Mike Greenwell
Born: 7/18/1963 in Louisville, KY, USA
MLB Debut: 1985-09-05 | Final Game: 1996-09-28
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 170 lbs
Full name: Michael Lewis Greenwell
Biography
Mike Greenwell, born in 1963, was a prominent figure in Major League Baseball, known for his consistent hitting and versatility as a position player. He played his entire career from 1985 to 1996, primarily with the Boston Red Sox. Over the course of 1,269 games, Greenwell amassed 1,400 hits, showcasing a remarkable batting average of .303, which firmly established him as one of the most reliable hitters of his era. His offensive contributions included 130 home runs and 726 RBIs, complemented by 80 stolen bases, reflecting his ability to not only drive in runs but also to add dynamic speed on the bases.
Greenwell's performance earned him two All-Star selections, highlighting his status as one of the top players during the late 1980s and early 1990s. He played during a transformative period in baseball, marked by the increasing emphasis on offensive production and the emergence of power hitters. Greenwell's all-around game and approach at the plate made him a fan favorite in Boston, where he became synonymous with the Red Sox's competitive spirit. His legacy is remembered as one of skillful hitting and dedication, leaving a lasting impact on both the franchise and its loyal supporters.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1269 | 4623 | 657 | 1400 | 275 | 38 | 130 | 726 | 80 | 460 | 364 | 0.303 | 0.368 | 0.463 | 0.831 | 13670.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | BOS | AL | 17 | 31 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0.323 | 0.0 |
| 1986 | BOS | AL | 31 | 35 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 0.314 | 0.0 |
| 1987 | BOS | AL | 125 | 412 | 71 | 135 | 31 | 6 | 19 | 89 | 5 | 35 | 40 | 0.328 | 2259.7 |
| 1988 | BOS | AL | 158 | 590 | 86 | 192 | 39 | 8 | 22 | 119 | 16 | 87 | 38 | 0.325 | 4497.1 |
| 1989 | BOS | AL | 145 | 578 | 87 | 178 | 36 | 0 | 14 | 95 | 13 | 56 | 44 | 0.308 | 1984.5 |
| 1990 | BOS | AL | 159 | 610 | 71 | 181 | 30 | 6 | 14 | 73 | 8 | 65 | 43 | 0.297 | 1685.8 |
| 1991 | BOS | AL | 147 | 544 | 76 | 163 | 26 | 6 | 9 | 83 | 15 | 43 | 35 | 0.300 | 881.3 |
| 1992 | BOS | AL | 49 | 180 | 16 | 42 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 2 | 18 | 19 | 0.233 | -448.7 |
| 1993 | BOS | AL | 146 | 540 | 77 | 170 | 38 | 6 | 13 | 72 | 5 | 54 | 46 | 0.315 | 1882.4 |
| 1994 | BOS | AL | 95 | 327 | 60 | 88 | 25 | 1 | 11 | 45 | 2 | 38 | 26 | 0.269 | 297.1 |
| 1995 | BOS | AL | 120 | 481 | 67 | 143 | 25 | 4 | 15 | 76 | 9 | 38 | 35 | 0.297 | 612.0 |
| 1996 | BOS | AL | 77 | 295 | 35 | 87 | 20 | 1 | 7 | 44 | 4 | 18 | 27 | 0.295 | 19.1 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 48 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 0.146 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | ALDS1 | BOS | 3 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.200 |
| 1990 | ALCS | BOS | 4 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.000 |
| 1988 | ALCS | BOS | 4 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0.214 |
| 1986 | ALCS | BOS | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.500 |
| 1986 | WS | BOS | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| OF | 1164 | 1126 | 2091 | 85 | 42 | 15 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | BOS | OF | 17 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | BOS | OF | 15 | 3 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1987 | BOS | C | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | BOS | OF | 91 | 88 | 162 | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| 1988 | BOS | OF | 147 | 147 | 302 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
| 1989 | BOS | OF | 139 | 139 | 220 | 11 | 8 | 1 |
| 1990 | BOS | OF | 159 | 157 | 287 | 13 | 7 | 1 |
| 1991 | BOS | OF | 143 | 141 | 263 | 9 | 3 | 3 |
| 1992 | BOS | OF | 41 | 41 | 85 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | BOS | OF | 134 | 130 | 261 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| 1994 | BOS | OF | 84 | 82 | 141 | 10 | 1 | 3 |
| 1995 | BOS | OF | 118 | 118 | 201 | 11 | 6 | 1 |
| 1996 | BOS | OF | 76 | 74 | 137 | 9 | 4 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 1 |
| Left Field | 1124 |
| Center Field | 1 |
| Right Field | 47 |
| Designated Hitter | 59 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Player of the Week | Week of 1996-09-07 |
| 1988 | Player of the Month | June |
| 1988 | Player of the Week | Week of 1988-06-24 |
| 1988 | Silver Slugger | OF |
| 1988 | TSN All-Star | OF |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | BOS | AL | $3,700,000 |
| 1995 | BOS | AL | $3,600,000 |
| 1994 | BOS | AL | $3,325,000 |
| 1993 | BOS | AL | $3,425,000 |
| 1992 | BOS | AL | $3,050,000 |
| 1991 | BOS | AL | $2,650,000 |
| 1990 | BOS | AL | $1,225,000 |
| 1989 | BOS | AL | $500,000 |
| 1988 | BOS | AL | $205,000 |
| 1986 | BOS | AL | $60,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $21,740,000 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 2nd | 242.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1987 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 4th | 9.0 | 140 | 0 |