Jeff Schaefer wasn’t the biggest, fastest or the strongest,
but he was versatile and worked hard for everything he gained on the baseball
diamond. Where many others failed to make the major leagues, he parlayed the
gifts he did have into a career that stretched 14 seasons and included parts of
five years at the big-league level.
Following a distinguished career at the University of
Maryland, where he hit a combined .333, Schaefer was selected in the 12th
round of the 1981 draft by the Baltimore Orioles. A second baseman, the
right-hander gradually started playing more around the infield and occasionally
in the outfield. However, he was a light hitter without top-end speed and in
the winter of 1986, he was purchased by the California Angels, having reached
Triple-A, but no further.
After one year in the Angels’ organization, he bounced to
the Los Angeles Dodgers and then the Chicago White Sox, where he finally
received his first major league chance in 1989. He appeared in 15 games for the
South Siders, collecting a lone single (against Rob Murphy
and the Boston Red Sox) in 10 at-bats, with a stolen base.
Continuing his experience of being a journeyman, he signed
with the Seattle Mariners that offseason and became an important cog off their
bench over the next three seasons, hitting a combined .208 with two home runs and
20 RBIs in 204 games (just 341 at-bats), playing second, shortstop and third
base.
After eight at-bats with the Oakland Athletics in 1994, his
professional playing career was over. He finished with a .203 career batting average
but was valued for his ability to fill out a roster by being hungry and versatile.
Keep reading for more from Schaefer, as he shares some
memories from his playing career.
Who was your favorite
player when you were growing up, and why?: Thurman
Munson. He was grit. He was a gamer. He was the Captain.
What did you do to celebrate after being drafted and signing?: Nothing overly special; dinner with family and friends.
What did you do to celebrate after being drafted and signing?: Nothing overly special; dinner with family and friends.
How difficult is it
to persevere and keep fighting to make the major leagues after nine
years in the minors?: Not as tough for me as it may have been for
others. I loved playing the game. Yes, I wanted to be in the big leagues sooner,
but I was just happy playing the game for as long as someone would let me.
What do you remember most about your major league debut (against the Oakland Athletics)?: Striking out... But I took three man hacks. The adrenalin was rushing through my veins like I never felt before
As someone who played with them for years, how would you compare the hitting skills of Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez?: Two different hitters completely. Edgar was a self-made professional hitter and Junior was a hitter made by God.
What is your favorite moment from your baseball career?: My first start ever was in Yankee Stadium. I grew up a Yankees fan and Jeff Torborg saved my first start for Yankee Stadium, so my family and friends could experience it with me.
What do you remember most about your major league debut (against the Oakland Athletics)?: Striking out... But I took three man hacks. The adrenalin was rushing through my veins like I never felt before
As someone who played with them for years, how would you compare the hitting skills of Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez?: Two different hitters completely. Edgar was a self-made professional hitter and Junior was a hitter made by God.
What is your favorite moment from your baseball career?: My first start ever was in Yankee Stadium. I grew up a Yankees fan and Jeff Torborg saved my first start for Yankee Stadium, so my family and friends could experience it with me.
Which of your teams
was your favorite, and why was that?: Seattle. I knew I was playing with
greatness...They just needed time. Griffey Jr, Edgar Martinez, Omar
Vizquel, and Randy
Johnson.
Who was your favorite coach or manager, and what made them your choice?: I played for Joe Maddon in Double-A and Charlie Manuel in Triple-A...Jeff Torborg will forever be favorite. He gave a kid who spent eight-and-a-half years beating the bushes his first shot.
Who was your favorite coach or manager, and what made them your choice?: I played for Joe Maddon in Double-A and Charlie Manuel in Triple-A...Jeff Torborg will forever be favorite. He gave a kid who spent eight-and-a-half years beating the bushes his first shot.
What, if anything,
would you have done differently in your baseball career?: Nothing. I beat
the odds. No one slated me as big-league player. I was an organizational guy in
just about everyone's mind except my own.
What have you been up
to since your playing days ended?: Regional Director of USA Baseball NTIS,
CBC Baseball www.cbcbaseball.net, President: www.UDACF.org,
Chairman: www.Knotholecarolinas.org
I hope this YouTube video helps as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bLIxa5egq4 (Full video available here).
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You can check me out on Facebook or follow me on Twitter @historianandrewI have also authored a number of books (eBook and paperback) an topics of baseball that are available on Amazon.
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