Athletes - Eric Davis

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	Athletes - Eric Davis

Eric Keith Davis (born May 29, 1962 in Los Angeles, California) is a former center fielder for several Major League Baseball teams, most remembered for the years he spent with the Cincinnati Reds. Davis actually began his professional career as a shortstop but was converted to center fielder while in the minors.

Early career

When Davis first appeared in 1984, his physical talents gave him the potential to be one of the most exciting players in the game. He was a rare five-tool player with home-run power as well as sheer speed on the basepaths. He made a habit of robbing home home runs and elicited comparisons to Willie Mays.

Unfortunately, he was also highly injury-prone, never playing more than 135 games in any season.

Davis showed what he could do in 1986 hitting .277 with 27 homers and stealing 80 bases. He built on that success by hitting .293 with 37 homers and 50 steals in 1987, despite playing in only 129 games. From 1986 to 1990, he averaged 30 home runs and 40 steals. In 1990, with a solid team around him, Davis would be a key player in Cincinnati's "wire-to-wire" championship season.

One of Davis' most famous moments was "the throw" in game 5 of the National League Championship Series vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates when he threw out Bobby Bonilla at third base from centerfield. Davis homered off Dave Stewart in his first World Series at bat in 1990. The home run triggered a World Series sweep for the Reds. In the Series, Davis also suffered a lacerated kidney while diving for a ball and underwent surgery on a knee that he had injured earlier in the season.

After 1990, he was unable to get his career back on track. Injuries sabotaged his play in 1991 and he was traded to Los Angeles for Tim Belcher and John Wetteland. He suffered several more injuries in 1992 and was largely ineffective. By the end of 1993, the Dodgers no longer required his services and dealt him to Detroit for a minor-leaguer. After the trade, his body continued to deteriorate and he retired at the end of the 1994 season.

After recuperating for one season, he felt healthy enough to return to baseball in 1996. He had a solid season with a .287 average and 26 home runs, although injuries cut into his playing time. He had played well enough, however, to convince Baltimore to sign him as a free agent.

Cancer diagnosis and recovery

In May of 1997, Davis was devastated to learn that he had colon cancer. He vowed to return that season, although most felt that it would be unlikely that he could recover in time. By September, while he was still in treatment, Davis returned to the team. His cancer treatment left him tired but he worked hard to regain his form. Davis was well-enough to hammer a game winning home run in the 1998 American League Championship Series. After the season, he was given the Roberto Clemente Award.

Davis was brought back for 1998 and went on to have one of his best seasons, batting .327 with 28 homers. He also hit in 30 consecutive games that season.

End of Career

1999 would be the beginning of the end for Davis. He spent three injury-plagued seasons with St. Louis and San Francisco before retiring in 2001.

In 1999, Davis wrote his autobiography, Born to Play in which he credited Pete Rose for having faith in him and teaching him about the game. He also had harsh words for Ray Knight, who was the Reds manager in 1996. He claimed Knight did not support his comeback and did not stand up for him in contract negotiations after the season. Davis remains bitter about the Reds treatment of him after his World Series injury. Davis was left behind in Oakland after the series and requested that the Reds provide a private plane to bring him back to Cincinnati. Davis claimed that he was refused a number of times and made his own way home after the hospital released him.

Trivia

Davis was also among the first high profile baseball players to wear Nike high-top cleats.

He was known as "Eric the Red" during his career in Cincinnati.

Teams

Cincinnati Reds (1984-1991, 1996)
Los Angeles Dodgers (1992-93)
Detroit Tigers (1993-94)
Baltimore Orioles (1997-98)
St. Louis Cardinals (1999-2000)
San Francisco Giants (2001)

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