Tony Womack
Encyclopedia
Anthony Darrell Womack is a former second baseman
and shortstop
in Major League Baseball
who played most of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates
and the Arizona Diamondbacks
, then with several other teams during his last four years. Womack was recognized for his speed and base-stealing
prowess and his key hits in the 2001 playoffs.
in 1991 and became their everyday second-baseman in 1997. That year, he played in his only All-Star Game
. After the 1998 season, he was traded to the Diamondbacks for two minor-leaguers.
Womack was an important part of the Arizona Diamondbacks' World Championship Team in 2001
, especially with two key base hits that both came in the bottom of the ninth inning of deciding games in the playoffs. Womack ended the first-round series with a walk-off single off the Cardinals' Steve Kline. Later, Womack set up Luis Gonzalez' famous game-winning single in Game 7 of the World Series
with a game-tying one-out double against the Yankees' Mariano Rivera
. Ironically, Womack later played for both the Cardinals and the Yankees, two teams he helped to defeat in the 2001 playoffs.
His best season arguably came in his only year with the Cardinals in 2004. After recovering from Tommy John surgery
and a disappointing 2003 season, Womack batted
.307 with five home run
s, 38 runs batted in
, and 26 stolen bases for the Cardinals. After the 2004 season, Womack chose to sign with the New York Yankees, rather than wait for the Cardinals to offer him an extension. Despite turning in a productive 2004, Womack had his worst season in 2005 with the Yankees.
In 2006, after being released by the Reds, the Chicago Cubs signed him to a minor league deal and called him up on May 26. The Cubs were desperate for any sort of offensive help, as their star first baseman, Derrek Lee
, was on the disabled list. Despite playing somewhat well, Womack was designated for assignment on June 30 and became a free agent on July 10. He received a non-roster invitation to spring training
with the Washington Nationals
for the 2007 season, but was released on March 8.
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 shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
in 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...
who played most of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
and the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
, then with several other teams during his last four years. Womack was recognized for his speed and base-stealing
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
prowess and his key hits in the 2001 playoffs.
Career
Womack was drafted by the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
in 1991 and became their everyday second-baseman in 1997. That year, he played in his only All-Star Game
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
. After the 1998 season, he was traded to the Diamondbacks for two minor-leaguers.
Womack was an important part of the Arizona Diamondbacks' World Championship Team in 2001
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...
, especially with two key base hits that both came in the bottom of the ninth inning of deciding games in the playoffs. Womack ended the first-round series with a walk-off single off the Cardinals' Steve Kline. Later, Womack set up Luis Gonzalez' famous game-winning single in Game 7 of the 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...
with a game-tying one-out double against the Yankees' Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera is a Panamanian right-handed baseball pitcher who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. Nicknamed "Mo", Rivera has served as a relief pitcher for most of his career, and since 1997, he has been the Yankees' closer...
. Ironically, Womack later played for both the Cardinals and the Yankees, two teams he helped to defeat in the 2001 playoffs.
His best season arguably came in his only year with the Cardinals in 2004. After recovering from Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
and a disappointing 2003 season, Womack 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 :...
.307 with five 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, 38 runs batted 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...
, and 26 stolen bases for the Cardinals. After the 2004 season, Womack chose to sign with the New York Yankees, rather than wait for the Cardinals to offer him an extension. Despite turning in a productive 2004, Womack had his worst season in 2005 with the Yankees.
In 2006, after being released by the Reds, the Chicago Cubs signed him to a minor league deal and called him up on May 26. The Cubs were desperate for any sort of offensive help, as their star first baseman, Derrek Lee
Derrek Lee
Derrek Leon Lee , or "D-Lee", is a Major League Baseball first baseman. Lee has played with the San Diego Padres , the Florida Marlins , Chicago Cubs , Atlanta Braves , Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates . He bats and throws right-handed.Lee was a World Series Champion with Florida in 2003,...
, was on the disabled list. Despite playing somewhat well, Womack was designated for assignment on June 30 and became a free agent on July 10. He received a non-roster invitation to 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...
with the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
for the 2007 season, but was released on March 8.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball stolen base champions
- List of Major League Baseball triples champions
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases