George Lombard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids George Lombard |
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Lombard with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017
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| Detroit Tigers – No. 26 | |||
| Outfielder / Coach | |||
| Born: September 14, 1975 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 4, 1998, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 1, 2006, for the Washington Nationals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .220 | ||
| Home runs | 8 | ||
| Runs batted in | 21 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As coach
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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George Paul Lombard Sr. was born on September 14, 1975. He is an American baseball coach and a former player. He used to play as an outfielder. Today, he is the bench coach for the Detroit Tigers in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Before playing baseball, George was a talented football player. He was even named an All-American in high school by Parade and USA Today. He first planned to play football for the Georgia Bulldogs. But he later decided to play baseball instead. George also earned a college degree in psychology in 2015.
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George Lombard's Baseball Journey
Playing in the Major Leagues
George Lombard played both baseball and football when he was in high school. He went to The Lovett School in Atlanta. He was a very good football player. He even thought about playing college football for the Georgia Bulldogs.
However, George chose baseball. The Atlanta Braves picked him in the second round of the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft. He signed a contract for $425,000.
During his time as a player, George played for several teams. These included the Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and Washington Nationals. In 2002, while playing for the Detroit Tigers, he hit 5 home runs. He also stole 13 bases.
Overall, in his Major League Baseball career, George Lombard hit 8 home runs. He was also very good at stealing bases. He stole 23 bases out of 25 tries. That's a great success rate!
George Lombard made history on March 15, 2008. He was the first American baseball player to hit a home run in China. This happened during the MLB China Series. After that, he signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians. He was released by the Indians in July 2009.
Becoming a Baseball Coach
After his playing career, George Lombard became a coach. In 2010, he was the hitting coach for the Lowell Spinners. This team is part of the Boston Red Sox organization. From 2011 to 2012, he managed the Gulf Coast Red Sox. His teams had a good record, winning 61 games and losing 59. In 2012, his team won their division.
In December 2012, the Red Sox promoted George. He became a special coach for their minor league teams. He helped players with their outfield skills and baserunning. In September 2015, he joined the Atlanta Braves. He had a similar role there, helping young players develop.
On December 17, 2015, George Lombard joined the Los Angeles Dodgers. He became their first base coach. He held this important position until the end of the 2020 season. During his time with the Dodgers, the team played in three World Series. They won one of them, which was a huge achievement!
On November 7, 2020, George Lombard was named the bench coach for the Detroit Tigers. He continues to help the team from the dugout today.
George Lombard's Family Life
George Lombard's mother, Posy Lombard, passed away when he was 10 years old. She was known for her work in civil rights. She worked with important leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. His grandfather was also a professor at Harvard Business School for many years.
George Lombard has two sons, George Jr. and Jacob. Both of his sons are also athletes.
