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* [[World Series]] champion ({{wsy|1995}})
* [[World Series]] champion ({{wsy|1995}})
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'''Ryan Anthony Klesko''' (born June 12, 1971 in [[Westminster, California]]), is a former [[first baseman]] and [[corner outfielder]], who last played for the [[San Francisco Giants]] of [[Major League Baseball]]. He attended [[Westminster High School]] in [[Westminster, California], Ryan was named All County by the Orange County Register and All Leauge his freshman thru senior year's in the highly competitive Sunset Leauge. Ryan was a highly recruited pitcher until an arm injury turned his focus to hitting and playing first base, he was drafted in 1989 by the Atlanta Braves. Ryan's professional MLB career lasted 16 years starting with the [[Atlanta Braves]] from 1989-1999 and then was traded in late December of 1999 to the[[San Diego Padres]] where he played until 2006, he was then traded to the San Fransico Giants where he played for one year. He bats and throws left-handed.
'''Ryan Anthony Klesko''' (born June 12, 1971 in [[Westminster, California]]), is a former [[first baseman]] and [[corner outfielder]], who last played for the [[San Francisco Giants]] of [[Major League Baseball]]. He attended [[Westminster High School]] in [[Westminster, California]]. Ryan previously played with the [[San Diego Padres]] and [[Atlanta Braves]]. He bats and throws left-handed.


Klesko hit at least 21 [[home run]]s in eight of his 13 major league seasons, with a high of 34 homers in {{mlby|1996}}. His most productive season came in {{mlby|2001}}, when he hit .286 with 30 home runs and posted career-highs in [[Run batted in|RBI]] (113), [[Run (baseball)|runs]] (105), [[stolen base]]s (23) and [[slugging percentage]] (.539), and made the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|National League All-Star]] team. In {{mlby|2002}}, he hit .300 with 29 HR and 95 RBI, and collected career-highs in [[hit (baseball)|hits]] (162) and [[double (baseball)|doubles]] (39). Defensively he has shuttled around the outfield and first base.
Klesko hit at least 21 [[home run]]s in eight of his 13 major league seasons, with a high of 34 homers in {{mlby|1996}}. His most productive season came in {{mlby|2001}}, when he hit .286 with 30 home runs and posted career-highs in [[Run batted in|RBI]] (113), [[Run (baseball)|runs]] (105), [[stolen base]]s (23) and [[slugging percentage]] (.539), and made the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|National League All-Star]] team. In {{mlby|2002}}, he hit .300 with 29 HR and 95 RBI, and collected career-highs in [[hit (baseball)|hits]] (162) and [[double (baseball)|doubles]] (39). Defensively he has shuttled around the outfield and first base.

He and his fellow Atlanta Brave's won the 1995 World Series against the Clevland Indians. Ryan hit 3 homeruns in each of the road games played at Jacobs Field.


In his career he has a .370 [[on base percentage]] with a .500 slugging average, for a .870 [[on-base plus slugging|OPS]]. His .525 slugging percentage as a Brave ranks 4th all-time among the team's career leaders, ahead of [[Eddie Mathews]]. His .886 OPS as a Brave ranks him 5th among Braves' all-time leaders.<ref>http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/leaders_bat.shtml</ref>
In his career he has a .370 [[on base percentage]] with a .500 slugging average, for a .870 [[on-base plus slugging|OPS]]. His .525 slugging percentage as a Brave ranks 4th all-time among the team's career leaders, ahead of [[Eddie Mathews]]. His .886 OPS as a Brave ranks him 5th among Braves' all-time leaders.<ref>http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/leaders_bat.shtml</ref>
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==Off the field==
==Off the field==
*Klesko has been actively involved with the Padres Community Relations efforts. In 2001, he received the Chairman's Award, presented annually by the Padres Community Relations Department to the player who best exemplifies the community spirit of John Moores and his family, he was also a finalist for the Roberto Clemente Award. During his six Padres seasons, Klesko has given his time and money to support numerous philanthropic endeavors in the San Diego community. He has served as the club's spokesperson for the [[Make-A-Wish Foundation]], hosting Make-A-Wish children for batting practice, a pregame ceremony and a ballgame each home stand, and spokeperson for the San Diego chapter. Through his Klesko's Korner program, he has regularly provided Padres tickets to children and families facing cancer for the last four years, and he has also been a leading supporter of the Padres Scholars program. Ryan started the Blue Ryno Foundation, where he has donated and raised funds to assist children that are suffering from cancer. The Blue Ryno Foundation has helped families struggling to pay bills, assisting with last wishes of terminally ill children.
*Klesko has been actively involved with the Padres Community Relations efforts. In 2001, he received the Chairman's Award, presented annually by the Padres Community Relations Department to the player who best exemplifies the community spirit of John Moores and his family. During his five Padres seasons, Klesko has given his time and money to support numerous philanthropic endeavors in the San Diego community. He has served as the club's spokesperson for the [[Make-A-Wish Foundation]], hosting Make-A-Wish children for batting practice, a pregame ceremony and a ballgame each home stand. While it was previously reported that he was a skilled hypnotist, Klesko denied this on 4/21/09 on WFNZ's Mac Attack, claiming he had no idea where the rumor started. Through his Klesko's Korner program, he has regularly provided Padres tickets to children and families facing cancer for the last four years, and he has also been a leading supporter of the Padres Scholars program.

*Another of Ryan's passion's is for the outdoors. He has been a supporter of several conservation groups, he has placed several thousand acre's of ranch and farm land into conservation easements that will stay undeveloped and preserved for future generations. He was awarded the Texas Land Management Award, Georgia Tree Farmer of the Year Award, Arbor Day Foundation Steward of the Year Award, and the 2010 American Outdoorsman of the Year Award presented by the Legends of the Outdoors National Hall of Fame.

*Ryan is an avid outdoorsman, fisherman, diver, surfer.
*He is married with one son and resides in Texas and any back country road he can find.


*[[ESPN]] [[reporter]] [[Pedro Gomez (sports reporter)|Pedro Gomez]] reported on November 16, 2007, Klesko and teammate [[Barry Bonds]] were [[hunting]] together in [[Colorado]] at the time Bonds was notified he was [[Indictment|indicted]] by a [[United States federal courts|federal]] [[grand jury]] in the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of California]].
*[[ESPN]] [[reporter]] [[Pedro Gomez (sports reporter)|Pedro Gomez]] reported on November 16, 2007, Klesko and teammate [[Barry Bonds]] were [[hunting]] together in [[Colorado]] at the time Bonds was notified he was [[Indictment|indicted]] by a [[United States federal courts|federal]] [[grand jury]] in the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of California]].


*Ryan was the spokesman for a local boot store in San Diego, appearing in an oft-shown advertisement, in which he invites viewers to browse the store's selection of boots, urging them to "come down to Bootworld and tell them I sent ya." The ads still continue to appear sporadically during Padres games even though he is no longer with the team.

Ryan is also an avid Surfer


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
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Klesko is the only player to ever have 3 bats broken in 1 at-bat against Mariano Rivera's cut fastball. {{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}
Klesko is the only player to ever have 3 bats broken in 1 at-bat against Mariano Rivera's cut fastball. {{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}

Klesko has two sons Corey and Williard.


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 08:02, 21 August 2010

Ryan Klesko
Left fielder / First baseman
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
debut
September 12, 1992, for the Atlanta Braves
Last appearance
September 29, 2007, for the San Francisco Giants
Career statistics
Batting average.279
Home runs278
Runs batted in987
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Ryan Anthony Klesko (born June 12, 1971 in Westminster, California), is a former first baseman and corner outfielder, who last played for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. He attended Westminster High School in Westminster, California. Ryan previously played with the San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves. He bats and throws left-handed.

Klesko hit at least 21 home runs in eight of his 13 major league seasons, with a high of 34 homers in 1996. His most productive season came in 2001, when he hit .286 with 30 home runs and posted career-highs in RBI (113), runs (105), stolen bases (23) and slugging percentage (.539), and made the National League All-Star team. In 2002, he hit .300 with 29 HR and 95 RBI, and collected career-highs in hits (162) and doubles (39). Defensively he has shuttled around the outfield and first base.

In his career he has a .370 on base percentage with a .500 slugging average, for a .870 OPS. His .525 slugging percentage as a Brave ranks 4th all-time among the team's career leaders, ahead of Eddie Mathews. His .886 OPS as a Brave ranks him 5th among Braves' all-time leaders.[1]

Klesko missed nearly the entire 2006 season due to major shoulder surgery. He returned on September 21, drawing a walk as a pinch-hitter in his first plate appearance. On December 19, 2006, Klesko signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants.

Klesko announced his retirement from baseball on April 18, 2008.[2]

Off the field

  • Klesko has been actively involved with the Padres Community Relations efforts. In 2001, he received the Chairman's Award, presented annually by the Padres Community Relations Department to the player who best exemplifies the community spirit of John Moores and his family. During his five Padres seasons, Klesko has given his time and money to support numerous philanthropic endeavors in the San Diego community. He has served as the club's spokesperson for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, hosting Make-A-Wish children for batting practice, a pregame ceremony and a ballgame each home stand. While it was previously reported that he was a skilled hypnotist, Klesko denied this on 4/21/09 on WFNZ's Mac Attack, claiming he had no idea where the rumor started. Through his Klesko's Korner program, he has regularly provided Padres tickets to children and families facing cancer for the last four years, and he has also been a leading supporter of the Padres Scholars program.
  • Ryan was the spokesman for a local boot store in San Diego, appearing in an oft-shown advertisement, in which he invites viewers to browse the store's selection of boots, urging them to "come down to Bootworld and tell them I sent ya." The ads still continue to appear sporadically during Padres games even though he is no longer with the team.

Ryan is also an avid Surfer

Trivia

Klesko became the first player to hit a home run in three consecutive World Series road games when he did so against the Cleveland Indians in Games 3, 4, and 5 of the 1995 World Series.

Klesko is the only player to ever have 3 bats broken in 1 at-bat against Mariano Rivera's cut fastball. [citation needed]

Klesko has two sons Corey and Williard.

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/leaders_bat.shtml
  2. ^ "Klesko retiring from majors after 16-year career, agent says". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2008-08-01.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ryan Klesko.
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