Gary Matthews facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gary Matthews |
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| Left fielder / Right fielder | |||
| Born: July 5, 1950 San Fernando, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 6, 1972, for the San Francisco Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 2, 1987, for the Seattle Mariners | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .281 | ||
| Hits | 2,011 | ||
| Home runs | 234 | ||
| Runs batted in | 978 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As coach
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Gary Nathaniel Matthews Sr. (born July 5, 1950), known as "Sarge", is an American former professional baseball player. He played as a left fielder for 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). After his playing career, Matthews became a TV commentator for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Gary Matthews Sr. is the father of former big league outfielder Gary Matthews Jr.. They are one of only seven father-son duos to play for the Chicago Cubs. Another son, Delvon, also played in Minor League Baseball.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Starting in Professional Baseball
Gary Matthews was chosen by the San Francisco Giants in the first round of the 1968 baseball draft. He began his professional journey in 1969. His first full season was in 1973. That year, he won the National League Rookie of the Year award. This award goes to the best new player in the league.
Time with the Giants and Braves
Matthews played for the San Francisco Giants from 1972 to 1976. He then joined the Atlanta Braves in 1977. He signed a big contract with the Braves. In 1979, he had one of his best seasons. He was chosen for the All-Star Game that year. He batted .304, hit 27 home runs, and had 90 RBIs.
Success with the Philadelphia Phillies
In 1981, Matthews moved to the Philadelphia Phillies. He signed a five-year contract with them. He played in the postseason with the Phillies in 1981 and 1983. In 1983, he was named the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the National League Championship Series (NLCS). He helped the Phillies win and reach the World Series. In that series, he hit three home runs and had eight RBIs.
Playing for the Chicago Cubs
Matthews was traded to the Chicago Cubs in 1984. He was a key player for the Cubs that year. He helped them win the NL Eastern Division title. In the first game of the 1984 NL Championship Series, he hit two home runs. He played as a starter in left field for the Cubs for three seasons. Injuries limited his playing time in 1987. He was traded to the Seattle Mariners later that year.
Career Statistics Overview
Over his 16-season career, Gary Matthews played in 2,033 games. He had a batting average of .281. He collected 2,011 hits and hit 234 home runs. He also had 978 RBIs. Matthews scored 1,083 runs and stole 183 stolen bases. He was known for his good eye at the plate, with a high on-base percentage. In 19 playoff games, he batted .323 with 7 home runs and 15 RBIs.
Coaching Career
After his playing career ended in 1987, Gary Matthews worked in business and broadcasting. In 1995, he joined the Cubs' organization. He worked as a hitting coordinator for their minor league teams for three years.
In 1998, he became the hitting coach for the Toronto Blue Jays. He coached for them for two years. Later, he joined the Milwaukee Brewers as a hitting coach in 2002. From 2003 to 2006, he returned to coach for the Chicago Cubs.
Broadcast Career
Gary Matthews started his broadcast career in 2000. He was a radio commentator for the Toronto Blue Jays. He also worked as a studio analyst for a Canadian sports TV network.
From 2007 to 2013, Matthews was a color analyst for the Philadelphia Phillies. He provided commentary during their games. For a few years, he would also interview a player on the field after Phillies victories. This was a popular part of the broadcast.
In 2014, Matthews left his commentary role with the Phillies. He was given other jobs within the organization.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
