Eric Young Sr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eric Young |
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Young with the Braves in 2022
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| Los Angeles Angels – No. 85 | |||
| Second baseman / Coach | |||
| Born: May 18, 1967 New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| July 30, 1992, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 19, 2006, for the Texas Rangers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .283 | ||
| Home runs | 79 | ||
| Runs batted in | 543 | ||
| Stolen bases | 465 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As coach
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Eric Orlando Young Sr. was born on May 18, 1967. He is a former professional baseball player. Eric played as a second baseman and left fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for several teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies. Today, he is a third base coach for the Los Angeles Angels. Before playing in the MLB, he played both baseball and football at Rutgers University.
Eric grew up in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He went to New Brunswick High School. There, he played basketball, football, and baseball.
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Eric Young's Baseball Career
Starting in the 1990s
Eric Young began his MLB journey with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1992. Soon after, he joined the Colorado Rockies in 1993. He made history by hitting a home run in the Rockies' very first home game. This happened on April 9, 1993, helping his team win 11-4 against the Montreal Expos.
In 1995, Eric helped the Rockies reach the postseason for the first time. They played against the Atlanta Braves but lost the series. His best years were with the Rockies. In 1996, he was chosen as an All-Star. He also won a Silver Slugger Award as a second baseman. That year, he hit for a .324 average. He also hit 8 home runs, had 74 RBI, and stole 53 stolen bases.
A Top Base Stealer
During the 1990s, Eric Young was known as one of the best base stealers in baseball. He still holds the record for most stolen bases for the Colorado Rockies. He is also in the top 10 for many other hitting records for the team. On June 30, 1996, he did something amazing. In one inning, he stole second base, then third base, and finally home plate! This happened in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In 1997, Eric was traded back to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He continued to play well, stealing bases and getting good hits. He played for the Dodgers until 1999.
Playing in the 2000s
In 1999, the Dodgers traded Eric to the Chicago Cubs. In 2000, he had another great season with the Cubs. He hit .297, had 6 home runs, scored 98 runs, and stole 54 bases. He had a similar good season in 2001.
In 2002, Eric signed with the Milwaukee Brewers. In 2003, he hit 15 home runs. This was his highest number of home runs in a single season. After the Brewers, he played for the Texas Rangers and the San Diego Padres. During these years, he was often used as a pinch runner. A pinch runner is a player who comes into the game to run the bases for another player.
Eric was released by the Padres in August 2006. He then rejoined the Rangers later that month. He stopped playing in the Majors after that season. Eric officially retired as a Colorado Rockies player on September 12, 2008. He was honored in a special ceremony at Coors Field before a game.
After Playing Baseball
Sports Analyst and Coach
After his playing career, Eric Young worked as a sports analyst. He appeared on a show called Baseball Tonight. On the show, he would often say "Souvenir City!" when showing a home run. This was a fun way to describe when a ball was hit out of the park for fans to catch.
Eric also became a coach. He first worked as a running instructor for the Houston Astros. He helped their outfielders and taught players how to run bases better. In 2010, he became the first base coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He stayed with them until 2012.
Coaching for Different Teams
In 2014, Eric joined the Colorado Rockies as their first base coach. He coached there until the end of the 2016 season. Then, in 2018, he became the first base coach for the Atlanta Braves. During the 2020 season, he chose not to travel with the Braves. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In November 2023, Eric announced he was leaving the Braves. He joined the Los Angeles Angels coaching staff. He is now their new third base coach.
Eric Young's Family Life
When Eric Young was in high school, he had his first son, Eric Young Jr.. Eric Jr. also became a professional baseball player. He played in the major leagues for the Colorado Rockies starting in 2009. Today, Eric Jr. is the first base coach for the Seattle Mariners.
On December 10, 2005, Eric Young Sr. married Beyonka Jackson. They have a son named Dallas Dupree Young. Dallas is a talented actor.
