John Olerud, baseball player, 255 home runs, 1989-2005

John Olerud

Born: 8/5/1968 in Seattle, WA, USA

MLB Debut: 1989-09-03 | Final Game: 2005-10-02

Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'5" | Weight: 205 lbs

Full name: John Garrett Olerud

Biography

John Olerud, born in 1968, was a distinguished Major League Baseball player who had a career spanning from 1989 to 2005. Known for his exceptional hitting ability and defensive prowess, Olerud played a primary role as a position player over 2,234 games. He finished his career with an impressive .295 batting average, collecting 2,239 hits, including 255 home runs and driving in 1,230 RBIs. Olerud also showcased his speed on the bases with a total of 11 stolen bases throughout his career. His contributions to the game earned him two All-Star selections, highlighting his status among the elite players of his era. Olerud's playing style was characterized by his disciplined approach at the plate and a remarkable ability to hit for both average and power. He was particularly known for his unique batting stance and exceptional plate discipline, which allowed him to maintain a high on-base percentage. Throughout his career, he played for several teams, most notably the Toronto Blue Jays, with whom he won two World Series titles in 1992 and 1993. Olerud's impact on the game was felt not only through his statistics but also through his professionalism and sportsmanship, making him a respected figure in baseball history.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
2234 7592 1139 2239 500 13 255 1230 11 1275 1016 0.295 0.398 0.465 0.863 28253.6

Season-by-Season Batting

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
66 237 35 66 10 0 9 34 31 32 0.278

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
2005 ALDS1 BOS 3 7 0 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.286
2004 ALCS NYA 4 12 1 2 0 0 1 2 1 1 0.167
2004 ALDS2 NYA 4 14 2 3 2 0 0 0 1 2 0.214
2001 ALDS1 SEA 5 17 1 3 0 0 0 1 3 5 0.176
2001 ALCS SEA 5 19 2 4 0 0 1 3 2 4 0.211
2000 ALCS SEA 6 20 3 7 3 0 1 2 2 2 0.350
2000 ALDS2 SEA 3 10 2 3 0 0 1 2 2 1 0.300
1999 NLCS NYN 6 27 4 8 0 0 2 6 2 3 0.296
1999 NLDS2 NYN 4 16 3 7 0 0 1 6 3 2 0.438
1993 ALCS TOR 6 23 5 8 1 0 0 3 4 1 0.348
1993 WS TOR 5 17 5 4 1 0 1 2 4 1 0.235
1992 WS TOR 4 13 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0.308
1992 ALCS TOR 6 23 4 8 2 0 1 4 2 5 0.348
1991 ALCS TOR 5 19 1 3 0 0 0 3 3 1 0.158

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
1B 2053 1929 16165 1418 82 1581

Season-by-Season Fielding

Career Games by Position

Position Games
First Base 2053
Designated Hitter 133

Awards & Honors

Year Award Notes
2003 Gold Glove 1B
2002 Gold Glove 1B
2000 Gold Glove 1B
1998 Player of the Week Week of 1998-09-19
1998 Player of the Week Week of 1998-08-08
1997 Player of the Week Week of 1997-09-27
1995 Player of the Week Week of 1995-07-15
1993 Hutch Award
1993 Player of the Month June
1993 Player of the Month April
1993 Player of the Week Week of 1993-06-05

Salary History

Year Team League Salary
2004 SEA AL $7,700,000
2003 SEA AL $7,700,000
2002 SEA AL $6,950,000
2001 SEA AL $6,700,000
2000 SEA AL $6,350,000
1999 NYN NL $4,250,000
1998 NYN NL $3,750,000
1997 NYN NL $6,500,000
1996 TOR AL $6,500,000
1995 TOR AL $5,750,000
1994 TOR AL $3,750,000
1993 TOR AL $1,562,500
1992 TOR AL $387,500
1991 TOR AL $293,667
1990 TOR AL $100,000
Total Career Earnings $68,243,667

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
Washington State University Pullman WA 1987, 1988, 1989

Award Voting History

Year Award League Finish Points Won Points Max Votes First
1998 Most Valuable Player NL 12th 38.0 448 0
1993 Most Valuable Player AL 3rd 198.0 392 0
1990 Rookie of the Year AL 4th 13.0 140 0