Al Newman

Albert Dwayne Newman (born June 30, 1960) is an American former infielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Montreal Expos (1985–1986), Minnesota Twins (1987–1991) and Texas Rangers (1992).

Newman was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed.

Newman attended San Diego State University where he played for the renowned coach Jim Dietz, majored in Accounting and also played football as a running back.

Drafted in the third round of the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft by the California Angels, Newman turned down their offer and returned to college.

In 1980, 1981, and 1982, he played in the National Baseball Congress Tournament in Wichita, KS.

Newman left college with two All-Conference seasons.

In 1980, Newman was again drafted in the third round and declined contract offers, this time by the Texas Rangers.

In the June secondary phase of the 1980 draft, he was selected in the second round by the New York Mets and did not sign.

On June 8, 1981, Newman was drafted in the first round (12th overall) by the Montreal Expos, with whom he would sign his first Major League Baseball contract.

Newman spent much of the next four years in the minor leagues.

Newman debuted in organized baseball with the Memphis Chicks, Montreal's AA-level team, and was a South Atlantic League All-Star second baseman during the 1982 season.

In 1983, Newman started the season again at Memphis before being promoted to Montreal's AAA-level team, the Wichita Aeros.

On December 7, 1983, Newman was included in a large, three-team trade that saw the Expos send him to the San Diego Padres and starting pitcher Scott Sanderson to the Chicago Cubs.

To round out the trade, the Padres sent Gary Lucas to the Expos while the Cubs sent Carmelo Martinez, Craig Lefferts, and Fritzie Connally to the Padres.

Newman started the 1984 season back at the AA level, playing for the Beaumont Golden Gators in the Texas League, before being traded back to the Expos on July 20, 1984, for starting pitcher Greg Harris.

Newman spent the rest of the 1984 season and much of 1985 season with the Expos' new AAA team, the Indianapolis Indians.

Primarily a second baseman, Newman also played shortstop, third base and left field at some point in his career.

He made his major league debut on 14 June 1985 when he was brought in as a pinch runner and scored a run.

Newman was used sparingly by the Expos, playing in 32 games in 1985 and 95 games in 1986.

On July 6, 1986, Newman hit his only Major League home run (off Atlanta's Zane Smith), the same game in which the Braves' Bob Horner hit four home runs.

Newman ended his career with a staggering 4.000 slugging percentage against Smith as this home run was hit in his only at bat versus the pitcher.

Prior to the beginning of the 1987 season, Newman was traded to the Minnesota Twins for career minor league pitcher Mike Shade.

Upon first arriving in Minnesota and seeing Kirby Puckett take batting practice, Newman was quoted as saying, "He's the eighth wonder of the world!"

Newman saw much more playing time with the Twins, proving to be a valuable utility player and pinch runner, but had trouble hitting for average in 1987, including a 0–31 hitless streak.

Newman was a member of two World Series teams in 1987 and 1991 and had two hits, including a triple, and one walk and one RBI in eight World Series plate appearances.

His most productive season came in 1989 with the Twins, when he posted career-highs in stolen bases (25), hits (113), doubles (18), runs batted in (38), runs (62) and batting average (.253).

During the 1989 season, Newman was interviewed along with teammate Gary Gaetti about playing the "hot corner" (third base) for the Minnesota Twins.

Newman recounted an experience playing the position when future Hall of Famer (and future Twin) Dave Winfield came to the plate, "Dave Winfield hit one right at me last year. I had no chance to move. I looked and the ball was in my glove. I made like I knew what I was doing."

In 1990, Al Newman was a part of setting a major league record as the Twins turned two triple plays in one game against the Boston Red Sox, making the final throw in both.

Also during the 1990 season, teammate and future Hall of Famer, Kirby Puckett, was moved around the field from his normal centerfield position to play right field, third base, shortstop, and second base in a single game.

Newman jokingly remarked to the press following the game, "I'm glad Puck's one of us utility guys now. Maybe he'll raise the salary structure a little."

Only weeks after the 1991 World Series victory, Newman was granted free agency by the Twins and was not re-signed.

After weighing his options, Newman signed with the Cincinnati Reds on February 2, 1992, but was released on April 1 during the final roster cutdowns.

However, Newman was signed just two days later by the Texas Rangers in what would turn out to be his final major league season.

In 246 at-bats in 1992, Newman amassed 54 hits, 25 runs, 9 stolen bases, and 34 walks.

In an eight-season career, Newman was a .226 hitter with one home run and 156 RBI in 854 games.

As his career hitting statistics would indicate, Newman did not exactly excel at the plate and displayed little power.

Newman finished with the third-most career at-bats of any player with only one home run since World War II.

In 1992, to commemorate the Twins' World Series victory of the previous year, the team issued a set of playing cards on which Newman was featured on the "3 of Clubs".

Following his playing career, Newman managed the Twins AA team, the New Britain Rock Cats of the Eastern League for the 1996 and 1997 seasons.