Cecil Fielder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cecil Fielder |
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Fielder in 1996
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| First baseman / Designated hitter | |||
| Born: September 21, 1963 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: June 20, 1985, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |||
| NPB: April 8, 1989, for the Hanshin Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| NPB: September 14, Hanshin Tigers | |||
| MLB: September 13, 1998, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .255 | ||
| Home runs | 319 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,008 | ||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .302 | ||
| Home runs | 38 | ||
| Runs batted in | 81 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Cecil Grant Fielder (born September 21, 1963) is a former American professional baseball player. He was known for hitting many home runs. Cecil played as a designated hitter and first baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB).
He played for several teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays (1985–1988), Detroit Tigers (1990–1996), New York Yankees (1996–1997), Anaheim Angels (1998), and Cleveland Indians (1998). Before joining the Detroit Tigers, he also played in Japan for the Hanshin Tigers in 1989. With the New York Yankees, he helped them win the 1996 World Series.
In 1990, Cecil Fielder made history by hitting 51 home runs in one season. He was the first player to hit 50 or more home runs since 1977. He is also the father of Prince Fielder, who was also a famous power hitter in MLB. They are the only father and son pair in MLB history to each hit 50 home runs in a single season.
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Early Baseball Days
Cecil Fielder went to Nogales High School in California. He was a talented baseball player there. After high school, he played college baseball at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
He was first drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1981, but he did not sign with them. The next year, in 1982, the Kansas City Royals drafted him, and he signed. In 1983, he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays brought Fielder up to the major leagues in 1985. He played as a part-time first and third baseman. In his four seasons with the Blue Jays, he hit 31 home runs and had 84 runs batted in (RBI).
Playing in Japan
After the 1988 season, Cecil Fielder went to Japan to play for the Hanshin Tigers. They paid him a lot of money, and he got to play every day. This was a big opportunity for him.
It took some time for Fielder to get used to baseball in Japan. But with help from his manager, he adjusted well. Fans in Japan called him "Wild Bear" because of his powerful hitting and large size. In 1989, he hit 38 home runs and had 81 RBI for the Hanshin Tigers.
Time with the Detroit Tigers
In 1990, Cecil Fielder signed a contract with the Detroit Tigers. In his first year with the team, he had an amazing season. He hit 51 home runs and had 132 RBI, leading all of MLB in both categories.
Hitting 50 home runs in a season is very rare. No Tigers player had done it since Hank Greenberg in 1938. Fielder's powerful hitting was a big surprise to many. He also led the American League in total bases. He finished second in the voting for the AL MVP Award that year.
Fielder continued his success in 1991. He hit 44 home runs and had 133 RBI, again leading the league in both. He was one of only a few Tigers players to hit 40 or more home runs in two years in a row. For the second year in a row, he was the runner-up for the AL MVP Award.
In 1992, Fielder signed a record-setting contract for an arbitration-eligible player. He hit 35 home runs and led the league in RBI for the third year in a row. He was the first American League player since Babe Ruth to do this.
Fans in Detroit nicknamed him "Big Daddy." This was because of his friendly smile, calm personality, and his incredibly long home runs. During his six years with the Tigers, Fielder had four seasons where he hit at least 30 home runs and had 100 RBI.
Cecil Fielder was chosen for the All-Star Team in 1990, 1991, and 1993. He was also named "Tiger of the Year" by baseball writers for three years in a row (1990, 1991, and 1992). No other player has won this award three times in a row.
In 1993, Fielder signed a large contract with the Tigers, making him one of the highest-paid players in baseball for a couple of seasons.
Fielder was known for being a slow runner. In 1996, he got his first career stolen base after playing 1,096 games. He stole one more base that season, finishing his career with two stolen bases. While he wasn't fast, he was considered a good defensive first baseman at catching throws.
Cecil Fielder hit some incredibly long home runs. He was one of only four players to hit a home run completely over the left-field roof at Tiger Stadium. He also hit the only home run to ever travel completely out of Milwaukee County Stadium.
Later Career and Retirement
In 1996, Cecil Fielder was traded to the New York Yankees. He played well for the Yankees, hitting 13 home runs and having 37 RBI in 53 games. His powerful hitting helped the Yankees win the 1996 World Series. He was even named the most outstanding player in the 1996 postseason.
In 1997, Fielder broke his thumb and missed several weeks of playing. He returned later that season. In 1998, he played for the Anaheim Angels and then the Cleveland Indians. He retired from baseball after the 1998 season.
Throughout his MLB career, Cecil Fielder had a batting average of .255. He hit 319 home runs and had 1,008 RBI. He was inducted into the Kinston Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994.
Family Life
Cecil Fielder's son, Prince Fielder, also became a professional baseball player. Prince was a first baseman known for hitting many home runs, just like his dad. He played for the Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers, and Texas Rangers.
On September 25, 2007, Prince Fielder hit his 50th home run of the season. This made Cecil and Prince the only father and son duo in MLB history to each hit 50 home runs in a single season. They both ended their careers with 319 home runs, tying them on the all-time MLB home run list.
Cecil Fielder has also worked as a baseball manager after his playing career. He managed teams in different professional leagues. On October 17, 2024, Cecil Fielder was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
See also
- 50 home run club
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of second-generation Major League Baseball players
