Robin Ventura

44
Robin Ventura bigraphy, stories - American baseball player and manager

Robin Ventura : biography

July 14, 1967 –

Robin Mark Ventura ( born July 14, 1967) is the current manager of the Chicago White Sox and former Major League Baseball player. Prior to managing the White Sox Ventura enjoyed a long career in the major leagues, during which he was known as one of the best third baseman in baseball. He was named an All-Star two times and earned six gold gloves. During his career he played for four major league teams, spending the majority of his career with the White Sox.

Post-career rehabilitation

Ventura’s 1997 ankle injury – a compound fracture and dislocation – also affected his leg muscles, which began to atrophy following the accident. Full strength in his leg never returned, and the daily pain from his ankle and leg contributed to Ventura’s decision to retire from baseball. After retirement, Ventura limped badly and was forced to walk with a cane regularly. On November 18, 2005, Ventura underwent an ankle allograft. Following the surgery and rehabilitation, he now walks without pain and without a limp. He also sometimes appears on ESPNU as an anchor.

Ventura returned to Shea Stadium for the final game on September 28, 2008 for the closing ceremonies, with ex-teammates Edgardo Alfonzo, John Franco, Todd Zeile, and Mike Piazza.

Broadcasting

Ventura has provided color commentary for the College World Series. In 2010, he worked as a color commentator for the Little League Southwest Region Finals on ESPN along with Carter Blackburn.http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2010/08/09/espn-thisweek-august-9-2010/

Career

Chicago White Sox

After being picked tenth in the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft by the White Sox, Ventura spent much of at AA Birmingham before joining the Sox that September. While in Birmingham, he earned a spot in the Southern League All-Star Game and was voted the league’s top defensive third baseman. He was named to the 1990 Topps All-Star Rookie Roster and earned the starting third base role with the White Sox the next spring. While his rookie year was marred by an 0-for-41 slump and 25 errors, his 123 hits were the most by a White Sox rookie since Ozzie Guillén in 1985; he also led AL rookies with 150 games played. The next year he won his first Gold Glove Award for fielding excellence, set a team record for RBIs at third base, and led the AL in putouts. In , Ventura won another Gold Glove and earned a spot on the All-Star team. Following the season, Ventura’s half-sister perished in an apartment fire near his home in California; Ventura missed the first three weeks of spring training to be with his family.

saw his batting average drop 20 points to .262, though both his slugging and on-base percentages rose slightly. Ventura also collected his 500th hit that May and won his third straight Gold Glove, while becoming the first AL third baseman with three consecutive 90-RBI campaigns since Graig Nettles (1975–78). The White Sox appeared in the ALCS that year, Ventura's only playoff trip while in Chicago, losing to the Toronto Blue Jays. On August 4, 1993, during a game against the Texas Rangers, Ventura was hit by a pitch thrown by Nolan Ryan. Ventura charged the mound and started a bench-clearing brawl. This brawl was voted the top baseball brawl of all time by ESPN's Sportcenter. At the time of the incident, Ventura was about to turn 26 years-old and Nolan Ryan was more than 46 years-old. That being said, Ventura charged the mound. Not backing away from the assault, Ryan placed Ventura in a headlock and punched him many times, despite being nearly twice Ventura's age. 

In , the strike that year likely prevented him from reaching 90 RBI for the only time between 1991 and 1996. When play resumed in , Ventura had ten errors in the first ten games. He spent some time at first base that year amid trade rumors, but ended the year with a career-high .295 average, and on September 4 hit two grand slams in one game, the eighth player in history to do so and the first since Frank Robinson in 1970. The next season he won his fourth Gold Glove, reached new highs in fielding percentage, homers and RBIs, and set team records in career homers by a third baseman (142) and grand slams (9).