Gary Matthews Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gary Matthews Jr. |
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Matthews with the New York Mets
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: August 25, 1974 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 4, 1999, for the San Diego Padres | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 2, 2010, for the New York Mets | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .257 | ||
| Home runs | 108 | ||
| Runs batted in | 484 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Gary Nathaniel Matthews Jr. was born on August 25, 1974. He is an American former professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1999 to 2010. Gary Jr. is the son of Gary Matthews, who was a famous baseball player too. His father was the Rookie of the Year in 1973 and an All-Star in 1979.
Contents
Playing Career
Starting Out
Gary Matthews Jr. started his MLB career with the San Diego Padres in 1999. Before that, he even played for the Brisbane Bandits in Australia. He played for many different teams during his career. These teams included the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets, and Baltimore Orioles.
He also played for the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. For his first seven years, from 1999 to 2005, he was not a main player. During this time, he hit 59 home runs and stole 54 bases.
Becoming an All-Star in 2006
The 2006 season was a great year for Matthews. He played so well that he was chosen for the All-Star Game. This was a special moment because his father had also been an All-Star in 1979. They became the 14th father-son duo to play in an All-Star Game.
Matthews was known for his amazing catches in the outfield. He could jump high and steal what looked like sure home runs from other players. One of his most famous catches was against Mike Lamb on July 1, 2006. It was so incredible that even Mike Lamb applauded him!
Later in the 2006 season, on September 13, Matthews achieved something rare. He hit for a natural cycle in a game against the Detroit Tigers. This means he hit a single, then a double, then a triple, and finally a home run, all in that exact order.
After his fantastic 2006 season, he signed a contract with the Angels. He had 19 home runs, 79 RBIs, and 194 hits that year.
Later Years
In the 2008 season, Matthews hit 8 home runs. He had a batting average of .242.
On July 10, 2009, he got his 1,000th career hit. This happened against Joba Chamberlain of the New York Yankees. Matthews was the last player to bat for the Angels in their 2009 season. He struck out against Mariano Rivera in the final game of the 2009 American League Championship Series.
After the 2009 season, Matthews wanted to join a new team. He was traded to the New York Mets on January 22, 2010. The Angels paid most of the money left on his contract. Many people were surprised by this trade.
Matthews started as the center fielder for the Mets on opening day. However, he did not play well and was released by the Mets in June 2010. He then signed a minor-league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. He played well in the minor leagues but was not called up to the major league team. He became a free agent in July 2010.
Coaching Career
In 2024, Gary Matthews Jr. became a coach. He served as the first base coach for the National League team. This was during the 2024 All-Star Futures Game.
Awards
- 2006 American League All Star
See also
- List of second-generation Major League Baseball players
- List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
