Andy Van Slyke

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Andy Van Slyke
Outfielder
Batted: Left	Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 17, 1983 for the St. Louis Cardinals
Final game
October 1, 1995 for the Philadelphia Phillies
Career statistics
AVG	.274
Hits	1562
RBI	792
Teams
St. Louis Cardinals (1983-1986) Pittsburgh Pirates (1987-1994) Baltimore Orioles (1995) Philadelphia Phillies (1995)
Career highlights and awards
5 Gold Glove awards 2 Silver Slugger awards 3-time All-star led the National League in hits in 1992 led the National League in triples 1988^[1]

Andrew James Van Slyke (born December 21, 1960 in Utica, New York) is a retired American Major League Baseball outfielder, and the current first base coach for the Detroit Tigers.

1 Career
2 Trivia
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Career

Van Slyke was drafted in the first round (sixth overall pick) of the 1979 Major League Baseball amateur draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. Called up from the AAA Louisville Redbirds, he made his Major League debut with the Cardinals on June 17, 1983.

He began his career the first two years by playing first base, third base, and all three outfield positions. He mostly played right field the next two years, occasionally platooning with Tito Landrum or substituting for Willie McGee in center. During spring training of 1987, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates along with left-handed hitting catcher Mike LaValliere and minor league pitcher Mike Dunne for catcher Tony Pena. In Pittsburgh, he mostly played center field alongside stars Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla.

Overall, Van Slyke played for four different teams in his career: the St. Louis Cardinals (1983-1986), Pittsburgh Pirates (1987-1994), Baltimore Orioles (1995), and Philadelphia Phillies (1995). He played his final game on October 1, 1995.

In his 13-year career, Van Slyke appeared in three All-Star games (1988, 1992, 1993), won five Gold Gloves Awards, two Silver Slugger Awards, and ranked in the top 10 in many offensive categories in varying seasons.

Prior to the 2006 season, Van Slyke was named first base coach for the Detroit Tigers by manager Jim Leyland, under whom he had played in Pittsburgh. He was doing a radio show in St. Louis before joining Leyland's staff.

Side note: Andy would always coming out to center field between innings with a new baseball and tease the crowd, mostly girls. Just before the inning would start he would throw the ball up into the crowd in center field. This was during his years with the Pirates.

[edit] Trivia

According to statistics found on Baseball Reference.com, in 1985, he was one of five Cardinals to steal at least 30 bases.
Has two sons, A.J. and Scott, currently playing professional baseball in the minor leagues. A.J. is in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, while Scott is with the Los Angeles Dodgers