La Schelle Tarver facts for kids
Quick facts for kids La Schelle Tarver |
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: January 30, 1959 Modesto, California, U.S. |
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| Died: March 20, 2024 (aged 65) Fresno, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| July 12, 1986, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 5, 1986, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .120 | ||
| Home runs | 0 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1 | ||
| Teams | |||
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La Schelle Tarver (born January 30, 1959 – died March 20, 2024) was an American baseball player. He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Boston Red Sox in 1986. Tarver was 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed 165 pounds. He batted and threw with his left hand.
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Early Life and Baseball Start
La Schelle Tarver was born in 1959 in Modesto, California. He grew up in Madera, California. In high school, he was a talented first baseman. He was even named a Northern California All-American.
The California Angels baseball team drafted him while he was still in high school. However, Tarver chose to go to junior college instead. Later, in 1980, he moved to Cal State Sacramento to continue his studies and play baseball.
Journey to Professional Baseball
The New York Mets drafted Tarver in 1980. From 1981 to 1985, he played in the Mets' minor league system. This is where young players develop their skills. He played for teams like the Shelby Mets, Lynchburg, Jacksonville, and Tidewater.
Tarver started his professional career with the Shelby Mets. He played very well, hitting for a .314 batting average. He played alongside future major league stars like Lenny Dykstra. Tarver quickly moved up to higher-level minor league teams. He played for the Jackson Mets and the Tidewater Tides.
Even though Tarver always hit above .300 in the minor leagues, the Mets never called him up to the major leagues. This was partly because the Mets had many talented outfielders. These included famous players like Darryl Strawberry.
Playing for the Boston Red Sox
In November 1985, the Mets traded Tarver to the Boston Red Sox. This trade involved several players. In 1986, Tarver joined the Pawtucket Red Sox, a minor league team. He became their starting right fielder.
Tarver finally made his major league debut in July 1986. This happened when the Red Sox's center fielder, Tony Armas, got injured. When he was called up, Tarver was playing exceptionally well. He was leading his minor league with a .359 batting average.
His first time at bat with the Red Sox was at Fenway Park. Over 33,000 fans cheered for him. Even though he struck out, he made the opposing pitcher work hard. He faced 11 pitches before the out.
During his one season with the Red Sox, Tarver played in 13 games. He had three hits in 25 times at bat, which is a .120 batting average. He scored three runs and had one RBI. He was known for his speed, especially in the outfield and on the bases.
After Baseball
After his baseball career, La Schelle Tarver became a corrections officer. He worked for Fresno County, California for many years.
La Schelle Tarver passed away on March 20, 2024.
