Mike Davis (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mike Davis |
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| Right fielder | |||
| Born: June 11, 1959 San Diego, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 10, 1980, for the Oakland Athletics | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 1, 1989, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .259 | ||
| Home runs | 91 | ||
| Runs batted in | 371 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Michael "Mike" Dwayne Davis (born June 11, 1959) is an American former professional baseball player. He played as a right fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). His career lasted 10 seasons, from 1980 to 1989. He played for the Oakland Athletics and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Mike Davis is best known for a key moment in the 1988 World Series. In Game 1, he got a walk and stole second base. This set up Kirk Gibson's famous home run that won the game. The Dodgers went on to win the World Series that year.
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Mike Davis's Baseball Journey
Mike Davis was chosen by the Oakland Athletics in the 1977 baseball draft. He started playing for the Athletics in 1980. He spent eight seasons with the team.
Playing for the Oakland Athletics
From 1985 to 1987, Mike Davis had some of his best years. During these three seasons, he hit 65 home runs. He also brought in 209 runs for his team. His batting average was .274, which means he got a hit almost 27.4% of the time he was at bat.
Joining the Los Angeles Dodgers
After the 1987 season, Mike Davis signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1988, he faced some challenges. He had an injury during spring training. This made his first season with the Dodgers a bit tough. He hit only .196 with two home runs.
The Famous 1988 World Series Game 1
The most memorable part of Mike Davis's career happened in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. The Dodgers were playing against his old team, the Oakland Athletics. It was the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Dodgers were losing 4-3. There were two outs.
Mike Davis was called in to bat. He faced Dennis Eckersley, who was a very tough pitcher. Eckersley threw a strike first. Then, he pitched four balls outside the strike zone. This gave Mike Davis a "walk," meaning he got to go to first base.
Next, Kirk Gibson came to bat. Gibson was the Dodgers' best hitter, but he was hurt. With the count at 2-2, Mike Davis stole second base! This was a very important play. On the very next pitch, Gibson hit a home run. This amazing hit won the game for the Dodgers, 5-4. Many people remember this moment as one of the greatest in baseball history.
Winning the World Series: Game 5
Mike Davis also played a big part in Game 5 of the World Series. In the fourth inning, he hit a two-run home run. This gave the Dodgers a 4-1 lead. The Dodgers went on to win the game 5-2. This win clinched the World Series for them!
Even though it was his only hit in the series, it was a very important one. He also walked four times and stole two bases. He scored three runs, showing how valuable he was to the team. Mike Davis retired from baseball after the 1989 season.
After Baseball
After his playing career, Mike Davis stayed involved in baseball. In 2015, he worked as a hitting coach. He coached for the Clinton LumberKings, a minor league team. He also managed the varsity baseball team at California High School in San Ramon, California, in 1993. Today, Mike Davis lives in San Diego.
