Steve Dunn (1990s first baseman)
Encyclopedia
Steven Robert Dunn is a former Major League Baseball
first baseman
. He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins
in the 4th round of the 1988 amateur draft
, and played for the Twins in 1994 and 1995.
Dunn attended Robinson Secondary School
in Fairfax, Virginia
from 1984 to 1988 where he earned Washington Post All-Metropolitan Baseball honors in 1987 and 1988. Dunn was a top 10 Baseball America
magazine prospect in 1988, but had committed to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
prior to the 1988 amateur draft which resulted in his slide to the 4th round. After attending a Minnesota Twins
game in which he took batting and fielding practice with the team prior to the game, Dunn rescinded his commitment to UNC and signed with Twins for a $100,000 signing bonus.
In nine minor league
seasons (1988–1996) Dunn put up consistently good numbers each year, and had a total of 110 home runs, 587 runs batted in, and a .283 batting average
. Both in 1994 and 1995 he hit over .300 for the Salt Lake Buzz of the Pacific Coast League
, earning call-ups to Minnesota.
He made his major league debut on May 3, 1994, starting a game against the Milwaukee Brewers
at County Stadium. He went 2-for-4 with a single
against Bill Wegman
and a double
against Mike Fetters
. The Twins lost, however, 7-6.
In a total of 19 big league games he hit .195 (8-for-41) with five doubles and four RBI. In 15 appearances at first base he had a fielding percentage
of .990. The Twins released Dunn on November 20, 1995 and he signed with the Cleveland Indians
before the 1996 season. He hit .290 in 92 games for the Buffalo Bisons
of the American Association
, but never again reached the major league level.
He went on to become both a baseball coach and a humanities teacher of East Tennessee's Alcoa High School
where he still teaches. He is married and has three girls. The courses that he teaches at AHS are Theory of Knowledge, World History and Government. He maintains a notebook full of student quotes that he often says he will one day combine into a book for retail.
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...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
. He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in the 4th round of the 1988 amateur draft
1988 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1988 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental First Round Selections:-External links:*...
, and played for the Twins in 1994 and 1995.
Dunn attended Robinson Secondary School
Robinson Secondary School
James W. Robinson, Jr. Secondary School, known as Robinson Secondary School, opened in 1971, is a public school in the Commonwealth of Virginia....
in Fairfax, Virginia
Fairfax, Virginia
The City of Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Although politically independent of the surrounding county, the City is nevertheless the county seat....
from 1984 to 1988 where he earned Washington Post All-Metropolitan Baseball honors in 1987 and 1988. Dunn was a top 10 Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
magazine prospect in 1988, but had committed to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
prior to the 1988 amateur draft which resulted in his slide to the 4th round. After attending a Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
game in which he took batting and fielding practice with the team prior to the game, Dunn rescinded his commitment to UNC and signed with Twins for a $100,000 signing bonus.
In nine minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
seasons (1988–1996) Dunn put up consistently good numbers each year, and had a total of 110 home runs, 587 runs batted in, and a .283 batting average
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 :...
. Both in 1994 and 1995 he hit over .300 for the Salt Lake Buzz of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
, earning call-ups to Minnesota.
He made his major league debut on May 3, 1994, starting a game against 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...
at County Stadium. He went 2-for-4 with a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
against Bill Wegman
Bill Wegman
William Edward Wegman was a Major League Baseball pitcher.After graduating from Oak Hills High School, Wegman was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 5th round of the 1981 amateur draft, where he played throughout his entire eleven-year career, ending October 1, 1995...
and a double
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....
against 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...
. The Twins lost, however, 7-6.
In a total of 19 big league games he hit .195 (8-for-41) with five doubles and four RBI. In 15 appearances at first base he had a 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...
of .990. The Twins released Dunn on November 20, 1995 and he signed 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...
before the 1996 season. He hit .290 in 92 games for the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
, but never again reached the major league level.
He went on to become both a baseball coach and a humanities teacher of East Tennessee's Alcoa High School
Alcoa High School
Alcoa High School is a 9-12 public high school located in Alcoa, Tennessee. It is the only high school in the Alcoa City Schools system. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
where he still teaches. He is married and has three girls. The courses that he teaches at AHS are Theory of Knowledge, World History and Government. He maintains a notebook full of student quotes that he often says he will one day combine into a book for retail.