Jim Leyritz

James Joseph Leyritz (born December 27, 1963) is an American former professional baseball catcher and infielder.

In his 11-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, Leyritz played for the New York Yankees, Anaheim Angels, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, and Los Angeles Dodgers.

After playing the 1985 season for the Kentucky Wildcats, Leyritz went undrafted by Major League Baseball (MLB), but was signed as a free agent by the New York Yankees.

Leyritz made his MLB debut for the Yankees on June 8, 1990.

That home run was the last one to be hit in the 1990s.

His playing days were highlighted by a pair of memorable postseason home runs he hit with the Yankees in 1995 and 1996 in comeback wins.

In Game 2 of the 1995 American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium, in rainy conditions, Leyritz hit a walk-off two-run home run to right-center field in the 15th inning, giving the Yankees a 7–5 victory and a two-games-to-none lead in the best-of-five series.

The home run was surrendered by Mariners pitcher Tim Belcher, who was famously involved in a profanity-laced incident with a cameraman covering him walking through the tunnel to the clubhouse afterwards.

The best known of Leyritz's playoff heroics occurred in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series against the Atlanta Braves at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium.

In the series, the Yankees trailed the Braves two games to one, and in Game 4, the Yankees trailed, 6–0, after five innings.

The Yankees rallied for three runs in the 6th inning, setting the stage for Leyritz in the 8th inning.

Facing Atlanta closer Mark Wohlers with one out and two runners on base, Leyritz hit a three-run home run to left field to tie the game and cap the improbable Yankee comeback.

"In the air to left field... back, at the track, at the wall, we are tied!"

said announcer Joe Buck on national television.

The Yankees eventually won the game, 8–6, in 10 innings to tie the series.

In Game 5, Leyritz caught pitchers Andy Pettitte and John Wetteland for a 1–0 shutout, and the Yankees clinched their championship with a victory in Game 6.

After the 1996 season, the Yankees traded Leyritz to the Anaheim Angels for two players to be named later (PTBNL): minor leaguers Jeremy Blevins and Ryan Kane.

On July 29, 1997, the Angels traded Leyritz and a PTBNL (minor leaguer Rob Sasser) to the Texas Rangers for Ken Hill.

After the season, the Rangers traded Leyritz to the Boston Red Sox with Damon Buford for Mark Brandenburg, Bill Haselman, and Aaron Sele.

On June 20, 1998, the Red Sox traded Leyritz with Ethan Faggett to the San Diego Padres for Carlos Reyes, Mandy Romero and Darío Veras.

Leyritz had a number of unlikely playoff home runs and clutch hits that season.

The most dramatic of them came in Game 2 of the National League Division Series against Houston Astros pitcher Billy Wagner.

Leyritz hit an opposite-field game-tying home run off the right field foul pole in the top of the 9th inning.

However, the Astros won the game in the bottom half of the inning.

In Game 3, Leyritz hit the eventual game-winning home run against Scott Elarton in the bottom of the 7th inning that broke a 1–1 tie.

Overall, Leyritz batted .400 with three home runs and five runs batted in in that series.

Leyritz's Padres were matched against his former team, the Yankees, in the 1998 World Series.

During player introductions in Game 1 at Yankee Stadium, Leyritz received a standing ovation from the fans who remembered his heroics from two years earlier.

He went hitless in ten at bats in a four-game Yankees sweep.

With the Yankees, Leyritz was a member of the and 1999 World Series championships, both over the Atlanta Braves.

Leyritz grew up in Anderson Township, Hamilton County, Ohio with his parents, brother, and sister, and attended Turpin High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.

He then attended Middle Georgia College, a junior college in Cochran, Georgia, before transferring to the University of Kentucky.

At Kentucky, Leyritz played college baseball for the Kentucky Wildcats baseball team.

On July 31, 1999, the Padres traded Leyritz to the Yankees for Geraldo Padua.

The Yankees advanced to the 1999 World Series, and in Game 4, in the bottom of the 8th inning, Leyritz hit a solo home run to extend the Yankees' lead to 4–1 and help them complete a sweep of the Braves to win a championship.

NBC commentator Bob Costas remarked incredulously about Leyritz after the home run, "You could send this guy to a resort in the spring and summer, as long as he comes back in October."

On June 20, 2000, the Yankees traded Leyritz to the Los Angeles Dodgers for José Vizcaíno and cash.

Although he was traded midway during the 2000 season before the Yankees won their third straight World Series title and fourth in five seasons, Leyritz was awarded his third World Series ring by the Yankees.

Leyritz became a free agent after the 2000 season, and signed in 2001 with the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League.

His performance there led to a contract with the Padres, who assigned him to AAA.