Scott Brosius
Encyclopedia
Scott David Brosius is a former Major League Baseball
third baseman
for the Oakland Athletics
(–) and the New York Yankees
(–). Brosius is currently the head baseball coach at Linfield College
, his alma mater
.
, where he attended Rex Putnam High School
before going to Linfield College
. He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics
in the 20th round of the amateur draft and signed on June 9, 1987. He became one of the limited number of players to hit a home run in his first major league game, on August 7, 1991. Brosius was the A's starting third baseman through the mid-1990s, although he played almost 300 games in his Oakland career at other positions, primarily in the outfield. In , he batted .304 with 22 home runs, his best year with Oakland; however, his performance declined in 1997 when he became the last player to finish last in the majors, of those who qualified for the batting title, in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging average. He was traded to the Yankees after the season for Kenny Rogers, who had struggled mightily in New York. In his first year in the Bronx, he batted .300 with 19 home run
s and 98 RBIs.
Although his performance over the next three years did not match that of his 1998 season, he remained a fan favorite. During his career with the Yankees, they won the American League
pennant every year, from 1998 to 2001, as well as the World Series from 1998 to . Brosius won the World Series MVP Award
and was an All-Star
in 1998. He won a Gold Glove in .
He hit 2 home runs in Game 3 of the 1998 World Series, including one off of Padres
closer Trevor Hoffman
to give the Yankees a 3-0 Series lead.
He led all AL third basemen in errors in 2001, with 22, and had the lowest fielding percentage in the league (.935).
Brosius hit a two-out, game tying two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2001 World Series
against the Arizona Diamondbacks
to tie the game and set up an extra-inning Yankees win. The previous night, New York first baseman Tino Martinez
had hit a two-out, two-run home run to tie the game as well. It marked the first time in World Series history that this had ever occurred. The Yankees would go on to lose Games 6 and 7 of the series, after which Brosius retired.
He was given the nickname Scott Supercalifragilisticexpiali
-Brosius by Chris Berman and "Brosius the Ferocious" by Yankees radio announcer John Sterling
.
in 2005.
In , Brosius took part in the New York Yankees Old-Timers' Day
festivities.
On November 4, 2009, Brosius threw out the first pitch before Game 6 of the 2009 World Series
at Yankee Stadium
. The Yankees went on to win Game 6 to clinch their 27th World Series title.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
for the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(–) and the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(–). Brosius is currently the head baseball coach at Linfield College
Linfield College
Linfield College is an American private institution of higher learning located in McMinnville, Oregon, United States. As a four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts and sciences college with a campus in Portland, Oregon, it also has an adult degree program located in eight communities throughout the...
, his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
.
Playing career
Brosius grew up in Milwaukie, OregonMilwaukie, Oregon
Milwaukie is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. A very small portion of the city extends into Multnomah County. The population was 20,291 at the 2010 census. Founded in 1848 on the banks of the Willamette River, the city, known as the Dogwood City of the West, was incorporated in...
, where he attended Rex Putnam High School
Rex Putnam High School
Rex Putnam High School is a public high school in Milwaukie, Oregon, United States.-History:The school was named after former Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Rex Putnam....
before going to Linfield College
Linfield College
Linfield College is an American private institution of higher learning located in McMinnville, Oregon, United States. As a four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts and sciences college with a campus in Portland, Oregon, it also has an adult degree program located in eight communities throughout the...
. He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
in the 20th round of the amateur draft and signed on June 9, 1987. He became one of the limited number of players to hit a home run in his first major league game, on August 7, 1991. Brosius was the A's starting third baseman through the mid-1990s, although he played almost 300 games in his Oakland career at other positions, primarily in the outfield. In , he batted .304 with 22 home runs, his best year with Oakland; however, his performance declined in 1997 when he became the last player to finish last in the majors, of those who qualified for the batting title, in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging average. He was traded to the Yankees after the season for Kenny Rogers, who had struggled mightily in New York. In his first year in the Bronx, he batted .300 with 19 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 98 RBIs.
Although his performance over the next three years did not match that of his 1998 season, he remained a fan favorite. During his career with the Yankees, they won the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
pennant every year, from 1998 to 2001, as well as the World Series from 1998 to . Brosius won the World Series MVP Award
World Series MVP Award
The World Series Most Valuable Player Award is given to the player deemed to have the most impact on his team's performance in the World Series, which is the final round of the Major League Baseball postseason...
and was an All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
in 1998. He won a Gold Glove in .
He hit 2 home runs in Game 3 of the 1998 World Series, including one off of Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
closer Trevor Hoffman
Trevor Hoffman
Trevor William Hoffman is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During his 18-year career from 1993 to 2010, he pitched for the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, and the Milwaukee Brewers, spending years of his career with the Padres. A long-time closer, he is the Major...
to give the Yankees a 3-0 Series lead.
He led all AL third basemen in errors in 2001, with 22, and had the lowest fielding percentage in the league (.935).
Brosius hit a two-out, game tying two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2001 World Series
2001 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 27, 2001 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, ArizonaArizona showed no fear and chased Yankees starter Mike Mussina after just three innings. The Yankees gave up five unearned runs and the Diamondbacks rode Curt Schilling's seven strong innings to a 9–1 rout...
against the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
to tie the game and set up an extra-inning Yankees win. The previous night, New York first baseman Tino Martinez
Tino Martinez
Constantino "Tino" Martinez is a former Major League Baseball first baseman.Martinez was the first round draft pick for the Seattle Mariners in out of the University of Tampa where he starred during his time on campus. He began his Major League career in and has played for the Mariners, New...
had hit a two-out, two-run home run to tie the game as well. It marked the first time in World Series history that this had ever occurred. The Yankees would go on to lose Games 6 and 7 of the series, after which Brosius retired.
He was given the nickname Scott Supercalifragilisticexpiali
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is an English word, with 34 letters, that was in the song with the same title in the 1964 Disney musical film Mary Poppins. The song was written by the Sherman Brothers, and sung by Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke...
-Brosius by Chris Berman and "Brosius the Ferocious" by Yankees radio announcer John Sterling
John Sterling (sportscaster)
John Sterling is an American sportscaster best known as the radio play-by-play announcer of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees. He has announced every Yankees game since .-Early life:...
.
Coaching career
From 2002 to 2007, Brosius was an assistant coach at Linfield College under head baseball coach Scott Carnahan, Brosius's coach when he played for the school. In 2007, Carnahan became athletic director and Brosius was named head coach. He earned his degree from the school in 2002. As a coach Brosius has been named NWC coach of the year twice in three seasons as head coach and led the team to two world series appearances including a 3rd place finish in 2010. .Legacy
He was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of FameOregon Sports Hall of Fame
The Oregon Sports Hall of Fame honors Oregon athletes, teams, coaches, and others who have made a significant contribution to sports in Oregon. The first class was inducted in 1980, with new inductees added in the fall...
in 2005.
In , Brosius took part in the New York Yankees Old-Timers' Day
Old-Timers' Day
Old-Timers' Day generally refers to a tradition in Major League Baseball of a team, especially the New York Yankees, devoting the early afternoon preceding a weekend late afternoon game to celebrate the baseball-related accomplishments of its former players who have since retired...
festivities.
On November 4, 2009, Brosius threw out the first pitch before Game 6 of the 2009 World Series
2009 World Series
The 2009 World Series was the 105th edition of Major League Baseball's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff was contested between the Philadelphia Phillies, champions of the National League and defending World Series champions, and the New York Yankees, champions of the American League...
at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
. The Yankees went on to win Game 6 to clinch their 27th World Series title.