Luis Polonia

Luis Andrew Polonia Almonte (born October 12, 1963) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter. He currently resides in Santiago, in the Dominican Republic, his hometown.

Signed by the Oakland Athletics as an amateur free agent in 1984, Polonia would make his Major League Baseball debut with the Oakland Athletics on April 24, 1987, and appear in his final game on October 1, 2000. He played for two World Series Championship teams, winning with Atlanta in 1995 and the New York Yankees in 2000.

Early life

Polonia was born on October 12, 1963 in the Dominican Republic. He joined the Dominican League at an early age and was known as a strong contact hitter, as well as a below-average defensive outfielder. Though he had good speed, he was not a wise baserunner and led his league in caught stealing a total of five times between the minors and majors. He was also known for his tremendous performance during winter ball. He is one of the top 10 contact hitters in Dominican League history and is the all-time Caribbean series leader in hits, doubles, and runs scored as of 2008.^[1]

Career

Throughout his career, Polonia was known as a quick runner and stolen base threat.

Oakland Athletics (1987–1989)

Polonia began his career in 1987 with the Oakland Athletics. He played in 125 games that year hitting .287 with 10 triples and 29 stolen bases. The following year, Polonia played in only 84 games, hitting .292 with 29 steals in 36 attempts. Polonia's strong play helped the Oakland A's reach the postseason and advance to the World Series in 1988. However, Polonia was 1 for 9 in the series as Oakland lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers.^[1] In 1989, he was hitting .286 with 13 steals in 17 attempts before being traded to the Yankees.^[1]

New York Yankees (1989–1990)

Polonia was traded to the Yankees in 1989 in the deal that sent Rickey Henderson to Oakland.^[2] During the remainder of the season, he hit .313 with 9 steals. In October, he was sentenced to 60 days in prison after pleading guilty to having sex with a minor that August.^[2]

Polonia began the 1990 season with seven hits in his first 22 at-bats. After only 11 games,^[3] he was traded to the California Angels for Claudell Washington and Rich Monteleone.

California Angels (1990–1993)

Polonia finished the 1990 season with 128 hits in 381 at-bats. Polonia hit .336 for the Angels in 1991, while attaining a career-high 122 OPS+ as well as tying Nelson Liriano and Lance Johnson for third place with nine triples in the American League, but also led the league in times caught stealing.^[1]^[3] The following year, his average fell to .286, but he tied Shane Mack for the eighth place in the American League in triples. He had 48 stolen bases but was caught 23 times, leading the league.^[1] In 1993, his average fell to .271, but he stole 51 bases, tying Roberto Alomar for second (behind Kenny Lofton), but tied Chad Curtis for the league lead with 24 times caught stealing.

Return to the Yankees (1994–1995) and the World Series with Atlanta

In 1994, he signed as a free agent with the Yankees, hitting .311 in the strike-shortened season. He stole 20 of 32 bases that year, but tied Kenny Lofton and Felix Jones with 12 times caught stealing.^[1] When baseball resumed in 1995, he hit .261 before being traded to the Atlanta Braves and provided a boost down the stretch when he was 2 for 5 with 3 RBIs in the NLDS and NLCS, despite playing in a platoon role. In the game one of the 1995 World Series, Polonia drove in Fred McGriff for the game-winning RBI. Overall, he was 4-for-14 with a walk, a double, 3 runs scored, and 4 RBIs as he earned his first World Series ring. Polonia celebrated the Series win by encasing his World Series ring inside what is believed to be the largest ball of twine in North America.^[4]

Struggles (1996)

Prior to the season, the Seattle Mariners signed Polonia to a non-guaranteed contract. He was released during spring training. He was soon picked up by the Baltimore Orioles where he played 14 games for the Rochester Red Wings before being called up and hitting .240 over 58 games. He was cut in August and signed with the Braves, where he hit .419 down the stretch, but went 0 for 10 with just one walk that postseason as the Braves fell to the New York Yankees in six games.^[1]

Out of MLB

In 1997, he signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, but instead played for the Mexico City Tigres. He led the Mexican League in steals and was second in average.^[1] Playing in winter ball that year, he hit .382 with a league-leading 15 doubles and 60 hits. In 1998, he hit .381 with 36 of 45 steals and 82 RBIs. In winter ball, he won the batting title with a .336 average, ahead of Luis Castillo.

Back in the Majors (1999–2000)

Polonia was signed late in the 1999 season by the Detroit Tigers, hitting .324 and slugging 10 home runs in 87 games.^[3] In 2000, Polonia hit .273 in 80 games for the Tigers before being released.

Third Stint With the Yankees (2000)

On August 3, 2000, Polonia signed with the Yankees after being released by the Detroit Tigers. He served as an outfielder down the stretch while also receiving some time as a designated hitter.^[5] In the 2000 American League Division Series, Polonia served as a pinch hitter for Jorge Posada in Game 4, where he recorded a single.^[6] He received two at-bats in the 2000 World Series, going 1 for 2 with a single. He retired after the World Series.

Post-baseball career

Polonia currently runs the Polonia Baseball Academy
In 2016, he was enshrined in the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame

References

External links

Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet

Atlanta Braves 1995 World Series Champions

2 Rafael Belliard 4 Jeff Blauser 7 Dwight Smith 8 Javy López 9 Marquis Grissom 10 Chipper Jones 11 Charlie O'Brien 12 Eddie Pérez 16 Mike Mordecai 17 Luis Polonia 18 Ryan Klesko 20 Mark Lemke 23 David Justice 24 Mike Devereaux (NLCS MVP) 26 Alejandro Peña 27 Fred McGriff 29 John Smoltz 30 Ed Giovanola 31 Greg Maddux 33 Steve Avery 38 Greg McMichael 43 Mark Wohlers 47 Tom Glavine (World Series MVP) 50 Kent Mercker 51 Pedro Borbón, Jr. 52 Brad Clontz

Manager 6 Bobby Cox Coaches Bench Coach 26 Jim Beauchamp First Base Coach 39 Pat Corrales 59 Frank Fultz Hitting Coach 28 Clarence Jones Pitching Coach 54 Leo Mazzone Third Base Coach 22 Jimy Williams Bullpen Coach 42 Ned Yost

Regular season National League Division Series National League Championship Series

New York Yankees 2000 World Series Champions

2 Derek Jeter (World Series MVP) 11 Chuck Knoblauch 12 Denny Neagle 13 José Vizcaíno 14 Luis Sojo 17 Dwight Gooden 18 Scott Brosius 19 Luis Polonia 20 Jorge Posada 21 Paul O'Neill 22 Roger Clemens 24 Tino Martinez 25 Chris Turner 26 Orlando Hernández 27 Allen Watson 28 David Justice (ALCS MVP) 29 Mike Stanton 31 Glenallen Hill 33 Jose Canseco 35 Clay Bellinger 36 David Cone 38 Jason Grimsley 42 Mariano Rivera 43 Jeff Nelson 46 Andy Pettitte 47 Shane Spencer 51 Bernie Williams 55 Ramiro Mendoza 58 Randy Choate

Manager 6 Joe Torre Bench Coach 52 Don Zimmer Pitching Coach 34 Mel Stottlemyre First Base Coach 53 Lee Mazzilli Hitting Coach 49 Chris Chambliss Third Base Coach 30 Willie Randolph Bullpen Coach 40 Tony Cloninger

Regular season American League Division Series American League Championship Series Mets–Yankees rivalry Subway Series

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