John Patterson (infielder) facts for kids

John Allen Patterson (born February 11, 1967) is a former American Major League Baseball player. He was a second baseman for the San Francisco Giants from 1992 to 1995.

John Patterson's Early Baseball Journey

Before becoming a professional baseball player, John Patterson went to Grand Canyon University and Central Arizona College.

He was first chosen by the San Diego Padres in the 1986 amateur draft. However, he decided not to sign with them at that time. In 1988, the San Francisco Giants picked him in the 23rd round. This time, he chose to sign and start his professional career.

Playing in the Minor Leagues

John Patterson began playing professionally in 1988 with the Everett Giants. He hit for a .250 average and stole 21 bases.

After missing the 1989 season, Patterson played for the San Jose Giants in 1990. He had a great year, hitting .302 with four home runs. He also scored 91 runs and stole 29 bases.

In 1991, playing for the Shreveport Captains, Patterson continued to play well. He hit .295, had four home runs, and stole 41 bases.

Making it to the Major Leagues

John Patterson made his first appearance in a Major League Baseball game on April 6, 1992. It was against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He entered the game as a pinch runner.

In 1992, he played in 32 games for the Giants, hitting .184 and stealing five bases. He also played in 93 games for the Phoenix Firebirds that year. With the Firebirds, he hit .301 and stole 22 bases.

The next year, in 1993, he played in 16 games for the Giants. He got three hits in 16 tries, which is a .188 average. He also played 16 games with the Firebirds.

A Memorable Home Run

John Patterson is most remembered for a special home run he hit on September 1, 1993. This happened during a very close race for the championship between the Giants and the Atlanta Braves.

Patterson had missed most of that season because of an injury to his shoulder. He had only played a few games in the minor leagues. On September 1, he was called up to the Major League team.

Later that day, the game was tied 2-2 in the ninth inning. Patterson was asked to hit as a pinch hitter. It was his first time batting in a Major League game that season! He hit his first Major League home run off Mark Wohlers, a pitcher who hadn't given up a home run in two years.

His home run helped the Giants win the game. It also gave them a 4.5-game lead over the Braves in their division. The race for the championship was very exciting and went down to the very last day of the season. In the end, the Braves won the division by just one game.

An Unfortunate Incident

In 1992, during an exhibition game against the Anaheim Angels, John Patterson was batting. He hit a foul ball that went into the Angels' dugout. The ball accidentally hit Angels player Matt Keough in the head. Matt Keough suffered a serious injury, which unfortunately ended his playing career.

Final Seasons and Career Stats

Patterson played in 85 games for the Giants in 1994. He hit .238 and stole 13 bases. In 1995, he played in 95 games, hitting .205 and stealing three bases. His last Major League game was on September 26, 1995.

Overall, in his Major League career, John Patterson hit .215 in 564 times at bat. He stole 22 bases, scored 74 runs, and helped his team score 52 runs (called runs batted in).

Today, John Patterson works in real estate in Scottsdale, Arizona.