Delino DeShields facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Delino DeShields |
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DeShields managing the Dayton Dragons in 2011
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| Second baseman | |||
| Born: January 15, 1969 Seaford, Delaware, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 9, 1990, for the Montreal Expos | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 8, 2002, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .268 | ||
| Home runs | 80 | ||
| Runs batted in | 561 | ||
| Stolen bases | 463 | ||
| Teams | |||
As coach
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Delino Lamont DeShields, also known as "Bop," is a former professional baseball player and coach from America. He played as a second baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 13 years, from 1990 to 2002. He played for teams like the Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles, and Chicago Cubs. As of 2023, he is the manager for the Harrisburg Senators, a minor league team connected to the Washington Nationals.
Delino's son, Delino DeShields Jr., also played in MLB for seven seasons. His daughter, Diamond DeShields, is a professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky in the WNBA.
Contents
Early Life & Baseball Dreams
Delino DeShields was born in Seaford, Delaware, where his mother and grandmother raised him. He was a talented athlete in high school, earning "All-American" honors in both baseball and basketball. He even planned to play college basketball at Villanova University. However, his path changed when he was picked 12th overall in the 1987 MLB draft. He decided to pursue a career in professional baseball instead.
Delino DeShields' Playing Career
Starting with the Montreal Expos
Delino DeShields signed with the Montreal Expos for $130,000. He made his first MLB appearance on Opening Day in 1990. In his very first game, he got four hits, which was a lot for a player making their debut in the National League at that time. He quickly became the regular second baseman for the Expos and finished second in the voting for the NL Rookie of the Year award.
After a slightly tougher year in 1991, he had two excellent seasons in 1992 and 1993. During these years, he had a batting average of .294 and averaged 45 stolen bases each season.
Moving to the Los Angeles Dodgers
In November 1993, DeShields was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. This trade involved him going to the Dodgers in exchange for a young player named Pedro Martínez. Looking back, many baseball experts consider this one of the worst trades in Dodgers history. DeShields played for three years in Los Angeles, hitting .241. Meanwhile, Pedro Martínez became one of the greatest pitchers ever, winning three Cy Young Awards.
Playing for Other Teams
After his time with the Dodgers, Delino DeShields signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in November 1996. In December 1998, he joined the Baltimore Orioles. A notable moment during his time with the Orioles was on April 4, 2001, when he was the last batter in Hideo Nomo's "no-hitter" game against the Orioles. Later that year, in July 2001, the Orioles released him, and he then signed with the Chicago Cubs, where he finished his playing career in 2002.
Life After Playing Baseball
Promoting Baseball & Coaching
After retiring as a player, Delino DeShields became involved in promoting baseball. He helped start the Urban Baseball League and travels with former player Oil Can Boyd to encourage baseball in African American communities.
He also began a career in coaching and managing minor league teams. He managed the Dayton Dragons, a team connected to the Cincinnati Reds, in 2011 and 2012. In December 2012, he became the manager for the Reds' Double-A minor league team, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. Then, in December 2014, he took over as manager of the Louisville Bats.
In 2022, DeShields worked as the first base and baserunning coach for the main Cincinnati Reds team. He left that role in October 2022.
Managing the Harrisburg Senators
In 2023, Delino DeShields became the manager of the Harrisburg Senators. This team is the Double-A affiliate for the Washington Nationals, meaning they are a step below the major league team, helping players develop their skills.
Delino DeShields' Family Life
Delino DeShields is married to Michelle Elliott DeShields, who is an educator and a television host. He has five children. Two of his children from a previous marriage followed in his footsteps and became professional athletes:
- Delino DeShields Jr. played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball from 2015 to 2021.
- Diamond DeShields plays professional basketball for the Chicago Sky in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
His other children are D'Angelo, Denim, and Delaney.
Career Highlights & Achievements
- Named State Baseball Player of the Year in 1986.
- Finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting in 1990.
- Led the National League in triples (14) in 1997.
- Was among the top 10 base stealers in the National League nine times (1990–1998).
- His career total of 463 stolen bases ranks him 44th on the all-time list.
- He wore his socks just below the knee to honor players from the historic Negro leagues.
- Inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in 2006.
- Inducted into the Eastern Shore Baseball Foundation Hall of Fame and Museum in 2010.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders
- List of second-generation Major League Baseball players
