Michael Tucker #24

Michael Anthony Tucker...wife's name is Azuree'D...has 2 children: Aspen and Milan...from Blue Stone (VA) High School in 1989, lettering in baseball and basketball...attended Longwood (VA) College...was tabbed NCAA Division II Player of Year and Baseball America's small college Player of Year in 1992...led all Division II players in batting (.489), homers (22) and slugging percentage (1.101)...named to American Baseball Coaches Association's first-team All-America squad in 1992 and was finalist for Golden Spikes Award, honoring nation's top collegiate player...led 1992 U.S. Olympic team with 28 steals, while batting .291 with 36 runs...has supported several charities throughout big league career, including SIDS Foundation, AIDS clinics and various children's hospitals...with Giants in 2004, participated in homeplate ceremony with 50 children from G.R.E.A.T. program...attended reception to promote Giants Wives' Cookbook, produced to benefit Giants Community Fund...met with San Francisco AAA High School championship teams and threw out ceremonial first pitch prior to annual game at SBC Park...lent time to thousands of fans during KNBR/Giants FanFest.

2006

Tucker was signed as a free agent on April 26 and spent most of the season with Norfolk, batting .265 with 44 runs, 18 doubles, six home runs and 33 RBIs in 83 games, before the Mets purchased his contract on Aug. 9. Soon after, he picked up his first home run as a Met, a solo shot in the top of the eighth to give New York a 2-1 lead over Washington in a game the Mets would eventually win, 3-1.

2005

Began the season with San Francisco, but was acquired by Phildelphia on August 27 to bolster bench during chase for the NL Wild Card...slugged first 2 career grand slams on April 9 vs. Colorado and April 17 at Colorado...matched career high-for the 3rd time-with 5 RBI, April 17 at Colorado...hit .375 (27-for-72) with 2 home runs and 16 RBI over a 26-game span, June 9-July 17...posted season-high 4 hits and hit 4th career leadoff homer off Derek Lowe on July 15 at Los Angeles Dodgers...made Philadelphia debut on August 28 at Arizona as a pinch-hitter...first hit with Philadelphia - a single - came September 1 at New York Mets...broke an 0-for-9 skid with a 2-out, 2-run pinch single, September 16 at Florida...snapped scoreless tie with game-winning pinch-hit RBI single in the 9th inning, September 22 at Atlanta...ranked 10th in the NL in batting among pinch hitters (.298, 14-for-47)...tied for 5th in the NL with 5 pinch walks.

2004

Was Giants primary right fielder during campaign, appearing in 140 games while making 114 starts (97 in RF, 17 in CF)...batted .256 with 77 runs, 13 homers and career-high 62 RBI...his 140 games played marked 4th time he has reached plateau in 10-year career, while his 77 runs scored were 2nd highest figure (had 80 in 1997 with Atlanta)...batted throughout lineup, with his most at-bats coming in #2 slot (50 games, 41-for-198, .207)...was most effective as leadoff hitter, as his .413 on-base percentage from that spot would have led NL hitters if he had enough plate appearances...overall, hit .301 from top spot in lineup (27 games, 31-for-103 with 25 runs scored and 18 RBI)...was at his best in 1st half, batting .275 (71-for-258) before break with 48 runs scored, 7 HRs and 35 RBI in 80 contests...however, had just .233 average in 2nd half...his 13 homers on campaign were just 2 off career best (15 in 1999 with Reds)...posted 4th career multi-homer game (1st as Giant) Aug. 10 at Pittsburgh, finishing contest 4-for-4 with 3 runs and 2 RBI...connected for clouts off Pirates' Josh Fogg and Jose Mesa, with latter tying contest after 2 were out in 9th...7th homer of year was "Splash Hit" May 30 vs. Colorado, marking his 1st ball to land in McCovey Cove.

2003

Had potential career year cut short with broken tibia in right leg...suffered injury after fouling ball off leg Aug. 4 at White Sox...at time of injury, had 13 HRs and 55 RBI in 104 games, just short of career-best numbers of 15 clouts (set in 2000) and 61 RBI (2001)...also rapped out 20 doubles, 7 shy of high-water mark (1998 and 2002)...was on Disabled List Aug. 6-Sept. 24, returning to go 0-for-3 over Royals' final 3 games...Kansas City held 2.0-game lead in AL Central at time of injury, but went 23-26 during DL stint and fell to 3rd place...RBI total was helped by impressive .306 avg. (30-for-98) with RISP...belted 100th career homer May 30 vs. Oakland, clubbing 3-run shot off Tim Hudson...finished contest 3-for-4 while matching career high with 5 RBI...did most of damage in 1st half, batting .273 (88-for-322) with 13 HRs and 52 RBI as Royals built 7.0-game divisional lead at All-Star Break...also excelled against NL, hitting .314 (16-for-51) with 3 HRs and 9 RBI over 15 Interleague contests.

2002

Began 2nd stint with Kansas City and enjoyed banner campaign, matching career high with 27 2Bs and setting standard with 23 stolen bases (in 31 attempts)...clubbed 12 roundtrippers for 7th-straight double-digit homer campaign, while his 118 hits marked 2nd-highest total of career...endured slow start, batting just .234 (52-for-222) with 10 2Bs, 4 HRs and 23 RBI in 73 games before All-Star Break...in 71 contests during 2nd half, hit at .261 clip (66-for-253) with 17 2Bs, 8 HRs and 33 RBI...in fact, hit .278 (79-for-284) over his last 80 games, raising avg. from .214 on June 26 to final .248 mark...ranked 8th in AL with .328 home batting avg. (78-for-238)...homered in 3 straight games (July 16-18) for 2nd time in his career, having also done so May 1-3, 1998.

2001

Began season with Cincinnati before being traded to Cubs July 20...combined to set career highs for games (149) and RBI (61), while batting .252 with 19 2Bs, 12 HRs and 16 steals...8 triples ranked 5th in NL...saw action in center field (76 games), left (75) and right (25)...also made 4 late-season appearances at 1st base for Cubs, including 2 starts...recorded 3rd career 2-homer game in Reds' 11-inning, 8-7 victory at Houston June 21, hammering solo clouts off Tony McKnight and Mike Jackson...had impressive debut in Chicago uniform, going 2-for-5 with 2B July 21 at Houston...went 2-for-4 with pair of triples and 4 RBI at Cincinnati Sept. 19, becoming 1st Cub to triple twice in game since Ryne Sandberg did so April 25, 1994 (also at Cincy).

2000

Set career high with 15 HRs in just 270 at-bats with Reds...batted .267 over 148 games with 13 2Bs, 4 3Bs, 36 RBI and 13 stolen bases...logged extensive time in all 3 outfield positions, splitting his starting assignments between left field (27), right (19) and center (17)...in those 63 starts, batted .286 with 13 HRs...made 9 starts as leadoff hitter and clubbed pair of game-opening clouts, going deep Sept. 27 at Milwaukee (off Paul Rigdon) and Sept. 29 at St. Louis (off Garrett Stephenson)...combined with Ken Griffey, Jr. and Dmitri Young for back-to-back-to-back HRs May 13 at Houston...recorded straight steal of home May 16 vs. Pittsburgh...made 1st career appearance at 2nd base Sept. 20 at San Francisco, playing position in 8th inning.

1999

Played 1st season in Reds uniform after being acquired from Atlanta over winter...enjoyed best success off bench, ranking 15th in NL with .315 avg. (7-for-22) as pinch-hitter...was also effective in clutch, batting .292 (26-for-89) with RISP...appeared in 133 games overall, including 66 starts...celebrated 28th birthday by going 3-for-4 with 3 runs and 4 RBI June 25 at Houston.

1998

Appeared in 130 games during final season with Braves, setting career high with 27 2Bs while batting .244 with 13 HRs and 46 RBI...earned NL Player of Week honors for April 27-May 3 after batting .381 (8-for-21) with 7 runs, 4 2Bs, 4 HRs and 7 RBI in 6 games...belted 6 homers during 6-game span against San Francisco and Los Angeles May 1-6, including 2-clout contest May 2 vs. Giants...drove in 10 runs over stretch...began power binge with 1st career pinch HR, May 1 off San Francisco's Steve Reed...finished May with .323 avg. (32-for-99), 23 runs, 10 2Bs, 7 HRs and 21 RBI in 29 games...however, hit just .215 (53-for-247) with 4 HRs and 15 RBI over his final 79 regular season games...rebounded to enjoy excellent post season, going 7-for-21 (.333) with 2 HRs and 7 RBI in 9 playoff games...hammered 2-run HR off Cubs' Mark Clark in Braves' 7-0 victory in Game 1 of NLDS...collected 3 hits, including 3-run HR off Kevin Brown, and finished with 5 RBI in Game 5 of NLCS at San Diego...clout came in 8th inning, giving Atlanta 5-4 lead it would not surrender in 7-6 victory.

1997

Acquired by Atlanta during Spring Training and appeared in 138 games for Braves, batting career-high .283 with 25 2Bs, 7 3Bs, 14 HRs, 56 RBI and 12 steals...triples total was good for 10th in NL...hit 1st homer in Turner Field history April 4 vs. Cubs, connecting for 3rd inning solo clout off Kevin Foster...established career highs with 5 hits and 5 RBI, going 5-for-6 with HR and 3 runs scored April 30 at Cincinnati...effort vs. Reds capped outstanding opening month, as he batted .418 (33-for-79) with 2 HRs and 20 RBI over 21 April games...put together career-high 16 game hitting streak June 9-29, batting .306 (22-for-72) with 4 HRs and 11 RBI...recorded 1st career multi-HR game in impressive style June 28 vs. Philadelphia, clubbing pair of clouts off Curt Schilling...helped Braves hold off Florida in NL East by hitting at .351 clip (20-for-57) with 3 HRs in September...saw 1st career post season action, appearing in 2 games of NLDS against Houston and 5 NLCS contests vs. Florida...belted solo HR off Marlins' Livan Hernandez in Game 5 of NLCS, marking only blemish on right-hander's complete-game 3-hitter.

1996

Played in 108 games for Royals during season limited by pair of injuries...showed glimpse of future consistency, batting .260 with 18 2Bs, 4 3Bs, 12 HRs, 53 RBI and 10 steals...logged 98 contests in outfield while also seeing action in 9 games at 1st base...landed on Disabled List June 4-21 with sprained right wrist...was sent to double-A Wichita on rehab assignment, going 9-for-20 (.450) in 6 games...suffered dislocated left ring finger Aug. 28 and was disabled for remainder of campaign.

1995

Made ML debut as Kansas City's opening day left fielder in just 3rd professional campaign...spent half of season in big leagues, batting .260 with 10 2Bs, 4 HRs and 17 RBI...singled off Baltimore's Mike Mussina in 1st ML plate appearance, April 26 at Kauffman Stadium...hammered 1st big league homer Aug. 13 vs. Seattle, solo clout off Bob Wells...also played in 71 games for triple-A Omaha, batting .305.

1994

Spent entire season with Omaha, making jump to triple-A level in 2nd professional season...appeared in 132 games, batting .276 and establishing career highs wtih 21 HRs and 77 RBI...played exclusively in outfield after starting pro career as 2nd baseman.

1993

Made professional debut by logging 61 games for single-A Wilmington and 72 with double-A Memphis...combined to hit .292 with 15 HRs, 79 RBI and 24 stolen bases.