Robert Person
Encyclopedia
Robert Alan Person is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
who played 9 seasons in Major League Baseball: two for the New York Mets
, two and a half for the Toronto Blue Jays
, three and a half for the Philadelphia Phillies
, and only 7 games pitched for the Boston Red Sox
in the last year of his career.
Person was drafted by the Cleveland Indians
in the 25th round of the 1989 Major League Baseball Draft
and eventually traded to the Chicago White Sox
in . In the 1992 MLB expansion draft
, the Florida Marlins
drafted him 47th overall, he then became a free agent
, and signed again with the Marlins.
In , Person was traded from the Marlins to the New York Mets, who, in , traded him to the Blue Jays for John Olerud
. Person became a Phillie in when the Blue Jays swapped him for Paul Spoljaric
. Granted free agency after the season, he joined the Red Sox for a short and unsuccessful stint.
Person tried joining the White Sox out of spring training in and , but was unsuccessful. Injuries were the Achilles heel
(quite literally), preventing Person from achieving sustained success.
Person's most memorable feat came with the Philadelphia Phillies on June 2, 2002. He not only threw five strong innings in which he allowed three hits and one unearned run while striking out five, but he also hit two home run
s against the Montreal Expos
. The first home run was a grand slam
to left field off Masato Yoshii
with two outs in the first inning; the second was a three-run home run to left field off Bruce Chen
with one out in the fifth inning. In between those home runs, he came up again with the bases loaded and drove a ball far enough for a second slam, but it was foul and he ended up striking out
.
Person's best season as a pitcher came in when he went 15-7 with a 4.19 ERA
and 183 strikeouts in 208 innings.
Before Person's grand slam, Jeff Juden
was the last Phillies pitcher to hit a grand slam: August 25, , against the Los Angeles Dodgers
. Randy Lerch
had been the last Phillies pitcher before Person to hit two home runs in a game, a feat that he accomplished on September 30, .
While in Philadelphia, Person had his own fan club named "Person's People".
Person played college baseball for the University of Arkansas
. He played high school baseball at University City High School
in St. Louis.
Person was recently arrested for Failure to Appear on November 29, 2010, for failure to appear in Pinellas County, Florida. The initial charge was Driving while license was suspended/revoked.
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...
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...
who played 9 seasons in Major League Baseball: two for 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...
, two and a half for the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
, three and a half for 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...
, and only 7 games pitched for 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"...
in the last year of his career.
Person was drafted by 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...
in the 25th round of the 1989 Major League Baseball Draft
1989 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1989 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental first round selections:-External links:*...
and eventually traded to the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in . In the 1992 MLB expansion draft
1992 MLB Expansion Draft
The 1992 Major League Baseball expansion draft was held November 17, 1992 in New York City. This expansion draft was conducted by Major League Baseball to stock the major league rosters of the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins, new major league expansion franchises that were set to start play...
, the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
drafted him 47th overall, he then became 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 signed again with the Marlins.
In , Person was traded from the Marlins to the New York Mets, who, in , traded him to the Blue Jays for John Olerud
John Olerud
John Garrett Olerud , is a former American first baseman in Major League Baseball. Olerud played with the Toronto Blue Jays , New York Mets , Seattle Mariners , New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox ....
. Person became a Phillie in when the Blue Jays swapped him for Paul Spoljaric
Paul Spoljaric
Paul Nikola Spoljaric is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who last played in the major leagues for the Kansas City Royals in ....
. Granted free agency after the season, he joined the Red Sox for a short and unsuccessful stint.
Person tried joining the White Sox out of spring training in and , but was unsuccessful. Injuries were the Achilles heel
Achilles Heel
Achilles Heel may refer to:* Achilles' heel, a metaphor for a fatal weakness in spite of overall strength* Achilles Heel , music by Pedro the Lion* Achilles Heel , off Antarctica...
(quite literally), preventing Person from achieving sustained success.
Person's most memorable feat came with the Philadelphia Phillies on June 2, 2002. He not only threw five strong innings in which he allowed three hits and one unearned run while striking out five, but he also hit two 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 against 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...
. The first home run was 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...
to left field off Masato Yoshii
Masato Yoshii
is a retired Japanese baseball player who is currently a pitching coach for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in the Japanese Pacific League. He pitched in the Major Leagues from to .-Biography:...
with two outs in the first inning; the second was a three-run home run to left field off Bruce Chen
Bruce Chen
Bruce Kastulo Chen is a Panamanian professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals.-Background:...
with one out in the fifth inning. In between those home runs, he came up again with the bases loaded and drove a ball far enough for a second slam, but it was foul and he ended up striking out
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....
.
Person's best season as a pitcher came in when he went 15-7 with a 4.19 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...
and 183 strikeouts in 208 innings.
Before Person's grand slam, Jeff Juden
Jeff Juden
Jeffrey Daniel Juden is a former Major League Baseball player. He is 6'8" and weighs 270 lbs...
was the last Phillies pitcher to hit a grand slam: August 25, , against the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. Randy Lerch
Randy Lerch
Randy Louis Lerch , is a former professional baseball pitcher who played in the major leagues for the Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, Montreal Expos, and San Francisco Giants from 1975 to 1986....
had been the last Phillies pitcher before Person to hit two home runs in a game, a feat that he accomplished on September 30, .
While in Philadelphia, Person had his own fan club named "Person's People".
Person played college baseball for the University of Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
. He played high school baseball at University City High School
University City High School (St. Louis)
University City High School is located in University City, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. As of 2009, 1,041 students were enrolled at the school.-Football:...
in St. Louis.
Person was recently arrested for Failure to Appear on November 29, 2010, for failure to appear in Pinellas County, Florida. The initial charge was Driving while license was suspended/revoked.