David Justice facts for kids
Quick facts for kids David Justice |
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Justice in 2011
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: April 14, 1966 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| May 24, 1989, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 29, 2002, for the Oakland Athletics | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .279 | ||
| Home runs | 305 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,017 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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David Christopher Justice (born April 14, 1966) is a former American professional baseball player. He played for 14 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). David was an outfielder and designated hitter.
He won the World Series twice, once with the Atlanta Braves and once with the New York Yankees. In 1990, he won the National League Rookie of the Year Award. He was also chosen as an MLB All-Star three times. Besides the Braves and Yankees, he also played for the Cleveland Indians and the Oakland Athletics.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Start
David Justice grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. He went to Covington Latin School, a Catholic school. Later, he attended Thomas More College in Kentucky. He went there on a basketball scholarship.
In June 1985, the Atlanta Braves picked David Justice in the baseball draft. This was the start of his amazing baseball journey.
Playing in the Major Leagues
Atlanta Braves Years
David Justice first played in the major leagues in May 1989. He joined the Atlanta Braves. He became a starting player after another popular player, Dale Murphy, was traded.
In the second half of the 1990 season, David played really well. He hit 28 home runs. This helped him win the National League's Rookie of the Year Award. In 1991, the Braves started playing much better. David was leading the league in runs batted in when a back injury stopped him in June. Even with the injury, he finished with 87 runs batted in. He also played in his first World Series.
After a slightly less productive year in 1992, David had a great 1993 season. He hit 40 home runs and got 120 runs batted in (RBIs). He was one of the top players considered for the MVP award. In 1994, he was hitting very well when the baseball season stopped due to a strike.
When baseball returned in 1995, David helped the Braves reach the World Series. They played against the Cleveland Indians. David became a hero in Game 6 of the World Series. His important home run was the only run scored in a 1–0 game. This win helped the Braves clinch the championship!
In May 1996, David had a shoulder injury during a game. This injury ended his season early.
Cleveland Indians Time
Before the 1997 season, the Braves traded David Justice to the Cleveland Indians. He joined the Indians along with another outfielder, Marquis Grissom.
In 1997, David played very well for the Indians. He hit .329 and had 33 home runs. He also made another World Series appearance. In 1998 and 1999, he continued to hit well, with 21 home runs each year. By June 2000, he had already hit 21 home runs that season.
New York Yankees Success
On June 29, 2000, the Indians traded David Justice to the New York Yankees. He quickly made a big impact. David won the League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award for the 2000 American League Championship Series. This helped the Yankees win his second World Series championship.
Between playing for the Indians and Yankees in 2000, David hit a career-high 41 home runs. In 2001, his playing slowed down. He had a groin injury that put him on the disabled list twice.
Oakland Athletics and Retirement
The Yankees traded David Justice to the New York Mets in December 2001. A week later, the Mets traded him to the Oakland Athletics.
In the first week of the 2002 season, David was named the American League Player of the Week. He was also part of the Athletics' amazing 20-game winning streak that year. After hitting 11 home runs and playing well at age 36, David Justice announced his retirement. He said he didn't have the same strong desire to play anymore.
Career Highlights and Records
David Justice finished his baseball career with a .279 batting average. He hit 305 home runs and had 1,017 runs batted in. He played in 1,610 games.
From 1991 to his last season in 2002, David's teams made it to the postseason almost every year. They reached the World Series six times and won twice. He is among the top players in many career postseason statistics. These include at-bats, games played, hits, doubles, and runs scored.
Honors and Recognition
On May 9, 1994, David Justice was featured in People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" issue.
In March 2007, it was announced that David Justice would be added to the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame. He was the first player from the Braves teams that won 14 division titles in a row (1991–2005) to be inducted. The induction ceremony happened on August 17, 2007. Many former Braves players and coaches attended. Tributes from Braves legend Hank Aaron and former owner Ted Turner were shown.
After Baseball
Broadcasting Career
After he stopped playing baseball, David Justice worked as a commentator for ESPN for two years. He then joined the YES Network, which covers the New York Yankees. He worked as an analyst for games and studio shows. He also hosted a show for kids called Yankees on Deck.
Before the 2008 season, the YES Network announced that David would not be on air that year. This was because his home in San Diego County was destroyed in the 2007 California wildfires. Also, his mother had recently passed away. David never returned to the network.
Acting and Film
David Justice also appeared in some TV shows. He was in an episode of The Young and the Restless in 1992. He also appeared in an episode of Arli$$ in 1997.
He was played by actor Stephen Bishop in the movie Moneyball. This film was based on a book about the Oakland Athletics baseball team.
Personal Life
On New Year's Day 1993, David Justice married film actress Halle Berry. They later separated in 1996 and divorced in 1997.
He married Rebecca Villalobos on February 8, 2001. Rebecca is the CEO of Exotic Spices Calendars. They have three children: David Jr., Dionisio, and Raquel. In 2014, his family was on an episode of Celebrity Wife Swap. This show inspired his daughter Raquel to want to become an actress.
See also
In Spanish: David Justice para niños
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
