Shane Mack (baseball player)
Encyclopedia
Shane Lee Mack is a former left
and center fielder
in Major League Baseball
.
Mack played for Richard Gahr High School
in Cerritos, California
from 1978-1982. Upon graduation, he accepted an athletic scholarship to play for the UCLA Bruins
baseball team where he starred from 1982-1984. His career college statistics include a .361 batting average
, 29 home run
s, 142 runs batted in
, 158 runs scored
and 44 stolen base
s. Mack was the runner-up for the Pac-10 Conference
Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1983. His .419 batting average that year was the seventh best all-time in the Pac-10. Mack was selected to the All-Pac-10 and All-American College Baseball Teams in 1983 and 1984.
Mack was the 11th player selected in the 1st round of the major league draft in . Following college, he played on the U.S. Olympic baseball team
which won a silver medal in the 1984 Olympic Games
in Los Angeles. Subsequently, he played nine professional major league seasons. His career statistics include a .299 lifetime batting average, 80 home runs, and 398 RBIs in 923 games. Mack started his career with the San Diego Padres
. In , he was selected in the rule 5 draft
by the Minnesota Twins
where he starred from -. Notably, he was a key component of the Twins' 1991 World Series
championship team. In Mack had his best year, hitting .315 (fifth in the American League
), scoring 101 runs (seventh in the AL), stealing 26 bases, driving in 75 runs, and hitting 16 home runs.
After a three-year contract playing in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants
(1994–1997), he returned to the United States to play ball for the Boston Red Sox
in the season. Mack played for the Oakland Athletics
and the Kansas City Royals
in before retiring.
Mack was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame on October 10, 2002.
On March 6, 2006, having been informed of the condition of former teammate Kirby Puckett
, who suffered a massive stroke the previous day, Mack flew to Arizona to be with Puckett, along with a number of other current and former Twins. Puckett died late that day.
His brother is former major league outfielder Quinn Mack
.
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
and center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
in Major League Baseball
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...
.
Mack played for Richard Gahr High School
Gahr High School
Richard Gahr High School, often simply known as Gahr High School, is a public school in Cerritos, California, serving grades 9-12. Gahr High is part of the ABC Unified School District....
in Cerritos, California
Cerritos, California
Cerritos is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and is one of several cities that constitute the Gateway Cities of southeast Los Angeles County. It was incorporated on April 24, 1956...
from 1978-1982. Upon graduation, he accepted an athletic scholarship to play for the UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
baseball team where he starred from 1982-1984. His career college statistics include a .361 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, 29 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, 142 runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, 158 runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
and 44 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s. Mack was the runner-up for the Pac-10 Conference
Pacific Ten Conference
The Pacific-12 Conference is a college athletic conference that operates in the Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I; its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of NCAA Division I football competition...
Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1983. His .419 batting average that year was the seventh best all-time in the Pac-10. Mack was selected to the All-Pac-10 and All-American College Baseball Teams in 1983 and 1984.
Mack was the 11th player selected in the 1st round of the major league draft in . Following college, he played on the U.S. Olympic baseball team
USA Baseball
USA Baseball was founded in , and is the governing body for amateur baseball in the United States of America. It is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and organizes the United States national baseball team...
which won a silver medal in the 1984 Olympic Games
Baseball at the 1984 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 1984 Summer Olympics was a demonstration sport. Although single exhibition games had been played in conjunction with five previous Olympics, it was the first time that the sport was officially included in the program, and also the first time that the sport was played in Olympics...
in Los Angeles. Subsequently, he played nine professional major league seasons. His career statistics include a .299 lifetime batting average, 80 home runs, and 398 RBIs in 923 games. Mack started his career with the San Diego 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...
. In , he was selected in the rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
by the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
where he starred from -. Notably, he was a key component of the Twins' 1991 World Series
1991 World Series
The 1991 World Series pitted the Minnesota Twins of the American League against the Atlanta Braves of the National League. The series was played from Saturday, October 19 to Sunday, October 27....
championship team. In Mack had his best year, hitting .315 (fifth in 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...
), scoring 101 runs (seventh in the AL), stealing 26 bases, driving in 75 runs, and hitting 16 home runs.
After a three-year contract playing in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
(1994–1997), he returned to the United States to play ball for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
in the season. Mack played 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 Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
in before retiring.
Mack was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame on October 10, 2002.
On March 6, 2006, having been informed of the condition of former teammate Kirby Puckett
Kirby Puckett
Kirby Puckett was a Major League Baseball center fielder. He played his entire 12-year baseball career with the Minnesota Twins and he is the Twins franchise's all-time leader in career hits, runs, doubles, and total bases...
, who suffered a massive stroke the previous day, Mack flew to Arizona to be with Puckett, along with a number of other current and former Twins. Puckett died late that day.
His brother is former major league outfielder Quinn Mack
Quinn Mack
Quinn David Mack is a former Major League Baseball player. He spent part of one season in the major leagues, playing in five games for the Seattle Mariners in , during a ten-year professional career....
.