Eric Anthony facts for kids

Eric Todd Anthony, born on November 8, 1967, is a former professional baseball player from the United States. He was an outfielder for several teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). These teams included the Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, and Los Angeles Dodgers. He also played baseball in Japan for the Yakult Swallows.

Eric Anthony was chosen by the Astros in the 34th round of the 1986 MLB amateur draft. He made his first Major League Baseball appearance on July 28, 1989. His last game in the MLB was on September 27, 1997, playing for the Dodgers.

High School Baseball Journey

In 1986, Eric Anthony was 18 years old. He had left Sharpstown High School and was working at a plastics company in Houston. He managed to get a tryout with the Houston Astros. Scouts were very impressed by his powerful hitting. During batting practice, he hit many home runs that flew over 400 feet. Because of this amazing display, the Astros drafted him.

Professional Baseball Career

Minor League Success

Before playing in the major leagues, Eric Anthony played in the minor leagues. He was known for hitting incredibly long home runs. He often hit around 30 home runs each season. In 1989, Anthony led all minor league players with 31 home runs. He was also named the Southern League Most Valuable Player for the Columbus Mudcats. The Astros needed players who could hit home runs. So, they decided to call Anthony up to the major leagues in July 1989.

Major League Highlights

Eric Anthony's first hit in the major leagues was a home run. It happened in his second game with the Astros. The ball traveled 414 feet off a pitch from Rick Reuschel of the San Francisco Giants. It easily cleared the fences at the Astrodome.

The next season, Anthony hit another memorable home run at the Astrodome. This time, playing against the Chicago Cubs, he launched a ball into the right field upper deck. He was the first Astros player to hit a ball there since 1970. The ball was estimated to have traveled 440 feet. The seat where the ball landed was marked with a star to remember the moment. For his first three years, Anthony played between Triple-A and Houston. He was great in the minor leagues but struggled to hit over .200 in the MLB.

Anthony's best season in the major leagues was in 1992. He became a regular outfielder for the Astros. That year, he hit 19 home runs and had 80 RBIs. In 1993, he hit 15 home runs and had 66 RBIs. His batting average also improved to .249. After that season, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners. The Astros received a young pitcher named Mike Hampton in return. This trade turned out to be very good for the Astros. Anthony was released by the Mariners by the end of 1994. Mike Hampton became one of the Astros' best pitchers.

On April 4, 1994, Eric Anthony made history again. He hit the very first home run at Jacobs Field in Cleveland. After playing for the Mariners, he became a reserve outfielder. He played for the Reds, Rockies, and Dodgers. His final major league game was with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1997.

After Major League Baseball

In 1998, Eric Anthony played for the Yakult Swallows in the Japanese League. After his time in Japan, he returned to the Dodgers organization. He played for their AAA team, Albuquerque, in 1998 and 1999. He hit well in both seasons, but injuries kept him from returning to the major leagues. Anthony played a few more games in independent leagues and the Mexican League before he retired from baseball.

Personal Life

In 2017, Eric Anthony learned something surprising about his family. A DNA test showed that his biological father was Willie Davis. Willie Davis was also a famous MLB All-Star player.

See also

• List of second-generation Major League Baseball players