Desi Relaford
Encyclopedia
Desmond Lamont "Desi" Relaford (born September 16, 1973 in Valdosta
, Georgia
) is an American former professional baseball
infielder
. He has played for the Texas Rangers
, Colorado Rockies
, Kansas City Royals
, Seattle Mariners
, New York Mets
, San Diego Padres
and Philadelphia Phillies
.
Known more for his defense than his bat, his versatility was his trademark. Over the course of an 11 year major league career, he played every position in the field except 1st base and catcher; he pitched in one game for the New York Mets
in which he recorded a perfect inning with a strikeout
and threw over 90 mph.
Relaford signed a minor league deal with the Rangers on February 14, 2007. He competed with Jerry Hairston, Jr.
, Drew Meyer
, and Joaquin Arias for a spot as utility infielder during spring training
, but wound up starting the season in the minors. In early July, Relaford was called up to the Rangers after regular second baseman Ian Kinsler
was placed on the disabled list
after suffering a stress fracture. Relaford was released after the season, and never played professionally after that.
with his wife, Cassandra Sapphire Daley, whom he married in 2002, and their two children. Desi Relaford is the founder of 6 Hole Records, a hip-hop record label based in Jacksonville.
Relaford attended Sandalwood High School and graduated there as well.
Valdosta, Georgia
Valdosta is the county seat of Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Valdosta Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 54,518. The Valdosta metropolitan area, according to the 2010 estimate, has a population of 139,588...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
) is an American former professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
. He has played for the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
, Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
and Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
Known more for his defense than his bat, his versatility was his trademark. Over the course of an 11 year major league career, he played every position in the field except 1st base and catcher; he pitched in one game for the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in which he recorded a perfect inning with a strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
and threw over 90 mph.
Relaford signed a minor league deal with the Rangers on February 14, 2007. He competed with Jerry Hairston, Jr.
Jerry Hairston, Jr.
Jerry Wayne Hairston, Jr. is a Mexican-American professional baseball utility player.-Professional career:...
, Drew Meyer
Drew Meyer
Drew Edward Meyer is a Major League Baseball player in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organization. Meyer made his major league debut on April 21, , for the Texas Rangers in a game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...
, and Joaquin Arias for a spot as utility infielder during spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, but wound up starting the season in the minors. In early July, Relaford was called up to the Rangers after regular second baseman Ian Kinsler
Ian Kinsler
Ian Michael Kinsler is a Major League Baseball All-Star second baseman for the Texas Rangers.Despite having been drafted in only the 17th round out of college, Kinsler has risen to become a two-time All Star, and a member of the Sporting News 2009 list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball...
was placed on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
after suffering a stress fracture. Relaford was released after the season, and never played professionally after that.
Life beyond baseball
Relaford currently has a home in Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
with his wife, Cassandra Sapphire Daley, whom he married in 2002, and their two children. Desi Relaford is the founder of 6 Hole Records, a hip-hop record label based in Jacksonville.
Relaford attended Sandalwood High School and graduated there as well.