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 a former American professional baseball player. He was a center fielder and later a 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. Gary was known for his amazing defense, winning five Gold Glove Awards. He was also very fast, often ranking among the best in stolen bases in the American League.
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Gary Pettis's Baseball Journey
Gary Pettis started his baseball career after being chosen in the 6th round of the 1979 draft. He had attended 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 with them for six seasons. After 1987, he moved to the Detroit Tigers for two years, from 1988 to 1989. Then, he played for the Texas Rangers for two seasons, 1990 and 1991.
Gary finished his playing career in 1992. That year, he played for two different teams. He started with the San Diego Padres but ended the season back with the Detroit Tigers.
Skills and Achievements
During his time as a player, Gary Pettis was famous for his incredible defense. Even though he didn't always get many hits, he was a master in the outfield. He won five Gold Glove Awards, which are given to the best defensive players. People in baseball called him "The man who made center field look easy." He would make amazing catches, diving or leaping to stop hits and even home runs.
Gary was also very fast and great at stealing bases. He had five seasons where he stole more than 40 bases. For almost 20 years, he held the Angels' record for stolen bases. This record was later broken by Chone Figgins in 2007. In 1986, a radio station listener gave him the nickname "Pac Man" Pettis. This was because of how quickly he could chase down balls in the outfield.
Coaching Career and World Series Wins
After his playing career, Gary Pettis became a coach. He coached for several MLB teams. These include 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 two World Series titles. They won in 2017 and again in 2022. In 2022, the Astros had a fantastic season, winning 106 games. They defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series. After the 2024 season, Gary's time as a coach with the Astros ended.
Gary Pettis's Family Life
Gary Pettis has a family with strong ties to sports and entertainment. He has four children: Paige, Kyler, Shaye, and Dante.
Family in Sports
- His nephew, Austin Pettis, used to play as a wide receiver in American football for the St. Louis Rams and San Diego Chargers.
- His son, Dante, also plays wide receiver in American football. He plays for the New Orleans Saints. While playing for the University of Washington, Dante set a college record for most career punt return touchdowns.
- Gary's brother, Stacey Pettis, was also a baseball player. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1981. Stacey later became a scout, helping teams find new talent. He worked for the Seattle Mariners and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Family in Entertainment
- Gary's son, Kyler, is an actor. He has appeared on the 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
