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| Troy O'Leary | |
|---|---|
 O'Leary with theBoston Red Sox in 1998 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (1969-08-04)August 4, 1969 (age 56) Compton, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: May 9, 1993, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
| KBO: 2004, for the Samsung Lions | |
| Last appearance | |
| MLB: September 28, 2003, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| KBO: 2004, for the Samsung Lions | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .274 |
| Home runs | 127 |
| Runs batted in | 591 |
| KBO statistics | |
| Batting average | .265 |
| Home runs | 10 |
| Runs batted in | 28 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Troy Franklin O'Leary (born August 4, 1969) is an American former professionalbaseballoutfielder who played with theMilwaukee Brewers (1993-1994),Boston Red Sox (1995-2001),Montreal Expos (2002) andChicago Cubs (2003).
Over the course of his 11 year MLB career, O'Leary posted a .274batting average with 127home runs and 591runs batted in in 1198games.
O'Leary was born inCompton, California and attendedCypress High School inCypress, California. He initially committed to playcollege football atOregon State as awide receiver.[1]
O'Leary was drafted by theMilwaukee Brewers in the 13th-round of the1987 MLB draft.
O'Leary enjoyed an impressive1992 season atDouble-AEl Paso, winning theTexas League batting title as well as being named the 1992Texas League MVP (Player of the Year).[2] In addition to his league leading .334 batting average, O’Leary finished the 1992 season with 5home runs, 79RBI and 28stolen bases.[3]
O'Leary made his Major League debut for theMilwaukee Brewers in a home game atCounty Stadium on May 9, 1993 as a defensive replacement in left field against theBoston Red Sox. Over the course of the 1993 and 1994 MLB seasons, O'Leary played in a total of 46 games for theMilwaukee Brewers, batting .280 in 122 plate appearances.[4]
On April 14, 1995, O'Leary was selected off waivers by theBoston Red Sox.[5]
In his first season with theBoston Red Sox, O'Leary played in 112 games and finished with a .308 batting average. He was named the 1995 Red Sox Rookie of the Year.[6]
O’Leary enjoyed the best year of his career statistically in 1999. He led the Red Sox with 28 home runs in the regular season, was second on the team toNomar Garciaparra in RBI (103), and finished with a .280 batting average. He played in 157 of the 162 regular season games and finished with 596 at bats, leading the team in both categories. Troy also posted 84 runs (3rd on team), 167 hits (3rd on team), 36 doubles (4th on team), and a .495 slugging percentage (3rd on team).
One of the greatest performances of O'Leary's career and inBoston Red Sox postseason history took place on October 11, 1999 in the decisive game 5 of the1999 American League Division Series versus theCleveland Indians. With one out in the top of the third inning and the Indians holding a 2 run lead, Boston had baserunners on second and third base, leaving first base open. Indians managerMike Hargrove chose tointentionally walkNomar Garciaparra, who had already homered in the first inning, to load the bases for O'Leary. O'Leary responded by sending the first pitch he saw, aCharles Nagy breaking ball, 417 feet over the right field fence for the first grand slam in Red Sox post-season history, giving Boston a 7-5 lead. When the seventh inning began, the game was tied 8-8. WithJohn Valentin standing on second and first base open, Hargrove again chose to intentionally walk Garciaparra to get to O'Leary, this time withPaul Shuey on the mound. O'Leary responded by once again jumping on the first pitch he saw, crushing a line drive over the right field fence for a 3 run home-run. O'Leary's 7 RBI, along with 6 no-hit relief innings fromPedro Martinez, helped to seal the victory and advanced theRed Sox to the1999 American League Championship Series against theNew York Yankees.
O'Leary would spend two more seasons with theBoston Red Sox until the signing of slugger left fielderManny Ramirez reduced O'Leary's role. O'Leary collected at least 70 RBI from1996-2000 and reached double digit home run totals in each of his 7 seasons with the Red Sox. Over his 7 seasons as a member of theBoston Red Sox, O’Leary played in a total of 962 games, collected 954 hits, 117 home runs, and batted .276.
O’Leary went on to play 97 games for theMontreal Expos in 2002, batting .286 in 314 plate appearances.
O'Leary signed with theChicago Cubs in 2003, batting .218 in 194 plate appearances.
During Game 7 of the2003 National League Championship Series atWrigley Field, in what turned out to be the final at-bat of his Major League Baseball career, O'Leary hit a pinch hit home run in the bottom of the 7th inning off ofJosh Beckett.
O'Leary spent 2004 with theSamsung Lions of theKorea Baseball Organization.
In 1198 games over 11 major league seasons, O'Leary posted a .274batting average (1100-for-4010) with 547runs, 234doubles, 40triples, 127home runs, 591RBI, 334bases on balls, .332on-base percentage and .448slugging percentage. He finished his career with a .985fielding percentage playing at all three outfield positions. In 18 postseason games, he batted .217 (13-for-60) with 7 runs, 3 doubles, 3 home runs, 9 RBI and 5 walks.