Jeff Juden
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Daniel Juden is a former Major League Baseball
player. He is 6'8" and weighs 270 lbs. He batted and threw right-handed.
Juden was one of the top high school pitching prospects in the nation after his senior season while leading salem high to the state championship..He is in the discussion of being one of the best high school pitchers in Mass history.. pitcher
at Salem High School
. He was named the Gatorade
Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year, and the Houston Astros
selected him with the 12th overall pick in the first round of the 1989 June draft. He began his professional career that year with Sarasota of the Florida State League
, advancing quickly through the minors. Juden made his major league debut on September 15, 1991, becoming the youngest active player in baseball that year when he appeared in relief of Chris Gardner
in a game against the Cincinnati Reds
.
Despite his early promise and some degree of success as a strikeout artist, Juden struggled to establish himself in the majors. He lacked control, often walking more than four batters per nine innings, he gave up home run
s at a greater-than-average rate, and he experienced a notable lack of success in holding opposing baserunners. His best season was probably 1997, where he pitched 161 1/3 innings for the Montreal Expos
and Cleveland Indians
, compiling an 11-6 record with 136 strikeout
s and a 4.46 ERA
. All in all, he would pitch for eight major league teams. He enjoyed one impressive day with the bat, hitting a grand slam
on August 25, 1995, helping to set an obscure record as the third National League
pitcher to do so that season.
Juden was involved in a large number of trades throughout the course of his career. He and closer Doug Jones
were sent to the Philadelphia Phillies
after the 1993 season in exchange for Mitch Williams. In 1995, he and prospect Tommy Eason went to the San Francisco Giants
for infielder Mike Benjamin
. Two years later, Juden moved from the Montreal Expos
to the Indians for reliever Steve Kline at the trading deadline, and after that season ended, he and Marquis Grissom
went to the Milwaukee Brewers
, in a deal for Mike Fetters
, Ben McDonald
, and Ron Villone
. This deal was enveloped in controversy after it became clear that McDonald had suffered a career-ending shoulder injury shortly before it had been completed.
Juden inadvertently ignited a public debate when, on May 20, 1998, a column by San Francisco Chronicle
writer Tim Keown about a lawsuit by NBA player Latrell Sprewell
suggested that Sprewell hire "the law firm of Juden, Juden, and Juden," a reference to Juden's personality. However, as "Juden" is German
for "Jews", some people inferred not only a stereotypical reference to Jewish lawyers, but a reference to the Holocaust. (The remark was changed to "Jeff Juden and Associates" in later printings of that day's paper to avoid any confusion[].)
Juden last pitched in the major leagues with the New York Yankees
in 1999. He retired after that season, and an attempt at a comeback in 2004 with the Nashua Pride
of the independent Atlantic League
proved unsuccessful. He ended his career with a 27-32 record, 441 strikeouts, and a 4.81 ERA in 533 career major league innings.
During Juden's stint with the Indians, he wore #7.
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...
player. He is 6'8" and weighs 270 lbs. He batted and threw right-handed.
Juden was one of the top high school pitching prospects in the nation after his senior season while leading salem high to the state championship..He is in the discussion of being one of the best high school pitchers in Mass history.. pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
at Salem High School
Salem High School (Massachusetts)
Salem High School is a four-year public high school in Salem, Massachusetts. It has an enrollment of approximately 1,400 students and is accredited by the Massachusetts Department of Education and by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges....
. He was named the Gatorade
Gatorade
Gatorade is a brand of sports-themed food and beverage products, built around its signature product: a line of sports drinks. Gatorade is currently manufactured by PepsiCo, distributed in over 80 countries...
Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year, and the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
selected him with the 12th overall pick in the first round of the 1989 June draft. He began his professional career that year with Sarasota of the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
, advancing quickly through the minors. Juden made his major league debut on September 15, 1991, becoming the youngest active player in baseball that year when he appeared in relief of Chris Gardner
Chris Gardner
Christopher Paul Gardner is an American entrepreneur, investor, stockbroker, motivational speaker, author, and philanthropist who, during the early 1980s, struggled with homelessness while raising his toddler son, Christopher, Jr...
in a game against 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....
.
Despite his early promise and some degree of success as a strikeout artist, Juden struggled to establish himself in the majors. He lacked control, often walking more than four batters per nine innings, he gave up 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 at a greater-than-average rate, and he experienced a notable lack of success in holding opposing baserunners. His best season was probably 1997, where he pitched 161 1/3 innings for the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
and Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, compiling an 11-6 record with 136 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....
s and a 4.46 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. All in all, he would pitch for eight major league teams. He enjoyed one impressive day with the bat, hitting a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
on August 25, 1995, helping to set an obscure record as the third 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...
pitcher to do so that season.
Juden was involved in a large number of trades throughout the course of his career. He and closer Doug Jones
Doug Jones (baseball)
Douglas Reid Jones is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. During a 16-year career, he played for the Milwaukee Brewers , Cleveland Indians , Baltimore Orioles , and Oakland Athletics , all of the American League, and the Houston Astros , Philadelphia Phillies , and...
were sent to the 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...
after the 1993 season in exchange for Mitch Williams. In 1995, he and prospect Tommy Eason went to the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
for infielder Mike Benjamin
Mike Benjamin (baseball)
Michael Paul Benjamin is a former infielder in Major League Baseball who played primarily as a shortstop from - and in . He played mostly for the San Francisco Giants as a utility infielder. He played college baseball at Arizona State.On June 14, 1995, he tied a Giants single-game record with 6 hits...
. Two years later, Juden moved from the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
to the Indians for reliever Steve Kline at the trading deadline, and after that season ended, he and Marquis Grissom
Marquis Grissom
Marquis Deon Grissom is a former Major League Baseball player. He excelled in baseball at Lakeshore High School, under the tutelage of baseball coach Mike Juenger. He currently resides in College Park, Georgia...
went to 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...
, in a deal for Mike Fetters
Mike Fetters
Michael Lee Fetters is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for eight teams during his sixteen year career from to...
, Ben McDonald
Ben McDonald
Larry Benard McDonald is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.-High school:McDonald prepped at Denham Springs High School, which is about 10 minutes east of Baton Rouge, and was both a basketball and baseball standout.-College:A collegiate star at Louisiana State University in both basketball...
, and Ron Villone
Ron Villone
Ronald Thomas Villone Jr. is a Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher who is currently with the Somerset Patriots. He has not been on the same team for more than two years in his major league career and due to his many baseball travels, some of his teammates have affectionately referred...
. This deal was enveloped in controversy after it became clear that McDonald had suffered a career-ending shoulder injury shortly before it had been completed.
Juden inadvertently ignited a public debate when, on May 20, 1998, a column by San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
writer Tim Keown about a lawsuit by NBA player Latrell Sprewell
Latrell Sprewell
Latrell Fontaine Sprewell is a former American professional basketball player. During his time as a professional, Sprewell was named to the NBA All-Star game during four seasons, and played for the Golden State Warriors, the New York Knicks, and the Minnesota Timberwolves...
suggested that Sprewell hire "the law firm of Juden, Juden, and Juden," a reference to Juden's personality. However, as "Juden" is German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
for "Jews", some people inferred not only a stereotypical reference to Jewish lawyers, but a reference to the Holocaust. (The remark was changed to "Jeff Juden and Associates" in later printings of that day's paper to avoid any confusion[].)
Juden last pitched in the major leagues with 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...
in 1999. He retired after that season, and an attempt at a comeback in 2004 with the Nashua Pride
Nashua Pride
The Nashua Pride were a professional baseball team based in Nashua, New Hampshire, in the United States, not affiliated with Major League Baseball. They played home games at Holman Stadium from 1998 through 2008, when they were sold and renamed the American Defenders of New Hampshire. In 2010 that...
of the independent Atlantic League
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
proved unsuccessful. He ended his career with a 27-32 record, 441 strikeouts, and a 4.81 ERA in 533 career major league innings.
During Juden's stint with the Indians, he wore #7.