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Shortly before his release from the Mariners, Bevacqua was arrested near his [[New Berlin, Wisconsin]] home for driving without a license. He was given a $160 fine and ten day jail sentence, which he was allowed to serve after the 1977 season ended.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HFwaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eSkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6137,4400373&dq|title=10 Day Term for Bevacqua|work=[[The Milwaukee Journal]]|date=August 18, 1977}}</ref>
Shortly before his release from the Mariners, Bevacqua was arrested near his [[New Berlin, Wisconsin]] home for driving without a license. He was given a $160 fine and ten day jail sentence, which he was allowed to serve after the 1977 season ended.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HFwaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eSkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6137,4400373&dq|title=10 Day Term for Bevacqua|work=[[The Milwaukee Journal]]|date=August 18, 1977}}</ref>


After batting .352 with nine home runs and 76 RBIs for the triple A [[Tucson Toros]], Bevacqua was called up to the majors for the second half of the season, and immediately proved himself a valuable addition to the Rangers. He batted .333 with five home runs and 28 RBIs mostly as a pinch hitter, and also disproved Seattle manager [[Darrell Johnson]]'s assessment that he was a defensive liability as he committed just one [[error (baseball)|error]] all season while playing five different positions on the field. In {{by|1978}}, he hit a career high six home runs. After the season, he, [[Bill Fahey]] and disgruntled former [[Rookie of the Year]] [[Mike Hargrove]] were traded to the San Diego Padres for [[Oscar Gamble]] and [[Dave Roberts (third baseman)|Dave Roberts]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zgBKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ph4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2595,3168631&dq|title=Rangers' Hargrove Traded|work=[[The Michigan Daily]]|date=October 25, 1978}}</ref>
After batting .352 with nine home runs and 76 RBIs for the triple A [[Tucson Toros]], Bevacqua was called up to the majors for the second half of the season, and immediately proved himself a valuable addition to the Rangers. He batted .333 with five home runs and 28 RBIs mostly as a pinch hitter, and also disproved Seattle [[manager (baseball)|manager]] [[Darrell Johnson]]'s assessment that he was a defensive liability as he committed just one [[error (baseball)|error]] all season while playing five different positions on the field. In {{by|1978}}, he hit a career high six home runs. After the season, he, [[Bill Fahey]] and disgruntled former [[Rookie of the Year]] [[Mike Hargrove]] were traded to the San Diego Padres for [[Oscar Gamble]] and [[Dave Roberts (third baseman)|Dave Roberts]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zgBKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ph4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2595,3168631&dq|title=Rangers' Hargrove Traded|work=[[The Michigan Daily]]|date=October 25, 1978}}</ref>


==San Diego Padres==
==San Diego Padres==
With the Padres, Bevacqua seemed to have finally found his home. Though he still did not have a regular position, he had a career high 346 [[plate appearances]] in {{by|1979}} filling in at second, third and the outfield. He was batting .268 and on his way to a similar season in {{by|1980}} when the last place Padres went into rebuilding mode, and dealt Bevacqua to the Pirates for minor league prospects [[Luis Salazar]] and [[Rick Lancellotti]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZBpdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kVoNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4483,4643462&dq|title=Padres Deal Bevacqua To Cap Day Of Trades|work=[[St. Joseph Gazette]]|date=August 6, 1980}}</ref>
With the Padres, Bevacqua seemed to have finally found his home. Though he still did not have a regular position, he had a career high 346 [[plate appearances]] in {{by|1979}} filling in at second, third and the outfield. He was batting .268 and on his way to a similar season in {{by|1980}} when the last place Padres went into rebuilding mode, and dealt Bevacqua to the Pirates for minor league prospects [[Luis Salazar]] and [[Rick Lancellotti]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZBpdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kVoNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4483,4643462&dq|title=Padres Deal Bevacqua To Cap Day Of Trades|work=[[St. Joseph Gazette]]|date=August 6, 1980}}</ref>


Bevacqua's second stint in Pittsburgh went no better than his first, and he was released by the club after a season and a half in which he was given just seventy [[at-bats]]. He returned to the Padres in {{by|1982}}.
Bevacqua's second stint in Pittsburgh went no better than his first, and he was released by the club after a season and a half in which he was given just seventy [[at-bats]]. He returned to the Padres in {{by|1982}}, and remained in San Diego for the rest of his career.


Shortly after returning to the Padres, Bevacqua became embroiled in a verbal feud with [[National League West]] rival [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] manager [[Tommy Lasorda]]. On June 30, Dodgers pitcher [[Tom Niedenfuer]] hit [[Joe Lefebvre]] with the next pitch after giving up a home run to [[Broderick Perkins]] to lead off the ninth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN198206302.shtml|title=San Diego Padres 6, Los Angeles Dodgers 4|publisher=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|date=June 30, 1982}}</ref>
⚫
He hit what proved to be the game-winning home run in Game 2 of the [[1984 World Series]], a three-run shot off [[Dan Petry]]. Bevacqua played in all five games of the series, batting a team-high .412 and hitting 2 of the Padres' 3 home runs. The Padres lost to the [[Detroit Tigers]] in five games, and to this date, the Game 2 win remains the franchise's lone World Series victory.


The rebuilding process the Padres began in 1980 culminated with a trip to the {{by|1984}} World Series. Though Bevacqua batted just .200 with one home run and nine RBIs over the regular season, Padres manager [[Dick Williams]] used Bevacqua as his designated hitter in all five games of the World Series.
⚫
Bevacqua is also well known for being the subject of multiple tirades by former [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] [[manager (baseball)|manager]] [[Tommy Lasorda]]. Bevacqua was also featured on an episode of [[Fox Network|FOX]]'s ''[[King of the Hill (TV series)|King of the Hill]]''. In the episode he was a ringer brought in to defeat Strickland Propane's softball team.

⚫
It proved to be a wise decision as Bevacqua hit the game-winning home run in Game 2 of the World Series, a three-run shot off [[Dan Petry]]. He batted a team-high .412 and hit two of the Padres' three home runs. The Padres lost to the [[Detroit Tigers]] in five games, and to this date, the Game 2 win remains the franchise's lone World Series victory.

⚫
Bevacqua was also featured on an episode of [[Fox Network|FOX]]'s ''[[King of the Hill (TV series)|King of the Hill]]''. In the episode he was a ringer brought in to defeat Strickland Propane's softball team.


His performance in the 1984 World Series has provided him with an enduring celebrity status in [[San Diego]], which he has used to benefit St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center’s Haute with Heart charity to benefit programs for adults with [[developmental disabilities]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jul/22/tp-local-celebrities-to-strut-the-runway-for-35th/|title=Local Celebrities to Strut the Runway for 35th Annual Haute with Heart Fashion Show|work=[[San Diego Union-Tribune]]|date=July 22, 2012}}</ref>
His performance in the 1984 World Series has provided him with an enduring celebrity status in [[San Diego]], which he has used to benefit St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center’s Haute with Heart charity to benefit programs for adults with [[developmental disabilities]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jul/22/tp-local-celebrities-to-strut-the-runway-for-35th/|title=Local Celebrities to Strut the Runway for 35th Annual Haute with Heart Fashion Show|work=[[San Diego Union-Tribune]]|date=July 22, 2012}}</ref>
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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
{{Baseballstats|mlb=110963|espn=|br=b/bevacku01|fangraphs=1000935|cube=Kurt-Bevacqua|brm=bevacq001kur}}
{{Baseballstats|mlb=110963|espn=|br=b/bevacku01|fangraphs=1000935|cube=Kurt-Bevacqua|brm=bevacq001kur}}
*{{YouTube|fzjWQF1oP2M|Tommy Lasorda meltdown about Kurt Bevacqua}}
{{YouTube|fzjWQF1oP2M|Tommy Lasorda meltdown about Kurt Bevacqua}}


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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->

Revision as of 15:07, 7 August 2012

Kurt Bevacqua
Infielder
Born: (1947-01-23) January 23, 1947 (age 77)
Miami Beach, Florida
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
debut
June 22, 1971, for the Cleveland Indians
Last appearance
October 6, 1985, for the San Diego Padres
Career statistics
Batting average.236
Hits499
Runs batted in275
Teams

Kurt Anthony Bevacqua (/[invalid input: 'icon']b[invalid input: 'ɨ']ˈvɑːkwə/; born January 23, 1947 in Miami Beach, Florida) is a former Major League Baseball player best remembered for his performance in the 1984 World Series. A career back-up infielder with a .236 career batting average, he rose to the occasion with two home runs and a .412 batting average as the San Diego Padres' designated hitter in the fall classic.[1] He also played for the Mayaguez Indians in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League from 1977 to 1981.

Early years

Bevacqua was originally drafted by the New York Mets in the 32nd round of the 1966 Major League Baseball Draft and the Atlanta Braves in the sixth round of the January Secondary phase of the 1967 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign with either team. After leading Miami Dade College to the FJCC baseball tournament,[2] he finally signed with the Cincinnati Reds, who selected him in the twelfth round of the secondary phase of the June 1967 draft.

He was immediately a utility player, playing each infield position and the outfield while in the Reds' farm system. He was traded to the Cleveland Indians for outfielder Buddy Bradford on May 8, 1971, and made his big league debut shortly afterwards. Though he batted just .204 his rookie season, his versatility on the field proved valuable to the Indians. He appeared in 55 games, playing second, third, shortstop and both corner outfield positions, and earned the nick-name "Dirty Kurt" for routinely having the dirtiest uniform on the team.[3]

Bevacqua spent most of the 1972 season with the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League, where he batted .313 with nine home runs and 72 runs batted in. He returned to the Indians that September, but batted just .114 in nineteen games. After the season, he was traded to the Kansas City Royals for pitcher Mike Hedlund.[4]

Kansas City Royals

Bevacqua drove in a career high forty runs backing up Paul Schaal at third base in 1973. After the season, he was traded with Ed Kirkpatrick and minor leaguer Winston Cole to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Nelson Briles and Fernando González,[5] but after a short, turbulent stay in Pittsburgh, he rejoined the Royals midway through the 1974 season.[6]

Milwaukee Brewers

The following Spring, Bevacqua was acquired by the Milwaukee Brewers as insurance for Don Money at third base, as Money had been experiencing chronic arm problems.[7] Though Money is a third baseman, the highlight of Bevacqua's season came while playing second. During a 4-0 loss to his former team on May 11, 1975, Bevacqua got into an altercation with George Brett at second base causing both benches to clear.[8]

His other most memorable moment with the Brewers had even less to do with baseball. He is the 1975 Joe Garagiola/Bazooka Bubble gum blowing Champion.[9] Topps baseball card #564 in the 1976 set attests to this feat. He remained with the Brewers through May of the 1976 season. After which, he was reassigned to the Spokane Indians of the Pacific Coast League, where he remained for the rest of the season.

Seattle Mariners

On October 22, 1976 Bevacqua's contract was purchased by the expansion Seattle Mariners two weeks before the expansion draft. He arrived at camp that Spring to compete for the shortstop job with Craig Reynolds, whom the club had acquired from the Pirates for relief pitcher Grant Jackson. Despite an exceptional Spring training in which he batted .467, Bevacqua was released. The team's explanation was that Reynolds proved himself the better fielder, and the club already had too many right-handed bats off the bench.[10] Furious over this decision, Bevacqua toyed with the idea of playing ball in Japan, but ultimately decided to sign a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers the day after the season started. Though he never played a regular season game with them, Bevacqua's 1977 Topps card (#317) shows him in a Mariners uniform.

Texas Rangers

Shortly before his release from the Mariners, Bevacqua was arrested near his New Berlin, Wisconsin home for driving without a license. He was given a $160 fine and ten day jail sentence, which he was allowed to serve after the 1977 season ended.[11]

After batting .352 with nine home runs and 76 RBIs for the triple A Tucson Toros, Bevacqua was called up to the majors for the second half of the season, and immediately proved himself a valuable addition to the Rangers. He batted .333 with five home runs and 28 RBIs mostly as a pinch hitter, and also disproved Seattle manager Darrell Johnson's assessment that he was a defensive liability as he committed just one error all season while playing five different positions on the field. In 1978, he hit a career high six home runs. After the season, he, Bill Fahey and disgruntled former Rookie of the Year Mike Hargrove were traded to the San Diego Padres for Oscar Gamble and Dave Roberts.[12]

San Diego Padres

With the Padres, Bevacqua seemed to have finally found his home. Though he still did not have a regular position, he had a career high 346 plate appearances in 1979 filling in at second, third and the outfield. He was batting .268 and on his way to a similar season in 1980 when the last place Padres went into rebuilding mode, and dealt Bevacqua to the Pirates for minor league prospects Luis Salazar and Rick Lancellotti.[13]

Bevacqua's second stint in Pittsburgh went no better than his first, and he was released by the club after a season and a half in which he was given just seventy at-bats. He returned to the Padres in 1982, and remained in San Diego for the rest of his career.

Shortly after returning to the Padres, Bevacqua became embroiled in a verbal feud with National League West rival Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda. On June 30, Dodgers pitcher Tom Niedenfuer hit Joe Lefebvre with the next pitch after giving up a home run to Broderick Perkins to lead off the ninth.[14]

The rebuilding process the Padres began in 1980 culminated with a trip to the 1984 World Series. Though Bevacqua batted just .200 with one home run and nine RBIs over the regular season, Padres manager Dick Williams used Bevacqua as his designated hitter in all five games of the World Series.

It proved to be a wise decision as Bevacqua hit the game-winning home run in Game 2 of the World Series, a three-run shot off Dan Petry. He batted a team-high .412 and hit two of the Padres' three home runs. The Padres lost to the Detroit Tigers in five games, and to this date, the Game 2 win remains the franchise's lone World Series victory.

Bevacqua was also featured on an episode of FOX's King of the Hill. In the episode he was a ringer brought in to defeat Strickland Propane's softball team.

His performance in the 1984 World Series has provided him with an enduring celebrity status in San Diego, which he has used to benefit St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center’s Haute with Heart charity to benefit programs for adults with developmental disabilities.[15]

Sources

  1. ^ Sandy Burgin (August 15, 2002). "Where've you gone, Kurt Bevacqua?". Padres.com.
  2. ^ "Falcons Earn Double Chance to Win Tourney". The Miami News. May 5, 1967.
  3. ^ Russell Schneider (October 30, 2006). "Whatever Happened to "Super Joe"?". Gray & Company.
  4. ^ "Overnight Sports in Brief". Reading Eagle. November 3, 1972.
  5. ^ Ken Rappoport (December 5, 1973). "Grimsley, Briles Among Those In Diamond Deals". The Portsmouth Times.
  6. ^ Charley Feeney (July 10, 1974). "Bucs Sell Bevacqua To KC, Call Up Howe". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  7. ^ Lou Chapman (March 10, 1975). "Early Bird Crandall Picks His Starters". Milwaukee Sentinel.
  8. ^ Lou Chapman (May 12, 1975). "Killebrew Steals The Show, 4-0". Milwaukee Sentinel.
  9. ^ "Bevacqua Bubble King". Milwaukee Sentinel. October 15, 1975.
  10. ^ "Bevacqua Furious at Being Cut by Mariners". Tri City Herald. March 28, 1977.
  11. ^ "10 Day Term for Bevacqua". The Milwaukee Journal. August 18, 1977.
  12. ^ "Rangers' Hargrove Traded". The Michigan Daily. October 25, 1978.
  13. ^ "Padres Deal Bevacqua To Cap Day Of Trades". St. Joseph Gazette. August 6, 1980.
  14. ^ "San Diego Padres 6, Los Angeles Dodgers 4". Baseball-Reference.com. June 30, 1982.
  15. ^ "Local Celebrities to Strut the Runway for 35th Annual Haute with Heart Fashion Show". San Diego Union-Tribune. July 22, 2012.

Tommy Lasorda meltdown about Kurt Bevacqua on YouTube

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