Tim Flannery (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Timothy Earl Flannery (born September 29, 1957 in Tulsa, Oklahoma
) is a former Major League Baseball
player who spent eleven seasons with the San Diego Padres
, from to . He is also the nephew
of former Major League Baseball
player Hal Smith
.
, where he was also elected Homecoming King as a senior. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 1978 Major League Baseball Draft
by the Padres out of Chapman University
in California
. Standing at 5'11" tall and weighing 175 lbs.
, Flannery batted left-handed
but threw right-handed.
In his first season in the minors , Flannery batted .350 for the California League
Reno Silver Sox
. In , he batted .345 with six home runs and 71 runs batted in to receive a September call-up to the majors. Flannery made his major league debut 26 days before his 22nd birthday, and was the eighth youngest player in the majors in 1979.
He batted lead-off and played second base
against the San Francisco Giants
at Jack Murphy Stadium (now Qualcomm Stadium) in his first game on September 3, 1979. Flannery was one for three and drove in the second run
of the Padres' 3-0 victory.
His minor league success did not translate to major league success as he hit just .154 in 65 big league at bat
s, with his only extra base hit of the season being a triple
. He split between the Padres and their triple A affiliate, the Hawaii Islanders
. With Hawaii, Flannery batted .346, however, he hit only .240 in the majors that year. In , he only appeared in 37 games and batted .254.
-- a solo shot off the Chicago Cubs
' Chuck Rainey.
Flannery reached the post-season for the only time in his career in . He made three plate appearances in the 1984 National League Championship Series
and reach base all three times. Trailing 3-2 in game four of the series, Flannery hit a lead-off single
in the fifth inning, and scored the tying run
of the Padres' 7-5 victory over the Cubs. In game five, he reached on a ground ball that trickled through the legs of Cubs first baseman
Leon Durham
to score the tying run. In his only at-bat in the 1984 World Series
, Flannery hit an eighth inning pinch hit single off Jack Morris
in game four.
Flannery enjoyed his best year the following season. Having been used all over the infield up to this point in his career, he emerged as the Padres' regular second baseman
in . He batted .281 with 40 RBIs and 50 runs scored—all career highs. He was used as a bench player for the majority of his career.
He played his final big league game on his 32nd birthday—September 29, . He spent nine seasons with Eric Show
—longer than any other teammate.
Ride of the Valkyries
. His retirement announcement in 1989 resulted in an outpouring of gifts and attention. In his final game, the sellout crowd greeted his first plate appearance with a standing ovation so prolonged that the umpire had to stop play, and following the game, there was discussion on at least one call-in show of whether Flannery's number should be retired.
, he became manager of the Padres' Northwest League
affiliate Spokane Indians
in . The following season, he led the California League
's Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
to a 77–59 record, and in , he was handed the rein
s to the triple A Las Vegas Stars
. In , he became third base coach for the Padres. He remained with manager Bruce Bochy
's coaching staff through . When Bochy was named manager of the San Francisco Giants for the season, Flannery joined him, and currently coaches third base
for the Giants.
On Sunday, September 27, 2008, he changed his number to 60 for one game because J. T. Snow
came back from retirement and wore number 6. Snow was taken out before the first pitch.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
) is a former Major League Baseball
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 who spent eleven seasons with 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...
, from to . He is also the nephew
Nephew
Nephew is a son of one's sibling or sibling-in-law, and niece is a daughter of one's sibling or a sibling-in-law. Sons and daughters of siblings-in-law are also informally referred to as nephews and nieces respectively, even though there is no blood relation...
of former Major League Baseball
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 Hal Smith
Hal Smith (catcher)
Harold Raymond Smith is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates . Smith batted and threw right-handed. He debuted on May 2, 1956, and played his final game on July 8, 1965.Smith was a competent catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals...
.
Minors
Flannery earned all-league honors while playing for Anaheim High SchoolAnaheim High School
Anaheim High School is a public, four-year high school in the city of Anaheim, California, United States. Anaheim High School was first established in 1898, which makes it the oldest of nine comprehensive high schools in the Anaheim Union High School District...
, where he was also elected Homecoming King as a senior. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 1978 Major League Baseball Draft
1978 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1978 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :In 1978, four players made the jump from amateur baseball to the major leagues, including Arizona State third baseman Bob Horner, who was selected number one overall by the Atlanta...
by the Padres out of Chapman University
Chapman University
Chapman University is a private, non-profit university located in Orange, California affiliated with the Christian Church . Known for its blend of liberal arts and professional programs, Chapman University encompasses seven schools and colleges: Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Standing at 5'11" tall and weighing 175 lbs.
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
, Flannery batted 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...
but threw right-handed.
In his first season in the minors , Flannery batted .350 for 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...
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...
. In , he batted .345 with six home runs and 71 runs batted in to receive a September call-up to the majors. Flannery made his major league debut 26 days before his 22nd birthday, and was the eighth youngest player in the majors in 1979.
He batted lead-off and played second base
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...
against the 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....
at Jack Murphy Stadium (now Qualcomm Stadium) in his first game on September 3, 1979. Flannery was one for three and drove in the second run
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...
of the Padres' 3-0 victory.
His minor league success did not translate to major league success as he hit just .154 in 65 big league at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s, with his only extra base hit of the season being a 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....
. He split between the Padres and their triple A affiliate, the Hawaii Islanders
Hawaii Islanders
The Hawaii Islanders were a AAA minor league baseball team, based in Honolulu, Hawaii, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1961 through 1987. The Islanders were originally an affiliate of the Kansas City Athletics. They played their home games at Honolulu Stadium, Honolulu's Aloha Stadium...
. With Hawaii, Flannery batted .346, however, he hit only .240 in the majors that year. In , he only appeared in 37 games and batted .254.
On-field performance
Flannery's first full major league season without spending any time in the minors was . It wasn't until his fifth season, , that Flannery hit his first Major League home runHome 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...
-- a solo shot off the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
' Chuck Rainey.
Flannery reached the post-season for the only time in his career in . He made three plate appearances in the 1984 National League Championship Series
1984 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 2, 1984 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IllinoisBob Dernier led off the game for the Cubs with a homer, and things went steadily downhill for the Padres as Chicago romped to a crushing 13–0 win in their first postseason game since 1945. Gary Matthews also homered in the first...
and reach base all three times. Trailing 3-2 in game four of the series, Flannery hit a lead-off 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...
in the fifth inning, and scored the tying run
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...
of the Padres' 7-5 victory over the Cubs. In game five, he reached on a ground ball that trickled through the legs of Cubs 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...
Leon Durham
Leon Durham
Leon "Bull" Durham is a former first baseman and outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for 10 seasons. Durham played with the St. Louis Cardinals , Chicago Cubs , and Cincinnati Reds...
to score the tying run. In his only at-bat in the 1984 World Series
1984 World Series
The 1984 World Series began on October 9 and ended on October 14, 1984. The American League champion Detroit Tigers played against the National League champion San Diego Padres, with the Tigers winning the series four games to one....
, Flannery hit an eighth inning pinch hit single off Jack Morris
Jack Morris
John Scott "Jack" Morris is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He played in 18 big league seasons between 1977 and 1994, mainly for the Detroit Tigers, and won 254 games throughout his career...
in game four.
Flannery enjoyed his best year the following season. Having been used all over the infield up to this point in his career, he emerged as the Padres' regular second baseman
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...
in . He batted .281 with 40 RBIs and 50 runs scored—all career highs. He was used as a bench player for the majority of his career.
He played his final big league game on his 32nd birthday—September 29, . He spent nine seasons with Eric Show
Eric Show
Eric Vaughn Show was a Major League Baseball player who played for most of his career with the San Diego Padres. On September 11, 1985, Show gave up Pete Rose's record-breaking 4,192nd career hit...
—longer than any other teammate.
Fan favorite
Though never a star, Flannery was a fan favorite in San Diego for much of his career. Team organist Danny Topaz would greet Flannery's plate appearances with the imposing strains of Wagner'sRichard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
Ride of the Valkyries
Ride of the Valkyries
The Ride of the Valkyries is the popular term for the beginning of Act III of Die Walküre, the second of the four operas by Richard Wagner that comprise Der Ring des Nibelungen. The main theme of the Ride, the leitmotif labelled Walkürenritt, was first written down by the composer on 23 July 1851...
. His retirement announcement in 1989 resulted in an outpouring of gifts and attention. In his final game, the sellout crowd greeted his first plate appearance with a standing ovation so prolonged that the umpire had to stop play, and following the game, there was discussion on at least one call-in show of whether Flannery's number should be retired.
Coaching
After a two-year hiatus from baseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, he became manager of the Padres' Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
affiliate Spokane Indians
Spokane Indians
The Spokane Indians are a minor league baseball team located in Spokane, Washington, United States. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League and have been a farm team of the Texas Rangers since 2003. The Indians play home games at Avista Stadium...
in . The following season, he led 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...
's Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are a minor league baseball team in Rancho Cucamonga, California, USA. They are a Class A – Advanced team in the California League and a farm team of the Los Angeles Dodgers, their third major league affiliate in team history....
to a 77–59 record, and in , he was handed the rein
Rein
Reins are items of horse tack, used to direct a horse or other animal used for riding or driving. Reins can be made of leather, nylon, metal, or other materials, and attach to a bridle via either its bit or its noseband.-Use for riding:...
s to the triple A Las Vegas Stars
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
. In , he became third base coach for the Padres. He remained with manager Bruce Bochy
Bruce Bochy
Bruce Douglas Bochy is the manager of the San Francisco Giants. Prior to joining the Giants, Bochy had been the manager of the San Diego Padres for twelve seasons. Bochy is the only former Padres player to serve as the team's manager. He has participated in all five postseason appearances in...
's coaching staff through . When Bochy was named manager of the San Francisco Giants for the season, Flannery joined him, and currently coaches third base
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...
for the Giants.
On Sunday, September 27, 2008, he changed his number to 60 for one game because J. T. Snow
J. T. Snow
Jack Thomas "J. T." Snow, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball player. He played all but two games in his career as a first baseman, and played nine of his 13½ seasons with the San Francisco Giants...
came back from retirement and wore number 6. Snow was taken out before the first pitch.