Gary Pettis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gary Pettis |
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Pettis with the Houston Astros
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| Center fielder | |||
| Born: April 3, 1958 Oakland, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 13, 1982, for the California Angels | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 10, 1992, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .236 | ||
| Home runs | 21 | ||
| Runs batted in | 259 | ||
| Stolen bases | 354 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Gary George Pettis (born April 3, 1958) is an American former professional baseball player. He was a speedy center fielder and later a successful third base coach. Gary played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1982 to 1992. He played for teams like the California Angels, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, and San Diego Padres. Pettis was famous for his amazing defense, winning five Gold Glove Awards. He was also very good at stolen bases.
Contents
Gary Pettis: A Baseball Star
Early Career and Draft
Gary Pettis was picked by the California Angels in the 1979 baseball draft. This happened after he went to Castlemont High School in Oakland, California. Before playing in the major leagues, he played for minor league teams. These included the Salinas Spurs in 1980 and the Holyoke Millers in 1981.
Playing in the Major Leagues
In 1982, Gary Pettis joined the California Angels. He played his first six seasons with this team. After 1987, he moved to the Detroit Tigers for two seasons (1988–1989). Then, he played for the Texas Rangers for two years (1990–1991).
Gary finished his playing career in 1992. That year, he played for two different teams. He started with the San Diego Padres and then returned to the Detroit Tigers to finish the season.
Defensive Skills and Stolen Bases
During his time as a player, Gary Pettis was known for his incredible defense. Even though his batting average (how often he got a hit) was often low, he was a superstar in the outfield. He won five Gold Glove Awards, which are given to the best defensive players.
Pettis was famous for making amazing catches. He would leap or dive to stop hitters from getting home runs or base hits. People in baseball called him "The man who made center field look easy." He was also very fast and stole many bases. He had five seasons where he stole over 40 bases. For nearly 20 years, he held the Angels' team record for stolen bases.
In 1986, a radio station listener gave him the nickname "Pac Man" Pettis. This was because of his incredible speed in the outfield. He could chase down almost any ball hit by opponents.
A Baseball Card Mix-Up
On his 1985 Topps baseball card, the person in the picture is not Gary Pettis. It is actually a picture of his younger brother, Lynn.
Coaching Career and World Series Wins
After his playing career, Gary Pettis became a successful coach. He coached for several MLB teams. These included the California Angels, Chicago White Sox, New York Mets, and Texas Rangers.
From 2015 to 2024, he was a coach for the Houston Astros. As a coach, he helped the Astros win the World Series twice. They won in 2017 and again in 2022. In 2022, the Astros won 106 games, which was one of their best seasons ever. They beat the Philadelphia Phillies in six games to win the championship.
Personal Life
Gary Pettis has a family with strong ties to sports and entertainment.
Family in Sports
His nephew, Austin Pettis, used to play professional football. He was a wide receiver for the St. Louis Rams and San Diego Chargers.
Gary has four children: Paige, Kyler, Shaye, and Dante. Dante plays wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints. He set a record in college for the most career punt return touchdowns while playing for the University of Washington.
Gary's brother, Stacey Pettis, was also drafted into professional baseball in 1981. Stacey played in the minor leagues for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Angels. He has also worked as a scout for the Seattle Mariners and St. Louis Cardinals.
Family in Entertainment
Gary's son, Kyler, is an actor. He has appeared on the NBC daytime TV show Days of Our Lives.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career games played as a center fielder leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career putouts as a center fielder leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
