Keith Lockhart (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Keith Virgil Lockhart is a retired second baseman
and third baseman
who played for 10 seasons in the major leagues
from -.
Lockhart, a left-handed
batter, played college baseball at Oral Roberts University
and was originally drafted by Cincinnati Reds
in the 11th round of the Amateur Draft. He spent 8 full seasons in the minor league systems of three different organizations before earning a spot on the San Diego Padres
' opening day roster in 1994. He played in 27 games with the Padres in his first year before leaving as a free agent
and signing with the Kansas City Royals
during the 1994 season.
Lockhart played for the Royals in both and . In his first season, he batted
a career best .321, earning him a role as a platoon
player in 1996. Sharing time at second base with Bip Roberts
and at third base with Joe Randa
and Craig Paquette
, Lockhart hit .273 and drove in
55 runs.
Shortly before the start of the season, Lockhart and outfielder Michael Tucker were traded to the Atlanta Braves
for outfielder Jermaine Dye
, and Rule V selection Jamie Walker
.
Lockhart stayed in Atlanta for 6 seasons, from 1997 to . He primarily served as a reserve second baseman and also served as a pinch hitter
, contributing 59 pinch hits as a Brave. He served as a platoon player on two occasions with the Braves; in (a year which saw the Braves win a team-record 106 games), Lockhart platooned with Tony Graffanino
, while in 2002, he platooned with Mark DeRosa
following an injury to Marcus Giles
.
He came close to being the hero of the Braves' epic struggle with the New York Mets
in Game 5 of the 1999 NLCS. Lockhart, who came into the game as a replacement after Bret Boone
was pinch-run
for, hit an RBI triple
in the 15th inning to give the Braves a 3-2 lead. The lead was squandered in the bottom of the inning, however, after a bases loaded walk
tied the game; Robin Ventura
's famed Grand Slam Single
would later win it for the Mets.
In 2003, he returned to San Diego for what would be his last major league season and served as the backup to Mark Loretta
. He retired at season's end with a .261 career batting average, 44 career home run
s, and 268 runs batted in.
Lockhart was the final out of the 1999 World Series
. He flied out to left field.
In 2011, his son Danny became a 10th round draft pick for the Cubs and has signed with their farm team.
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
and third baseman
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...
who played for 10 seasons in the major leagues
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...
from -.
Lockhart, a left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
batter, played college baseball at Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University , based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the United States, is an interdenominational, Charismatic Christian, comprehensive university with an enrollment of about 3,790 students from 49 U.S. states along with a significant number of international students from 70 countries...
and was originally drafted by 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....
in the 11th round of the Amateur Draft. He spent 8 full seasons in the minor league systems of three different organizations before earning a spot on 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...
' opening day roster in 1994. He played in 27 games with the Padres in his first year before leaving as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
and signing with the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
during the 1994 season.
Lockhart played for the Royals in both and . In his first season, he batted
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 :...
a career best .321, earning him a role as a platoon
Platoon system
The platoon system in baseball is a method of designating two players to a single defensive position—usually one right-handed and one left-handed. Typically the right-handed half of the platoon is played on days when the opposing pitcher is left-handed and the left-handed player is played otherwise...
player in 1996. Sharing time at second base with Bip Roberts
Bip Roberts
Leon Joseph "Bip" Roberts is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and outfielder who played from 1986 to 1998 for the San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, and Oakland Athletics.-Career:He was a speedy second baseman, largely associated...
and at third base with Joe Randa
Joe Randa
Joseph Gregory Salvatore Randa is a former Major League Baseball player. He was primarily a third baseman during his career. His nickname is "The Joker" due to his resemblance to the comic book character in Batman and his ever-present smile, especially during his plate appearances...
and Craig Paquette
Craig Paquette
Craig Harold Paquette , is a former professional baseball player who played third base in the major leagues from 1993-2003. He last played in for the Camden Riversharks...
, Lockhart hit .273 and drove 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...
55 runs.
Shortly before the start of the season, Lockhart and outfielder Michael Tucker were traded to 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....
for outfielder Jermaine Dye
Jermaine Dye
Jermaine Trevell Dye is a retired American Major League Baseball right fielder and designated hitter. Dye played with the Atlanta Braves , Kansas City Royals , Oakland Athletics , and the Chicago White Sox . Dye won the World Series MVP with the White Sox in 2005...
, and Rule V selection Jamie Walker
Jamie Walker
James Ross "Jamie the Cat" Walker is an American Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently a free agent. He previously pitched for the Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers, and Baltimore Orioles....
.
Lockhart stayed in Atlanta for 6 seasons, from 1997 to . He primarily served as a reserve second baseman and also served as a pinch hitter
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...
, contributing 59 pinch hits as a Brave. He served as a platoon player on two occasions with the Braves; in (a year which saw the Braves win a team-record 106 games), Lockhart platooned with Tony Graffanino
Tony Graffanino
Anthony Joseph Graffanino is a former American Major League Baseball second baseman, third baseman, and shortstop. Though he never officially retired, Graffanino has not played since .-Career:...
, while in 2002, he platooned with Mark DeRosa
Mark DeRosa
Mark Thomas DeRosa is a Major League Baseball player. DeRosa is a utility player who has been primarily a second baseman, but can play other positions, including the outfield; he played six positions for the Chicago Cubs. He bats right-handed.DeRosa was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 7th...
following an injury to Marcus Giles
Marcus Giles
Marcus William Giles is a former Major League Baseball player. He played second base and batted right-handed. His older brother, Brian Giles, was an outfielder who also played in the Major Leagues.-Career:...
.
He came close to being the hero of the Braves' epic struggle with the 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...
in Game 5 of the 1999 NLCS. Lockhart, who came into the game as a replacement after Bret Boone
Bret Boone
Bret Robert Boone is a former Major League Baseball second baseman.-Personal life:Boone was born in El Cajon, California to Susan G. Roel and Bob Boone. He is a graduate of El Dorado High School and the University of Southern California. He is the grandson of former major leaguer Ray Boone and...
was pinch-run
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
for, hit an RBI triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
in the 15th inning to give the Braves a 3-2 lead. The lead was squandered in the bottom of the inning, however, after a bases loaded 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...
tied the game; Robin Ventura
Robin Ventura
Robin Mark Ventura is the current manager of the Chicago White Sox. He is a former professional baseball player, a third baseman who played for four major league teams, most notably for the Chicago White Sox...
's famed Grand Slam Single
Grand Slam Single
The Grand Slam Single is a reference to the hit that ended Game 5 of the 1999 National League Championship Series between the New York Mets and one of their biggest rivals, Atlanta Braves...
would later win it for the Mets.
In 2003, he returned to San Diego for what would be his last major league season and served as the backup to Mark Loretta
Mark Loretta
Mark David Loretta is a retired Major League Baseball infielder. Loretta played for the Milwaukee Brewers , Houston Astros , San Diego Padres , Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers...
. He retired at season's end with a .261 career batting average, 44 career 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 268 runs batted in.
Lockhart was the final out of the 1999 World Series
World 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...
. He flied out to left field.
In 2011, his son Danny became a 10th round draft pick for the Cubs and has signed with their farm team.