Rob Deer: Difference between revisions

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Deer was drafted by the [[San Francisco Giants]] in the 4th round of the 1978 amateur draft. Deer made his debut on September 4, 1984 at [[Candlestick Park]] against the [[Cincinnati Reds]]. As a pinch hitter facing [[Ted Power]] in the ninth inning, he flied out to end the game.<ref>https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN198409040.shtml</ref> He played 13 games that year, batting .167 while having three home runs and RBIs, with seven walks and 10 strikeouts. The following year, he played in 78 games, batting .185 while having eight home runs, 20 RBIs, 71 strikeouts, and 23 walks. On December 18, he was traded to the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] for two minor league prospects (Dean Freeland and Eric Plinkington).<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-12-19-sp-30527-story.html Brewers get Rob Deer in trade for 2 players]</ref>
Deer was drafted by the [[San Francisco Giants]] in the 4th round of the 1978 amateur draft. Deer made his debut on September 4, 1984 at [[Candlestick Park]] against the [[Cincinnati Reds]]. As a pinch hitter facing [[Ted Power]] in the ninth inning, he flied out to end the game.<ref>https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN198409040.shtml</ref> He played 13 games that year, batting .167 while having three home runs and RBIs, with seven walks and 10 strikeouts. The following year, he played in 78 games, batting .185 while having eight home runs, 20 RBIs, 71 strikeouts, and 23 walks. On December 18, he was traded to the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] for two minor league prospects (Dean Freeland and Eric Plinkington).<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-12-19-sp-30527-story.html Brewers get Rob Deer in trade for 2 players]</ref>


With Milwaukee, he had increased playing time. In 1986, he played in 134 games, hitting .232 while posting career highs with 33 home runs and 86 RBIs. He had 72 walks, but struck out 179 times. The following year, he played in 134 games while batting .238 with 28 home runs and 80 RBIs. He had 12 stolen bases and 86 walks, both career highs. The walks helped him post a respectable .360 on-base percentage in 1987, but he also led the majors with 186 strikeouts. Notably, he hit a game-tying home run on [[Easter Sunday]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1987/B04190MIL1987.htm|title=Retrosheet Boxscore: Milwaukee Brewers 6, Texas Rangers 4|accessdate=2007-06-25|publisher=[[Retrosheet]]}}</ref> helping the Milwaukee Brewers earn their 12th straight win to start the season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Easter of '87 memories remain vivid; Sveum recalls role in keeping streak alive|date=April 9, 2007|work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]|page=5|first=Rick|last=Braun|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_20070409/ai_n18995721}}</ref> The home run was featured on the cover of ''[[Sports Illustrated]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onmilwaukee.com/sports/articles/brewerseaster87.html|title=A blast from Brewers history: Easter Sunday '87|last=Wagner|first=Andrew|accessdate=2007-06-25|date=2007-04-08|publisher=[[OnMilwaukee.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dynamic.si.cnn.com/si_online/covers/issues/1987/0427.html|title=Brewing Up a Storm|last=Newman|first=Bruce|accessdate=2007-06-25|date=1987-04-27|work=[[Sports Illustrated]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612074346/http://dynamic.si.cnn.com/si_online/covers/issues/1987/0427.html|archive-date=2007-06-12|url-status=dead}}</ref>
With Milwaukee, he had increased playing time. In 1986, he played in 134 games, hitting .232 while posting career highs with 33 home runs and 86 RBIs. He had 72 walks, but struck out 179 times. The following year, he played in 134 games while batting .238 with 28 home runs and 80 RBIs. He had 12 stolen bases and 86 walks, both career highs. The walks helped him post a respectable .360 on-base percentage in 1987, but he also led the majors with 186 strikeouts. On [[Easter Sunday]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1987/B04190MIL1987.htm|title=Retrosheet Boxscore: Milwaukee Brewers 6, Texas Rangers 4|accessdate=2007-06-25|publisher=[[Retrosheet]]}}</ref> he hit a game-tying home run, helping the Milwaukee Brewers earn their 12th straight win to start the season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Easter of '87 memories remain vivid; Sveum recalls role in keeping streak alive|date=April 9, 2007|work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]|page=5|first=Rick|last=Braun|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_20070409/ai_n18995721}}</ref> The home run was featured on the cover of ''[[Sports Illustrated]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onmilwaukee.com/sports/articles/brewerseaster87.html|title=A blast from Brewers history: Easter Sunday '87|last=Wagner|first=Andrew|accessdate=2007-06-25|date=2007-04-08|publisher=[[OnMilwaukee.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dynamic.si.cnn.com/si_online/covers/issues/1987/0427.html|title=Brewing Up a Storm|last=Newman|first=Bruce|accessdate=2007-06-25|date=1987-04-27|work=[[Sports Illustrated]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612074346/http://dynamic.si.cnn.com/si_online/covers/issues/1987/0427.html|archive-date=2007-06-12|url-status=dead}}</ref>


After the 1990 season, Deer signed as a [[Free_agent#Major_League_Baseball_(MLB)_usage|free agent]] with the [[Detroit Tigers]]. In 1991, he posted the then-record for lowest qualified [[Batting average (baseball)|batting average]] in Major League history, going 80-for-448 for a .179 average. ([[Dan Uggla]] tied Deer's .179 record in 2013, posting the same 80-for-448 mark, and [[Chris Davis (baseball)|Chris Davis]] broke the record by hitting .168 in 2018.)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/chris-davis-finishes-2018-with-the-worst-batting-average-in-mlb-history-after-orioles-shut-him-down/ |title=Chris Davis finishes 2018 with the worst batting average in MLB history after Orioles shut him down |last=Axisa |first=Mike |date=2018-09-29 |website=CBS Sports |access-date=2021-06-10}}</ref> That season, Deer had 41 extra-base hits and only 39 singles in 448 at-bats. He bounced back in 1992, hitting 32 home runs in only 110 games while posting the second-highest batting average of his career (.247).
After the 1990 season, Deer signed as a [[Free_agent#Major_League_Baseball_(MLB)_usage|free agent]] with the [[Detroit Tigers]]. In 1991, he posted the then-record for lowest qualified [[Batting average (baseball)|batting average]] in Major League history, going 80-for-448, a .179 average. ([[Dan Uggla]] tied Deer's .179 record in 2013, posting an identical 80-for-448 mark, and [[Chris Davis (baseball)|Chris Davis]] broke the record by hitting .168 in 2018.)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/chris-davis-finishes-2018-with-the-worst-batting-average-in-mlb-history-after-orioles-shut-him-down/ |title=Chris Davis finishes 2018 with the worst batting average in MLB history after Orioles shut him down |last=Axisa |first=Mike |date=2018-09-29 |website=CBS Sports |access-date=2021-06-10}}</ref> That season, Deer had 41 extra-base hits and only 39 singles. In 1992, he hit 32 home runs in only 110 games while posting the second-highest batting average of his career (.247).


In July 1993, the Tigers traded Deer to the Boston Red Sox. He then spent a year playing for the [[Hanshin Tigers]] of [[Nippon Professional Baseball]]. After a year out of baseball, he returned to the majors in 1996, playing 25 games for the [[San Diego Padres]].
In July 1993, the Tigers traded Deer to the Boston Red Sox. He then spent a year playing for the [[Hanshin Tigers]] of [[Nippon Professional Baseball]]. After a year out of baseball, he returned to the majors in 1996, playing 25 games for the [[San Diego Padres]].
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Deer held the American League record for strikeouts in a season (186 strikeouts in 1987) until being passed by [[Jack Cust]] in 2008, and had at least 140 strikeouts on seven occasions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/hitting/histrk2al.shtml|title=Single Season Leaders for Strikeouts in the American League|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Baseball-Almanac.com}}</ref> Deer averaged a strikeout every 2.75 [[at-bat]]s.<ref>{{cite book|last=Spatz|first=Lyle|title=TheSABR Baseball List & Record Book – Baseball's Most Fascinating Records and Unusual Statistics|year=2007|publisher=Simon & Schuster|location=United States|isbn=9781416532453|pages=496}}</ref>
Deer held the American League record for strikeouts in a season (186 strikeouts in 1987) until being passed by [[Jack Cust]] in 2008, and had at least 140 strikeouts on seven occasions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/hitting/histrk2al.shtml|title=Single Season Leaders for Strikeouts in the American League|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Baseball-Almanac.com}}</ref> Deer averaged a strikeout every 2.75 [[at-bat]]s.<ref>{{cite book|last=Spatz|first=Lyle|title=TheSABR Baseball List & Record Book – Baseball's Most Fascinating Records and Unusual Statistics|year=2007|publisher=Simon & Schuster|location=United States|isbn=9781416532453|pages=496}}</ref>


After his retirement, Deer worked as a roving hitting instructor in the San Diego Padres minor league system, and served as the assistant hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs from 2012 to 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlive.com/whitecaps/2015/08/rob_deer_known_for_whiffs_but.html |title=Rob Deer known for whiffs, but he never accepted them |last=Wallner |first=Peter J. |date=2019-04-03 |website=mlive.com |publisher=Advance Local Media |access-date=2021-06-10}}</ref>
After his retirement, Deer worked as a roving hitting instructor in the San Diego Padres minor league system, and served as the assistant hitting coach for the [[Chicago Cubs]] from 2012 to 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlive.com/whitecaps/2015/08/rob_deer_known_for_whiffs_but.html |title=Rob Deer known for whiffs, but he never accepted them |last=Wallner |first=Peter J. |date=2019-04-03 |website=mlive.com |publisher=Advance Local Media |access-date=2021-06-10}}</ref>


==Legacy==
==Legacy==

Revision as of 11:40, 10 June 2021

Rob Deer
Right fielder
Born: (1960-09-29) September 29, 1960 (age 63)
Orange, California
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 4, 1984, for the San Francisco Giants
Last MLB appearance
August 5, 1996, for the San Diego Padres
MLB statistics
Batting average.220
Home runs230
Runs batted in600
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Robert George Deer (born September 29, 1960) is an American former professional baseball outfielder.

Early life

Deer attended Canyon High School in Anaheim and Fresno City College.

Baseball career

Deer was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 4th round of the 1978 amateur draft. Deer made his debut on September 4, 1984 at Candlestick Park against the Cincinnati Reds. As a pinch hitter facing Ted Power in the ninth inning, he flied out to end the game.[1] He played 13 games that year, batting .167 while having three home runs and RBIs, with seven walks and 10 strikeouts. The following year, he played in 78 games, batting .185 while having eight home runs, 20 RBIs, 71 strikeouts, and 23 walks. On December 18, he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for two minor league prospects (Dean Freeland and Eric Plinkington).[2]

With Milwaukee, he had increased playing time. In 1986, he played in 134 games, hitting .232 while posting career highs with 33 home runs and 86 RBIs. He had 72 walks, but struck out 179 times. The following year, he played in 134 games while batting .238 with 28 home runs and 80 RBIs. He had 12 stolen bases and 86 walks, both career highs. The walks helped him post a respectable .360 on-base percentage in 1987, but he also led the majors with 186 strikeouts. On Easter Sunday,[3] he hit a game-tying home run, helping the Milwaukee Brewers earn their 12th straight win to start the season.[4] The home run was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.[5][6]

After the 1990 season, Deer signed as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers. In 1991, he posted the then-record for lowest qualified batting average in Major League history, going 80-for-448, a .179 average. (Dan Uggla tied Deer's .179 record in 2013, posting an identical 80-for-448 mark, and Chris Davis broke the record by hitting .168 in 2018.)[7] That season, Deer had 41 extra-base hits and only 39 singles. In 1992, he hit 32 home runs in only 110 games while posting the second-highest batting average of his career (.247).

In July 1993, the Tigers traded Deer to the Boston Red Sox. He then spent a year playing for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball. After a year out of baseball, he returned to the majors in 1996, playing 25 games for the San Diego Padres.

Deer's final major league appearance was in the bottom of the eighth inning of a Padres-Cardinals game on August 5, 1996, replacing Greg Vaughn in left field. He caught a fly ball to end the inning for the Padres, who lost 8-2.[8]

Deer held the American League record for strikeouts in a season (186 strikeouts in 1987) until being passed by Jack Cust in 2008, and had at least 140 strikeouts on seven occasions.[9] Deer averaged a strikeout every 2.75 at-bats.[10]

After his retirement, Deer worked as a roving hitting instructor in the San Diego Padres minor league system, and served as the assistant hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs from 2012 to 2013.[11]

Legacy

Deer has gained notoriety in sabermetrics circles due to his propensity for the Three True Outcomes (defined as a strikeout, home run, or base on balls). The concept, originating in a Baseball Prospectus article in 2000, draws heavily upon Deer's career numbers.[12] Because of his ability to hit for power (eight straight seasons of 21 or more homers) and draw walks, he remained a valuable player despite his low batting average, as evidenced by his career 13.7 Wins Above Replacement.[13]

Personal life

Since his playing days, Deer has had a career in drag racing, sprint car racing. While with the Brewers, he worked for his father's construction firm.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN198409040.shtml
  2. ^ Brewers get Rob Deer in trade for 2 players
  3. ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Milwaukee Brewers 6, Texas Rangers 4". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
  4. ^ Braun, Rick (April 9, 2007). "Easter of '87 memories remain vivid; Sveum recalls role in keeping streak alive". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. 5.
  5. ^ Wagner, Andrew (2007-04-08). "A blast from Brewers history: Easter Sunday '87". OnMilwaukee.com. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
  6. ^ Newman, Bruce (1987-04-27). "Brewing Up a Storm". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 2007-06-12. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
  7. ^ Axisa, Mike (2018-09-29). "Chris Davis finishes 2018 with the worst batting average in MLB history after Orioles shut him down". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  8. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN199608050.shtml
  9. ^ "Single Season Leaders for Strikeouts in the American League". Baseball-Almanac.com. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
  10. ^ Spatz, Lyle (2007). TheSABR Baseball List & Record Book – Baseball's Most Fascinating Records and Unusual Statistics. United States: Simon & Schuster. p. 496. ISBN 9781416532453.
  11. ^ Wallner, Peter J. (2019-04-03). "Rob Deer known for whiffs, but he never accepted them". mlive.com. Advance Local Media. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  12. ^ Jazayerli, Rany (2000-08-15). "Doctoring the Numbers: The Doctor is...Gone". Baseball Prospecticus. DIY Baseball LLC. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  13. ^ "Rob Deer >> Statistics >> Batting". Fangraphs Baseball. Retrieved 2010-10-13.
  14. ^ ""Rob Works for His Father's Construction Firm" - NotGraphs Baseball". www.fangraphs.com.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rob_Deer&oldid=1027854791"