Darryl Motley Explained

Darryl Motley
Position:Outfielder
Birth Date:21 January 1960
Birth Place:Muskogee, Oklahoma, U.S.
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:August 10
Debutyear:1981
Debutteam:Kansas City Royals
Debut2league:NPB
Debut2date:July 1
Debut2year:1992
Debut2team:Chiba Lotte Marines
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:May 17
Finalyear:1987
Finalteam:Atlanta Braves
Final2league:NPB
Final2date:June 5
Final2year:1993
Final2team:Chiba Lotte Marines
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.243
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:44
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:159
Stat2league:MLB
Stat21label:Batting average
Stat21value:.222
Stat22label:Home runs
Stat22value:7
Stat23label:Runs batted in
Stat23value:40
Teams:
Highlights:

Darryl DeWayne Motley (born January 21, 1960) is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder who played six seasons for the Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves between and . In his MLB career, Motley played in 413 games, hit 44 home runs, 324 hits, 159 RBIs, and batted .243. Following his major league career, Motley played two seasons in Japan, and, for the Chiba Lotte Marines.

Career

Motley began 1985 as the Royals' starting left fielder, but after he struggled to begin the season, the team acquired Lonnie Smith on May 17 and moved the right-handed hitting Motley to right field to platoon with the left-handed hitting Pat Sheridan.[1]

Motley, a right-handed hitting outfielder, hit a 2-run home run for the Royals against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 7 of the 1985 World Series to give Kansas City an early 2–0 lead. Motley's home run into the left field bleachers came on a 3–2 pitch, after he had hit the preceding 3–2 pitch to the same area in the stands, but foul. Motley, upon seeing the ball curve foul, slammed his bat into the home-plate area, breaking it.[2] After selecting a new bat from the bat-boy, Motley delivered the fatal blow to the Cardinals. He also caught Andy Van Slyke's fly ball for the final out of the Series.

In 1986, Motley contended with Sheridan for the right field job. This time, the Royals released Sheridan at the end of spring training, but they signed Rudy Law to platoon with Motley, then traded Motley very late in the year, on September 23, to the Atlanta Braves for Steve Shields.[3] [4]

He also played four years for the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks of the Northern League, from 1996 to 1999. In the team's inaugural season in 1996, Motley hit .346 with 26 home runs and 103 RBI in 82 regular season games.

References

  1. Web site: United Press International. Royals Still Like Young Outfielders. Orlando Sun Sentinel. May 30, 1985. January 21, 2020.
  2. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EqEmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yAEGAAAAIBAJ&pg=5217,3382796&dq=darryl+motley+home+run+break+bat&hl=en Motley gets a lucky break
  3. Web site: Berkow. Ira. Royals; Howser Beware of Burden. The New York Times. April 6, 1986. January 21, 2020.
  4. Web site: Darryl Motley Stats. Baseball-Reference. January 21, 2020.

External links

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