John Garrett Olerud ... resides in Fall City, Wash., with wife Kelly, son Garrett John (9/10/98) and daughter Jordan Marie (8/30/00) ... won letters in two sports at Interlake (Wash.) High School ... won all-state and team MVP honors in baseball ... at Washington State University, he was voted *Baseball America*'s NCAA Player of the Year for 1987-1988: he hit .464 in 66 games with 21 doubles, 23 home runs and 80-plus RBI ... as a pitcher that season, he was 15-0 with a 2.49 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 122.2 innings ... set WSU records for average, hits (108), home runs, total bases (204), slugging percentage (.876), hit streak (22 games), victories, consecutive victories (16), innings pitched and strikeouts ... in his Cougar career, he hit .434 in 131 games with 33 home runs and 131 RBIs ... as a pitcher, was 26-4 with a 3.17 ERA and 169 strikeouts in 241.1 innings ... was hospitalized on Jan. 11, 1989, after collapsing in the fieldhouse following an early morning workout ... was diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrhage which caused bleeding in the spinal column ... underwent surgery Feb. 27 for the removal of an aneurysm at the base of the brain ... finished his collegiate season at WSU with a .359 batting average, five home runs and 30 RBIs in 27 games ... as a pitcher, was 3-2 with a 6.68 ERA in six starts ... winner of the 1993 Hutch Award, which goes to the Major League player who best exemplifies the character, fighting spirit and competitive desire of Fred Hutchinson ... his father John, a catcher, also attended Washington State ... the elder Olerud was twice voted his team's MVP and won all-America honors in 1965 ... John Sr. also a member of the University's Hall of Fame and played professionally in the St. Louis, California and Montreal organizations, reaching the Triple-A level ... John's mother Lynda also went to WSU ... was a member of the United States National Team which competed in the Intercontinental Cup Baseball Tournament in Havana, Cuba, in October 1987 ... teamed with Bobby Jones to raise money for Long Island Youth Guidance Services helping to raise more than $100,000.
2005
Sweet-swinging left-handed hitter batted .405 in his first 24 games with the Red Sox ... Batted .395 with men on base and .392 with runners in scoring position ... Had a .300 average vs. left-handed pitching .. As usual, was brilliant in the field, making just one error in 497 total chances.
2004
Hit .259 with 9 HR and 48 RBI in 127 games with Seattle and the Yankees (118 starts at first base). ... Committed only two errors at first base and had a .998 fielding percentage. ... In 49 games with the Yankees, hit .280 with 4 HR and 26 RBI (47 starts at first base). ... With Seattle, hit .245 with 5 HR and 22 RBI in 78 games (71 starts at first base). ... Batted in every position in the batting order this season except leadoff and ninth. ... Was designated for assignment by Seattle on 7/15 and given his unconditional release on 7/27. ... Was signed by the Yankees to a Major League contract on 8/3. ... Made Yankee debut in 8/4 win vs. Oakland and was 2-for-5 with 2 RBI. ... Hit first home run as a Yankee on 8/12 at Texas in a 5-1 win. ... Hit .312 with 1 HR and 14 RBI in 22 games in August. ... Played in 8 postseason games, batting ..192 with one home run and two RBIs. ... Suffered bruised left instep during Game 3 of ALCS, missing the following three games. ... Pinch-hit in Game 7.
2003
Hit .269 (145x539) with 10 HR, 35 doubles, 83 RBI, and .372 OBP...his 84 walks tied for 9th in the AL.
Was third among AL first basemen with .998 fielding percentage (3 errors, 1224 total chances), and was first in the AL with 125 assists.
Hit .289 (43x149) with runners in scoring position, with 7 doubles, 5 HR and 73 RBI.
Drew six bases loaded walks, the most in the Majors.
RBI single in the 4th inning on April 11 vs. Texas ended Seattlebs 0x20 stretch with RISP.
Had five doubles in four games April 15-18.
Hit .319 (29x91) with a .421 OBP in April, with 11 doubles, and 17 RBI.
Went 2x4 with two doubles and a RBI May 6 vs. New York.
In the 6-3 win vs. Chicago, hit a clutch bases loaded, two RBI single May 9.
Had a five-game hitting streak from May 15-21, hitting .316 (6x19).
Had a four-hit game May 27 in Kansas City, where he scored a run and had two RBI.
Hit .286 (26x91) in May, hitting in 17 of 25 games that month.
Had four RBI June 4 at Philadelphia, going 3x4 with two doubles in the 7-2 win.
Hit a game-tying two-run home run June 16 vs. Anaheim (off Lackey) for his 2,000th career hit...became 224th player with 2,000 hits.
Did not play June 30-July 4 due to a sore right hamstring.
Went 2x3 vs. Oakland July 23 with a double and four RBI.
Was 2x4, with a double and three-run home run in consecutive games July 29-30 vs. Detroit.
Career-high seven RBI August 2 vs. Chicago, going 2x3 with three runs and two home runs, incl. seventh career grand slam...16th career two-home run game.
Enjoyed a six-game hitting streak July 29-Aug. 3, batting .409 (9x22) with four home runs and 15 RBI.
Had game-winning RBI Aug. 5 at Cleveland in the 2-1 win.
Belted a three-run home run, his ninth long ball of the season, the following day in Cleveland.
Hit the game-winning two-RBI single Aug. 29 vs. Baltimore in the 3-2 victory.
Batted .267 in Aug. (27x101) with four doubles, three home runs and 22 RBI.
Had a nine-game hitting streak Aug. 28-Sept. 7, hitting .350 (14x40).
Played his 2,000th game Sept. 6 in Baltimore.
Had second nine-game hitting streak of the season from Sept. 13-21, hitting .333 (11x33) with two doubles, a home run and four RBI.
Went 2x4, with three runs, two doubles and two RBI, Sept. 26 vs. Oakland.
Hit in 19 of 24 games in Sept., with seven doubles and a .250 average (23x92).
Acquired:
Signed as a free agent on Dec. 7, 1999; re-signed as a free agent on Dec. 6, 2002.
2002
Hit .300 with 22 home runs and 102 RBIs, his second season with .300 average, 20-plus home runs and more than 100 RBIs ... won Gold Glove; was third among AL first basemen with .996 fielding percentage (5 errors, 1275 total chances); second with 101 assists ... led AL with 12 sac flies; 5th with 98 walks; 7th with .403 on-base pct; T8th with 39 doubles ... hit .316 (25-for-79) in April ... went 4-for-4 April 14 in Texas ... had seven-game hit streak April 28-May 5 (9-for-27, .333; HR, 7 RBIs) ... had game-ending RBI on a fielder's choice in 5-4 win May 8 vs. Toronto ... hit just .248 (25-for-101) in May, but rebounded batting .384 (38-for-99) with 16 doubles in June ... had 16-game hit streak May 30-June 15 (23-for-57, .404) to raise average from .272 to .304 ... homered June 22 at Houston for career RBI No. 1000 ... had 11-game hit streak July 4-17 (15-for-40, .375) ... homered twice July 7 vs. Minnesota; 15th career 2-homer game ... matched career high with 5 RBIs Aug. 3 vs. Cleveland and again on Sept. 8 at Kansas City ... missed four games Aug. 22-25 with strained left groin ... batted .326 (28-for-86) in August ... drove in run No. 100 Sept. 22 vs. Anaheim, becoming just the seventh Mariner ever with two 100-RBI seasons ... hit .311 (47-for-151) with runners in scoring position, second on the team ... named Mariners MVP by Seattle chapter of BBWAA.
2001
Played Gold Glove-caliber defense at first and had typically solid season at the plate ... had 10-game hitting streak April 12-21 ... batted .337 (17-for-25) with 4 HR and 21 RBIs in April ... had game-winning hit April 4 vs. Oakland with a sac fly in the 8th ... belted 7th career grand slam April 21 vs. Anaheim ... notched 5th HR and 1st stolen base on the year, his first since Sept. 9 1999, on May 4 vs. Boston ... had 13-game hitting streak May 8-22 ... was 4-for-5 with double, 2 RBIs May 28 at Kansas City ... hit safely in 23 of 27 May games, finishing the month 34-for-96, .356 ... hit for the cycle for the second time in his career (also Sept. 9, 1997, with the Mets) on June 16 at San Diego; doubled down the third base line, tripled down first base line, singled to center and smashed only the second home run ever hit into the second deck in right field at Qualcomm Stadium (estimated 454 feet) to complete the cycle; triple was only the 12th in his career, and first since 1998 ... was third cycle in franchise history (Buhner, May 23 '93 and Rodriguez, May 5 '97) ... became just second player to hit for the cycle in both leagues, joining Bob Watson ... cycle kicked off a seven-game hitting streak lasting until June 22 ... voted starting first baseman for the All-Star Game; second All-Star appearance (1990 with Toronto) and first start ... hit safely in seven straight games July 17-23 ... hit 200th career HR on July 27 vs. Minnesota ... batted .302 (29-for-96) with 5 doubles and 4 HR in July ... tallied another seven-game hitting streak Aug. 7-14 ... had game-winning hit Aug. 12 vs. Oakland with a sac fly in the 8th ... belted 2 home runs on Aug. 22 vs. Detroit, his 14th career 2-homer game ... collected 20th home run Sept. 30 vs. Oakland; his 4th career 20-homer season, first since 1998 ... had 10-game hit streak snapped in regular-season finale (15-for-38, .395) ... struggled through the 2001 postseason, batting just .194 (7-for-36) in 10 games ... homered to break a 2-2 tie in the 6th inning of Game 3 of ALCS in New York, in Seattle's 14-3 win.
2000
Smooth-fielding first baseman solidified Mariners infield while adding a third batting champion to the line up...was ranked among the AL leaders in doubles (T4th) and walks (8th)...led AL first basemen in fielding percentage (.996) and assists (132)...batted .390 (30x77) with 20 RBI and 22 walks in 23 games in April...recorded first hit in Comerica Park a double in the first inning April 11; bat was sent to the Hall of Fame...hit safely in seven straight games April 15-23 and in 14 of 16 games April 11-29...was 2x4 with 4 RBI, including walk-off 3-run home run in Seattle's 8-5 win April 23 vs. Kansas City (Ricky Bottalico)...reached safely in all five plate appearances April 29 in Kansas City (3x3, 2 BB) & May 21 vs. Tampa Bay (4x4, BB)...struck-out as pinch-hitter June 9 in San Francisco, first time all season not starting...was 4x5 with a home run and 4 RBI June 18 in Minnesota...homered twice June 29 vs. Anaheim...batted .323 (32x99) in June...two hits in the 7th inning July 2 at Texas...had seven-game hit streak July 2-8 (9x26/.346)...tied career high with five RBI in 11-0 win July 8 vs. Los Angeles...was batting .306 (94x307) at the All-Star break...3x4 with two home runs and five RBI (tied career-high) July 14 in San Diego; 13th career two-home run game, second in 2000...walked at least once in 8-straight games July 15-22 (12 BB)...batted just .219 (21x96) in July, but led the AL & was tied for the ML lead with 29 RBI...struck out four times for just the third time in career Aug. 19 in Cleveland...wife Kelly gave birth to daughter Jordan Marie Aug. 30...missed three games Aug. 30-Sept. 2, his first of the season...hit in seven straight games Sept. 3-9 (10x27/.370)...was 4x6 with double & 4 RBI Sept. 30 in Anaheim...led the AL with five bases-loaded walks and was second with 29 bases-loaded RBI...batted .328 (60x183) in the 4-spot...recorded 100 RBI for the first time since 1997 ... batted .333 (10x30) with 2 HR and 4 RBI in the 2000 postseason, including .350 (7x20) with HR, 2 RBI in the 2000 ALCS vs. New York ... homered in the 10th inning of Seattle's 7-4 win in Game 1 of the 2000 ALDS in Chicago following Edgar Martinez's tie-breaking two-run homer ... also went back-to-back with Martinez in Game 5 of the 2000 ALCS vs. New York.
1999
Veteran first baseman had another fine offensive season...drew a career-best 125 walks, a new Mets record...played in 162 games of the Mets' 163 games...reached base safely in 151 of 162 games played (93.2%), the third highest percenteage in the Majors...finished fourth in the NL in walks, fifth witha .427 on-base percentage, 10th with 11 hit-by-pitches and he tied for sixth among NL first baseman with a .994 fielding percentage (9E, 1458 TC).
1998
his .354 batting average in 1998 was the highest in Mets history ... finished second in the NL in batting and on-base percentage (.434), sixth in walks and hits and eighth in multi-hit games (56) ... his 197 hits and 96 walks were the second-highest in Mets history ... had a career-best four triples ... stole his first base of the season, fourth career, June 2 at Pittsburgh, his first stolen base since May 28, 1996 (Chicago at Toronto) ... had a 23-game hit streak, July 19-Aug. 9 (41-89, .461)... named NL Player of the Week, Aug. 3-8 (16x35/.457) ... NL Player of the Week for Sept. 14-20, his third NL honor and fifth career... tied a Mets club record with nine consecutive hits, from his final at-bat Sept. 16 at Houston to Sept. 20 vs. Florida... tied an NL record on Sept. 22 when he walked in the first inning vs. Montreal, the 15th straight time he had reached base safely ... the streak started in his final at-bat on Sept. 16 at Houston.
1997
finished 1997 with 102 RBI, eighth on the Mets' all-time single-season list ... ranked seventh in the NL in walks and tied for ninth with 13 hit-by-pitches... hit .385 (50x130) with seven home runs and 62 RBI with runners in scoring position, third in the NL ... reached safely via a hit or a walk in 123 of his 141 starts ... was fourth among NL first basemen with a .995 fielding (seven errors in 1,419 chances) ... had a single and a three-run double to highlight the Mets' eight-run third inning at Philadelphia on May 22 ... hit for the first cycle of his career and the seventh in Mets' history when he went 4x5 with five RBI vs. Montreal Sept. 11; third time in his career with 5 RBI ... hit his third career grand slam Sept. 24 vs. Pittsburgh (Chris Peters); also his fourth, five-RBI game of his career ... was named the NL Player of the Week for the final week of the season, Sept. 22-28 ...
1996
led AL first basemen in fielding with a .998 mark in 1996 ... committed two errors in 839 chances ... didn't make an error until July 1st ... homered on Opening Night, April 1 vs. Oakland's Carlos Reyes at Las Vegas ... tied his career best with five RBI vs. Boston on May 12, including three-run home run vs. Roger Clemens ... hit his second career grand slam (career home run #100) May 27th vs. Chicago, against Alex Fernandez ... hit first career pinch-hit home run June 1 vs. Kansas City in the ninth inning off Jeff Montgomery ... recorded his 900th career hit Aug. 30 vs. the White Sox ... finished Toronto career holding single-season records in the following categories: batting average (.363), doubles (54) and on-base percentage (.473) ... ranks second on Toronto's All-Time List with 514 career walks, behind Lloyd Moseby (547) ... also finished second on the Blue Jays' List for most games by a first baseman (765), trailing Willie Upshaw (950)...traded to the Mets Dec. 20 in exchange for Robert Person ...
1995
struggled through the first half of 1995 and was hitting just .246 at the All-Star break ... rebounded to hit .336 after the break, the best mark on the club ... voted AL Player of the Week for the second time in his career (July 10-16) ... hit his first career grand slam (off Rafael Carmona), July 16 at Seattle as part of his sixth career two-homer game ... had five RBI in that contest, a career best ... scored his 400th career run, Sept. 4 vs. Kansas City ... led team in walks for the third consecutive season ...
1994
finished tied for fifth in the AL in 1994 with 12 intentional walks and tied for 10th in doubles ... stole his second career base April 16 at California ... picked up his 600th career hit, a double against Oakland's Ron Darling on May 31 ... homered June 10 vs. Yankees' Jim Abbott, the first home run by a left-handed batter vs. Abbott since Sept. 19, 1991 (Rafael Palmeiro) ... scored his 300th career run July 23 vs. Texas ... was 7x11/.636 with the bases loaded, the second-best mark in the AL ...
1993
became the first Blue Jay player to win a batting title with his .363 mark in 1993 ... posted career bests in nearly every offensive category: batting, hits, runs, home runs, RBI, doubles, and total bases (330) ... became the third Blue Jay to collect 200 hits in a season ... finished with 54 doubles, the most in the AL since George Kell had 56 in 1950 ... became only the second Toronto player to reach the 100-walk plateau ... set a career high with five hits vs. Kansas City on April 29 (three singles, two doubles) ... was hitting .400 on August 2 ... had a career-best 26-game hit streak from May 26-June 22 (40x92/.435), the longest streak of the season... selected to the All-Star Game at Baltimore (0x2) ... hit safely in 124 of the 157 games he batted ... posted a career-best 30 RBI in June ... was the ninth player in AL history and the 20th in ML history (since 1900) to collect 200 hits and 100 walks (first since Wade Boggs in 1989) ... also led the AL with 33 intentional walks, tying the AL record held by Ted Williams (1957) ... hit .348 in the League Championship Series vs. the White Sox ... had a three-hit game in Game 1 (two singles and a double) ... doubled and homered in the World Series vs. Philadelphia, as the Blue Jays won second straight World Series title ...
1992
in 1992, recorded his first ML stolen base, April 30 at Milwaukee ... suffered a broken nose on May 26 while standing beside the batting cage after being struck by a pitch fouled off by Manuel Lee ... made just two errors after May (100 games) ... hit his first post-season home run in Game Four of the ALCS vs. Oakland ... hit .348 (8x23) in the Series with four RBI ... hit .308 (4x13) against Atlanta in the World Series, en route to his first World Championship ...
1991
was the Blue Jays everyday first baseman in 1991 after starting just 15 games there during his rookie season ... finished third among AL first basemen with a .996 fielding percentage ... started all five games in the American League Championship Series vs. Minnesota ... had two hits in Game One of the Series ...
1990
was youngest player on the Toronto club in 1990 ... picked up his first ML RBI on April 18 vs. Baltimore... had his first two-home run game, June 21 vs. Yankees (Andy Hawkins, Alan Mills) ...
1989
was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the third round of the 1989 June draft ... became only the 16th player since the start of the amateur draft in 1965 to make his professional debut in the Major Leagues ... of those 16 players, is one of four who has never played in the minors ... made his Major League debut Sept. 3rd vs. the Twins as a defensive replacement at first base ... collected his first hit in that game against German Gonzales ... had his first big league start at first base going 2x4 at Baltimore on Oct. 1 ...
