Larry Sheets

Larry Sheets
Larry Sheets
	Designated hitter / Outfielder
	Born: December 6, 1959 (age 64); Staunton, Virginia, U.S.
	Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
	September 18, 1984, for the Baltimore Orioles
Last MLB appearance
	October 1, 1993, for the Seattle Mariners
MLB statistics
Batting average	.266
Home runs	94
Runs batted in	339
NPB statistics
Batting average	.308
Home runs	26
Runs batted in	100
Teams
	Baltimore Orioles (1984–1989); Detroit Tigers (1990); Yokohama Taiyo Whales (1992); Seattle Mariners (1993);

Larry Kent Sheets (born December 6, 1959) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder and designated hitter who played for the Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, and Seattle Mariners from 1984 to 1990 and 1993. He also played one season in Japan for the Yokohama Taiyo Whales in 1992.

Career

Sheets attended Eastern Mennonite University, where he played basketball.^[1] He was named to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference's all-conference second team in 1980 and to the first team in 1982. He graduated from Eastern Mennonite in 1984. He was named to Eastern Mennonite's athletic hall of fame in 1988.

Sheets was selected as the first of the Orioles' four picks in the second round (29th overall) of the 1978 MLB draft, nineteen slots ahead of Cal Ripken Jr.^[2] His lack of enthusiasm and commitment to the sport while in the minors frustrated Orioles scouts and officials, as chronicled in an article written by Alexander Wolff in the June 15, 1981 issue of Sports Illustrated.^[3] In a 13–11 loss to the Texas Rangers at Memorial Stadium on August 6, 1986 which was the first-ever game in MLB history that featured three grand slams, Sheets and Jim Dwyer each hit one in the fourth inning, off Bobby Witt and Jeff Russell respectively. Toby Harrah had hit the first one of the contest off Ken Dixon two innings earlier.^[4]

Sheets had career highs in batting average (.316), home runs (31) and RBIs (94) in 1987.

After six seasons in Baltimore, Sheets was dealt to the Tigers for Mike Brumley, as the Orioles traded a much-needed power hitter for a younger, less expensive player.^[5]

Personal life

Sheets operated a youth sports facility in Westminster, Maryland. He serves as Gilman School's head varsity baseball coach.

He has a son named Gavin, who plays for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB).

References

^ "SHEETS' WINDING ROAD TWISTS TOWARD STARDOM". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
^ 1978 MLB June Draft, Rounds 1–10 (Tuesday, June 6) – Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved June 30, 2021
^ Wolff, Alexander. "He's safe at home," Sports Illustrated, June 15, 1981. Retrieved June 30, 2021
^ Boswell, Thomas. "Orioles, Rangers Set Record With 3 Grand Slams," The Washington Post, Thursday, August 7, 1986. Retrieved July 1, 2021
^ Justice, Richard. "Orioles Trade Sheets for Brumley," The Washington Post, Thursday, January 11, 1990. Retrieved June 30, 2021

External links

Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)

[1] "SHEETS' WINDING ROAD TWISTS TOWARD STARDOM". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 11, 2021.

[2] 1978 MLB June Draft, Rounds 1–10 (Tuesday, June 6) – Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved June 30, 2021

[3] Wolff, Alexander. "He's safe at home," Sports Illustrated, June 15, 1981. Retrieved June 30, 2021

[4] Boswell, Thomas. "Orioles, Rangers Set Record With 3 Grand Slams," The Washington Post, Thursday, August 7, 1986. Retrieved July 1, 2021

[5] Justice, Richard. "Orioles Trade Sheets for Brumley," The Washington Post, Thursday, January 11, 1990. Retrieved June 30, 2021

[1]