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 from the United States. He played as a second baseman and left fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Eric Young played for several teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Colorado Rockies, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, and San Diego Padres. After his playing career, he became a coach. He is currently the third base coach for the Los Angeles Angels. Before that, he was the first base coach for the Atlanta Braves. Eric Young also played college baseball and college football for Rutgers University.
He grew up in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He went to New Brunswick High School, where he played basketball, football, and baseball.
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Eric Young's Baseball Journey
Starting with the Dodgers and Rockies
Eric Young began his MLB career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1992. He then became one of the first players for the new team, the Colorado Rockies, in 1993. On April 9, 1993, he hit a home run in the Rockies' very first home game. This helped them win 11-4 against the Montreal Expos.
He helped the Colorado Rockies reach their first postseason in 1995. They played against the Atlanta Braves but lost the series. Eric Young had his best seasons with the Rockies. In 1996, he was chosen as an All-Star player. He also won a Silver Slugger Award as a second baseman that year. In 1996, he hit for a .324 batting average, with 8 home runs, 74 RBI, and 53 stolen bases.
A Top Base Stealer
During the 1990s, Eric Young was known as one of the best base stealers in Major League Baseball. He holds the record for the most stolen bases in the history of the Colorado Rockies. He is also among the top 10 in many other hitting categories for the team.
On June 30, 1996, in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he did something amazing. He managed to steal second base, then third base, and then home plate all in the same inning! In 1997, Eric Young was traded back to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He continued to play well for the Dodgers in 1998 and 1999, stealing bases and hitting consistently.
Moving to Other Teams
In 1999, the Dodgers traded Eric Young to the Chicago Cubs. In 2000, playing for the Cubs, he hit .297, with 6 home runs, 98 runs scored, and 54 stolen bases. He had a similar good season in 2001. In January 2002, Young signed with the Milwaukee Brewers. In 2003, he hit 15 home runs, which was his highest number of home runs in a single season.
After the Brewers, Eric Young played for the Texas Rangers and the San Diego Padres. In these later years, he was often used as a pinch runner to help his team score. He was released by the Padres in August 2006. He then rejoined the Rangers later that month. Eric Young officially retired as a member of the Colorado Rockies on September 12, 2008. He was honored in a special ceremony at Coors Field before a game.
After Playing Baseball
From Player to Analyst and Coach
After his playing career, Eric Young became a sports analyst for the TV show Baseball Tonight. He was known for saying "Souvenir City!" when showing home runs.
He also worked as a running instructor for the Houston Astros. He helped their outfielders and taught them how to run bases better. On October 17, 2010, he became the first base coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He left that position in October 2012. He then joined the Colorado Rockies as their first base coach for the 2014 season. He coached there until 2016.
In 2018, he was hired to be the first base coach for the Atlanta Braves. During the 2020 season, he chose not to travel with the Braves team. This was due to concerns about the global health situation at the time. On November 12, 2023, Eric Young confirmed he was leaving the Braves. He joined the Los Angeles Angels coaching staff as their new third base coach. He works under the manager Ron Washington.
Eric Young's Family Life
His Sons Follow in His Footsteps
When Eric Young was in high school, he welcomed his oldest son, Eric Young Jr.. Eric Jr. also became a professional baseball player. He made his Major League debut with the Colorado Rockies on August 25, 2009. As of 2025, Eric Young Jr. is the first base coach for the Seattle Mariners.
On December 10, 2005, Eric Young married Beyonka Jackson. They have a son named Dallas Dupree Young, who is an actor.
More to Explore
- List of Colorado Rockies team records
- List of Major League Baseball annual stolen base leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
