Willie Upshaw facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Willie Upshaw |
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Upshaw with the San Francisco Giants
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| First baseman | |||
| Born: April 27, 1957 Blanco, Texas, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 9, 1978, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 28, 1988, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .262 | ||
| Home runs | 123 | ||
| Runs batted in | 528 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Willie Clay Upshaw (born April 27, 1957) is a former American Major League Baseball (MLB) player. He was a first baseman for two teams in the American League: the Toronto Blue Jays and the Cleveland Indians.
After playing in MLB, he also played baseball in Japan for two seasons. Later, he became a manager for a minor league baseball team.
Contents
Willie Upshaw's Baseball Journey
Starting His Professional Career
Willie Upshaw began his baseball journey when the New York Yankees picked him in the 1975 Major League Baseball draft. This was a big step for him into professional baseball.
On December 5, 1977, the Toronto Blue Jays chose him in a special event called the Rule 5 draft. This allowed him to join a new team.
Becoming a Star Player
In 1982, Willie Upshaw became the main first baseman for the Blue Jays. He quickly showed how good he was. That year, he hit the most home runs for his team, with 21. He also had the most RBI (runs batted in) with 75. RBI means he helped his teammates score runs.
The next year, in 1983, Upshaw made history for the Blue Jays. He was the first player on the team to get more than 100 RBI in a single season, reaching 104. He also had a great batting average of .306 that year.
Before the 1988 season, Willie Upshaw joined the Cleveland Indians. He played for them for one season.
Playing in Japan
After his time in Major League Baseball, Upshaw went to Japan. He played for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks for two seasons, from 1989 to 1990.
Willie Upshaw's Coaching and Managing Roles
Managing the Bridgeport Bluefish
After his playing career, Willie Upshaw became a manager. He led the independent minor league team, the Bridgeport Bluefish, for eight seasons. He managed them in two different periods: from 1998 to 2000, and again from 2010 to 2014. He also managed them for part of the 2009 season.
As a manager, Upshaw helped the Bluefish reach the playoffs four times. They also made it to the Atlantic League Championship Series three times. In 1999, he led the team to win their only league championship. Because of his success, he was named the league's Manager of the Year in both 1998 and 2010.
Coaching for the San Francisco Giants
In 2006 and 2007, Upshaw worked as a first base coach for the San Francisco Giants. During this time, he was part of a famous moment in baseball history. When Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron's record for career home runs, Upshaw was the first person to congratulate Bonds as he ran around the bases.
Willie Upshaw's Family Life
Willie Upshaw has a family with strong ties to sports. He is the cousin of Gene Upshaw, who is a famous player in the National Football League (NFL) Hall of Fame. His cousin Marvin Upshaw also played as a defensive lineman in the NFL.
In May 2007, Willie Upshaw's son, Chad, signed a contract to play tight end for the Carolina Panthers in the NFL. Chad had just finished college at the University at Buffalo.
Today, Willie Upshaw lives in Fairfield, Connecticut.
