Shannon Stewart (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shannon Stewart |
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Stewart with the Oakland Athletics in 2007
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| Left fielder | |||
| Born: February 25, 1974 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 2, 1995, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 7, 2008, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .297 | ||
| Home runs | 115 | ||
| Runs batted in | 580 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Shannon Harold Stewart (born February 25, 1974) is an American former professional baseball player. He was an outfielder for teams like the Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, and Oakland Athletics in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in the big leagues for 14 seasons.
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Early Life and Sports
Shannon Stewart was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He grew up in South Miami Heights, Florida, where he went to Miami Southridge High School. Shannon was a talented athlete, playing baseball and football. He also ran track.
He was so good at football that Bobby Bowden, a famous coach, wanted him to play for Florida State University. Shannon was also recognized as one of the best high school baseball players in the country in 1992. Later, his baseball jersey number was retired by his high school team, which is a big honor!
Professional Baseball Career
Shannon Stewart's journey in professional baseball began when he was picked by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1992 MLB Draft. He made his first appearance in a Major League game on September 2, 1995. For a few years, he played sometimes in the big leagues and sometimes in the minor leagues. By the end of 1997, he became a regular player for the Blue Jays.
Playing for the Toronto Blue Jays
In 1998, his first full season with the Blue Jays, Shannon hit for a .279 average. He also hit 12 home runs and brought in 55 runs. That year, he stole 51 bases, which was the most he ever stole in one season!
Shannon was a key player at the top of the Blue Jays' batting order. He was known for his speed, ability to steal bases, and hitting well when it mattered most. From 1999 to 2002, he consistently hit .300 or better and scored over 100 runs each year. He even showed surprising power, hitting a career-high 21 home runs in 2000.
Stewart played for the Blue Jays for parts of eight seasons. During this time, he played in 855 games, hitting .301 with 218 doubles, 73 home runs, and 163 stolen bases. In 2003, he was traded to the Minnesota Twins.
Time with the Minnesota Twins
Shannon Stewart joined the Minnesota Twins in the middle of the 2003 season. He played a big part in helping the Twins compete for their division title. He hit very well for the Twins, with a .322 batting average, six home runs, and 38 RBI in just 65 games.
The Twins won the American League Central Division title that year. Even though they lost to the New York Yankees in the playoffs, Shannon played great, hitting .400 in that series. His excellent performance in 2003 led him to finish fourth in the voting for the American League MVP.
Playing for the Oakland Athletics
On February 7, 2007, Shannon Stewart signed a one-year contract with the Oakland Athletics. He continued to play well, hitting .290 with 12 home runs and 48 RBI in 146 games for the Athletics.
One memorable moment happened on June 7, 2007. Shannon broke up a no-hitter (when a pitcher doesn't allow any hits) by Curt Schilling in the ninth inning with a single hit.
Return to the Toronto Blue Jays
Shannon Stewart returned to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2008. He signed a minor league deal and was invited to spring training. He ended up earning a spot on the team, playing left field. The Blue Jays bought his contract in March 2008, but he was released by the team in August of that year. This was his final season in Major League Baseball.
Injuries and Challenges
After his amazing 2003 season, Shannon faced some challenges with plantar fasciitis, a foot injury, in both feet. This limited how many games he could play in 2004 and 2006.
Also, an old shoulder injury from his high school football days affected his throwing ability. Because his arm wasn't as strong, sometimes opposing base runners would try to take extra bases when he was playing in the outfield.
Major Accomplishments
- Finished 4th in American League MVP voting (2003)
- 3rd in the American League in stolen bases (1998, 51 steals)
- 4th in the American League in stolen bases (1999, 37 steals)
Career Stats Snapshot
In his 14 seasons and 1,386 games, Shannon Stewart had a career batting average of .297. He collected 1,653 hits, scored 853 runs, hit 115 home runs, and had 580 RBI. He also stole 196 bases.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
