Todd Greene
Encyclopedia
Todd Anthony Greene is a former Major League Baseball
catcher
. In an 11 year career, he played for the Anaheim Angels
(-), Toronto Blue Jays
(2000), New York Yankees
, Texas Rangers
(-), Colorado Rockies
(-), and San Francisco Giants
. He batted and threw right-handed. Greene allegedly received steroids from Dr. Ramon Scruggs.
Greene was born in Augusta, Georgia
, and attended Evans High School in Evans, GA and went on to attend Georgia Southern University
. On October 30, 2001, in Game 3 of the 2001 World Series
, he caught the first pitch thrown by President George W. Bush
, only the second time a sitting President throws the first pitch in the World Series.
On May 4, 2006, in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers
, Greene was seriously injured in a home-plate collision with Brewers' first baseman Prince Fielder
. While Greene continued to play for the rest of the season, his shoulder had suffered serious structural damage. During spring training
the next season, while with the San Diego Padres
, Greene tore two muscles in his weakened rotator cuff
while attempting a throw to second base. He never returned to the majors following the injury.
In , he was a scout for the San Diego Padres
. In January , he was named a quality assurance coach for the Tampa Bay Rays
.
On Aug. 19 1997 Todd Greene accomplished a rare feat by being one of the only position players in history to be struck out by a position player. He was struck out by Wade Boggs
.
Greene was the Tampa Bay Rays "Quality Assurance" coach during the 2009 season, he was fired after the season.
On November 23, 2009, Greene joined the Seattle Mariners
as a Major League Scout.
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...
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...
. In an 11 year career, he played for the Anaheim Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
(-), 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 ....
(2000), New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
(-), Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
(-), 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....
. He batted and threw right-handed. Greene allegedly received steroids from Dr. Ramon Scruggs.
Greene was born in Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
, and attended Evans High School in Evans, GA and went on to attend Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University is a national public university located on a campus in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive...
. On October 30, 2001, in Game 3 of the 2001 World Series
2001 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 27, 2001 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, ArizonaArizona showed no fear and chased Yankees starter Mike Mussina after just three innings. The Yankees gave up five unearned runs and the Diamondbacks rode Curt Schilling's seven strong innings to a 9–1 rout...
, he caught the first pitch thrown by President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, only the second time a sitting President throws the first pitch in the World Series.
On May 4, 2006, in 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...
, Greene was seriously injured in a home-plate collision with Brewers' first baseman Prince Fielder
Prince Fielder
Prince Semien Fielder is a Major League Baseball free agent who plays first base. He is currently listed at 5' 11" and . He was selected by the Brewers in the first round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft out of Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, Florida.He is the son of former Detroit...
. While Greene continued to play for the rest of the season, his shoulder had suffered serious structural damage. During 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...
the next season, while 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...
, Greene tore two muscles in his weakened rotator cuff
Rotator cuff
In anatomy, the rotator cuff is the group of muscles and their tendons that act to stabilize the shoulder. The four muscles of the rotator cuff, along with the teres major muscle, the coracobrachialis muscle and the deltoid, make up the seven scapulohumeral muscles of the human body.-Function:The...
while attempting a throw to second base. He never returned to the majors following the injury.
In , he was a scout for 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...
. In January , he was named a quality assurance coach for the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
.
On Aug. 19 1997 Todd Greene accomplished a rare feat by being one of the only position players in history to be struck out by a position player. He was struck out by Wade Boggs
Wade Boggs
Wade Anthony Boggs is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He spent his 18-year baseball career primarily with the Boston Red Sox, but also played for the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays...
.
Greene was the Tampa Bay Rays "Quality Assurance" coach during the 2009 season, he was fired after the season.
On November 23, 2009, Greene joined the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
as a Major League Scout.