David Ross (baseball) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David Ross
Ross in 2022
Catcher / Manager
Born: (1977-03-19) March 19, 1977 (age 48) Bainbridge, Georgia, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
June 29, 2002, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Last appearance
October 1, 2016, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
Batting average	.229
Home runs	106
Runs batted in	314
Managerial record	262–284
Winning %.	.480
Teams
As player Los Angeles Dodgers (2002–2004) Pittsburgh Pirates (2005) San Diego Padres (2005) Cincinnati Reds (2006–2008) Boston Red Sox (2008) Atlanta Braves (2009–2012) Boston Red Sox (2013–2014) Chicago Cubs (2015–2016) As manager Chicago Cubs (2020–2023)
Career highlights and awards
2× World Series champion (2013, 2016)
Medals Men's baseball Representing  United States World Junior Baseball Championship Gold 1995 Massachusetts Team

David Wade Ross (born March 19, 1977) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He also worked as a manager for the Chicago Cubs in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2020 to 2023. Ross played in MLB for 15 seasons.

He played college baseball for Auburn University and the University of Florida. He even played in two College World Series. David Ross started his major league career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2002. He also played for many other teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, and Chicago Cubs. Ross won two World Series championships. One was with the Boston Red Sox in 2013 and the other with the Chicago Cubs in 2016. After his playing career, the Cubs chose him to be their manager before the 2020 season.

Early Life and Family

David Ross was born in Bainbridge, Georgia, in 1977. He grew up in Tallahassee, Florida. His father, David Ross Sr., played in a men's softball league. His mother, Jackie, played basketball. Two of Ross's uncles were college football players. He went to Florida High School in Tallahassee, Florida. There, he played high school baseball for the Florida High School Demons. David Ross is one of five children in his family.

College Baseball Journey

Ross earned a special athletic scholarship to attend Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. He played for the Auburn Tigers baseball team from 1996 to 1997. In 1996, he also played summer baseball for the Brewster Whitecaps. This team is part of the Cape Cod Baseball League. A big moment in his college career happened in 1997. During the College World Series regional tournament, he hit a "walk-off" home run. This means his hit won the game for Auburn against Florida State. It helped his team move on to the regional final. The Auburn Tigers then made it to the College World Series.

After the 1997 season, he moved to the University of Florida. He played one more season of college baseball for the Florida Gators baseball team in 1998. Ross is one of the few players who played in the College World Series with two different colleges. First, he played with the Tigers in 1997. Then, he played with the Gators in 1998. After his junior year with the Gators, Ross decided to stop playing college baseball. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Playing in the Major Leagues

Starting with the Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers first picked David Ross in the 1995 amateur draft. But he chose to go to Auburn University instead. In 1998, the Dodgers drafted him again, this time in the seventh round.

Ross played his first MLB game on June 29, 2002. He came in as a pinch hitter. On September 2, 2002, he hit his first major league home run. It was against Mark Grace, who was a first baseman pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ross's time with the Dodgers was tough because the team had many other good catchers. He stayed with the team until 2004.

Moving to Other Teams

The Dodgers traded Ross to the Pittsburgh Pirates in March 2005. After playing 40 games with the Pirates, he was traded again. This time, he went to the San Diego Padres in July 2005. He played in 11 games for the Padres.

Time with the Cincinnati Reds

Ross playing for the Cincinnati Reds in 2008

The Padres traded Ross to the Cincinnati Reds in 2006. He signed a two-year contract with the Reds.

Ross was often the "personal catcher" for pitcher Bronson Arroyo. This means he would usually catch when Arroyo was pitching. Many Reds fans thought Ross should be the main catcher because he was hitting well. On April 21, 2007, Ross hit into a rare "5–4–3 triple play" against the Philadelphia Phillies. This means three players were out on one play. Ross finished the 2007 season with a .203 batting average and 17 home runs. In August 2008, the Reds let him go.

Back to the Boston Red Sox

Ross signed a contract with the Boston Red Sox in August 2008. He joined the MLB team on August 29. He became a free agent after that season.

Playing for the Atlanta Braves

Ross with the Atlanta Braves in 2012

The Atlanta Braves signed Ross to a two-year deal in December 2008.

In 2009, Ross hit for a .273 average in 54 games. In July 2010, he signed an extension to stay with the Braves until 2012. He had his best hitting year in 2010, with a .289 average in 59 games.

Ross was the second catcher for the Atlanta Braves, behind Brian McCann. He was known as a strong defensive catcher. In 2009, he made only one error in 52 games. Ross hit the first ever home run in the Wild Card Game in 2012. This was when a new playoff format was introduced.

Second Time with the Boston Red Sox

Ross with the Red Sox in 2014

Ross signed a two-year deal in November 2012 to return to the Red Sox. He was meant to be more than a backup catcher but not the main starter.

Ross had two concussions in 2013 and missed over two months of playing. However, he got healthy and played a big part in Boston winning the World Series championship. They beat the St. Louis Cardinals that year. Ross started in four games during the series. He also helped score the winning run in Game 5. He was the catcher when the Red Sox won the series in Game 6. In 2014, Ross was the "personal catcher" for pitcher Jon Lester.

Joining the Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs announced in December 2014 that they had signed Ross to a two-year contract.

On May 9, 2015, Ross pitched for the first time in his professional career. He pitched a perfect inning against the Milwaukee Brewers. On July 26, he did it again against the Philadelphia Phillies. Then, he hit a home run in the next inning.

On April 21, 2016, Ross caught his first "no-hitter" game. This was with pitcher Jake Arrieta against the Cincinnati Reds. Ross hit his 100th career home run on May 27, 2016.

Ross announced that he would retire after the 2016 season. He had played 15 seasons in the major leagues. During Game 7 of the 2016 MLB World Series against the Cleveland Indians, Ross hit a home run. This made him the oldest player to hit a home run in World Series history at 39 years old. The Cubs won Game 7, 8–7, in 10 innings. This earned Ross his second World Series ring. After retiring, the Cubs named Ross a special assistant for baseball operations in 2017.

After Playing Baseball

After retiring from playing, the Cubs made Ross a special assistant. ESPN also hired Ross as a baseball TV analyst in January 2017.

Managing the Cubs

Ross with the Cubs in 2023

On October 24, 2019, the Cubs hired David Ross as their new manager. He replaced Joe Maddon and signed a three-year contract. Ross started his managing career on July 24, 2020. His team won 3–0 at home against the Milwaukee Brewers.

On March 11, 2022, the Cubs announced they extended Ross's contract through the 2024 season. The deal also included an option for the 2025 season.

However, Ross was let go on November 6, 2023. Craig Counsell was then hired to be the Cubs’ next manager.

Managerial Record

Dancing with the Stars

On March 1, 2017, David Ross was announced as a contestant on season 24 of Dancing with the Stars. He was paired with professional dancer Lindsay Arnold. Ross was the first professional baseball player to compete on the show. Even though he didn't always have the highest scores, Ross and Arnold made it far. They ended up finishing as runners-up, coming in second place.

Personal Life

David Ross is divorced from Hyla Ross as of 2020. They have three children together. In 2016, they lived in Tallahassee, Florida.

Ross is a Christian. He has worked with several charities in Chicago. One of them is Cradles to Crayons, which helps underprivileged young people in Chicago.

Ross worked with author Don Yaeger on a book called Teammate: My Life in Baseball. It was published in May 2017.

Ross has appeared on Saturday Night Live with some of his Cubs teammates. This was to celebrate their World Series win. Ross also appeared in commercials for "The Bryzzo Souvenir Company." In these ads, he played an intern trying to meet the demands of his bosses, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo.

On May 8, 2021, Chicago Med star Torrey DeVitto announced that she and Ross were dating. However, they broke up later, as she mentioned in a March 8, 2023, podcast.

See also

In Spanish: David Ross para niños

• List of Auburn University people
• List of Major League Baseball players with a home run in their final major league at bat
• List of Florida Gators baseball players