John Olerud
John Olerud was born in Seattle, Washington, United States on August 5th, 1968 and is the Baseball Player. At the age of 55, John Olerud biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.
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John Garrett Olerud (born August 5, 1968), nicknamed Johnny O and Big Rude, is a left-handed American former Major League Baseball first baseman.
Olerud played with the Toronto Blue Jays (1989–96), New York Mets (1997–99), Seattle Mariners (2000–04), New York Yankees (2004), and Boston Red Sox (2005). A patient, productive hitter throughout his career, Olerud won the American League batting title in 1993 and was runner-up for the National League batting title in 1998.
Also a three-time Gold Glove winner, he was an excellent defensive first baseman and part of Sports Illustrated's "The Best Infield Ever?" cover in 1999 with Edgardo Alfonzo, Rey Ordóñez, and Robin Ventura, when he played for the Mets.
Early life
Olerud was born to Lynda and John E. Olerud, a physician, dermatologist and baseball player from Lisbon, North Dakota. The elder Olerud played college baseball for the Washington State Cougars as a catcher and was the captain of the team which advanced to the semifinals of the College World Series in 1965. An All-American, he was selected by the California Angels in the 1965 amateur draft and spent the next seven years studying medicine and playing minor league baseball.
At Interlake High School in Bellevue, Washington, east of Seattle, the junior Olerud played varsity basketball, golf and baseball for three years. As a senior in 1986, he led the Saints to a state high school baseball championship as both a pitcher and a first baseman. On June 2nd, 1986, at the age of 17, he was drafted by the New York Mets in the 27th round of the 1986 amateur draft. But he chose to go commit to his scholarship to Washington State University instead.
Personal life
Olerud became an evangelical Christian in 1990.
Olerud lives with his wife, Kelly, who was a high school classmate, and their children (one son and one daughter) in the Seattle suburb of Clyde Hill. Another daughter, Jordan, died at age 19 in 2020 from complications of a unique chromosomal disorder called tri-some 2p, 5p-.
Olerud's father, John E. Olerud, M.D., also played baseball at Washington State University. Olerud is a cousin of retired MLB player Dale Sveum.
The collegiate John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award is named after him.
He was named to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in the Class of 2020.
Professional career
Olerud had a.398 on-base percentage, 500 runs, 1,280 runs, 1,408 runs, 1,408 runs, 1,602 runs scored, 1,300 sacrifice flies, and 157 intentional walks during his 17-year career, covering 2,234 games. During his career, he was struck by pitches 88 times and grounded into 232 double plays. He is one of the few 26 players to have played for the cycle multiple times in their careers. He played defensively in 2,053 games at first base, posting a.995 fielding percentage for the first time in his career. He is a two-time All-Star and a member of two World Series-winning teams with the Blue Jays (1992–93).
After a stellar career in Washington State, where he was praised for his achievements from 1987 to 1989, Olerud jumped straight to the majors. He had intended to return to Washington State for his senior year but decided to sign with the Blue Jays only after they promised that he will report directly to Toronto. Due to the aneurysm he suffered at age 20, he was known for wearing a batting helmet in the field as a precaution.
Olerud came to MLB with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1989, but he has never played in the minors. He was voted the top prospect in MLB by Baseball America prior to the 1990 season. Cito Gaston, Jays' manager, was platooned for the first few years of his career, until 1992, when he became the team's full-time first baseman. He led the American League in batting average (3.33), intentional walks (331) (3.63), on-base percentage (1.072), and doubles (54, a career high), while still batting career-highs (109), and hits (200). For the most part, he maintained his batting average, with his average staying higher than.400 as late as August 2.
Despite putting up good numbers over the next two years, he fell short of the high hopes placed on him following his breakout success in 1993. Olerud was battling veteran Joe Carter and up-and-coming Carlos Delgado for a spot at either first base or designated hitter after the 1996 season. Delgado was a youth, had a promising future, and a low salary, but Gaston prefered Carter to Olerud because the former was not as tough as the plate. Olerud, thus, was sold by the New York Mets along with cash on December 20 for Robert Person.
He set a team record in 1998 by striking base at least twice in 12 consecutive starts with the Mets. Olerud also set single-season records for batting average (.354), on-base percentage (.447), and runs (138) in 1998. Larry Walker, who wasn't in the National League batting championship until the final day of the season, edged him out with a.363 average. Olerud, along with fellow Mets infielders Edgardo Alfonzo, Rey Ordóz, and Robin Ventura appeared on the front page of Sports Illustrated's September 6 issue of Sports Illustrated in 1999. The magazine stimulated controversy over whether the four talented fielders were the best defensive infield in major league history. In a season that year, he set Mets records for most walks (125) and times on base (309).
Olerud returned home after the 1999 season, committing to a three-year, $20 million deal with the Seattle Mariners. He has achieved 45 doubles, 102 walks, 10 sacrifice flies, and 11 planned walks in 2000. With 116 wins, he was a key part of the Mariners' historic 2001 season, where they tied for the most major league baseball seasons. Olerud contributed to the cause with a.401 on-base percentage, 94 walks, 272 times on base, and 19 intentional walks in 159 games. He had a 39 on-base percentage, 39 doubles, 98 walks, 269 times on base, and led the American League with 12 sacrifice flies in 2002. He took another 84 walks in 2003. While playing first base for Seattle in 2000, 2002, and 2003, Olerud earned all three of his Gold Glove Awards. In mid-July 2004, the Mariners were in last place in the American League West Division, and Olerud had been waiting for assignment; he was hitting.245 with five homers and starting a trade but not completed; he was released the following week.
About a week after his release, Olerud was signed by the New York Yankees in early August to fill a hole left at first base by Jason Giambi's injury. The Yankees returned to Seattle to face the Mariners less than two weeks after. Olerud's second game came on Saturday, August 14; his first appearance as a manager, Mariners catcher Dan Wilson went to the mound for a "consultation" with pitcher Jamie Moyer. Olerud's supporters erupted for about a minute-long ovation. In Game 3, his American League Championship Series was cut short due to his injured foot. In Game 7, Olerud pinch-hit, but it was forced to call off following a lengthy at-bat against Pedro Martez, who was making a rare relief appearance; it was Olerud's last at-bat as a Yankee.
The Boston Red Sox and Olerud reached an agreement on a minor league deal on May 2, 2005. He had been recovering from surgery in November 2004 to patch torn ligaments in his left foot. Olerud was first admitted to the club's spring training facility in Fort Myers, Florida. On May 27, he was drafted into Boston's 25-man roster, spending time with Kevin Millar and batting in the middle of the lineup (including several starts in the clean-up position).
Olerud announced his retirement from baseball following the 2005 season on December 6. At the time, his 2,239 career hits were his fifth-highest total in major league history. His base percentage is 598. His 500 doubles are 44th in career, with his career ranking 65th on base percentage and 500 second are 43nd.
Olerud was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.
When the All-Centure Baseball team announced its Olerud player of the Century in 2016, the conference named him Pac-12 Player of the Century.