Joe McEwing

Joe McEwing
Chicago White Sox – No. 47
Utility player/Coach
Born: (1972-10-19) October 19, 1972
Bristol, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 2, 1998, for the St. Louis Cardinals
Last MLB appearance
May 20, 2006, for the Houston Astros
MLB statistics
Batting average .251
Home runs 25
Runs batted in 158
Teams

As player

As coach

Joseph Earl "Joe" McEwing (born October 17, 1972) is a former Major League Baseball player who spent most of his career with the New York Mets, where he played from 2000 through 2004. Nicknamed "Super Joe", he was the prototypical utility player who could play any position on the field well. McEwing is currently the third base coach for the Chicago White Sox.

McEwing played college baseball at the County College of Morris in Randolph Township, New Jersey.[1] He played high school baseball at Bishop Egan High School (now known as Conwell-Egan Catholic High School) in Levittown, Pennsylvania.

Professional baseball career

In 1998, he had a total of 51 doubles with Triple-A Memphis and Double-A Arkansas.[2] His first full season in the majors was also his best. McEwing batted .275 in 1999 with 141 hits and nine home runs, both career highs. He also amassed a 25-game hitting streak, the fifth longest at that time by a rookie, and finished fifth in National League Rookie of the Year balloting.

McEwing became an immediate fan favorite because of his energy, hustle and obvious love for the game.[3] During his rookie season, McEwing played every position on the field, except pitcher and catcher.

In his honor, St. Louis Cardinals fans created what was known as "Little Mac Land," in a play on words of the official "Big Mac Land" created in the upper deck of Busch Stadium for Mark McGwire.[4][5] McEwing had a streak of 230 errorless games, which at one point was the longest such streak by an active major league outfielder.[6] McEwing was often successful against Randy Johnson, so McEwing was nicknamed "Little Unit" (a reference to Johnson who was called "Big Unit").[7]

During Spring training just before the start of the 2000 season, he was traded to the New York Mets for Jesse Orosco. Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa admired McEwing so much that he requested a pair of the player's spikes upon the trade.[8]

Released by the Mets toward the end of spring training in 2005 (which especially upset All-Star David Wright),[9] the Kansas City Royals signed him to provide extra infield insurance. The Royals called him up to the major leagues on March 12, when regular third baseman, Mark Teahen, went on the 15-day disabled list.

On March 30, 2006, he was sent to the Houston Astros by the Royals. In 2007, he signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox.[10] On January 16, 2008, McEwing officially announced his retirement from baseball.

Post-playing career

McEwing as a coach for the Chicago White Sox in 2016

In the 2008 season, McEwing started his baseball coaching career as the hitting coach for the Charlotte Knights. On November 3, 2008, he was named manager of the Winston-Salem Dash, the Class A affiliate for the Chicago White Sox, for the 2009 season.[11] During that season, Baseball America rated McEwing as the top managerial prospect in the South Atlantic League.[12] McEwing was also named Manager of the Year for his work managing the Dash in 2009.[13]

McEwing was named manager of the Charlotte Knights, the White Sox triple-A affiliate for the 2011 season.[14] On October 10, 2011, several sources reported that McEwing would be promoted to serve as the third-base coach for the White Sox in 2012, serving under new manager Robin Ventura.[15][16] Several managerial and coaching positions opened up shortly before the end of the 2011 season when then White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen announced that he would be leaving.[17] McEwing was given an honorary Wampum Willy Award for his on and off the field efforts.

References

  1. ↑ Joe McEwing, Minor League Baseball. Accessed November 11, 2007.
  2. ↑ Cardinals' Media Relations, ed. (2001). St. Louis Cardinals 2001 Media Guide. Hadler Printing Company. p. D-19.
  3. ↑ "News: Super Joe Finally Retires". Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  4. ↑ "Catching up with Joe McEwing". The Washington Times. May 8, 2009. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  5. ↑ "'Twas The Summer Of '98". Bleacher Report. July 25, 2008. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  6. ↑ Phillies bolster bench by signing Doug Glanville By Don Bostrom, The Morning Call, January 13, 2004. Retrieved September 2nd, 2011
  7. ↑ Johnson Is No Match For Mets' McEwing
  8. ↑ "Mets Give Little Mac Big Shoes". New York Daily News. New York. 17 May 2000. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  9. ↑ "McEwing's Release Hits Wright Hard". Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  10. ↑ Red Sox sign McEwing
  11. ↑ Development No. 1 priority in Minors retrieved on 5 Nov., 2008
  12. ↑ McEwing top managerial prospect in South Atlantic League retrieved on September 21, 2009 Archived September 24, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  13. ↑ "Waring, Britton get top Carolina honors". MinorLeagueBaseball.com. September 2, 2009. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  14. ↑
  15. ↑ "White Sox to name McEwing third-base coach". MLB.com. October 10, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Source: White Sox adding to staff". ESPN. October 10, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  17. ↑ "Ozzie Guillen out as White Sox manager, will join Marlins". USA Today. September 26, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Rick Renteria		 Chicago White Sox bench coach
2017– 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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