Kenny Lofton

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Kenneth Lofton (born May 31, 1967) is a retired Major League Baseball (MLB) center fielder.

Lofton, a six-time All-Star (1994–1999), four-time Gold Glove Award winner (1993–1996), and at retirement, he was ranked 15th among all-time stolen base leaders with 622.

He played for the Houston Astros, Cleveland Indians (three times), the Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, and the Texas Rangers throughout his career. Lofton earned a basketball scholarship at the University of Arizona.

In 1988, the Wildcats made it to the Final Four.

He didn't join the school's baseball team until his junior year. Lofton made 11 appearances in the Indians and Giants, as well as World Series appearances in 1995 and 2002.

Lofton did not have a team for more than a season from 2001 to 2007.

The Indians were the only team he played with for longer than a season and the first franchise he played for more than once.

Lofton spent nine seasons with the Indians, assisting the team in winning six division championships.

He was inducted into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame in 2010. Lofton's single-season stolen base count led the American League (AL) on five occasions and three times for MLB during his professional baseball career.

He was the American League's top hits in 1994.

During the 2007 offseason, Lofton broke Rickey Henderson's record of 33 career stolen bases.

Frank White said of his base running, "Lofton has out-thought a number of major-league players" and later, "a skilled, complete baseball player."

Early life

Lofton was raised in East Chicago, Indiana, by his widowed grandmother, Rosie Person. Lofton was his mother when she was in high school, but he was only 3 lb (1.4 kg) at birth. After she graduated and lost touch with Lofton during his childhood, his mother moved to Alabama. "We, as a family, don't even talk about it," Lofton said of his father. The person had glaucoma and was unemployed due to her poor eye sight. She refused to go on welfare, but she did receive Social Security as a result of her husband's death in 1960 (of bronchial pneumonia). When Lofton made the big bucks, he built a new home in East Chicago for his grandmother and other family members.

Lofton played for Washington High School in East Chicago and was a center fielder on the school's baseball team. He was an all-state basketball player.

Lofton is the uncle of actor Cirroc Lofton, who appeared in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Jake Sisko.

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Minor league career

Lofton struggled early in his professional baseball career with the Astros farm system. He played.214 in 48 games for the Auburn Astros of the New York–Penn League, but he only had 26 stolen bases in 30 attempts. Lofton returned to Auburn in 1989 and finished at.263 with 26 steals in 34 games. In 22 games for the Asheville Tourists in the South Atlantic League, he finished at.329 with 14 steals. Lofton's college basketball career came to an end, and he was able to focus on baseball, finishing second in the league, hitting at.331 while adding 62 steals for the Osceola Astros in the Florida State League, earning second in the league in the second division. He also played in 123 games with Osceola, collecting 61 walks and improving defensively (.974 fielding percentage).

He went straight to the Triple-A Tucson Toros of the Pacific Coast League after spring training in 1991. His 168 hits ranked him as the league's best in the world. With 19 doubles and a team-high 17 triples for Tucson, he hit.308 with 30 steals and 52 walks. The Toros captured the PCL championship, while Lofton made the league's All-Star team. Lofton was promoted to the majors by the Astros on September 14, 1991.

Major league career

He went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs against the Cincinnati Reds in his first major league appearance with the Houston Astros on September 14, 1991. For the remainder of the Astros' regular season, he was.203 in 20 games. Lofton was traded to the Cleveland Indians for catcher Eddie Taubensee and right-handed pitcher Willie Blair early in the off season, with Steve Finley already established as Houston's centerfielder and aged 26 years old. "I know they gave up on me, but now they're glad they did." Lofton said of the Astros trading him, "one man's garbage is another man's treasure."

Lofton made.285. During his first season with Cleveland in 1992, he hit.285. His 66 stolen bases tied for the most base stolen by an AL rookie since Vince Coleman stole 110 in 1985. His season's stolen-base average, which led to the AL, also set a franchise record (previously set by Miguel Diloné in 1980). Dave Nelson, the first base coach of the Indians, aided Lofton in refining his baserunning technique and aided him in learning how to be successful with bunting. Lofton made his name by becoming one of baseball's finest bunters. In the AL Rookie of the Year balloting, Lofton came in second (to the Milwaukee Brewers' Pat Listach) placing second (to the Milwaukee Brewers). Lofton has agreed to a four-year, $6.3 million contract after one season with Cleveland. Lofton set a new Cleveland single-season stolen bases record by a 70 percent record in the MLB last season. During the 1994 season, Lofton was selected for his first All-Star Game.

"I remember how raw he was, and I've never seen anyone develop into that type of player that quickly," Brewers coach Phil Garner said. "He went from a guy who couldn't get the ball across the infield to a guy who could hit the ball consistently." Lofton's Jason Garner said. He had high speeds before, but he had bad jumps and didn't run the bases well. He has developed to be a dominant player." With the MLB strike, the regular season was abruptly ended, prompting the World Series' cancellation. Lofton led the AL with 60 stolen bases for the season. His 160 hits on the season were the highest in the AL, and his.349 batting average was a career-best. In Most Valuable Player Award voting, he came in fourth place. The Indians were in second place by a single game in the AL Central to the Chicago White Sox when the strike began in August. "What a representative for our team and our city," Indians general manager John Hart said of Lofton. He has the opportunity to be a George Brett-type player here, someone who is synonymous with a brand. Lofton joined Carlos Baerga, Albert Belle, and Jim Thome to form "the backbone of any Indians team that were as dominant as any."

Lofton was one of six Indians starters to batted.300 or higher (.310). He also had a career-best 13 triples. For the third season in a row, his 54 stolen bases led the AL for the third season in a row. In the 1995 ALCS, the Indians faced the Seattle Mariners. Lofton had an infield bunt, stole second base, and scored from second on a passed ball between pitcher Randy Johnson and catcher Dan Wilson in the eighth inning of game six. The Indians won the game 4–0. The New York Times described it as "the run that demoralized the Mariners." The Plain Dealer recalled Lofton's crossing of home plate "Of all the electrifying moments on the Kenny Lofton highlight reel, no one captures the essence of the player any better than his 180-foot triumph on October 17, 1995." The Indians had won the ALCS, and Lofton and the Indians had brought the AL pennant to Cleveland for the first time since the 1954 season. "I'm delighted for the city of Cleveland to experience this because they haven't seen it before." Cleveland's city has expanded, and it is improving, and Lofton said, "we tried to do this for the city." Despite finishing the regular season with a major league-best 100–44 record in the strike-shortened year, the Indians lost the World Series to the Braves in six games. In his first World Series appearance, Lofton had a.200 batting average and six stolen bases. Lofton said it was the hardest postseason loss of his 11 career playoff appearances, particularly because the umpires had good strike zones for Braves pitchers Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux.

Lofton's stolen base total (75) led the MLB for the second time in four years during the 1996 season. He hit.317 and had a career-high 67 RBIs. In four games, the Indians lost in the 1996 ALDS to the Baltimore Orioles. Lofton's last season with Cleveland was before being traded by the Atlanta Braves of the National League near the end of spring training 1997 (NL). Hart said Lofton did not have to make the switch because Lofton could be a free agent at the end of the season. Last year, we went through it with Albert Belle, but Albert left and we got nothing in return. We weren't meant to do it again. Lofton, nicknamed "an emotional and offensive catalyst" for the Indians, appeared in three consecutive All-Star games (1994–1996) and collected four straight Gold Glove Awards (1993–1996) with the Indians. For five years (1992–1996), he ruled the AL in robbed bases (95), and set a single-season franchise stolen base record (75).

Marquis Grissom and slugger David Justice of the Atlanta Braves were two of a Braves roster that was the highest-paid in the MLB before the 1997 season. In exchange for Lofton ($4.75 million) and Alan Embree ($206,000), Grissom ($4.8 million annual salary) and Justice ($6 million) were swapped to the Indians by Grissom ($5.6 million). "This is a trade between two very successful franchises." Hart said, "We're talking about franchisees." It was a return to the National League for Lofton, who was dubbed "the heart of the Indians' 1990s revival." "The trade will be on my mind for a long time," the trader says, but it's baseball." It happens to almost everybody. I'm [in Atlanta] to play every day. Lofton said, "It's all Braves from now on." Lofton's hitting (.453 batting average) had won favor with his new Braves teammates by April 19, and the Braves were 13–3. "If he keeps hitting.400, he'll fit in just fine," Chipper Jones said. Lofton's.333 batting average and 27 stolen bases were team highs for the season (his stolen-base total was to that point a career low). He was caught stealing 20 times, which was an MLB record. Atlanta won the NL East division with a record of 101–61. In the 1997 National League Division Series (NLDS), the Braves defeated the Houston Astros 3-0, three games to none. The Braves lost four games to two in the 1997 National League Championship Series (NLCS) (the Marlins later defeated the Cleveland Indians in the World Series). Lofton batted.185, making him one of three Braves' hitters with seven strikeouts in the series. It was Lofton's first season with the Braves, who was eligible for free agency at the end of the season.

Lofton, the "most sought-after free agent" after the 1997 season, was back to the AL and Cleveland Indians after signing a three-year, $24 million deal. Lofton said, "It's like I was a ghost for a year." I'm back. Lofton's.282 average was to the lowest level in his MLB career, but his 87 walks were a career high. However, he had 64 RBIs, his second-highest RBI total, which had been 66 at that time in his career, and doubled his stolen base number, down from 47 last year. The Indians captured the AL Central with an 89-73 record and a match against the Boston Red Sox that was three games to one in the 1998 ALDS. Lofton's.375 batting average led the Indians, as did his two stolen bases and six hits in a series against the Red Sox. The Indians lost the 1998 ALCS in six games to the New York Yankees, who had won 114 games in the regular season. Lofton led the Indians in the third most hits and strikeouts, with his 27 at-bats. Lofton's seventh straight MLB seasons saw him finish with a.301 batting average in the 1999 season. However, it was not his first season with Cleveland that he did not have 50 or more stolen bases, and the season ended with 25. In the 1999 ALDS to the Boston Red Sox, three games to two, the AL Central-winning Indians (97–65) lost. The Indians had been leading to a string of two games before losing three games in a row and the series. Lofton and Roberto Alomar were both stolen bases in the series, but Lofton only had two hits in 16 at-bats. Lofton dislocated his left shoulder and tore his rotator cuff when diving into first base in Game 5.

Lofton scored in 18 consecutive games on September 3, 2000, beating the Baltimore Orioles 12–11. With five stolen bases, he tied a franchise single-game record and won the game with a 13th-inning walk-off home run. He batted in the 2000 season as a leader in three seasons, with 30 stolen bases and 107 runs (the sixth time any one has crossed home plate 100 runs or more in nine seasons) as well as a career-high 15 home runs and 73 runs batted in. The Indians completed the regular season 90-72 and one game out of the wild card. The Indians returned to action in 2001 after winning the AL Central with a 91–71 record. Lofton won the division but lost by 12 runs on August 5 against the Seattle Mariners, making the Indians just the third team to beat such a deficit in MLB history, winning 15–14 in 11 innings. Eddie Taubensee, a Houston catcher who moved Lofton from Houston to Cleveland at the start of his MLB career, was taken from him as he crept into home plate and soared with anticipation after finding he had just scored the game-winning run. "I caught him and wasn't about to let him go," Taubensee said. Cleveland won the game against Seattle but lost their match against the 116-win Mariners in the 2001 ALDS. He had 66 RBIs on the regular season (second-most in his career), but he was unable to reach 20 stolen bases for the first time in his major-league career, despite a career-low.261. Lofton had been treated for a rib cage injury that had affected his play before the All-Star break. His second stint with Cleveland lasted until 2001, when his salary was $8 million in his team's final contract year. At the end of the season, he became a free agent.

Lofton, a free agent in 2002, has signed a one-year, $1.025 million contract with the Chicago White Sox. "I investigated the various opportunities that I had, and this was a team that had won 83 games last year but was suspended." Cleveland cut four key players from last year's squad, and it's likely that replacements will be difficult. Lofton said on the White Sox that it was a "easy call." Kenny Williams, the White Sox's general manager, said when Lofton was healthy, he had one of the best leadoff hitters in the game. The White Sox were paired against the Indians in April during a three-game series in Chicago, and they had the best record in the majors at 11–1. Lofton was 6-for-14 with six runs scored, snapping the streak, and the White Sox ended the streak. "You can't say enough about him, his passion, and his vigor." Jerry Manuel, the White Sox's manager, said, "He's been absolutely amazing." Lofton was active in 93 games with the White Sox, hitting.259 with 42 RBIs and 22 stolen bases. Ryan Meaux and Félix D'az, both minor leaguers, were traded to the San Francisco Giants of the National League on July 28.

Lofton gave the Giants their first pennant since 1989 in the Giants' match-up with the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2002 NLCS. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa summoned left-handed reliever Steve Kline to face Lofton, who had already hit two singles in the ninth innings. Dusty Baker considered sending a right-handed hitter to pinch-hit for Lofton, but decided against doing so on his 3-year-old son's recommendation. Lofton scored David Bell from second base and gave the Giants a 2–1 victory. Baker commented after the game, "I just knew Kenny was focused and I know you can't hold Kenny down for too long." That's why we got Kenny over here. He's been a big-game player and has excelled in the playoffs. In the seventh inning of game six of the World Series against the Anaheim Angels, the Giants had a five-run advantage, but the Angels had to win 6–5. Lofton scored in center to end the game and the World Series, and the Angels lost Game seven on the following night, and for the second time in his career, Lofton was out to Darin Erstad in center.

Lofton was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates to a one-year, $1.025 million contract to begin the 2003 season. He played.277 and stole 18 bases in 84 games before being traded to the Chicago Cubs, where he was reunited with manager Dusty Baker. Lofton joined the Cubs in July in a team that had just lost 95 games before. "We have a quality lead-off guy with Kenny Lofton," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. Lofton stole 12 bases and hit.327 in 56 regular-season appearances with the Cubs. Lofton and the Cubs won the NL Central division (88–74). The Cubs' postseason berth was only the sixth time since the divisional series format was introduced (1969) that a team made the postseason after losing 95 games or more the previous season. In the 2003 NLDS, Chicago defeated the Atlanta Braves three games to two. Lofton hit.286 in the series, leading the Cubs with three stolen bases and 21 at-bats. In game six of the 2003 NLCS, the Cubs, who were up in three games to one, held a three-run lead. The Florida Marlins won game six and then won game seven the following night to eliminate the Cubs, defeating them in eight runs in the eighth inning. Lofton's.323 against the Marlins boosted the Cubs' starting lineup, as did his 31 at-bats, and he had the team's only stolen base of the seven-game series.

Lofton was on the move again when the New York Yankees announced him on December 23, 2003, extending his deal to two years, $6.2 million. Lofton had his 2,000th career hit during a Cleveland Yankees road game. Following Lofton's single appearance, Indians fans raised their hands in honor of him. "I was worried what to expect." I figured I'd get a few claps. It was touching. I tipped my hat, but they just kept going. It was something to remember if there was a storybook way for me to get it, to get it in Cleveland. New York's 101–61 record set in the regular season. In the 2004 ALDS, the Yankees defeated the Minnesota Twins three games to one to begin the season. When Lofton said, "My ultimate goal is for me to win a championship," the Yankees had an 2–0 series lead against the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 ALCS. I'm at a point in my career – I've been here for 13 years and come close. "This is a chance for me to try it again." Then the Yankees went up in three games to none before becoming the first team to lose a series after having a 3–0 series lead.

Lofton, a fan of the Yankees, felt that Joe Torre did not use his abilities in 83 games. Lofton had a.275 batting average and a career-low seven stolen bases in the regular season. Lofton was released on December 3, 2004, as part of the Philadelphia Eagles' effort to reshape their roster and the Philadelphia Phillies searching for a player with post-season experience, and the Philadelphia Phillies were sold out to Philadelphia and the Phillies gave up reliever Felix Rodrez. "It's been very difficult," Lofton said after the trade. I'm the type of guy who likes to be settled. The last three to four years have been trying. I wanted to play, so everyone in New York understood that I wanted to play. I just wanted to perform and be a part of the team. "I didn't feel as much as a member of the team" on the team.

Lofton's batting average was a team high with the Philadelphia Phillies. He has also stolen 22 bases. The Phillies defeated the 88–74 in two games from the NL East division champions and one game out of the wild card. Lofton was featured in a DHL Express TV commercial, where the international shipper mocked Lofton's frequent city shifts and subsequent moves.

The Texas Rangers signed Lofton to a one-year deal on December 12, 2006. Lofton tied Todd Zeile for most teams played for by a position player after signing with the Rangers. He hit.303 with 16 doubles in 84 games with the Rangers.

Lofton was traded by the Rangers to the Indians in exchange for minor-league catcher Max Ramrez on July 27, 2007. "That's my favorite thing right now." Lofton said on his third appearance in his career, "I'm trying to get a World Series ring." During Lofton's first at-bat for this tour of duty with the Indians, the Jacobs Field crowd welcomed him with a standing ovation. "I missed being in Cleveland," Lofton said. I love Cleveland. "It's the city that got me going." He went 4-for-4 with four RBIs and one stolen base in game one of the 2007 ALDS against the Yankees, placing him second on the MLB's all-time stolen bases record (33). He went 2-for-3 with two walks and scored the winning run in the 11th inning in game two. Then, 40, of the Boston Red Sox, had a two-run home run against Daisuke Matsuzaka, making him the seventh-oldest player to reach a postseason home run in Game Three of the 2007 ALCS. Lofton stole base in game four of the 2007 ALCS for the 34th time in his career, setting a new MLB record for playoff stealings. The Indians, who had a 3–1 game lead over the Red Sox at one point, then lost the game. Lofton was called out while attempting to grab second base in game seven, but the replay confirmed that he was fine. When trying to tie the game, he was also held at third base, a move that had been criticized by Cleveland fans for years. Lofton became a free agent at the end of the season, but did not sign a deal with an MLB team. He expressed interest in playing before the 2009 season.

Lofton played for eight franchises from 2002 to 2007, and four of them made it to the postseason. Joe Torre said, "He bounced around a lot of clubs for a reason: They felt he could help them." Lofton had been to the playoffs in 11 of the last 13 seasons and played for 11 clubs in his career, but Joe Torre said, "He bounced around a few clubs for a reason." He had a blast of a job. Lofton, on one hand, could be seen as a catalyst who miraculously brought his teams into playoff contention, but others, on the other hand, could argue that it was simply a matter of top playoff contenders repeatedly seeing him as the final piece of the puzzle."

His 622 robbed bases rank him as the 15th all-time champion. He holds the Indians' record for stolen bases with 452. Lofton had a.299 career batting average, 116 triples, and 1,528 runs in 2,103 games. He was also a three-time MLB Player of the Week. Lofton appeared in 95 games during the offseason. With seven home runs and 34 RBI, he did a good job in the playoffs for his career. Lofton was named the "fastest player" and "best bunter" of the 1990s by baseball historian Bill James.

Lofton was announced on January 27, 2010, as a member of the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame. He was first inducted on August 7.

Lofton was eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013, and some have stated that his work experience "will certainly place him in the discussion of being Hall of Fame worthy." He did not receive the necessary number of votes to remain on the ballot for 2014 and beyond. Lofton was one of the most feared pitchers to pitch against in his career in 2015, according to Pedro Martnez, one of Lofton's most consistent pitchers, who named him as one of the most difficult hitters to pitch against in his career.

Post-playing career

FilmPool, Inc., Lofton's own television production company, is a production firm. In 1997, he appeared as a guest star on The Wayans Bros., and in 2004, he appeared on George Lopez as a guest star. "What If" on Ruben Studdard's 2006 album Soulful was co-written by Lofton. Lofton qualified for the American Century Celebrity Golf Classic in 2008. During his playing days, he played golf in the offseason. Lofton was recruited by the Indians to teach baserunning and outfield duties for the 2011 spring-training season. He also appeared as a commentator on the Fox Sports West postgame show for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lofton describes himself as a perfectionist. "I love washing." I sweep, wash dishes, and make a good bed. I'm pretty neat. I'm a perfectionist. People arrive at my house and ask, 'Man, do you really live here?'"

Lofton's investment company's senior executive was sued by a former Lofton employee for alleging that Lofton had sent sexually explicit photographs of himself to women in the company in August 2022. The former employee alleged that he was fired as a result of exposing the photos to the company's in-house counsel, and that he was not compensated for his service.

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