Oddibe McDowell

Oddibe McDowell
Center fielder
Born: (1962-08-25) August 25, 1962
Hollywood, Florida
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
May 19, 1985, for the Texas Rangers
Last MLB appearance
August 10, 1994, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
Batting average .253
Home runs 74
Runs batted in 266
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Oddibe McDowell
Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's Baseball
Summer Olympics
1984 Los Angeles Team

Oddibe McDowell (born August 25, 1962) is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1985 to 1994 for the Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves. McDowell was the first player to hit for the cycle for the Rangers, doing so on July 23, 1985 in a Rangers' 8-4 victory over the Indians at Arlington Stadium. Mark Teixeira, Gary Matthews, Jr., Ian Kinsler, Bengie Molina, Adrián Beltré, Alex Ríos, and Shin-Soo Choo are the other Rangers players to hit for the cycle.

His first name is pronounced "owed a bee" or "oh-ta-bee." Because it also sounds vaguely like a slurred rendition of "oh to be", ESPN personality and announcer Chris Berman dubbed him Oddibe "Young Again" McDowell.[1]

Baseball career

He won the prestigious Golden Spikes Award, which is given annually to the best amateur baseball player, in 1984 while playing at Arizona State University. He wore uniform number 0 at ASU, and ASU has retired his number. McDowell also finished 4th in the American League Rookie of the Year voting for 1985.

He was a member of the 1984 United States Olympic Team.

McDowell stood out during his first stint with the Texas Rangers by wearing the very unusual uniform number 0. He wore the number 20 with the Indians, the number 1 with the Braves, and during his second time with the Rangers, he wore number 8.[2]

Through June 16, 2009, McDowell was tied for second of all Rangers players ever in career leadoff home runs, one behind the 9 by Ian Kinsler.[3]

Today, Oddibe is the Head Coach for the McArthur High School Varsity Baseball team.

He was inducted in the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011.

See also

References

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