John Patterson (infielder) facts for kids

John Allen Patterson was a professional baseball player from the United States. He was born on February 11, 1967. John played as a second baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the San Francisco Giants from 1992 to 1995.

John Patterson's Early Baseball Journey

Before becoming a professional, John Patterson played baseball in college. He attended Grand Canyon University and Central Arizona College.

How John Patterson Joined Professional Baseball

The San Diego Padres first chose John in the 1986 amateur draft. However, he decided not to sign with them. Later, in 1988, the San Francisco Giants picked him in the 23rd round. This time, John chose to sign and start his professional career.

John Patterson's Minor League Career

John began playing professionally in 1988 with the Everett Giants. He had a batting average of .250 and stole 21 bases. After missing the 1989 season, he played for the San Jose Giants in 1990. He had a great year, hitting .302 and stealing 29 bases. In 1991, John played for the Shreveport Captains. He continued to play well, hitting .295 and stealing 41 bases.

John Patterson in Major League Baseball

John Patterson made his first appearance in the big leagues on April 6, 1992. This game was against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He entered the game as a pinch runner.

John Patterson's First Seasons in MLB

In 1992, John played in 32 games for the Giants. He also played in 93 games for the Phoenix Firebirds, a minor league team. The next year, 1993, he played in 16 games for the Giants. He also played 16 games with the Firebirds that year.

John Patterson's Memorable Home Run

John Patterson is well-known for hitting an unexpected home run on September 1, 1993. This happened during a very close race for the championship between the Giants and the Atlanta Braves. John had been out for most of the season due to an injury. He was called up to the Giants' main team on September 1.

Later that day, the game was tied in the 9th inning. John was asked to pinch-hit, which means he batted in place of another player. This 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. This home run helped the Giants win the game. It also gave them a good lead over the Braves in their division. The race for the championship was very exciting and went down to the very last day. The Braves ended up winning by just one game.

An Unfortunate Incident in 1992

In 1992, during an exhibition game against the Anaheim Angels, John Patterson hit a foul ball. The ball went into the Angels' dugout and hit player Matt Keough. Matt suffered a serious injury to his head. This incident unfortunately ended Matt Keough's playing career.

John Patterson's Final Seasons

John played in 85 games for the Giants in 1994. He then played in 95 games for them in 1995. He stole 13 bases in 1994 and three bases in 1995. His final big league game was on September 26, 1995.

John Patterson's Career Statistics

Overall, John Patterson played in 564 times at bat in the Major Leagues. He had a batting average of .215. He stole 22 bases, scored 74 runs, and helped his team score 52 runs.

What John Patterson is Doing Now

Today, John Patterson works in Real Estate. He lives and works in Scottsdale, Arizona.