Brady Anderson

From BR Bullpen

Brady Kevin Anderson

Bats Left, Throws Left
Height 6' 1", Weight 185 lb.
School University of California, Irvine
Debut April 4, 1988
Final Game May 20, 2002
Born January 18, 1964 in Silver Spring, MD USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Brady Anderson hit 50 homers in 1996 but never more than 24 in any other season during his 15-year career, almost all of which was spent with the Baltimore Orioles. He first came up with the Boston Red Sox in 1988 but was sent to the Orioles at the trading deadline, alongside pitcher Curt Schilling, in the trade that netted the Red Sox pitcher Mike Boddicker. Boddicker helped the Sox clinch the AL East title in 1988 and 1990, but Anderson and Schilling both became long-term stars.

Always an excellent defensive center fielder, Anderson had trouble hitting major league pitching in his first few seasons, never posting a batting average higher than .231 between 1988 and 1991. As a consequence, he could not claim a full-time job during those years. Things changed dramatically in 1992 when he hit .271 with 98 walks, 59 extra-base hits and 53 steals to make the All-Star team. He became the first American League player to hit 20 home runs, steal 50 bases and drive in 75 runs in a season that year. He also had the best double play ratio in the league - he grounded into only 2 double plays in 110 chances. He remained a star contributor until 2000. Although his batting average was never anything to write home about, his combination of on-base skills (not only did he draw walks, but he also led the AL in hit-by-pitch three times), power and speed made him an outstanding leadoff hitter. His great home run-hitting season was an aberration, but he was always in double figures in homers from 1992 to 2000, a plus given all the other areas in which he contributed on both offense and defense.

He is by far the most prominent major leaguer to come out of UC Irvine. Of all the retired players to have hit more than 50 home runs in a season, Anderson finished his career with the fewest total home runs, with 210. He has played more games in the outfield than any other player in the history of the Orioles franchise, including its days as the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Browns. However, his longevity was badly overshadowed by that of teammate Cal Ripken, who was already a long-established star when Anderson joined the Orioles in 1988: Ripken player over 1200 more games for the Orioles than Anderson. Both left the team after the 2001 season, Ripken retiring and Anderson playing unsuccessfully for a couple of months with the Cleveland Indians in 2002.

Brady Anderson is one of three major league baseball players to guest on TV's "Sabrina the Teenage Witch."