Jeff Newman (American baseball player)
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Lynn Newman is a former Major League Baseball
catcher
. He served as the interim manager of the Oakland Athletics
in after Jackie Moore
was fired and before Tony LaRussa was hired.
in the 26th round of the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft
after earning All-America
honors at Texas Christian University
in . Originally, Newman played first, third and the outfield
, and didn't begin catching until with the Reno Silver Sox
of the California League
. He spend six seasons in the Indians' farm system, batting
.259 with 73 home runs and 333 runs batted in when the Oakland A's purchased his contract in October .
behind the plate. After backing up Manny Sanguillén
in , he moved into a platoon with Jim Essian
from through , while also backing up Dave Revering
at first base. He was batting .229 with sixteen home runs and 52 RBIs when he was selected by AL manager
Bob Lemon
as Oakland's sole representative at the 1979 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
. For the season, he hit 22 home runs and drove in 71 runs
, both career highs.
Newman was involved in the first of two bench clearing brawls with Lenny Randle
and the Seattle Mariners
on April 19, . The A's won the first half of the strike shortened season with a 37-23 record to return to the postseason for the first time since . In his only career trip to the postseason, Newman went hitless
in nine plate appearances in the American League West
division series
and ALCS
.
At the start of the Winter Meetings
, the A's sent Newman and outfielder
Tony Armas
to the Boston Red Sox
for Carney Lansford
, Garry Hancock
and minor leaguer Jerry King.
behind the plate, however, soon fell to third in the depth chart behind Gary Allenson
. He was released during Spring training
.
, against whom he was 13–18 (.722) with two home runs, six doubles
and a walk
. He made his only appearance on the mound on September 14, 1977. He pitched
one scoreless inning
, though he hit
the first batter he faced (Hal McRae
) with a pitch.
's bullpen coach. When Moore was fired as A's manager on June 28, , Newman was named interim manager prior to the hiring of Tony La Russa
. The A's went 2–8 under Newman. He remained a coach with the A's at the minor league level through , being named the Southern League
's Manager of the Year in while managing the Huntsville Stars
.
He was Mike Hargrove
's third base coach with the Cleveland Indians
from –, and served as the Baltimore Orioles
' bench coach in . He began wearing a tie for the first time in his career in , serving as a field assistant for the Commissioner's Office of Major League Baseball until joining the Seattle Mariners
as third base coach in . An August Achilles
injury requiring surgery prematurely ended his coaching career in Seattle.
for three years in the Pittsburgh Pirates
' organization before becoming a coach for the 2005 Gulf Coast League Pirates.
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...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
. He served as the interim manager of the Oakland Athletics
Oakland 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....
in after Jackie Moore
Jackie Moore (baseball)
Jackie Spencer Moore is the bench coach for the Texas Rangers currently on his fourth different stint as a coach the club...
was fired and before Tony LaRussa was hired.
Early years
Newman was drafted by the Cleveland IndiansCleveland 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...
in the 26th round of the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft
1970 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1970 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The regular and secondary phases of the January draft proved more fruitful to major league clubs than the June draft...
after earning All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
honors at Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
in . Originally, Newman played first, third and the outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
, and didn't begin catching until with the Reno Silver Sox
Reno Silver Sox
The Reno Silver Sox were a professional baseball team based in Reno, Nevada, in the United States. They were a member of the North Division of the independent Golden Baseball League, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
of the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
. He spend six seasons in the Indians' farm system, batting
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 :...
.259 with 73 home runs and 333 runs batted in when the Oakland A's purchased his contract in October .
Oakland A's
Newman was called up to the majors in June , and spent the rest of the season backing up Gene TenaceGene Tenace
Fury Gene Tenace , better known as Gene Tenace, is a former Italian-American professional baseball player and current coach in Major League Baseball. He was a catcher and first baseman from through . Tenace was drafted by the Kansas City Athletics from Valley High School in Lucasville, OH and...
behind the plate. After backing up Manny Sanguillén
Manny Sanguillen
Manuel De Jesus Sanguillen Magan, better known as Manny Sanguillen or "Sangy" , is a former professional baseball player who was a catcher in the Major Leagues. He was named to the All-Star team three times, in , , and . He played primarily for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but also for the Oakland...
in , he moved into a platoon with Jim Essian
Jim Essian
James Sarkis Essian, Jr. is an American former catcher and occasional infielder for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, and Cleveland Indians. He was signed by the Phillies at age 18, but he only amassed 24 at-bats over three seasons...
from through , while also backing up Dave Revering
Dave Revering
David Alvin Revering , is a former Major League Baseball first baseman from 1978-1982. Revering graduated from Bella Vista High School...
at first base. He was batting .229 with sixteen home runs and 52 RBIs when he was selected by AL manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Bob Lemon
Bob Lemon
Robert Granville Lemon was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976....
as Oakland's sole representative at the 1979 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
1979 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1979 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 50th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 17, 1979, at The Kingdome in Seattle, Washington the home of the...
. For the season, he hit 22 home runs and drove in 71 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, both career highs.
Newman was involved in the first of two bench clearing brawls with Lenny Randle
Lenny Randle
Leonard Shenoff Randle is a former Major League Baseball player. He was the first-round pick of the Washington Senators in the secondary phase of the June 1970 Major League Baseball Draft, tenth overall.-Early years:...
and 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...
on April 19, . The A's won the first half of the strike shortened season with a 37-23 record to return to the postseason for the first time since . In his only career trip to the postseason, Newman went hitless
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in nine plate appearances in the American League West
American League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
division series
1981 American League Division Series
-New York Yankees vs. Milwaukee Brewers:-Game 1, October 6:Royals Stadium in Kansas City, MissouriMike Norris faced Dennis Leonard and the defending AL Champions in Game 1. Both pitchers were on their game and the game was scoreless through three innings. But in the top of the fourth, the A's got a...
and ALCS
1981 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 13, 1981 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkIn Billy Martin's return to Yankee Stadium , the Yankees drew first blood in front of their old skipper...
.
At the start of the Winter Meetings
Winter meetings
The Baseball Winter Meetings are an annual event, held each December, attended by representatives from all 30 Major League Baseball organizations, more than 160 minor league baseball teams, various league offices, companies associated with baseball and guests from international baseball-playing...
, the A's sent Newman and outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Tony Armas
Tony Armas
Antonio Rafael Armas Machado is a former Venezuelan professional baseball player who played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball. He was one of the top sluggers in the American League in the early 1980s. Twice Armas led the league in home runs, and led all of Major League Baseball in RBIs in...
to the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
for Carney Lansford
Carney Lansford
Carney Ray Lansford is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball and the hitting coach of the Colorado Rockies...
, Garry Hancock
Garry Hancock
Ronald Garry Hancock is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Draft:He was born in in Tampa, Florida. Upon graduation from Brandon High School in Brandon, Florida, Hancock was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 22nd round of the 1972 Major League Baseball Draft, but chose instead to play...
and minor leaguer Jerry King.
Boston Red Sox
When the BoSox originally acquired Newman, it was with the intent that he would be the back up to Rich GedmanRich Gedman
Richard Leo Gedman is a former Major League Baseball catcher and left-handed batter who played with the Boston Red Sox , Houston Astros and St...
behind the plate, however, soon fell to third in the depth chart behind Gary Allenson
Gary Allenson
Gary Martin Allenson is a former Major League Baseball catcher and the current manager of the Norfolk Tides, the AAA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.-Playing career:...
. He was released 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...
.
Career stats
Newman had perhaps his greatest hitting success against Wayne GarlandWayne Garland
Marcus Wayne Garland was a Major League Baseball pitcher from 1973 to 1981 for the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians. Garland's best season came in 1976 when he posted a win–loss record of 20–7...
, against whom he was 13–18 (.722) with two home runs, six 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....
and a 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...
. He made his only appearance on the mound on September 14, 1977. He pitched
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...
one scoreless inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
, though he hit
Hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
the first batter he faced (Hal McRae
Hal McRae
Harold Abraham McRae is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals . Utilized as a designated hitter for most of his career, McRae batted and threw right-handed...
) with a pitch.
Coaching career
As soon as he playing days ended, Newman returned to the Oakland A's as manager Jackie MooreJackie Moore (baseball)
Jackie Spencer Moore is the bench coach for the Texas Rangers currently on his fourth different stint as a coach the club...
's bullpen coach. When Moore was fired as A's manager on June 28, , Newman was named interim manager prior to the hiring of Tony La Russa
Tony La Russa
Anthony "Tony" La Russa, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball manager and infielder, best known for his tenures as manager of the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, and St. Louis Cardinals...
. The A's went 2–8 under Newman. He remained a coach with the A's at the minor league level through , being named the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
's Manager of the Year in while managing the Huntsville Stars
Huntsville Stars
The Huntsville Stars are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and are the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Huntsville, Alabama and are named for the space industry with which Huntsville is economically tied .The Stars play their home games at Joe W...
.
He was Mike Hargrove
Mike Hargrove
Dudley Michael Hargrove is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and manager. He is currently employed as an advisor with the Cleveland Indians....
's third base coach with the 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...
from –, and served as the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
' bench coach in . He began wearing a tie for the first time in his career in , serving as a field assistant for the Commissioner's Office of Major League Baseball until joining 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...
as third base coach in . An August Achilles
Achilles
In Greek mythology, Achilles was a Greek hero of the Trojan War, the central character and the greatest warrior of Homer's Iliad.Plato named Achilles the handsomest of the heroes assembled against Troy....
injury requiring surgery prematurely ended his coaching career in Seattle.
Personal life
Newman is a convert to Judaism. His son, Ryan, was an infielderInfielder
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...
for three years in the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh 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...
' organization before becoming a coach for the 2005 Gulf Coast League Pirates.