Darrell Evans

Darrell Evans
Evans as manager of the Victoria Seals, 2009
Third baseman / First baseman
Born: (1947-05-26) May 26, 1947
Pasadena, California
Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 20, 1969, for the Atlanta Braves
Last MLB appearance
October 1, 1989, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
Batting average .248
Hits 2,223
Home runs 414
Runs batted in 1,354
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Darrell Wayne Evans (born May 26, 1947) is a former third baseman and first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1969 to 1989 with the Atlanta Braves (1969–76, 1989), San Francisco Giants (1976–83) and Detroit Tigers (1984–88). He is also the former manager and director of player personnel for the Victoria Seals of the Golden Baseball League.

Overshadowed in his prime by fellow National League third baseman Mike Schmidt, he has been described by author Bill James as "the most underrated player in baseball history, absolutely number one on the list",[1] primarily because his defensive skill, home run power, and ability to draw walks in a long career were offset by a low career batting average of .248. He remains one of the few players to have hit over 400 career home runs without being seriously considered for induction into the Baseball Hall Of Fame.

MLB career

Evans became the first player to hit 40 home runs in a season in both leagues. He hit a career-high 41 for the 1973 Atlanta Braves, also posting a career-high .403 on-base percentage that season. At age 38, he became the oldest player ever to lead the American League in home runs, hitting 40 for the Detroit Tigers in 1985. Evans hit over 20 home runs in 10 different seasons and drew 100 or more walks five times, leading the major leagues with 124 walks in 1973 and a career-high 126 in 1974. He currently ranks 11th all-time in walks among major leaguers (1,605), ahead of the likes of Pete Rose, Willie Mays, Stan Musial and Hank Aaron.

Despite turning 40 years old early in the 1987 season, Evans hit 34 home runs and drove in 99, helping the Tigers to an AL East pennant and finishing 12th in the AL MVP voting. He hit his 400th home run during the 1988 season, becoming the 22nd player to reach that milestone. He retired after having joined Reggie Jackson in becoming only the second player to hit 100 home runs with three different teams, and ranking in 11th place among all-time walks leaders. Evans hit 60 home runs after reaching age 40, at the time a major league record. After returning to the Braves for the 1989 season, he then served as a coach with the New York Yankees in 1990.

A two-time All-Star (1973 and 1983), Evans was selected as the third baseman on the 1973 Sporting News National League All-Star team. He won the 1983 Willie Mac Award for his spirit and leadership. He earned a World Series ring with the 1984 Detroit Tigers.

A particularly memorable highlight of his career was being on base and scoring when Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run on April 8, 1974 to break Babe Ruth's record for most career home runs.

Managerial career

Texas–Louisiana League

Evans began his minor league managing career with the Tyler (Texas) Wildcatters in the Texas-Louisiana league in 1997.

Golden Baseball League

Evans worked for a time as the manager for the Long Beach Armada, a team in the independent Golden Baseball League for which José Canseco once played. He managed the Armada to the GBL championship series in his final year with the team in 2007. On November 25, 2008, Evans became the first manager and director of player personnel for the expansion Victoria Seals of the Golden Baseball League. The team began play in April 2009.[2] On March 3, 2010 Evans was fired as the Manager of the Victoria Seals.[3] Evans currently manages the St. George RoadRunners in the Golden Baseball League.[4]

California Winter League

In 2009 Evans managed the Palm Springs Chill in the California Winter League.[5] He is currently the commissioner of the league.[6]

Personal life

Evans was born in Pasadena, California, and is a consultant for Netamin Communication Corporation, ensuring accuracy as the gaming company develops Ultimate Baseball Online 2007, the first-ever Massively Multiplayer Online Sports Game (MMOSG).

See also

References

  1. ↑ James, Bill, The New Historical Baseball Abstract, p. 547
  2. ↑ Dheensaw, Cleve (2008-11-25). "Former major leaguer takes helm of new Victoria baseball club". Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  3. ↑ "Victoria Seals Part Ways With Evans".
  4. ↑ "St. George RoadRunners Name Darrell Evans 2010 Skipper".
  5. ↑ "St.George RoadRunners Name Darrell Evans 2010 Skipper".
  6. ↑ "2011 Instructors". California Winter League.
Preceded by
Terry Kennedy		 National League Player of the Month
May, 1983		 Succeeded by
Andre Dawson
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