Jesse Barfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jesse Barfield |
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Barfield in 2009
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| Right fielder | |||
| Born: October 29, 1959 Joliet, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: September 3, 1981, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |||
| NPB: April 10, 1993, for the Yomiuri Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| MLB: June 17, 1992, for the New York Yankees | |||
| NPB: October 21, 1993, for the Yomiuri Giants | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .256 | ||
| Home runs | 241 | ||
| Runs batted in | 716 | ||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .215 | ||
| Home runs | 26 | ||
| Runs batted in | 53 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As coach
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2023 | ||
Jesse Lee Barfield (born October 29, 1959) is a former professional baseball player and coach from the United States. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a right fielder. Jesse played for the Toronto Blue Jays from 1981 to 1989. He then joined the New York Yankees from 1989 to 1992.
Jesse Barfield was known for his amazing defense. He won the Gold Glove Award twice. He had a very strong throwing arm. This arm helped him lead American League (AL) outfielders in assists five times. He was also a great hitter. In 1986, he won a Silver Slugger Award. That same year, he led the American League in Home runs. He was also chosen for the AL All-Star team.
After his MLB career, Jesse played one season in Japan. He played for the Yomiuri Giants in 1993. Later, he worked as a coach for several MLB teams. These included the Houston Astros and the Seattle Mariners.
Contents
Jesse Barfield's Baseball Career
Playing for the Toronto Blue Jays (1981–1989)
The Toronto Blue Jays picked Jesse Barfield in the 1977 MLB draft. He made his first big league appearance on September 3, 1981. In that game, he got his first hit and RBI. He played in 25 games that season. The next year, he became the Blue Jays' main right fielder. He hit 18 home runs and had 58 RBIs. On April 25, 1982, he hit the first grand slam in Blue Jays history.
In 1983, Jesse hit 27 home runs. In 1984, his batting average went up to .284. Jesse, George Bell, and Lloyd Moseby formed a famous outfield for the Blue Jays. Many people thought they were one of the best outfields in the 1980s.
In 1985, Jesse had a fantastic season. He batted .289 and hit 27 home runs. He also stole 22 bases. He was the first Blue Jays player to hit 20 homers and steal 20 bases in the same year. That season, the Blue Jays made it to the playoffs for the first time ever. They played in the American League Championship Series (ALCS). Jesse batted .280 in the ALCS. The Blue Jays lost to the Kansas City Royals in seven games.
Jesse had his best personal season in 1986. He hit 40 home runs, which led all of Major League Baseball. He also had 108 RBIs and 107 runs. He won both a Gold Glove Award and a Silver Slugger Award. He was also chosen for the American League All-Star team.
In 1987, Jesse played in 159 games. He hit 28 home runs and won his second Gold Glove. In 1988, his batting average dropped a bit. By early 1989, he was batting .200.
Time with the New York Yankees (1989–1992)
On April 30, 1989, Jesse Barfield was traded to the New York Yankees. He finished the 1989 season with the Yankees. He hit 18 home runs and had 56 RBIs that year. In 1990, he hit 25 home runs and had 78 RBIs.
By 1992, injuries made it hard for him to play. He retired from MLB at age 32. He was granted free agency on November 4, 1992.
Playing in Japan (1993)
In 1993, Jesse played baseball in Japan. He joined the Yomiuri Giants. He reunited with his former Blue Jays teammate, Lloyd Moseby. Jesse hit 26 home runs and had 53 RBIs in 104 games.
Career Highlights and Awards
Jesse Barfield was known for his powerful hitting and strong defense. He had 241 home runs and 716 RBIs in his MLB career. He played in 1,428 games.
In 1990, he was inducted into the Kinston Professional Baseball Hall of Fame. In 2023, Jesse Barfield was elected into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. This is a great honor for his contributions to baseball.
Jesse Barfield's Family and Later Life
Jesse Barfield has two sons who also played baseball. His elder son, Josh, played as an infielder for the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Indians. His other son, Jeremy, was drafted by the New York Mets in 2006. Jeremy later played in the minor league systems for the Oakland Athletics and Colorado Rockies.
In 2007 and 2008, Jesse Barfield worked as a color commentator for Blue Jays games on CBC. Today, he works at Competitive Edge Sports in The Woodlands, Texas.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders
