Chad Curtis

Chad David Curtis (born November 6, 1968) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and convicted sex offender.

Curtis was drafted in the 45th round of the 1989 Major League Baseball draft by the California Angels, the 1,155th player chosen.

Curtis played major league baseball from 1992 to 2001 for the California Angels, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, and Texas Rangers.

Curtis compiled a .264 career batting average and hit 101 home runs.

Curtis made his major-league debut in 1992, playing in 139 games at all three outfield positions.

He compiled a .259 average with 10 home runs and 46 runs batted in, also stealing 43 bases, but was thrown out 18 times (second in the American League).

On June 26, 1992, Curtis had a five RBI game against the Seattle Mariners.

In 1993, Curtis hit .285 with six home runs and 59 runs batted in, but led the league with 24 times caught stealing.

He also led all AL outfielders in errors, with nine.

In the strike-shortened 1994 season, Curtis played in 114 games, batting .256 while hitting 11 home runs with 50 runs batted in.

During the season, Curtis had an argument with batting instructor Rod Carew, after which Carew said Curtis was selfish and "uncoachable."

In the off-season, Curtis had a shouting match with General Manager Bill Bavasi about Curtis's contract.

On April 13, 1995, the 26-year-old Curtis was traded to the Detroit Tigers for 36-year-old utility player Tony Phillips.

During his first season as a Tiger, Curtis hit .268 with 21 homers and 67 runs batted in, while leading the American League with 670 plate appearances.

In 1996, Curtis played in 104 games, hitting .263 with 10 home runs and 37 runs batted in.

The Tigers, who had planned on releasing Curtis at the end of the season, traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 31, 1996, for relief pitchers John Cummings and Joey Eischen.

Curtis played in 43 games with the Dodgers, hitting just .212 with only nine runs batted in.

During the 1996 postseason, Curtis was 0-for-3 in his only game played.

That season, his salary was $2 million.

On October 15, 1996, he became a free agent.

Curtis signed with the Indians on December 18, 1996.

In 1997, Curtis played in only 22 games for the Indians, hitting .207 (6-for-29) with three home runs and five runs batted in.

In May 1997, after Curtis objected to lyrics of a rap song teammate Kevin Mitchell was playing in the clubhouse, and shut off the clubhouse stereo, he exchanged punches with Mitchell, who threw him over a ping pong table.

Curtis sustained a bruised right thumb in the fight, and was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

On June 9, 1997, the Indians traded Curtis to the Yankees for pitcher David Weathers.

In 1997 with the Yankees, Curtis hit .291 with 12 home runs and 50 runs batted in.

In the postseason he went 1-for-6 with 3 walks and 1 strikeout.

In 1998, Curtis hit .243 with 10 home runs and 56 runs batted in during the Yankees' 114-win regular season.

In the 1998 American League Division Series, Curtis was 2-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base.

In the 1998 AL Championship Series, he was 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.

He did not play in the 1998 World Series.

In 1999, Curtis played in just 99 games, hitting .262 with five home runs and 24 runs batted in.

In the 1999 American League Division Series Curtis played in all three games, and scored one run despite not recording any hits.

In the 1999 American League Championship Series, he scored a run and stole a base, again without recording a hit.

Curtis played all four games of the 1999 World Series in left field.

In 2013, Curtis was convicted of sexually assaulting three underage female students while he was employed at Lakewood High School in Lake Odessa, Michigan.

He served seven years in prison.

Born in Marion, Indiana, Curtis was raised in Middleville, Michigan, and Benson, Arizona.

He attended Benson High School, where he played baseball and varsity football, but was kicked off the basketball team for being "too fiery" and becoming involved in fights.

He then attended Grand Canyon University, Cochise College, and Yavapai College, playing baseball at all three colleges.