Glenn Braggs

Glenn Braggs
Outfielder / Designated hitter
Born: October 17, 1962
San Bernardino, California
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
July 18, 1986 for the Milwaukee Brewers
Last MLB appearance
September 10, 1992 for the Cincinnati Reds
Career statistics
Batting average .257
Hits 601
Home runs 70
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Glenn Erick Braggs (born October 17, 1962 in San Bernardino, California)[1] is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter. Braggs was a member of the Cincinnati Reds team that defeated the Oakland Athletics in the 1990 World Series. He is an alumnus of the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2nd round of the 1983 Major League Baseball Draft, Braggs made his major league debut with the Brewers on July 18, 1986. Starting in left field and batting fifth, Braggs went 1-4 in a 6-1 road loss to the Oakland Athletics. His first career hit was a sixth-inning single off Joaquin Andujar.[2] He hit the first of his 70 career home runs on August 2, 1986 with a two-run shot off Charlie Hough.[3]

He had his best season in 1989, hitting 15 home runs with 66 runs batted in (RBI) and 17 stolen bases with a .247 batting average.[4]

On June 9, 1990, during his fourth season with the Brewers, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. He played a key role as the Reds advanced to the National League playoffs. In 231 plate appearances, he hit six home runs with 28 RBI and a .299 average.

In the National League playoff series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, he went 1-for-5 but had a huge impact on the series. In the ninth inning of game six with one on and one out and the Reds leading 2-1, Braggs robbed Carmelo Martinez of a possible home run, reaching up and snaring a long fly as his back hit the wall, for the 2nd out of the inning. The Reds advanced to the World Series.[5]

In the World Series, he went 0-for-4 but had two RBI and one base on balls as the Reds won the World Series over the heavily favored Oakland Athletics.[4]

He played two more seasons for the Reds, last appearing in a game on September 10, 1992.

Braggs was known for his upper body strength, and in fact once snapped a bat on a check swing. When he stopped his swing, he put so much force on the bat to stop it that it sheared off just above the grip, without ever touching the ball. In the second inning of Game 4 of the 1990 World Series, he swung so hard at a pitch from the A's Dave Stewart that the bat broke on his back on the follow-through.[6]

He appeared in his final game on September 10, 1992.

Glenn Braggs is married to Cindy Herron, also known as Cindy Herron-Braggs, an original member of the female R&B group En Vogue. They have four children. He is now a real estate agent in the Los Angeles area, and is also vegan.

External links

References

  1. "California Birth Index, 1905-1995 [database on-line]". United States: The Generations Network. 2005. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  2. http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK198607180.shtml
  3. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.cgi?id=bragggl01&t=b
  4. 4.0 4.1 http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bragggl01.shtml
  5. http://articles.philly.com/1990-10-13/sports/25893654_1_reds-manager-lou-piniella-moment-sam-perlozzo
  6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQVZt5Evcv4