Brian McRae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brian McRae |
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McRae in 2011
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| Park Pirates | |||
| Center fielder / Coach | |||
| Born: August 27, 1967 Bradenton, Florida, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| August 7, 1990, for the Kansas City Royals | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 3, 1999, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .261 | ||
| Home runs | 103 | ||
| Runs batted in | 532 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Brian Wesley McRae (born August 27, 1967) is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for five different teams from 1990 to 1999. Brian is the son of Hal McRae, who was also a famous baseball player and an All-Star.
What's really cool is that Brian was managed by his dad, Hal, for four seasons with the Kansas City Royals. This was a rare event in baseball history. Brian was a switch hitter, meaning he could bat from both the left and right sides of the plate. He was also known for being a leadoff batter, often starting the game for his team. Brian was a strong player who usually avoided injuries. He played in 150 or more games in five different seasons.
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Becoming a Baseball Star
Brian McRae was born in Bradenton, Florida. He went to high school at Manatee High School and Blue Springs High School. He was good at both football and baseball. In 1985, many thought he would be drafted later in the baseball draft. Brian said he would go to college to play both sports. The University of Kansas even offered him a football scholarship.
But the Kansas City Royals picked Brian in the first round of the draft. He was the 17th player chosen overall. They offered him a lot of money to sign with them. So, Brian decided to skip college sports and start his professional baseball career.
Starting in the Minor Leagues
Brian didn't hit very well when he first started in the Royals' minor league system. He didn't reach the AA level until his fourth season. However, he was very good at stealing bases. He stole 88 bases in his first three seasons.
In 1987, Brian and his father, Hal McRae, made history. They were the first father-son duo to play in a major league game together. This happened during a spring training game.
Joining the Kansas City Royals
In 1990, the Royals' main center fielder, Bo Jackson, got injured. After trying a few other players, the Royals gave Brian McRae a chance. He played better in the major leagues than he had in his minor league seasons. When Bo Jackson returned, he moved to left field. Brian then became the everyday center fielder for the Royals for the next four seasons.
In 1991, Brian's dad, Hal McRae, became the manager for the Royals. Brian played center field regularly. On July 14, 1991, he had a fantastic game. He hit a two-run home run and a grand slam, getting six RBI in total. This was his career high for RBI in one game. Soon after, he had a 22-game hitting streak, which means he got a hit in 22 games in a row. The year 1993 was his best offensive season with the Royals in many ways.
Playing for Different Teams
In 1994, Brian McRae's salary increased a lot. He was doing well, ranking high in singles and stolen bases in the American League. But the 1994 baseball strike ended the season early in August.
Moving to the Chicago Cubs
In 1995, Brian was traded to the Chicago Cubs. He had a great season with the Cubs. He finished fourth in the National League with 167 hits. He also had a career-high 38 doubles. In 1996, he set new personal bests. He scored 111 runs and stole 37 bases. He was caught stealing only nine times, showing he was very successful at it.
Time with the New York Mets
In 1997, Brian's performance started to decline. The Cubs traded him to the New York Mets in August. His statistics stayed about average for the rest of that season. The Mets did not make it to the playoffs that year.
However, in 1998, Brian had a strong year with the Mets. He led the team in doubles, triples, and stolen bases. He also set career highs in home runs, RBI, and walks. On September 14, he hit a dramatic game-tying two-run home run in the ninth inning. The Mets won that game, but they just barely missed the playoffs.
Final Seasons
In 1999, Brian was batting only .221 for the Mets. At the trade deadline, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies. Just nine days later, he was traded again, this time to the Toronto Blue Jays. He didn't hit well for Toronto and was eventually benched. After the season, Brian became a free agent, and his playing career came to an end.
Life After Baseball
After his baseball career, Brian McRae used his college studies in broadcast journalism. He worked as an analyst for TV stations like WGN-TV and SportsChannel. He also worked for MLB.com radio for five years and appeared on ESPN's Baseball Tonight. He even became a part-owner of a radio station in Kansas City.
Brian also spends his time helping others. He has worked with organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He also helped start a charity called "50 In 50." This charity plans to play golf on 50 courses in 50 states in 50 days to raise money for cancer research.
Today, Brian McRae coaches baseball at NAIA Park University in Kansas City. He also coaches young kids at baseball camps. In 2016, he signed a two-year contract to be the Head Coach of the WCL League Victoria HarbourCats.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
- List of second-generation Major League Baseball players
