Jeff Blauser
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Michael Blauser (born November 8, 1965 in Los Gatos, California
) is a former Major League Baseball
shortstop
. He played for the Atlanta Braves
and Chicago Cubs
from 1987 to 1999.
in Auburn, California
and Sacramento City College
. He was selected by the Braves in the first round (5th pick) of the 1984 amateur draft and made his major league debut on July 5, 1987.
Blauser was a powerful right-handed shortstop at 6' 0", 170 lb. He hit well for a middle infielder but was shaky with the glove, which often led him to be replaced on the field in the later innings. In 1993, Blauser had a breakout season, batting over .300 for the first time and scoring 110 runs. He was also named to the All-Star
team.
During the next few seasons, Blauser's production suffered. He made 23 errors in 1996 and spent half the season on the disabled list
. He came back in 1997, however, batting .308 with 17 home run
s and 70 runs batted in
. He was an All-Star for the second time and also won the Silver Slugger Award for National League
shortstops.
After the season, Blauser signed with the Cubs. In two years with them, he struggled with injuries and batted under .230. He was released in October 1999.
Blauser retired with a lifetime batting average
of .262 and 122 home runs. He managed the Mississippi Braves
, the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, during the 2006 season.
Los Gatos, California
The Town of Los Gatos is an incorporated town in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 29,413 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area at the southwest corner of San Jose in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains...
) is a former Major League Baseball
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...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
. He played for the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
and Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
from 1987 to 1999.
Career
Blauser went to Placer High SchoolPlacer High School
Placer High School is a public high school located in Auburn, California and is part of the Placer Union High School District. Auburn is located northeast of Sacramento, California, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.-History, 1897 to 1906:...
in Auburn, California
Auburn, California
Auburn is the county seat of Placer County, California. Its population at the 2010 census was 13,330. Auburn is known for its California Gold Rush history.Auburn is part of the Greater Sacramento area.- History :...
and Sacramento City College
Sacramento City College
Sacramento City College is a two-year community college located in Sacramento, California. SCC is part of the Los Rios Community College District and had an enrollment of 25,307 in 2009. Sacramento City College is officially accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges , offering...
. He was selected by the Braves in the first round (5th pick) of the 1984 amateur draft and made his major league debut on July 5, 1987.
Blauser was a powerful right-handed shortstop at 6' 0", 170 lb. He hit well for a middle infielder but was shaky with the glove, which often led him to be replaced on the field in the later innings. In 1993, Blauser had a breakout season, batting over .300 for the first time and scoring 110 runs. He was also named to the All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
team.
During the next few seasons, Blauser's production suffered. He made 23 errors in 1996 and spent half the season 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:...
. He came back in 1997, however, batting .308 with 17 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 and 70 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...
. He was an All-Star for the second time and also won the Silver Slugger Award for National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
shortstops.
After the season, Blauser signed with the Cubs. In two years with them, he struggled with injuries and batted under .230. He was released in October 1999.
Blauser retired with a lifetime 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 :...
of .262 and 122 home runs. He managed the Mississippi Braves
Mississippi Braves
The Mississippi Braves, or M-Braves as they are referred to locally, are a minor league baseball team based in Pearl, Mississippi, a suburb of Jackson. The team is the Class AA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, and plays in the Southern League. The team is owned and operated by Liberty Media, which...
, the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, during the 2006 season.