| Tony Womack | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Womack with theNew York Yankees in 2005 | |
| Second baseman /Shortstop | |
| Born: (1969-09-25)September 25, 1969 (age 55) Danville, Virginia, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 10, 1993, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 24, 2006, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .273 |
| Home runs | 36 |
| Runs batted in | 368 |
| Stolen bases | 363 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Anthony Darrell Womack (born September 25, 1969) is an American former professionalbaseball player. He played in 13 seasons ofMajor League Baseball (MLB), with most of his career spent with thePittsburgh Pirates and theArizona Diamondbacks, then with several other teams during his last four years. Amiddle infielder, Womack was recognized for his speed andbase-stealing prowess and his key hits in the 2001 playoffs which led to the Diamondbacks2001 World Series win over theNew York Yankees.
Womack was born inDanville, Virginia. He is a graduate ofGretna High School inGretna, Virginia, andGuilford College inGreensboro, North Carolina.[1]
Womack was drafted by thePittsburgh Pirates in1991 MLB draft and became their everydaysecond baseman in 1997. That year, which was his first full year in the MLB, he played in his onlyAll-Star Game and led the National League in stolen bases (60). In 1998, he again led the National League in stolen bases (58). After the 1998 season, he was traded to the Diamondbacks for two minor leaguers. The Diamondbacks moved Womack from second base toright field in 1999, then toshortstop in 2000. In 1999, Womack led the major leagues in stolen bases (72) which set a Diamondback record for most stolen bases in a season.
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 thefirst-round series with awalk-off single off the Cardinals'Steve Kline. Later, Womack set upLuis Gonzalez' famous game-winning single in Game 7 of theWorld Series with a game-tying one-out hit against the Yankees'Mariano Rivera. Womack's game-tying double was cited by the Wall Street Journal as the most significant clutch hit in baseball history.[2]Womack owns the Diamondbacks record for most stolen bases in a career (182).
Womack signed with the Red Sox but was traded to the Cardinals before the start of the 2004 season,[3] and he was moved back to his original position at second base. After recovering fromTommy John surgery and a disappointing 2003 season, Womackbatted a career-high .307 with fivehome runs, 38runs 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 struggled with the Yankees in 2005, losing his starting second base job toRobinson Canó.[4]
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. Womack was designated for assignment on June 30 and became a free agent on July 10. He received a non-roster invitation tospring training with theWashington Nationals for the 2007 season, but was released on March 8, ending his playing career.