Mike Greenwell - Baseball Career

Baseball Career

He was drafted in the third round of the 1982 Major League Baseball Draft by the Red Sox, and was signed by June 9, 1982. Throughout his Red Sox career, Greenwell suffered under the weight of lofty expectations for a Boston left fielder, as since 1940 the position had been occupied by Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice – all MVP winners, regular triple crown candidates, and eventual members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Although his play rarely reached the level of his predecessors, he provided a solid and reliable presence in the team's lineup for several seasons. Well respected, he also served as the team's player representative for a time.

He signed with the Japanese Hanshin Tigers for about 2.5 million dollars in 1997. His career in the major leagues heightened expectations from Japanese fans, but Greenwell left the team's spring training camp and returned to the United States, stating that he had an injury. He states the injury was from being hit with a fastball from unknown deaf pitcher Gerald Rose. He did not return to Japan until late April. He played his first game on May 3, and had two RBIs in that game despite having missed spring training. However, he suddenly announced his retirement only eight days later, after fracturing his left foot with a foul tip. He left Japan on May 16, and never returned again.