Joel Youngblood
Encyclopedia
Joel Randolph Youngblood III (born August 28, 1951) is a former Major League Baseball
player for the Cincinnati Reds
, St. Louis Cardinals
, New York Mets
, Montreal Expos
and San Francisco Giants
from to . Youngblood was a versatile player who could play many different positions, as well as pinch hit
. After his playing career ended, he served as the third base coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks
.
, but he made his one and only appearance as a catcher
that season. The following Spring training
, he was dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals for Bill Caudill
.
traded Tom Seaver
to the Cincinnati Reds for Pat Zachry
, Doug Flynn
, Steve Henderson
and Dan Norman, and Dave Kingman
to the San Diego Padres
for minor league pitcher
Paul Siebert
and Bobby Valentine
. Somewhat more quietly that day, they also acquired Youngblood from the Cardinals for Mike Phillips
. To make room for Youngblood on the Mets' active roster, Player/Manager Joe Torre
retired as a player.
With the Mets, Youngblood emerged as something of a "star" on the team that consistently finished last or close to it throughout his time in New York
. He was the sole Mets
representative on the National League
team for the 1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
. In that strike-shortened season, Youngblood hit .350 in 143 at-bats to mark his career-high.
in an afternoon game at Wrigley Field
against the Chicago Cubs
, he was replaced in center field by Mookie Wilson
, and traded to the Montreal Expos
for a player to be named later (On August 16, the Expos sent Tom Gorman to the Mets to complete the deal). Youngblood rushed to Philadelphia in order to be with his new team, and hit a seventh inning single. Interestingly, the two pitchers he hit safely against, Ferguson Jenkins
of the Cubs and Steve Carlton
of the Philadelphia Phillies
, are both in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
, he appeared in 124 games for the 1983 Giants
. In , his role with the Giants became more defined as he made 117 appearances at third
. His low fielding percentage
(.887) at that position returned him to his utility role for the remainder of his Giants career.
Youngblood signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds for . After one season back with the Reds, Youngblood retired as a player.
, Milwaukee Brewers
and Baltimore Orioles
in the 1990s. In 1999 he left baseball to work in sales for a computer company, but returned in 2007 to take a coaching job with the Arizona Diamondbacks
organization. After serving as a minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator, Youngblood joined the Diamondbacks as third base coach on July 3, 2010. In 2011 he returned to the position of outfield/baserunning coordinator for the Diamondbacks organization.
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 for 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....
, St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, 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...
, 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 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....
from to . Youngblood was a versatile player who could play many different positions, as well as pinch hit
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
. After his playing career ended, he served as the third base coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
.
Cincinnati Reds
Youngblood was drafted by the Reds out of Stephen F. Austin High School in the second round of the amateur draft. He made his debut with Cincinnati on April 13, 1976. He batted only .193 for the "Big Red Machine" the season they swept the play-offs and World SeriesWorld Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
, but he made his one and only appearance as a 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...
that season. The following 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...
, he was dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals for Bill Caudill
Bill Caudill
William Holland Caudill is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. One of the wackier players to play the game, Caudill was also one of baseball's top closers from to . Caudill is perhaps most notable for being agent Scott Boras' first client.-Early years:Caudill was drafted by the St...
.
New York Mets
June 15, , the New York MetsNew 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...
traded Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver
George Thomas "Tom" Seaver , nicknamed "Tom Terrific" and "The Franchise", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1967-1986 for four different teams in his career, but is noted primarily for his time with the New York Mets...
to the Cincinnati Reds for Pat Zachry
Pat Zachry
Patrick Paul Zachry is a former Major League baseball pitcher who had a ten year career from to .-Cincinnati Reds:...
, Doug Flynn
Doug Flynn
Robert Douglas Flynn Jr. is a former Major League Baseball infielder from -. He is best remembered for being one of the players the New York Mets acquired in the infamous "Midnight Massacre."-Cincinnati Reds:...
, Steve Henderson
Steve Henderson
Steven Curtis Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who is best remembered for being one of the players the New York Mets acquired in the infamous "Midnight Massacre."-Cincinnati Reds:...
and Dan Norman, and Dave Kingman
Dave Kingman
David Arthur Kingman , nicknamed "Kong" and "Sky King", is a former Major League Baseball left fielder, first baseman, third baseman, and designated hitter. The towering 6' 6" Kingman was one of the most feared sluggers of the 1970s and 1980s...
to the 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...
for minor league 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...
Paul Siebert
Paul Siebert
Paul Edward Siebert is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of five seasons in the majors, from until . Paul's father was former major league first baseman Dick Siebert....
and Bobby Valentine
Bobby Valentine
Robert John "Bobby V" Valentine is an American professional baseball manager and former player who is currently the manager of the Boston Red Sox. He previously managed the Texas Rangers and New York Mets as well as the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan...
. Somewhat more quietly that day, they also acquired Youngblood from the Cardinals for Mike Phillips
Mike Phillips (baseball)
Michael Dwaine Phillips , is a veteran of professional baseball who played shortstop, second base, and third base in the majors from 1973-1983. The first-round draft choice of the San Francisco Giants in 1969, he saw action for the Giants, New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, and...
. To make room for Youngblood on the Mets' active roster, Player/Manager Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
retired as a player.
With the Mets, Youngblood emerged as something of a "star" on the team that consistently finished last or close to it throughout his time in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He was the sole Mets
1981 New York Mets season
The New York Mets' 1981 season was the 20th regular season for the Mets. They went 41-62 and finished 5th in the NL East. They were managed by Joe Torre. They played home games at Shea Stadium...
representative on the 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...
team for the 1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 52nd 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 August 9, 1981, at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, the home of...
. In that strike-shortened season, Youngblood hit .350 in 143 at-bats to mark his career-high.
MLB first
On August 4, , Youngblood became the only player in history to get hits for two different teams in two different cities on the same day. After Youngblood had driven in two runs with a single in the third inning for the Mets1982 New York Mets season
The New York Mets' 1982 season was the 21st regular season for the Mets. They went 65-97 and finished 6th in the National League East. They were managed by George Bamberger...
in an afternoon game at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
against the Chicago Cubs
1982 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs season of 1982 involved the team's fifth-place finish in the National League East at 73-89, 19 games behind the eventual National League and 1982 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals. For the first time in more than a half-of-a-century, the Cubs were not owned by a member of...
, he was replaced in center field by Mookie Wilson
Mookie Wilson
William Hayward "Mookie" Wilson is an American former Major League Baseball center fielder and current coach for the New York Mets. He played 12 years in baseball for the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays . He was a switch hitter primarily known for his impressive speed and positive attitude...
, and traded to the Montreal Expos
1982 Montreal Expos season
-Offseason:* January 14, 1982: Grant Jackson was traded by the Expos to the Kansas City Royals for Ken Phelps.* March 31, 1982: Larry Parrish and Dave Hostetler were traded by the Expos to the Texas Rangers for Al Oliver.-Regular season:...
for a player to be named later (On August 16, the Expos sent Tom Gorman to the Mets to complete the deal). Youngblood rushed to Philadelphia in order to be with his new team, and hit a seventh inning single. Interestingly, the two pitchers he hit safely against, Ferguson Jenkins
Ferguson Jenkins
Ferguson Arthur "Fergie" Jenkins, CM, is a Canadian former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He was a three-time All-Star and the 1971 NL Cy Young Award winner. In 1991, Jenkins was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. During a 19-year career, he pitched for four different teams,...
of the Cubs and Steve Carlton
Steve Carlton
Steven Norman Carlton , nicknamed "Lefty", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1965-1988 for six different teams in his career, but it is his time with the Philadelphia Phillies where he received his greatest acclaim as a professional and won four Cy Young Awards...
of the Philadelphia Phillies
1982 Philadelphia Phillies season
The 1982 season was the 100th season in Philadelphia Phillies franchise history. During the season, Steve Carlton would be the last pitcher to win at least 20 games in one season for the Phillies in the 20th century. He would also become the first pitcher to win four Cy Young Awards in a career...
, are both in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
San Francisco Giants
Following the season, he signed as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants. As a utility playerUtility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
, he appeared in 124 games for the 1983 Giants
1983 San Francisco Giants season
The San Francisco Giants season was a season in Major League Baseball. The Giants finished fifth in the National League West with a record of 79 wins and 83 losses.- Offseason :* October 15, 1982: Bill Bordley was released by the Giants....
. In , his role with the Giants became more defined as he made 117 appearances at third
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
. His low fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
(.887) at that position returned him to his utility role for the remainder of his Giants career.
Youngblood signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds for . After one season back with the Reds, Youngblood retired as a player.
Post-playing career
Youngblood served as a coach for the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati 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....
, 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...
and 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...
in the 1990s. In 1999 he left baseball to work in sales for a computer company, but returned in 2007 to take a coaching job with the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
organization. After serving as a minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator, Youngblood joined the Diamondbacks as third base coach on July 3, 2010. In 2011 he returned to the position of outfield/baserunning coordinator for the Diamondbacks organization.