Jay Buhner
Encyclopedia
Jay Campbell Buhner nicknamed "Bone", is a former Major League Baseball
right fielder
. He was among the most recognizable players of his day, noted for his shaved head, thick goatee, and patch of pine tar
on the right hip of his uniform. He went to Clear Creek High School in League City, Texas where he started his baseball career under the coaching of Jim Mallory.
in the second round of the 1984 Major League Baseball Draft
and was traded shortly thereafter to the New York Yankees
. He made his major league debut on September 11, 1987, appearing in seven games that year. He was traded again the next summer, on July 21, 1988, to the Seattle Mariners
along with two career minor leaguers (Rich Balabon and Troy Evers) in exchange for Ken Phelps
. This trade is often considered one of the worst made by the Yankees of that period, and one of the best in Mariners history. The trade was once noted humorously on the television program Seinfeld
, in the episode "The Caddy
," in which the Yankees' owner, George Steinbrenner, appears at the home of George Costanza
's parents to inform them – mistakenly – that their son is dead. All Mr. Costanza can say is, "What the hell did you trade Jay Buhner for?! He had 30 home runs, over 100 RBIs last year! He's got a rocket for an arm... You don't know what the hell you're doing!" The clip was played at Safeco Field
when Buhner was inducted into the Mariners' Hall of Fame in 2004.
, Jay Buhner hit for the cycle. He got the triple in the 14th inning to complete it, and eventually scored the winning run. While well-known for his tendency to strike out
, he also developed a patience at the plate which allowed him to walk
100 times in a season twice (1993, 1997) and to post a career OBP of .359. By the mid-90s he had developed into one of the premier offensive players in the game, hitting 40-plus home runs in three consecutive seasons, 1995, 1996 and 1997, becoming just the tenth player to do so (and first since Frank Howard 1968-1970). Several players have subsequently joined him. During his career, the Mariners hosted a popular promotion, "Jay Buhner Buzz Cut Night," where patrons would receive free admission (in the right field seats) if they had a bald head. Free buzz cuts were provided for people who showed up with hair. Buhner, himself, could be seen giving fans buzz cuts. The song "Bad to the Bone
" was played during each of Buhner's home at-bats.
Buhner retired at the end of the 2001 season as one of the most popular players in Mariners history. The Mariners have not issued his #19 jersey since he retired. According to Mariners team policy, he did not become eligible to have his number retired until 2006. The Mariners require a player to have spent at least five years with the team and be elected to the Hall of Fame or narrowly miss election after spending his entire career with the team.
He holds the Seattle Mariners career record for strikeouts, with 1375, and has the lowest career stolen base percentage since 1954 (6 stolen base
s against 24 times caught stealing
for a success rate of 20%; baseball did not keep track of times caught stealing until 1954).
Today he lives in Sammamish, Washington
.
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...
right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
. He was among the most recognizable players of his day, noted for his shaved head, thick goatee, and patch of pine tar
Pine tar
Pine tar is a sticky material produced by the high temperature carbonization of pine wood in anoxic conditions . The wood is rapidly decomposed by applying heat and pressure in a closed container; the primary resulting products are charcoal and pine tar.Pine tar consists primarily of aromatic...
on the right hip of his uniform. He went to Clear Creek High School in League City, Texas where he started his baseball career under the coaching of Jim Mallory.
Early career
Buhner was drafted by the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
in the second round of the 1984 Major League Baseball Draft
1984 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1984 Major League Baseball draft.- Other notable players :*Future Canadian Football League quarterback Damon Allen, was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the seventh round, 182nd overall....
and was traded shortly thereafter to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. He made his major league debut on September 11, 1987, appearing in seven games that year. He was traded again the next summer, on July 21, 1988, to the 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...
along with two career minor leaguers (Rich Balabon and Troy Evers) in exchange for Ken Phelps
Ken Phelps
Kenneth Allan Phelps, nicknamed "Digger", is a former Major League Baseball designated hitter and first baseman. During an 11-year baseball career, he played from 1980-1990 for six different teams, but he played primarily with the Seattle Mariners...
. This trade is often considered one of the worst made by the Yankees of that period, and one of the best in Mariners history. The trade was once noted humorously on the television program Seinfeld
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
, in the episode "The Caddy
The Caddy (Seinfeld episode)
"The Caddy" is the 122nd episode of NBC sitcom Seinfeld. This was the 12th episode for the 7th season. It aired on January 25, 1996.-Plot:...
," in which the Yankees' owner, George Steinbrenner, appears at the home of George Costanza
George Costanza
George Louis Costanza is a character in the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Jason Alexander. He has variously been described as a "short, stocky, slow-witted, bald man" , "Lord of the Idiots" , and as "the greatest sitcom character of all time"...
's parents to inform them – mistakenly – that their son is dead. All Mr. Costanza can say is, "What the hell did you trade Jay Buhner for?! He had 30 home runs, over 100 RBIs last year! He's got a rocket for an arm... You don't know what the hell you're doing!" The clip was played at Safeco Field
Safeco Field
Safeco Field is a retractable roof baseball stadium located in Seattle, Washington. The stadium, owned and operated by the Washington-King County Stadium Authority, is the home stadium of the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball and has a seating capacity of 47,878 for baseball...
when Buhner was inducted into the Mariners' Hall of Fame in 2004.
Later career
Buhner hit his stride in 1991, hitting 27 home runs with 77 RBI. On June 23, 1993, in an extra-inning game against OaklandOakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, Jay Buhner hit for the cycle. He got the triple in the 14th inning to complete it, and eventually scored the winning run. While well-known for his tendency to strike out
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....
, he also developed a patience at the plate which allowed him to walk
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
100 times in a season twice (1993, 1997) and to post a career OBP of .359. By the mid-90s he had developed into one of the premier offensive players in the game, hitting 40-plus home runs in three consecutive seasons, 1995, 1996 and 1997, becoming just the tenth player to do so (and first since Frank Howard 1968-1970). Several players have subsequently joined him. During his career, the Mariners hosted a popular promotion, "Jay Buhner Buzz Cut Night," where patrons would receive free admission (in the right field seats) if they had a bald head. Free buzz cuts were provided for people who showed up with hair. Buhner, himself, could be seen giving fans buzz cuts. The song "Bad to the Bone
Bad to the Bone
"Bad to the Bone" is a song by George Thorogood and the Destroyers released in 1982 on the album of the same name. While it was not a major hit on initial release, its video made recurrent appearances on the nascent MTV, which was created a year before...
" was played during each of Buhner's home at-bats.
Buhner retired at the end of the 2001 season as one of the most popular players in Mariners history. The Mariners have not issued his #19 jersey since he retired. According to Mariners team policy, he did not become eligible to have his number retired until 2006. The Mariners require a player to have spent at least five years with the team and be elected to the Hall of Fame or narrowly miss election after spending his entire career with the team.
He holds the Seattle Mariners career record for strikeouts, with 1375, and has the lowest career stolen base percentage since 1954 (6 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 against 24 times caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
for a success rate of 20%; baseball did not keep track of times caught stealing until 1954).
Today he lives in Sammamish, Washington
Sammamish, Washington
-Surrounding cities and communities:-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 34,104 people, 11,131 households, and 9,650 families residing in the city. In 2007, the population is expected to pass 40,000....
.