers. From 1985 to 1994, he was frequently among the league leaders in outfield assists. From 1985 to 1988, he posted seasons of 13, 10, 11, and 12 assists, respectively. As center fielder for the Pirates, he won five consecutive Gold Gloves from 1988 to 1992. His missile from right field on Dane Iorg's game-winning 2-run base hit in Game 6 of the 1985 World Series came very close to gunning down the Kansas City Royals' Jim Sundberg as he slid into home with the winning run. In St Louis, Van Slyke was known to throw 100 mph fastballs in batting practice.
Overall, Van Slyke played for four different teams in his career: the St. Louis Cardinals (1983–1986), Pittsburgh Pirates (1987–1994), Baltimore Orioles (1995), and Philadelphia Phillies (1995). He played his final game on October 1, 1995.
In his 13-year career, Van Slyke appeared in three All-Star games (1988, 1992, 1993), won five Gold Gloves Awards, two Silver Slugger Awards, and ranked in the top 10 in many offensive categories in varying seasons.
Prior to the 2006 season, Van Slyke was named first base coach for the Detroit Tigers by manager Jim Leyland, under whom he had played in Pittsburgh. He was doing a radio show in St. Louis before joining Leyland's staff. Van Slyke served four seasons, and the Tigers announced in October, 2009, that Van Slyke would not return for the 2010 season.
He is the inspiration for a Pirates blog entitled "Where Have You Gone, Andy van Slyke?"
Van Slyke became eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. 75% of the vote was necessary for induction, and 5% was necessary to stay on the ballot. Of the 32 total candidates,[5] Van Slyke received 0 votes and was eliminated from future BBWAA voting.[6]
Having retired from baseball, Van Slyke has begun pursuing a career as an author, focusing on books centered around baseball. In 2009 he authored Tiger Confidential: The Untold Inside Story of the 2008 Season (with co-author Jim Hawkins). In July 2010, he published The Curse: Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Or Do They? (with co-author Rob Rains), a book in the sub genera sports fiction about the Chicago Cubs finally breaking their one hundred year curse and playing in the World Series.
Andy has four sons, A.J., Scott, Jared, and Nathan. Scott is with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, currently playing for the team's Double-A Minor league team, the Chattanooga Lookouts. [7] Jared is a defensive back on the University of Michigan football team. [8]
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