La Schelle Tarver

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La Schelle Tarver
Outfielder
Born: (1959-01-30)January 30, 1959
Modesto, California, U.S.
Died: March 20, 2024(2024-03-20) (aged 65)
Fresno, California, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
July 12, 1986, for the Boston Red Sox
Last MLB appearance
October 5, 1986, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
Batting average.120
Home runs0
Runs batted in1
Teams

La Schelle Tarver (January 30, 1959 – March 20, 2024) was an American professional baseball outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played for the Boston Red Sox during the 1986 season.[1] Listed at 5' 11", 165 lb., he batted and threw left-handed.

Early years[edit]

Tarver was born in 1959 in Modesto, California, and grew up in Madera, California.[2] He was selected as a Northern California All-American first baseman while playing at Madera High School. He was drafted by the California Angels while still in high school, but instead enrolled in junior college. In 1980, he transferred to Cal State Sacramento.[3]

Professional baseball[edit]

Tarver was drafted by the New York Mets in the 1980 draft. He was assigned to the Mets' farm system from 1981 to 1985, including stints at Lynchburg, Jacksonville (MS), and Tidewater.[3]

In November 1985, the Mets traded Tarver to the Boston Red Sox as part of a multi-player deal that also sent pitchers Wes Gardner and Calvin Schiraldi to Boston in exchange for pitchers Tom McCarthy and Bob Ojeda and two minor leaguers.[3] In the spring of 1986, Tarver was assigned to Pawtucket where he became the club's starting right fielder.[4]

Tarver made his major-league debut in July 1986 after Boston center fielder Tony Armas was injured. At the time he was called up, he was leading the International League with a .359 batting average and a .466 slugging percentage. In his first at bat with the Red Sox, he was cheered by 33,000 fans at Fenway Park. Despite striking out, he "protected the plate and made [Mike] Witt work for the out by tossing 11 pitches."[5]

In his one season With the Red Sox, Tarver was a .120 hitter (3-for-25) with three runs and one RBI in 13 games. He did not have an extra-base hit or a stolen base. Although he did not steal any bases at the major league level, he was primarily valued for his speed in the outfield and on the base paths. A memorable incident occurred in 1986 when a PA announcer at an opposing ballpark announced him as "Tarver La Schelle".

Post-playing career[edit]

After his baseball career, Tarver was a longtime corrections officer for Fresno County, California.[1]

Tarver died on March 20, 2024.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b McNair, Rick (14 February 2021). "Red Sox Memories: What happened to role players from 1986 team?". FanSided. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  2. ^ admin. "La Schelle Tarver – Society for American Baseball Research". Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  3. ^ a b c Mike Richard. "La Schelle Tarver". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  4. ^ Sean O'Sullivan (June 29, 1986). "Pawtucket's Tarver not just an 'other' guy". The Boston Globe. p. 55 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Michael Vega (July 13, 1986). "Tarver fans -- but gets the fans' cheers". The Boston Globe. p. 52 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "La Tarver Obituary - Yost & Webb Funeral Home - T Street - 2024". legacy.com. Retrieved March 30, 2024.

External links[edit]


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