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 Dwayne Davis (born June 11, 1959) is a former professional baseball player from the United States. He played as a right fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 10 seasons. His career spanned from 1980 to 1989. Mike Davis played for two teams: the Oakland Athletics and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He is best known for a key moment in the 1988 World Series. In Game 1, he got a crucial walk and stole second base. This set up Kirk Gibson's famous home run that won the game for the Dodgers. The Dodgers then went on to win the World Series that year.
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Mike Davis's Baseball Journey
Starting with the Athletics
Mike Davis was chosen by the Oakland Athletics in the 1977 baseball draft. He made his first appearance in Major League Baseball with the Athletics in 1980. He played for them for eight seasons, until 1987.
During his time with the Athletics, he showed his power as a hitter. From 1985 to 1987, he hit 65 home runs. He also brought in 209 runs for his team. His batting average during these years was .274, which is quite good.
Moving to the Dodgers
After the 1987 season, Mike Davis joined the Los Angeles Dodgers. He signed with them as a free agent, meaning he was free to choose which team to play for. His first season with the Dodgers in 1988 was a bit tough. He was dealing with an injury and did not hit as well as usual.
The Unforgettable 1988 World Series
The 1988 World Series was a very exciting time for Mike Davis and the Dodgers.
Game 1 Heroics
In Game 1 of the World Series, the Dodgers were losing 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning. There were two outs, and the team needed a miracle. Mike Davis was called upon to pinch hit, which means he batted in place of another player. He faced Dennis Eckersley, who was a very tough pitcher for the Athletics.
Eckersley threw his first pitch for a strike. But then, he pitched very carefully to Davis, throwing four pitches outside the strike zone. This gave Davis a walk, meaning he got to go to first base. With Davis on first, the Dodgers' best hitter, Kirk Gibson, came up to bat. Gibson was hurt and could barely run.
While Gibson was batting, Davis bravely stole second base. This was a very important play. On the very next pitch, Gibson hit a famous home run. This "walk-off" home run won the game for the Dodgers, 5-4. After the game, Gibson said that Davis's stolen base helped him decide to try for a base hit, which turned into a home run.
Winning the Series
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 that game 5-2, which meant they won the entire World Series!
Even though it was his only hit in the series, Davis was very valuable. He also walked four times, stole two bases, and scored three runs. He had a great on-base percentage, which means he got on base often.
After Playing Baseball
Mike Davis retired from playing baseball after the 1989 season. He continued to be involved in the sport. In 2015, he worked as a hitting coach for the Clinton LumberKings. This team is part of the Seattle Mariners organization. He also managed the varsity baseball team at California High School in San Ramon, California, in 1993. Today, Mike Davis lives in San Diego.
