Greg Vaughn
Encyclopedia
Gregory Lamont Vaughn is a former Major League Baseball
left fielder
and right-handed batter who played for the Milwaukee Brewers
(1989–96), San Diego Padres
(1996–98), Cincinnati Reds
(1999), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2000–02) and Colorado Rockies
(2003). He was born in Sacramento, California
, where he attended Kennedy High School
. He then played baseball at the University of Miami
. He is the cousin of fellow former Major Leaguer, Mo Vaughn
.
Vaughn was selected by the Brewers in the first round (4th pick) of the 1986 amateur draft
. A slugger whose batting average
dropped below .250 as often as rising above it, he compensated with excellent power. He had three seasons with at least 100 runs batted in
, and four with 30 or more home run
s - including the legendary season, when he hit 50 to finish 4th in the major leagues behind Ken Griffey, Jr.
, Sammy Sosa
, and Mark McGwire
, who set the home run record that season. In 1999, he became the only player in major league history to be traded after a 50-homer season when the Padres
traded him to the Cincinnati Reds
. With the Reds in 1999, he hit 45 homers and became the second player in major league history to hit 40 or more homers in consecutive seasons with two different teams (one year after Andrés Galarraga
became the first).
Throughout his career, Vaughn batted .242 with 355 home runs, 1072 RBI, 1017 runs, 1475 hits, 284 doubles
, 23 triples
and 121 stolen base
s in 1731 games.
Vaughn became eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009. 75% of the vote was necessary for induction, and 5% was necessary to stay on the ballot. He received zero votes and dropped off the ballot.
Vaughn's son, Cory Vaughn, attended and played baseball at San Diego State University
under Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn
between 2008-2010. Following his junior season in which he batted .378 with 9 home runs and 55 RBI in 47 games, Vaughn was drafted in the 4th round (122nd overall) of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft
by the New York Mets
. After signing with the Mets he was assigned to the short-season Brooklyn Cyclones
where he finished the season ranked 1st in slugging percentage, 1st in OPS (on-base + slugging), 2nd in home runs, and 2nd in RBI.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
and right-handed batter who played for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1989–96), 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...
(1996–98), Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1999), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2000–02) and 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...
(2003). He was born in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, where he attended Kennedy High School
John F. Kennedy High School (Sacramento, California)
John F. Kennedy High School, a member of the Sacramento City Unified School District, is a public school in the Pocket-Greenhaven Area of Sacramento, California.-Notable alumni:* Adam Bernero - seven-year MLB pitcher...
. He then played baseball at the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
. He is the cousin of fellow former Major Leaguer, Mo Vaughn
Mo Vaughn
Maurice Samuel 'Mo' Vaughn , nicknamed "The Hit Dog", is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He played from 1991 to 2003...
.
Vaughn was selected by the Brewers in the first round (4th pick) of the 1986 amateur draft
1986 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1986 Major League Baseball Draft was the 22nd MLB draft that took place in 1986. During this draft, five all-stars were drafted in five different teams.-First round selections:...
. A slugger whose batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
dropped below .250 as often as rising above it, he compensated with excellent power. He had three seasons with at least 100 runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, and four with 30 or more home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s - including the legendary season, when he hit 50 to finish 4th in the major leagues behind Ken Griffey, Jr.
Ken Griffey, Jr.
George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey, Jr. , nicknamed "Junior" and "The Kid", is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and during his final years, designated hitter...
, Sammy Sosa
Sammy Sosa
Samuel Peralta "Sammy" Sosa is a Dominican former professional baseball right fielder. Sosa played with four Major League Baseball teams over his career which spanned from 1989-2007....
, and Mark McGwire
Mark McGwire
Mark David McGwire , nicknamed "Big Mac", is an American former professional baseball player who played his major league career with the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals. He is currently the hitting coach for the St...
, who set the home run record that season. In 1999, he became the only player in major league history to be traded after a 50-homer season when the Padres
PADRES
Padres Asociados para Derechos Religiosos, Educativos, y Sociales is a Chicano Catholic priest's organization...
traded him to the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. With the Reds in 1999, he hit 45 homers and became the second player in major league history to hit 40 or more homers in consecutive seasons with two different teams (one year after Andrés Galarraga
Andrés Galarraga
Andrés José Padovani Galarraga is a former Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Montreal Expos , St. Louis Cardinals , Colorado Rockies , Atlanta Braves , Texas Rangers , San Francisco Giants and Anaheim Angels...
became the first).
Throughout his career, Vaughn batted .242 with 355 home runs, 1072 RBI, 1017 runs, 1475 hits, 284 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 23 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and 121 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s in 1731 games.
Vaughn became eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009. 75% of the vote was necessary for induction, and 5% was necessary to stay on the ballot. He received zero votes and dropped off the ballot.
Vaughn's son, Cory Vaughn, attended and played baseball at San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
under Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn
Tony Gwynn
Anthony Keith "Tony" Gwynn, Sr. , nicknamed Mr. Padre and Captain Video, is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is statistically one of the best and most consistent hitters in baseball history. He played his entire 20-year baseball career for the San Diego Padres...
between 2008-2010. Following his junior season in which he batted .378 with 9 home runs and 55 RBI in 47 games, Vaughn was drafted in the 4th round (122nd overall) of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft
2010 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held on June 7–9, 2010 at the MLB Network Studios in New York City.-First-round selections:The draft order was determined based on the 2009 MLB standings, with the worst team picking first.Key...
by 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...
. After signing with the Mets he was assigned to the short-season Brooklyn Cyclones
Brooklyn Cyclones
The Brooklyn Cyclones is a minor league baseball team in the Short-Season A classification New York - Penn League, affiliated with the New York Mets. The Cyclones play at MCU Park just off the Coney Island boardwalk in the New York City borough of Brooklyn....
where he finished the season ranked 1st in slugging percentage, 1st in OPS (on-base + slugging), 2nd in home runs, and 2nd in RBI.
See also
- 50 home run club50 home run clubIn Major League Baseball, the 50 home run club is an informal term applied to the group of players who have hit 50 or more home runs in a single season. The 50 Home Run Club was "founded" by Babe Ruth in 1920...
- List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI