Eric Davis (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eric Davis |
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: May 29, 1962 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| May 19, 1984, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 7, 2001, for the San Francisco Giants | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .269 | ||
| Home runs | 282 | ||
| Runs batted in | 934 | ||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Eric Keith Davis (born May 29, 1962) is a former American professional baseball player. He was a talented center fielder for several Major League Baseball (MLB) teams. He is best known for his time with the Cincinnati Reds, where he earned the nickname "Eric the Red."
Davis made his major league debut with the Reds on May 19, 1984, when he was 21 years old. He played for the Reds for eight seasons. Later, he also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Cardinals, and San Francisco Giants. Eric Davis was a right-handed batter and fielder. He was known for his amazing athletic skills, including speed, power, and great defense.
In 1987, he made history by hitting three grand slams in one month. He was also the first player to hit at least 30 home runs and steal 50 stolen bases in the same season. This showed he was one of the best "power/speed" players in MLB history. He had seven seasons where he hit 20 home runs and stole 20 bases, which is tied for fourth all-time.
The Reds chose Davis in the 1980 amateur draft. He was a talented athlete from Los Angeles, California. During his career, he often faced injuries. Despite this, he was chosen for two MLB All-Star Games. He also won three Rawlings Gold Glove Awards for his defense and two Silver Slugger Awards for his hitting. In 1990, he became a World Series champion when the Reds surprisingly swept the Oakland Athletics.
In 1996, Davis made a successful return to baseball with the Reds. He was even named the comeback player of the year. He then moved to the Orioles. Even while battling colon cancer, he had one of his best seasons in 1998. Injuries slowed him down in later seasons, and he retired in 2001. Today, Eric Davis works as an instructor for the Reds organization.
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Early Life and Baseball Start
Eric Keith Davis was born in Los Angeles, California. He was one of three children born to Jimmy and Shirley Davis. His father, Jimmy, worked at a grocery store. He was very involved in sports with his sons, especially pick-up basketball games.
Eric was a very talented athlete from a young age. He played basketball with future Los Angeles Lakers player Byron Scott. Eric dreamed of playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA). While at Baldwin Hills Park, Davis became friends with Darryl Strawberry. Their careers would often cross paths, from high school to Major League Baseball.
Davis went to John C. Fremont High School in South Los Angeles. He was a star in both basketball and baseball. As a senior, he hit for a .635 batting average and stole 50 bases in just 15 games. In basketball, he averaged 29 points and 10 assists per game.
At first, Davis focused more on basketball. But since most NBA players went to college, and he wasn't interested in college, he decided to focus on baseball. The Cincinnati Reds picked Davis in the eighth round of the 1980 MLB draft. Interestingly, Darryl Strawberry was chosen as the very first pick in the same draft by the New York Mets.
Rising Star in Baseball
In his first full year of professional baseball, Eric Davis showed his speed by stealing 40 bases in 62 games. When he first joined the major leagues in 1984, everyone could see his amazing talent. He was a rare five-tool player. This means he could hit for power, run fast, throw well, field well, and hit for average. He was known for making incredible catches, even "robbing" home runs from other players. Some even compared him to the legendary Willie Mays.
Davis really started to shine in 1986. He batted .277, hit 27 home runs, and stole 80 bases. He and Rickey Henderson are the only players in MLB history to have 20 home runs and 80 stolen bases in a season. From June 1986 to July 1987, he had an incredible stretch. He hit .308 with 47 home runs, 149 runs scored, 123 runs batted in (RBI), and 98 stolen bases.
He continued his success in 1987. On Opening Day, he had a great game with a home run and a stolen base. In May 1987, he hit two grand slams in just a few days. He hit another grand slam that month, becoming the first player ever to hit three grand slams in one month. He finished the 1987 season with a .293 average, 37 home runs, and 50 stolen bases. He was the first player to hit 30 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season, even though he only played in 129 games.
From 1986 to 1990, Davis averaged 30 home runs and 40 stolen bases each year. During this time, he was one of the most exciting players in baseball. On June 2, 1989, Davis achieved a rare feat by hitting for the cycle at home. This means he hit a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game.
World Series Champion
In 1990, Eric Davis was a key player for the Cincinnati Reds. That year, the Reds had a "wire-to-wire" championship season, meaning they led their division from the very beginning to the end. One of Davis's most famous moments happened in the 1990 World Series. He hit a home run off Oakland's pitcher Dave Stewart in his very first World Series at-bat. This home run helped the Reds sweep the World Series in four games against the Oakland Athletics.
During Game 4 of the World Series, Davis suffered an injury while diving for a ball. He also had knee surgery after the season. After 1990, injuries made it hard for Davis to get back to his top form. He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1991. He faced more injuries in 1992 and was not as effective.
In 1993, Davis was traded to the Detroit Tigers. He played well in 29 games for the Tigers that year. He was expected to be their main center fielder in 1994, but injuries limited him to only 37 games. After the 1994 season, Davis decided to retire.
Comeback and Cancer Battle
After taking a year off to recover, Eric Davis felt healthy enough to return to baseball in 1996. He rejoined the Cincinnati Reds and had a strong season. He batted .287 and hit 26 home runs, even though injuries still cut into his playing time. His good performance convinced the Baltimore Orioles to sign him as a free agent.
In May 1997, while playing well for the Orioles, Davis was diagnosed with colon cancer. By September, even while still receiving treatment, Davis bravely returned to the team. Cancer treatment made him tired, but he worked hard to get back in shape. He was well enough to hit a game-winning home run in the 1997 American League Championship Series. After the season, he was given the Roberto Clemente Award. This award honors players who show great sportsmanship and community involvement.
Davis continued to play for the Orioles in 1998. He had one of his best seasons, batting .327 (fourth best in the American League) and hitting 28 home runs. He also had a 30-game hitting streak that season, which was the longest in baseball that year and a record for the Baltimore Orioles.
End of Playing Career and Legacy
Eric Davis's playing career began to wind down in 1999. He spent three more seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants, often dealing with injuries, before retiring in 2001.
In 1999, Davis wrote his autobiography called Born to Play. In the book, he shared his baseball journey. Former Reds teammate Paul O'Neill once said that Davis was "the best hitter, best runner, best outfielder, best everything" he had ever seen.
As of 2017, Eric Davis works as a hitting instructor for the Elite Development Invitational. He also works to encourage more African American youth to play baseball.
Career Statistics
Over 1,626 games in 17 seasons, Eric Davis had a .269 batting average. He hit 282 home runs, had 934 RBI, and stole 349 stolen bases. He was also a great fielder, with a .984 fielding percentage playing in all three outfield positions.
See also
- 30–30 club
- Cincinnati Reds award winners and league leaders
- List of athletes on Wheaties boxes
- List of Baltimore Orioles awards
- List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of people from Los Angeles
