Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit
Tigers, New
York Yankees, Anaheim
Angels and Cleveland Indians
3X American League All Star, 2x Silver Slugger and 1996 World Series Champion
CECIL FIELDER
Single Signed Official
American League (Brown) Baseball!
Condition: off white ball with heavy toning in some areas and an approx. 6/10 ballpoint autograph.
I guarantee every signature I sell.
I would not list a signed ball that I did not think was
authentic. But if a signature does not pass any reputable authenticators (Out
or Safe, Beckett’s Quick Review or JSA, etc.), I will refund all costs.
I advise every serious bidder to use “Out or Safe”, or
“Beckett’s Quick Review” before bidding.
Please see my 100% positive eBay
feedback and bid with confidence.
Please see the pictures for condition details and
do not hesitate to ask for more pictures.
*Note: I have been rated lower by some buyers in
eBay’s feedback because of my shipping costs. Please keep in mind that I don’t
make any profit on shipping. I use USPS Priority because it has been extremely
reliable for decades. The cost is calculated based on your location. But it is
getting expensive like everything else. If you find the cost unacceptable,
please contact me before paying and I can change to a lower cost alternative.
Thanks
Cecil Fielder
Cecil Grant Fielder (/ˈsɛsəl/; born September
21, 1963) is an American former professional baseball designated hitter and
first baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB). Fielder was a power hitter in the
1980s and 1990s. He attended college at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
He played in MLB for the Toronto Blue Jays (1985–1988), in Japan's Central
League for the Hanshin Tigers (1989), and then in MLB for the Detroit Tigers
(1990–1996), New York Yankees (1996–97), Anaheim Angels in 1998, and Cleveland
Indians in 1998. With the Yankees, he won the 1996 World Series over the
Atlanta Braves. In 1990, he became the first player to reach the 50–home run
mark since George Foster hit 52 for the Cincinnati Reds in 1977 and the first
American League player to do so since Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris famously
hit 54 and 61 in 1961.
He is the father of Prince Fielder, who similarly established himself as a premier power hitter during his career. The Fielders are the only father and son to both have 50-home run seasons in MLB history, and were the only father–son duo to have 40–home run seasons until 2021, when they were joined by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and his own father.
Early career
Fielder attended Nogales High School in La
Puente, California. He was named an All-American while playing for the school's
baseball team in 1981. He enrolled at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
(UNLV), where he played college baseball for the UNLV Rebels baseball team.
Fielder was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 31st round (767th overall)
of the 1981 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign He was drafted by the
Kansas City Royals in the fourth round (67th overall) of the 1982 MLB draft,
and this time did sign. On February 5, 1983, Fielder was traded to the Toronto
Blue Jays for Leon Roberts.
The Blue Jays promoted Fielder to the major
leagues on July 18, 1985. Fielder became a part-time first and third baseman
for the Blue Jays, sharing playing time with Willie Upshaw and Fred McGriff.
Fielder hit .243 with 31 home runs and 84 runs batted in (RBI) across four
seasons with the team, earning $125,000 in his final season.
Hanshin Tigers
The Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional
Baseball's Central League signed Fielder after the 1988 season, paying him
$1,050,000 ($1,968,644 today), including a chauffeur and a full-time
interpreter. More than the money, he said, he went to Japan for the opportunity
to play every day.[citation needed] In the beginning of spring training,
Fielder had a difficult time adjusting to Japan's baseball culture. However,
with the help of Tiger manager Minoru Murayama and Junichi Kashiwabara, he
became adjusted to the new environment. The Tigers offered Fielder the position
of cleanup hitter, and he became a hero to the local baseball fans, who
nicknamed him "Wild Bear" (wild, in Japan, is the image of power;
bear, for his hulking presence). Fielder batted .302 and hit 38 home runs and
81 RBI for Hanshin in 1989.
Detroit Tigers
On January 15, 1990, Fielder signed a
two-year, $3 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. In his first season with
the Tigers, Fielder hit .277 while leading the major leagues with 51 home runs
and 132 RBI in 159 games. On the last day of the Tigers' season at Yankee
Stadium, Fielder hit his 50th and 51st home runs to become the 11th player in
MLB history – and only the second in the previous 25 years – to reach the 50
home run plateau. No Tigers player had turned the mark since Hank Greenberg
slugged 58 in 1938, and no Tiger player has reached 50 home runs since.
Fielder, whose previous high mark was 14 with Toronto in 1987, provided a
sudden and unexpected emergence as a legitimate slugger. In addition to home
runs and RBI, Fielder also led the majors in slugging percentage (.592) and
strikeouts (182), and he led the American League in total bases (339). After
the season, he finished as the runner-up for the AL MVP Award. In 1990, Fielder
also became the ninth major leaguer to record two three-home run games in a
season.
Fielder enjoyed a successful second season
with the Tigers in 1991, batting .261 with 44 home runs and 133 RBI in 162
games.[10] He again led the majors in home runs and RBI, and joined Hank
Greenberg (1937–38) as the only Tiger players at that time to hit 40 or more
homers in consecutive seasons (Miguel Cabrera joined Fielder and Greenberg in
2012–13). Fielder was again the runner-up in the AL MVP balloting for the
second consecutive year.
On January 29, 1992, Fielder avoided salary
arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.5 million contract, which at the time
set a record for highest salary by an arbitration-eligible player. Fielder
responded by hitting 35 home runs and leading the league in RBI (124) for the
third consecutive season, becoming the first American Leaguer since Babe Ruth
to do so.
During the 1990s, Fielder built a reputation
for clutch hitting and power, though the Tigers continued to be no better than
mediocre. His team's fates possibly hurt him with MVP voters. Rickey Henderson
and Cal Ripken Jr. narrowly edged him for the AL's MVP Award in 1990 and 1991,
respectively. His new fans in Detroit nicknamed him "Big Daddy" for
his big smile, peaceful temperament, and prodigious home runs (as well as his
massive physical stature).
In his six-year tenure with Detroit, Fielder
had four consecutive 30-homer and 100-RBI seasons. He had 28 home runs and 90
RBIs in 109 games during the 1994 season before it was ended by a player
strike, denying him a chance to extend his accomplishments to a fifth
season.[10] He also became the first Tiger to hit at least 25 home runs in six
consecutive seasons. No player in Detroit history hit as many over a six-year
period (219) until Miguel Cabrera hit 227 in 2008–13, and no major league
player had more home runs between 1990 and 1995.
Fielder was a member of the All-Star Team in
1990, 1991, and 1993. Fielder was named "Tiger of the Year" by the
Detroit chapter of the BBWAA in 1990, 1991, and 1992. He is the only player to
receive the award three consecutive years.
On January 8, 1993, Fielder signed a
five-year, $36 million contract with the Tigers; which made him the highest
paid player in baseball for two seasons (1995 and 1996).
Fielder had a reputation for being a slow
baserunner. In 1996, he set a major league record by taking 1,096 games to
record his first career stolen base, which occurred on a botched hit and run.
He stole another base that season as well, and finished his career with two
stolen bases over 13 seasons and 1,470 games. Fielder also had a reputation as
a below average fielder, mostly caused by his poor speed and range. He was,
however, considered a competent defensive first baseman when it came to putouts
and digging infield assists out of the dirt.
Fielder's massive power was exemplified by
two long home runs:
He was one of only four players, and the only
Tiger, to homer over the left-field roof at Tiger Stadium (the other three are
Harmon Killebrew, Frank Howard and Mark McGwire). He hit the homer off Oakland
Athletics pitcher Dave Stewart on August 25, 1990.
He also hit the only home run to ever travel
completely out of Milwaukee County Stadium—during either the Braves' Milwaukee
history (1953–1965) or Brewers' park history (1970–2000). It was hit off the
Brewers' Dan Plesac on September 14, 1991.
Fielder played his final season for the
Tigers in 1996, batting .248 with 26 home runs and 80 RBI in 107 games before
being traded.
Later career
Fielder was traded to the New York Yankees on
July 31, 1996, for Rubén Sierra and Matt Drews. He batted .260 with 13 home
runs and 37 RBI in 53 games with the Yankees. Fielder's acquisition was
integral in the Yankees' World Series championship that year, as he won the
Babe Ruth Award for most outstanding performance in the 1996 postseason. In 14
postseason games, Fielder hit .308 (16-for-52) with two doubles, three home
runs and 14 RBI.
Despite requesting a trade at the end of the
1996 season, Fielder ultimately remained with the Yankees in 1997. On July 15,
Fielder suffered a broken thumb after an awkward slide during a game against
the Cleveland Indians, and the subsequent surgery caused him to miss eight
weeks. He returned to the team on September 15. In 98 games, Fielder batted
.260 with 13 home runs and 61 RBI.[10] In the 1997 American League Division
Series, he recorded one hit in eight at bats (.125) with one RBI in the
Yankees' five-game series loss to Cleveland.
On December 19, 1997, Fielder signed a
one-year contract with the Anaheim Angels. He was designated for assignment on
August 6, 1998. At the time, he was hitting just .241 with 17 home runs and 68
RBI in 103 games. Fielder was released by the Angels on August 10, and signed
with the Cleveland Indians four days later. He was released again on September
18 after batting .143 (5-for-35) with no RBI.
Fielder was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays
before the start of the 1999 season. Despite batting .264 (14-for-53) with two
doubles, a team-high three homers and 11 RBI in 17 spring training games;
Toronto traded for Dave Hollins and Fielder was released once spring training
wrapped. He subsequently retired.
In his career, Fielder batted .255, with 744
runs, 200 doubles, 319 home runs, 1,008 RBI, and a .482 slugging average,
drawing 693 walks for a .345 on-base percentage with two career stolen bases.
As neither of his stolen bases came in the 1990 season, he held the single
season record for most home runs (51) without a single stolen base (later
passed by Mark McGwire in 1996 and 1999, when he hit 52 and 65 respectively).
He was inducted in the Kinston Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994.
Personal life
In October 2004, The Detroit News reported
that Fielder was suffering from domestic and gambling problems. They relied on
court documents from Fielder's divorce and a lawsuit brought against him by
Trump Plaza Hotel and Casinos in New Jersey describing debts to various
casinos, credit card companies and banks. Fielder later filed a libel suit
against Gannett, the parent company of The Detroit News, and the lead reporter,
Fred Girard, accusing them of slander and defamation of character. The suit
sought US$25 million in damages and fees. The trial court dismissed the suit
and the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed the decision.
Fielder's son Prince was a first baseman who
played his career with the Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers, and Texas
Rangers. Fielder was originally involved in his son's professional career, even
negotiating his first contract. After a dispute as to whether Cecil should
receive a typical agent's fee for negotiating the contract, Prince and his
family were no longer on speaking terms with Cecil. In a 2012 interview, Cecil
Fielder said that he and Prince had recently begun speaking again, and that
their relationship was improving. On September 25, 2007, Prince hit his 50th
home run of the season, making Cecil and Prince the only father/son duo in
Major League history to each reach the milestone. The two each have 319 career
home runs, and are tied for 126th on the career MLB home run list.
After managing the South Coast League's
Charlotte County Redfish in 2007, Fielder became the manager of the Atlantic
City Surf of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball in
2008. On March 25, 2011, Fielder was named to the Torrington Titans advisory
board.
On October 17, 2024, Fielder was inducted
into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
1996 New
York Yankees
The 1996 New York Yankees season was the 94th
season for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. The 1996 New York
Yankees were managed by Joe Torre, and played at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
The team finished first in the American
League Eastern Division with a record of 92–70, 4 games ahead of the Baltimore
Orioles and won their first division title since 1981 (the 1994 team had the
best record in the American League, but the strike took it away). The team
defeated the Texas Rangers in the American League Division Series, three games
to one. The Yankees went on to defeat the Orioles in the American League
Championship Series four games to one.
In the 1996 World Series the Yankees beat the
defending National League and World Series champion Atlanta Braves four games
to two, winning four consecutive games to overcome a two-games-to-none deficit.
All told, the Yankees finished the post-season with an 8–0 road win–loss
record, while going just 3–4 at home.
The Yankees earned their 23rd World Series
title and their first since 1978. It was the last season for Hall of Fame TV
announcer Phil Rizzuto, who left the team's broadcast crew that year.
Offseason
December 4, 1995: Jalal Leach was drafted by
the Montreal Expos from the New York Yankees in the 1995 minor league draft.
December 7, 1995: Russ Davis and Sterling
Hitchcock were traded by the Yankees to the Seattle Mariners for Tino Martinez,
Jeff Nelson and Jim Mecir.
December 11, 1995: Mariano Duncan was signed
as a free agent by the Yankees.
December 21, 1995: David Cone was signed as a
free agent by the Yankees
December 28, 1995: The Yankees traded a
player to be named later to the Chicago White Sox for Tim Raines. The Yankees
completed the deal by sending Blaise Kozeniewski to the White Sox on February
6, 1996.
February 20, 1996: Dwight Gooden was signed
as a free agent by the Yankees.
February 24, 1996: Tim McIntosh was signed as
a free agent by the Yankees.
March 31, 1996: Rafael Quirico was released
by the Yankees.
Regular season
Notable transactions
June 4, 1996: 1996 Major League Baseball
draft
Nick Johnson was drafted by the Yankees in
the 3rd round. Player signed June 14, 1996
Scott Seabol was drafted by the Yankees in
the 88th round. Player signed June 25, 1996.
June 12, 1996: Rich Monteleone was traded by
the Yankees to the California Angels for Mike Aldrete.
June 12, 1996: Wally Whitehurst was selected
off waivers by the Yankees from the Montreal Expos.
July 4, 1996: Darryl Strawberry was purchased
by the Yankees from the St. Paul Saints
July 31, 1996: Rubén Sierra and Matt Drews
(minors) were traded by the Yankees to the Detroit Tigers for Cecil Fielder.
July 31, 1996: Dave Weathers was traded by
the Florida Marlins to the New York Yankees for Mark Hutton.
August 22, 1996: Luis Sojo was selected off
waivers by the Yankees from the Seattle Mariners.
August 23, 1996: Bob Wickman and Gerald
Williams were traded by the Yankees to the Milwaukee Brewers for Pat Listach,
Graeme Lloyd and a player to be named later. The Brewers completed the trade by
sending Ricky Bones to the Yankees on August 29.
August 30, 1996: The Yankees traded a player
to be named later to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Charlie Hayes. The Yankees
completed the deal by sending Chris Corn to the Pirates on August 31.
September 6, 1996: Robert Eenhoorn was
selected off waivers from the Yankees by the California Angels.
September 12, 1996: Wally Whitehurst was
released by the Yankees.
Ball B158