| Glenn Davis | |
|---|---|
| First baseman | |
| Born: March 28, 1961 Jacksonville, Florida |
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| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| September 2, 1984 for the Houston Astros | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 23, 1993 for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| Career statistics | |
| Batting average | .259 |
| Home runs | 190 |
| Runs batted in | 603 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Glenn Earl Davis (born March 28, 1961) is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. While a member of the Houston Astros in the late 1980s, he finished three times in the top ten in National League MVP balloting (1986, 1988 & 1989). He batted and threw right-handed.
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Davis' parent divorced when he was six years old. While attending University Christian School in Jacksonville, Florida, the school's athletic director, George Davis, took an interest in Glenn. While they are not related to Glenn, he and his wife, Norma, practically adopted him, and they are the biological parents of former major league pitcher Storm Davis. Though they are not related, Glenn and Storm have long considered themselves brothers.[1]
Both were drafted in the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft by the Baltimore Orioles upon graduation from University Christian High School (Storm seventh round, Glenn 31st). While Storm chose to sign with the Orioles, Glenn accepted a baseball scholarship and played one season at the University of Georgia before becoming a first round pick (#5 overall) for the Houston Astros in the January Secondary 1981 Major League Baseball Draft.
Davis soon developed into one of the top power hitting prospects in the Astros' farm system, hitting 71 home runs before receiving his first call up to the majors in September 1984. In his first full season, 1985, Davis batted .271 with twenty home runs and 64 runs batted in to finish fifth in National League rookie of the year balloting.
Davis had a break out season in 1986. He had sixty RBIs and twenty home runs at the All-Star break to make his first All-Star team. For the season, he clubbed 31 home runs, and had 101 RBIs with a .265 batting average to win the Silver Slugger award at first base, and finish second to the Philadelphia Phillies' Mike Schmidt in NL MVP voting.
The Astros handily won the National League West by ten games over the Cincinnati Reds to face the New York Mets in the 1986 National League Championship Series. The only scoring in the game one pitchers' duel between Mike Scott and Dwight Gooden was a solo home run by Davis in the second inning.[2] From there, Mets pitching would contain Davis until the classic game six extra innings marathon. Davis went three-for-seven with a run scored and two RBIs, including the final run of the game as the Astros attempted to come back from a 7-4 deficit in the 16th inning.[3]
Davis remained one of the top sluggers in the NL through 1989, earning a second All-Star selection in 1989, and finishing in the top ten in MVP voting in 1988 and 1989. In the 1990 season opener, Cincinnati Reds pitchers hit Davis with pitches in three of his six plate appearances.[4] He hit three home runs in a loss to the San Francisco Giants on June 1,[5] however, a rib injury cause Davis to miss the entire month of July, and limited him to just 93 games all season. Despite his limited time on the field, Davis still managed to put up respectable numbers, hitting 22 home runs and driving in 64. He led the league by getting hit with a pitch eight times, including a September 29 game against the Atlanta Braves which caused benches to clear.[6] In the offseason, he was part of what many consider to be worst trade in Baltimore Orioles history when he was traded to the Orioles for Steve Finley, Pete Harnisch and Curt Schilling.[7]
Davis suffered a nerve injury in his neck during his first Spring training with the Orioles.[8] He was batting .244 with four home runs and eight RBIs through April 24, 1991 when this injury landed him on the disabled list, and kept him from the Orioles' line-up through the middle of August. Upon his return, he never regained his power hitting form, and ended the season with ten home runs, 28 RBIs and a .227 average in 49 games.
The 1993 season was a disaster for Davis. Splitting time fairly evenly between first base and designated hitter, Davis was batting just .177 with one home run and nine RBIs through May when his jaw was broken in a bar fight.[9] After a brief stint with the triple A Rochester Redwings, Davis' return to action was delayed when he was hit by a line drive foul ball from teammate Jeffrey Hammonds on August 1.[10] He was finally reactivated on September 6, but following an argument with Orioles manager Johnny Oates about being left out of the starting line-up against left-handed pitcher Dave Fleming, was released by the club without playing another game.[11]
| Seasons | Games | PA | AB | Runs | Hits | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | Avg. | Slg. | OBP | Fld% |
| 10 | 1015 | 4189 | 3719 | 510 | 965 | 177 | 13 | 190 | 603 | 28 | 370 | 613 | .259 | .467 | .332 | .992 |
Davis joined the New York Mets for Spring training 1994, but did not make the club. He later joined the Omaha Royals and produced a batting average of .282 with 27 home runs and 97 RBI, but was not given another opportunity to play in the Majors. He currently holds the record for most career home runs without hitting a grand slam.
In 1992, Davis founded The Carpenter's Way home for troubled children in Columbus, Georgia.[12] He currently serves as an elected city councilman for the city of Columbus[13] and owns the Hilton Garden Inn in Columbus.[14] He is married to the former Teresa Beesley from Columbus, Georgia, and the couple have three children: Sharayah, Tiffany, and Gabrielle.
| Preceded by Alvin Davis |
Topps Rookie All-Star first baseman 1985 |
Succeeded by Wally Joyner |
| Preceded by Ozzie Smith |
Lou Gehrig Memorial Award 1990 |
Succeeded by Kent Hrbek |
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