Milton Bradley (baseball)

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Milton Bradley

Bradley in 2008 at the All-Star Game.
Free agent
Outfielder
Born: April 15, 1978 (1978-04-15) (age 33)
Harbor City, California
Bats: Switch Throws: Right 
MLB debut
July 19, 2000 for the Montreal Expos
Career statistics
(through 2011)
Batting average     .271
Home runs     125
Runs batted in     481
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Milton Obelle Bradley, Jr. (born April 15, 1978) is a Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder who has been a free agent since May 2011. Standing 6 feet (1.8 m) and weighing 215 pounds (98 kg), Bradley is a switch hitter who throws right handed. Over his 11 year MLB career, Bradley played with the Montreal Expos (2000–2001), Cleveland Indians (2001–2003), Los Angeles Dodgers (2004–2005), Oakland Athletics (2006–2007), San Diego Padres (2007), Texas Rangers (2008), Chicago Cubs (2009), and Seattle Mariners (2010–2011).

Born in Harbor City, California, Bradley attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School before he was drafted by the Expos in the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft. After playing four seasons of minor league baseball for the organization, he made his major league debut on July 19, 2000. In 2001, Bradley was traded to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for pitching prospect Zach Day; he was again traded in 2004 to the Los Angeles Dodgers after a confrontation with Indians manager Eric Wedge. After playing in 216 games for the Dodgers, the most among all teams he has played for, Bradley was traded to the Oakland Athletics for Andre Ethier. After he was traded to the Padres in 2007, Bradley was granted free agency, and signed with the Texas Rangers in 2007. He was voted into the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game with the Rangers, and led the American League with a .436 on-base percentage and a .999 on-base plus slugging percentage. For the year, Bradley finished 17 in American League Most Valuable Player Award voting.

After becoming a free agent, Bradley signed with the Chicago Cubs in January 2009, who traded him in December of that year to the Seattle Mariners after he was suspended for the final two weeks of the season. In Seattle, Bradley batted .205 in 2010 and .218 in 2011 before he was released. He has a career batting average of .271, with 135 home runs and 481 runs batted in (RBI).

Contents

[edit] Early life

Bradley was born on April 15, 1978, in Harbor City, California. His mother, Charlena Rector, worked as a clerk at a local Safeway supermarket,[1][2] while his father, Milton Bradley Sr., was a veteran of the Vietnam War, and won a Purple Heart for his service.[1] Bradley received the name "Milton Bradley Jr." after Milton Bradley Sr. filled out his son's birth certificate without Rector's permission.[1] According to Bradley Jr.'s mother, Bradley Sr. was addicted to cocaine, physically abused Rector, and was homeless for several years.[3] Growing up, Bradley had four half-siblings from Rector's previous marriage.[3]

Bradley played baseball at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, and was a teammate of Chase Utley.[4] After graduating high school with a 3.7 grade point average,[2] Bradley committed to California State University, Long Beach,[5] but instead signed with the Expos after he was drafted by the team in the second round of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft.

[edit] Major League Baseball career

[edit] Montreal Expos (1996–2001)

Bradley began his professional baseball career with the GCL Expos of the Gulf Coast League in 1996; over 32 games, Bradley batted .241 with 27 hits.[6] The following season, he played nine games for the GCL Expos, and 50 for the Vermont Expos, a short season affiliate of the Montreal Expos. In 1998, Bradley played for the Cape Fear Crocs and the Jupiter Hammerheads; Bradley tied for the Crocs team lead in doubles, with 21, while hitting .302 for the team[7] and .287 for the Hammerheads.[8] While playing for the Harrisburg Senators the next season, Bradley was suspended seven games for starting a fight after he was hit by a pitch.[9]

Finishing 76–66, the Senators played the Norwich Navigators for the Eastern League championship. The series was tied, two games to two, in a best-of-five series. In the final game, Bradley hit a walk-off grand slam with two outs and a full count, in the bottom of the ninth inning, to give the Senators a 12–11 win.[10] During the next season, after Bradley played in 88 games for the Ottawa Lynx, he was promoted to the major-league club, and made his MLB debut on July 19, 2000. In his debut, Bradley hit three straight singles against the New York Mets;[11] for the season, he batted .221 with 15 RBI over 42 games played.

For the 2001 Expos, Bradley played 67 games, including one on April 26 in which Bradley walked to give the Expos the go-ahead run against Rick Ankiel of the St. Louis Cardinals in the top of the 15th inning.[12] On July 31 of that year, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians to serve as a possible replacement for Kenny Lofton;[13] in exchange, the Expos received right-handed pitcher Zach Day. Referring to the trade, Indians General Manager John Hart stated:

In Milton Bradley we are getting a top-of-the-order, middle-of-the-diamond player we feel will have a major impact at the major-league level in the near future.
—John Hart, speaking to the Associated Press[13]

[edit] Cleveland Indians (2001–2004)

Bradley as a Cleveland Indian

After the deal, Bradley was assigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, and reported to the team on August 2.[14] In addition to the 30 games he played for the Bisons, Bradley played 10 games for the major-league Indians.

Next season, on April 15, Bradley was placed on the disabled list following an appendectomy a day earlier at St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.[15] He went on the disabled list again on May 2 with a broken orbital bone[16] and a scratched iris[17] after a ball bounced off the outfield wall and hit Bradley directly below his left eye while he tried to make a catch; up to that point, Bradley was hitting .266 in 23 games for the club.[18] After a rehabilitation stint of six games with the Bisons, Bradley was activated by the Indians on June 4,[17] and finished the season batting .249 with 38 RBIs and nine home runs.

[edit] Los Angeles Dodgers (2004–2005)

[edit] Oakland Athletics (2006-2007)

Bradley playing for the Athletics on April 3, 2006.

On December 13, 2005, the Dodgers traded Bradley to the Oakland Athletics, along with infielder Antonio Pérez for outfielder Andre Ethier, then a standout minor league prospect.

In his first season with the Oakland Athletics, Bradley posted a .276 batting average with 14 home runs and 52 runs batted in a part-time role. On July 30, Bradley hit a 3-run walk-off home run to beat the Toronto Blue Jays. In game 4 of the 2006 American League Championship Series versus the Detroit Tigers, Bradley became the third player in Major League History to hit home runs from each side of the plate in a playoff game, joining Bernie Williams and Chipper Jones.

On June 21, 2007, Bradley was designated for assignment by the Athletics.[19] A trade completed the next day, which would have sent Bradley to the Kansas City Royals for Leo Núñez, was voided because Bradley suffered an oblique injury in his last game as an Athletic.[20]

[edit] San Diego Padres

Milton Bradley before
Milton Bradley after
Bradley with the Padres, broke his bat over his knee after striking out on August 28, 2007.

On June 29, the San Diego Padres acquired Bradley and cash considerations from the Athletics in exchange for minor league pitcher Andrew Brown, marking the second time the two had been traded for each other.[citation needed] The Padres did not require Bradley to pass a physical examination before signing him, as he would have failed it and gone elsewhere.[citation needed]

Bradley started his tenure with the Padres on the 15-day disabled list, but came off it right before the All-Star break. After the break, he was a continual starter in left field and one of the most consistent hitters for the Padres throughout the rest of the season.

On September 23, 2007, Bradley tore his right ACL while being restrained by Padres manager Bud Black during an altercation with first base umpire Mike Winters. Home plate umpire Brian Runge reportedly told Bradley that Winters said that Bradley had tossed his bat in Runge's direction in a previous at-bat. After Bradley reached first base, he questioned Winters about the alleged bat throwing and subsequent communication with Runge. According to Bradley and Padres first base coach Bobby Meacham, Winters used a profanity towards Bradley. Bradley then moved towards Winters. While restrained by Black, Bradley fell to the ground resulting in the injury. He missed the last week of the regular season in 2007, during which the Padres relinquished their wild card lead, ultimately losing to the eventual N.L. Champion Colorado Rockies in a one game playoff.

Winters was suspended for the remainder of the season and disqualified from the postseason for the incident, after MLB determined that he indeed directed obscene language toward Bradley. Bradley was not suspended, the MLB reasoning that there was no need since he did not make physical contact with Winters.[21]

[edit] Texas Rangers (2008)

After the 2007 season, Bradley agreed to a one-year contract with the Texas Rangers.[22] He announced in early January 2008, that he expected to be healthy and ready to play in the 2008 season opener.[23]

As the Rangers designated hitter, Bradley led the American League in OPS (on base plus slugging) with a 1.036. He was third in batting average (.321) and excelled in on-base percentage (.443). He was somewhat humbled with his success "I really haven't even thought about it," he said. "If I somehow miraculously made it to the All-Star Game, I would be floored. I'd really be totally humbled by that. I'm just happy right now to play, to produce and to be with a good group of guys."[24] Bradley was selected to play in his first All-Star Game in 2008 as a DH. He was officially in as a DH reserve but due to the injury of David Ortiz, Bradley started as a DH in the 2008 MLB All-Star Game.

According to The Dallas Morning News Bradley attempted to confront Kansas City Royals television announcer Ryan Lefebvre in the press box following a June 2008 game due to what he believed were unfair comments made on the air. As the Rangers' designated hitter, Bradley was able to watch the broadcast when he was not batting and took offense to a comparison Lefebrve made between him and Josh Hamilton. Manager Ron Washington and general manager Jon Daniels chased after him and stopped Bradley before he got to Lefebvre, at which point Bradley returned to the clubhouse in tears and said

"All I want to do is play baseball and make a better life for my kid than I had, that's it," Bradley said to a quiet clubhouse. "I love all you guys. ... I'm strong, but I'm not that strong."

Bradley was quoted by Rangers radio broadcasters as saying that he never intended to physically harm Lefebvre but did want to speak to him; Daniels said that Bradley was upset that someone that he did not know was passing judgments about him.[25]

In July 2008, it was announced that Milton Bradley would occasionally blog for the New York Times, but he contributed only one entry.[26]

[edit] Chicago Cubs (2009)

Milton Bradley with the Chicago Cubs in 2009.

On January 8, 2009, Bradley signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Chicago Cubs.[27] Bradley was assigned uniform number 21, and played right field, reminiscent of former Cub Sammy Sosa.[28] Bradley was issued a two-game suspension for supposedly making contact with umpire Larry Vanover while arguing a strike call April 16.[29] After appealing the sentence, the suspension was reduced to one game.[30] During an inter-league game against the Minnesota Twins on June 12, Bradley caught a routine fly-out in right field and threw it into the stands, believing it was the third out in the inning, when there were only two outs.[31] The umpire allowed each of the Twins base runners to advance two bases.[31][32]

Later that month, Cubs manager Lou Piniella told Bradley to leave the dugout and go home after Bradley threw a tirade after flying out in a game against the Chicago White Sox. Piniella and Bradley later confronted each other in the locker room, and exchanged words again.[33] Piniella later apologized to Bradley, and reinserted him back into the line-up during the team's next start.[34]

On September 20, 2009, the Cubs announced that Bradley would be suspended for the remainder of the season after an interview in which Bradley talked about "negativity" with the organization and said "you understand why they [Cubs] haven't won in 100 years here." He also said he was uncomfortable with his presence with the Chicago Cubs.[35] General Manager Jim Hendry felt the comments were disrespectful.[36] Bradley eventually apologized to the Cubs organization for his remarks.[37]

[edit] Seattle Mariners (2010-2011)

Bradley in 2010, batting for the Seattle Mariners.

On December 18, 2009, Bradley was traded to the Seattle Mariners for Carlos Silva and cash.[38][39] He was part of a flurry of offseason moves by the Seattle Mariners in hopes of returning to the playoffs, having not reached the postseason since 2001.[38]

On May 4, 2010, Bradley removed himself from a game and left the stadium, he asked the Mariners for help with a personal problem and the organization stepped in to help him out. He returned to the team May 18 after undergoing an undisclosed treatment.[40]

On May 9, 2011, the Mariners designated Bradley for assignment after beginning the 2011 season hitting .218 with two home runs and 13 RBI in 28 games.[41] Unable to trade Bradley, the Mariners released him on May 16.[42]

[edit] Personal

Bradley is named after his father, Milton Bradley, Sr., who filled out the birth certificate form without his wife's permission. As Milton's mother says of his father, "He wanted a Junior, and made sure he got one."

On January 18, 2011, Bradley was arrested at his home in Encino, California and charged with making criminal threats to his wife, Monique. In return for participating in an out-of-court hearing process, no charges were filed against Bradley. His wife has since filed for divorce.[41][43]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Schwarz, Alan (July 9, 2003). "Bradley knows only one way — the hard way". ESPN. ESPN Inc.. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1574709&type=story. Retrieved January 28, 2011. 
  2. ^ a b Keown, Tim. "Milton Bradley knows you think he'll explode. He's out to prove you wrong". ESPN The Magazine (ESPN Inc.). http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3747583. Retrieved January 28, 2011. 
  3. ^ a b Schwarz, Alan (July 13, 2008). "Two Texas All-Stars Check Their Extra Baggage". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/sports/baseball/13spotlight.html?pagewanted=all. Retrieved January 28, 2011. 
  4. ^ Baxter, Kevin; Bolch, Ben (October 31, 2009). "In Chase Utley's case, a star was formed". Los Angeles Times (Tribune Company). http://articles.latimes.com/2009/oct/31/sports/sp-world-series31. Retrieved February 4, 2012. 
  5. ^ Meigs, Tom (2008). Baseball in Long Beach. Arcadia Publishing. p. 97. ISBN 978-0-7385-5823-3. http://books.google.com/books?id=404elIgZwbAC. 
  6. ^ "1996 GCL Expos". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=1e899210. Retrieved January 29, 2012. 
  7. ^ "1998 Cape Fear Crocs". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=ebc8a460. Retrieved January 29, 2012. 
  8. ^ "1998 Jupiter Hammerheads". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=7e1e3456. Retrieved January 29, 2012. 
  9. ^ "Expos unload Bradley, Urbina". CBC.ca. August 1, 2001. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2001/07/31/expos010731.html. Retrieved February 4, 2012. 
  10. ^ "In Harrisburg, Tribe's Bradley was once a Hero, Outfielder's Dramatic Grand Slam Brought Senators their 4th Consecutive Eastern League Championship". Akron Beacon Journal (Black Press): p. D4. May 26, 2002. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AK&s_site=ohio&p_multi=AK&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F3D7FE9A1378663&p_field_direct-0=document_id. Retrieved January 29, 2012.  (subscription required)
  11. ^ "Mets rally past Expos". Record-Journal (The White Family): p. 12. July 20, 2000. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4f1IAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ugINAAAAIBAJ&pg=2568,2880117. Retrieved January 30, 2012. 
  12. ^ "Montreal Expos 4, St. Louis Cardinals 3". Retrosheet. http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2001/B04260SLN2001.htm. Retrieved February 2, 2012. 
  13. ^ a b "Indians get center fielder". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Block Communications). August 1, 2001. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SYkNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fHADAAAAIBAJ&pg=5714,143990. Retrieved February 3, 2012. 
  14. ^ Harrington, Mike (August 5, 2001). "Bradley Impresses Tribe Exec". The Buffalo News (Berkshire Hathaway). http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=BN&p_theme=bn&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EDBF384B4C3451B&p_field_direct-0=document_id.  (subscription required)
  15. ^ "Bradley has appendectomy". Chicago Tribune (Tribune Company). April 15, 2002. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-08-15/sports/0208150246_1_appendectomy-babe-ruth-world-series-hyde-park. Retrieved February 4, 2012. 
  16. ^ "American League notes". USA Today (Gannett Company): p. C4. May 29, 2002. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/121890946.html?dids=121890946:121890946&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT. Retrieved February 4, 2012.  (subscription required)
  17. ^ a b "Indians activate Bradley from DL". Associated Press. June 5, 2002. 
  18. ^ "Indians' Bradley out indefinitely with fracture near left eye". Sports Illustrated. CNN. May 2, 2002. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/news/2002/05/02/indians_bradley_ap/. Retrieved February 4, 2012. 
  19. ^ By Mychael Urban / MLB.com (2007-05-13). "A's designate Bradley for assignment | MLB.com: News". Oakland.athletics.mlb.com. http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070621&content_id=2040883&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb. Retrieved 2011-05-16. 
  20. ^ By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com (2007-06-22). "Bradley-to-Royals deal voided | oaklandathletics.com: News". Oakland.athletics.mlb.com. http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070622&content_id=2043699&vkey=news_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak. Retrieved 2011-05-16. 
  21. ^ "ESPN - Pads' Bradley fined, not suspended in blow-up with umpire - MLB". Sports.espn.go.com. 2007-10-05. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3050020. Retrieved 2010-09-27. 
  22. ^ Rosenthal, Ken (December 9, 2007). "Bradley agrees to deal with Rangers". Fox Sports. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7543548. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  23. ^ "ESPN - Rehabbing torn ACL, Bradley plans to play in Rangers' opener - MLB". Sports.espn.go.com. 2007-12-18. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3160349. Retrieved 2010-09-27. 
  24. ^ Time Cowlishaw (June 6, 2008). "Star glows, ballots grow for Texas Rangers' Bradley". The Dallas Morning News. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/060608dnspocowlishaw.3022001.html?npc. Retrieved 2009-01-04. 
  25. ^ Richard Durrett (June 12, 2008). "Texas Rangers' Bradley gets emotional over TV comments". The Dallas Morning News. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/baseball/rangers/stories/061208dnsporangersbradley.3c7e26f.html. Retrieved 2009-01-04. 
  26. ^ "Milton Bradley: ‘What Have I Done Now?'". The New York Times. July 7, 2008. http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/07/milton-bradley-what-have-i-done-now/. Retrieved May 12, 2010. 
  27. ^ By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com (2010-01-15). "Cubs land Bradley with three-year deal". Chicago.cubs.mlb.com. http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090108&content_id=3736641&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc. Retrieved 2010-09-27. 
  28. ^ "Flashbacks to Slammin' Sammy". Suntimes.com. http://www.suntimes.com/sports/1367413,CST-SPT-deluca08.article. Retrieved 2010-09-27. [dead link]
  29. ^ Wittenmyer, Gordon (2009-05-13). "CUBS IN BRIEF: Ruling on Bradley's suspension expected today". Chicago Sun-Times. http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/945975,CST-SPT-cubnt13.article. Retrieved 2009-05-13. [dead link]
  30. ^ "Bradley suspension reduced to 1 game". Associated Press. Yahoo! Sports. 2009-05-15. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AhFxNvJ9JNEWFkfs0QnLoUkRvLYF?slug=ap-cubs-bradleysuspension&prov=ap&type=lgns. Retrieved 2009-05-15. 
  31. ^ a b van Dyck, Dave (2009-06-13). "Chicago Cubs fall 7-4 to Minnesota Twins". Chicago Tribune. 
  32. ^ "Chicago Cubs fall 7-4 to Minnesota Twins". chicagotribune.com. 2009-06-13. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-13-cubs-twins-chicago-jun13,0,3738172.story. Retrieved 2011-05-16. 
  33. ^ Seligman, Andrew (2009-06-26). "Soto homer lifts Cubs over White Sox". Yahoo! Sports. 
  34. ^ "Bradley: 'I don't have problem with Lou'". Associated Press. ESPN. 2009-06-28. http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/news/story?id=4291786. Retrieved 2009-07-01. 
  35. ^ "Chicago Cubs suspend Milton Bradley for the rest of the season - ESPN Chicago". Sports.espn.go.com. 2009-09-21. http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=4490125. Retrieved 2010-09-27. 
  36. ^ Sullivan, Paul (2009-09-20). "Bradley suspended for rest of season". Chicago Tribune (Chicago: Tribune Company). http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/09/bradley-not-with-cubs-hendry-will-address-team.html. Retrieved 2009-09-20. 
  37. ^ Morrissey, Rick (2009-09-25). "Here's a 'real' apology from Milton Bradley". Chicago Tribune. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-25-morrissey-milton-bradley-sep25,0,5528314.column. Retrieved 2009-09-25. 
  38. ^ a b Muskat, Carrie. "Cubs trade Bradley for Silva, cash". mlb.com. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091218&content_id=7828862&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc&partnerId=rss_chc. Retrieved 18 December 2009. 
  39. ^ Rosenthal, Ken (2009-09-23). "Sources: Cubs to pay Bradley, then try to deal him". Fox Sports. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/10114796/Sources:-Cubs-to-pay-Bradley,-then-try-to-deal-him. Retrieved 2009-09-25. 
  40. ^ Nightengale, Bob (May 6, 2010). "Troubled Milton Bradley placed on Mariners' restricted list". USA Today. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/dailypitch/post/2010/05/troubled-milton-bradley-placed-on-mariners-restricted-list/1. Retrieved May 7, 2010. 
  41. ^ a b Baker, Geoff (2011-05-09). "Mariners | Mariners cut ties with Milton Bradley | Seattle Times Newspaper". Seattletimes.nwsource.com. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2015005893_mari10.html. Retrieved 2011-05-16. 
  42. ^ by R.J. Anderson. "Transaction Analysis Blog: Sizemore Heads to DL, Bradley to Free Agency". Baseball Prospectus. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=13930. Retrieved 2011-05-16. 
  43. ^ "Milton Bradley will meet with police about felony arrest - ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. 2011-02-11. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6113951. Retrieved 2011-05-16. 

[edit] External links

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