Daryle Ward facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Daryle Ward |
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Ward with the Newark Bears in 2012
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| First baseman / Left fielder | |||
| Born: June 27, 1975 Lynwood, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| May 14, 1998, for the Houston Astros | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 27, 2008, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .263 | ||
| Home runs | 90 | ||
| Runs batted in | 379 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Daryle Lamar Ward (born June 27, 1975) is an American former professional baseball player. He played as a first baseman and left fielder. Daryle played for 11 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was with teams like the Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs. His father, Gary Ward, was also a major league player. Today, Daryle Ward is a hitting coach for the Chattanooga Lookouts. This team is part of the Cincinnati Reds organization.
Contents
Daryle Ward's Baseball Journey
Early Days with the Astros
Daryle Ward joined the Houston Astros in 1996. This was part of a big trade involving ten players. He quickly showed his talent. In 1999, he won the AAA Home Run Derby. This event was held in his home stadium in New Orleans. The very next day, he hit a 3-run home run in the All-Star Game. This helped his team, the PCL, win.
Daryle made his MLB debut in 1999. He hit 8 home runs in his first 150 at-bats. In 2000, he hit 20 home runs in just 264 at-bats. In 2001, he batted .263. He had 9 home runs and 39 RBI in 95 games. The next year, 2002, he batted .276. He hit 12 home runs and had 72 RBIs in 136 games.
On July 6, 2002, Daryle made history. He became the first player to hit a home run out of PNC Park in Pittsburgh. The ball flew directly into the Allegheny River. This amazing hit was a grand slam. It came off Pittsburgh pitcher Kip Wells.
Moving to Other Teams
After the 2002 season, the Astros traded Ward to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played a part-time role in 2003. After that season, the Dodgers released him. The Pittsburgh Pirates then signed him. Ward played better in 2004. The Pirates re-signed him for 2005 as their part-time first baseman.
Hitting for the Cycle
In 2004, Daryle Ward had an incredible game. On May 26, he hit for the cycle. This means he hit a single, a double, a triple, and a home run all in one game. He also tied his career high with six RBIs. This helped the Pirates win 11–8 against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Daryle Ward and his father, Gary Ward, made history together. They became the first father-son duo in MLB history to both hit for the cycle. Gary Ward achieved this feat in 1980. Later, Craig and Cavan Biggio also joined this special group in 2019.
Later Seasons
In 2006, Ward was traded to the Atlanta Braves. On December 7, 2006, the Chicago Cubs signed him. He had a great season in 2006, batting .308. In 2007, he replaced Derrek Lee as a backup at first base. On May 6, Ward hit a game-winning single against his old team, the Washington Nationals. He also hit a grand slam on August 18. This was his third career grand slam. Ward finished the 2007 season with a career-high .327 batting average.
In 2008, Ward continued to make big plays. On August 15, he hit a three-run pinch-hit home run. This helped the Cubs win 6–5 against the Florida Marlins. It was their ninth straight road win. Ward became a free agent at the end of the season.
Minor League Career
After his MLB career, Daryle Ward played in the minor leagues. In 2009, he signed with the Cincinnati Reds. He later played for the Newark Bears and the Chicago White Sox's Triple-A team. He also played for the Washington Nationals organization.
Ward continued playing in the minor leagues for several years. He played for the Newark Bears again in 2011. He also signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks and played for their Double-A team. Later, he played in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball for teams like the Lancaster Barnstormers and Somerset Patriots. He also played in the Mexican League. In 2015, he played for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs and the Sugar Land Skeeters.
Coaching Career
Daryle Ward is now a baseball coach. He was named the hitting coach for the Chattanooga Lookouts for the 2023 season.
See also
- List of second-generation Major League Baseball players
- List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
