Richie Sexson
Sexson with the Mariners in 2008
First baseman
Born: (1974-12-29) December 29, 1974
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 14, 1997, for the Cleveland Indians
Last MLB appearance
August 13, 2008, for the New York Yankees
MLB statistics
Batting average.261
Home runs306
Runs batted in943
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Richmond Lockwood Sexson (born December 29, 1974) is an American former Major League Baseball first baseman who played for five teams from 1997 to 2008. He was also the field manager for the Windy City ThunderBolts in the West division of the Frontier League for the 2023 season.[1]

Amateur career

Sexson was born in Portland, Oregon. At Prairie High School in Brush Prairie, Washington, Sexson was an All-State performer in baseball, basketball, and football. He also set the school record for the most runs batted in (RBIs) and home runs in a career.

Sexson was offered a scholarship to play both college baseball and college basketball for the Portland Pilots.[2]

Professional career

Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians selected Sexson in the 24th round (671st overall) of the 1993 Major League Baseball draft.[3] He reached the major leagues with five games in 1997. Sexson had a breakout year in 1999 with 31 home runs, and 116 RBIs in 134 games.

Milwaukee Brewers

In 2000, Sexson was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers with a player to be named later, for Bob Wickman, Steve Woodard, and Jason Bere.[4] In 2001, his 45 home runs tied the Brewers record set by Gorman Thomas in 1979. His 178 strikeouts also broke the Brewers record, but this was surpassed the following season by José Hernández. On September 25, 2001, Sexson and teammate Jeromy Burnitz each hit three home runs in a 9–4 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was the first and, as of the 2021 season, only time that two players hit three home runs in the same game, let alone two teammates. In 2002, Sexson represented the Brewers in the MLB All-Star Game which was played in Milwaukee. In 2003, he played in all 162 games and again tied the Brewers record of 45 home runs while hitting .272 and earning a selection to the 2003 MLB All-Star Game. Prince Fielder broke Sexson's and Thomas's team record in 2007, hitting 50 home runs.

Sexson was the first of three players in Brewers history to have 100 or more RBIs in three consecutive seasons along with Fielder in 2007–2009 and Ryan Braun in 2008–10.[5]

Arizona Diamondbacks

Sexson was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in December 2003 along with pitcher Shane Nance and a player to be named later (Noochie Varner) for infielders Junior Spivey, Craig Counsell, Lyle Overbay, catcher Chad Moeller, and pitchers Chris Capuano and Jorge de la Rosa.[6] This trade proved to be disastrous for the Diamondbacks, as Sexson missed most of the 2004 season after twice suffering a reverse subluxation of his left shoulder while attempting to check his swing.[7][8]

Seattle Mariners

Prior to the 2005 season, Sexson signed a four-year contract with the Seattle Mariners worth $50 million.[9] Sexson played well in the 2005 season, hitting 39 home runs and 121 RBIs and put up similar numbers the following year, hitting 34 home runs and 107 RBIs. However, Sexson struggled mightily in the 2007 season, batting .205 with 21 home runs and 63 RBIs, and again in the 2008 season, hitting just .218 with 11 home runs and 30 RBIs for Seattle.

Sexson batting in 2005

On May 8, 2008, in a game against the Texas Rangers, Sexson charged the mound towards Rangers starting pitcher Kason Gabbard and threw his batting helmet at him after Gabbard threw a head-high pitch over the middle of the plate, to which Sexson reacted as if it had hit him.[10] Sexson later stated he was frustrated and had a lot going on in his head, including his son being in the hospital and his club's recent struggles. He was suspended six games for the incident.[10] He later appealed the suspension, and it was dropped to five games.

On July 10, 2008, Sexson was released by the Mariners.[11]

New York Yankees

On July 18, 2008, Sexson signed with the New York Yankees.[12] Sexson did well in his Yankee debut, by collecting his first hit as a Yankee in the first inning with a single and also bringing in Bobby Abreu for the first run that inning. He went 1–3 with one RBI, one walk, and one strikeout.[13] His only home run (a grand slam) as a New York Yankee came on August 5, 2008, against the Texas Rangers.[14] Sexson was designated for assignment on August 15, 2008, after batting .250 with one home run in 22 games for New York.[15] He was released on August 24, 2008.

Windy City ThunderBolts

On October 20, 2022, Sexson was announced as the new field manager of the Windy City ThunderBolts.[16] This was the first professional managerial position for Sexson after coaching at Summit High School in Bend, Oregon. Sexson's first coaching staff hire was Chris Coleman as the third base coach and infield coordinator. He led the team to a 43-52 record (.453 winning percentage), and stepped down from his role at the conclusion of the 2023 season.[17]

Personal life

In May 2005, Sexson pleaded guilty in Clark County, Washington to second degree negligent driving after initially being charged with drunk driving. He was ordered to pay a $538 fine.[18]

Sexson recently lived in Ridgefield, Washington with his wife Kerry. Since 2014, he has been a baseball coach at Summit High School in Bend, Oregon.[19]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "White Sox legend Bobby Jenks named new ThunderBolts' Field Manager". October 26, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  2. ↑ Miller, Ted (April 13, 2005). "Healthy and home, Sexson back swinging for the fences". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  3. ↑ "24th Round of the 1993 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Indians trade Sexson to Brewers for Woodard, Sele and Wickman". ESPN. July 28, 2000. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  5. ↑ Wagner, Andrew (September 13, 2010). "Sports: Brewers Notebook: Rogers, Kintzler overcome steep odds". OnMilwaukee. Archived from the original on September 19, 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  6. ↑ "D-Backs acquire Sexson, ship six to Brewers". ESPN. Associated Press. December 1, 2003. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  7. ↑ "D-Backs put Sexson (shoulder) on 15-day DL". ESPN. Associated Press. April 29, 2004. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  8. ↑ Price, Ed (May 23, 2004). "Sexson reinjures shoulder". East Valley Tribune. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  9. ↑ Arnold, Kirby (December 16, 2004). "Sexson signs contract with M's". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  10. 1 2 "Mariners' Sexson suspended for charging mound". ESPN. Associated Press. May 9, 2008. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  11. ↑ Baker, Geoff (July 10, 2008). "Mariners release Richie Sexson". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Yankees sign first baseman Richie Sexson". New York Yankees. MLB.com. July 18, 2008. Archived from the original on July 22, 2008. Retrieved August 10, 2008.
  13. ↑ Hoch, Bryan (July 18, 2008). "Yanks back from break with a bang". New York Yankees. MLB.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2008. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  14. ↑ DiComo, Anthony (August 6, 2008). "Late surge not enough for Yankees". New York Yankees. MLB.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2008. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  15. ↑ Hoch, Bryan (August 15, 2008). "Yanks demote Melky, cut Sexson". New York Yankees. MLB.com. Archived from the original on August 18, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  16. ↑ "MLB All-Star Slugger Richie Sexson Named New Field Manager". wcthunderbolts.com. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Windy City Thunderbolts Club History & Records". Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Plea agreement reached in Richie Sexson DUI case". The Seattle Times. May 25, 2005. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Summit High School athletics page". Summit High School.
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