Joe McEwing
McEwing with the Cardinals in 2023
Utility player / Coach
Born: (1972-10-19) October 19, 1972
Bristol, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 2, 1998, for the St. Louis Cardinals
Last MLB appearance
May 20, 2006, for the Houston Astros
MLB statistics
Batting average.251
Home runs25
Runs batted in158
Teams
As player

As coach

Joseph Earl McEwing (born October 19, 1972) is an American professional baseball coach and former utility player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, Kansas City Royals, and Houston Astros, and coached for the Chicago White Sox and Cardinals. Nicknamed "Super Joe", he was the prototypical utility player who could play any position on the field.

Early life

McEwing graduated from Bishop Egan High School in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania in 1990.[1][2] While in high school he played for both the basketball and baseball teams.[3] He played college baseball at the County College of Morris in Randolph Township, New Jersey. During the 1991 season, he set a school record for single-season batting average, hitting .465. In 2001, the college retired his uniform number, six.[4]

Professional baseball career

In 1998, he had a total of 51 doubles with Triple-A Memphis and Double-A Arkansas.[5] His first full season in the majors was also his best. McEwing batted .275 in 1999 with 141 hits and a career-high nine home runs. He also amassed a 25-game hitting streak, the fifth longest at that time by a rookie, and finished fifth in National League Rookie of the Year balloting.

McEwing became an immediate fan favorite because of his energy, hustle, and obvious love for the game.[6] His nickname, Super Joe, referred to McEwing's positional versatility.[7] During his rookie season, McEwing played every position on the field, except pitcher and catcher.

In his honor, St. Louis Cardinals fans created what was known as "Little Mac Land," in a play on words of the official "Big Mac Land" created in the upper deck of Busch Stadium for Mark McGwire.[8][9] McEwing had a streak of 230 errorless games, which at one point was the longest such streak by an active major league outfielder.[10] McEwing was often successful against Randy Johnson, so McEwing was nicknamed "Little Unit" (a reference to Johnson who was called "Big Unit").[11]

During Spring training just before the start of the 2000 season, he was traded to the New York Mets for Jesse Orosco. Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa admired McEwing so much that he requested a pair of the player's spikes upon the trade.[12]

Released by the Mets toward the end of spring training in 2005 (which especially upset All-Star David Wright),[13] the Kansas City Royals signed him to provide extra infield insurance.[14] The Royals called McEwing up to the major leagues in April, when starting third baseman Mark Teahen went on the 15-day disabled list.[15]

On March 30, 2006, he was sent to the Houston Astros by the Royals.[16] In 2007, he signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox.[17] On January 16, 2008, McEwing officially announced his retirement from baseball.

Post-playing career

Chicago White Sox

McEwing as a coach for the Chicago White Sox in 2016

In the 2008 season, McEwing started his baseball coaching career as the hitting coach for the Charlotte Knights. On November 3, 2008, he was named manager of the Winston-Salem Dash, the Class A affiliate for the Chicago White Sox, for the 2009 season.[18] During that season, Baseball America rated McEwing as the top managerial prospect in the South Atlantic League.[19] McEwing was also named Manager of the Year for his work managing the Dash in 2009 and 2010.[20]

McEwing was named manager of the Charlotte Knights, the White Sox Triple-A affiliate, for the 2011 season.[21] In October 2011, McEwing was promoted to serve as the third base coach for the White Sox in 2012, serving under new manager Robin Ventura.[22][23] Several managerial and coaching positions opened up shortly before the end of the 2011 season when then White Sox manager Ozzie Guillén announced that he would be leaving.[24] McEwing was promoted from third base coach to bench coach for the 2017 season and continued to occupy that job until 2020 when the White Sox hired Miguel Cairo.[25][26] On December 1, 2020, McEwing was named third base coach.[27]

St. Louis Cardinals

On January 12, 2023, McEwing was hired by the St. Louis Cardinals as their bench coach.[28][29]

McEwing was ejected for the first time in his MLB career on May 5, 2023, arguing a called strike one to Dylan Carlson. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol was ejected as well.[30][31] On November 20, the Cardinals announced he will move into a role as a special assistant to John Mozeliak, the Cardinals president of baseball operations, as Daniel Descalso becomes the new bench coach.[32]

Personal life

McEwing and his wife Courtnie reside outside of Philadelphia with their children JD, Grace, and Ashlyn.

References

  1. ↑ "For McEwing and Manto, great timing to come home". Austin American Statesman. July 13, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  2. ↑ Caldwell, Dave (July 23, 2003). "BASEBALL: METS NOTEBOOK; McEwing's Home Run Is for Real". The New York Times. Retrieved January 16, 2023. McEwing was born in Bristol, Pa., about 20 miles northeast of Philadelphia, and he became a star at Bishop Egan High School in Fairless Hills, Pa...McEwing, 30, graduated from high school in 1990...
  3. ↑ "Mets outfielder Joe McEwing is former Bristolian". The Reporter. December 5, 2001. Retrieved January 16, 2023. McEwing graduated from Bishop Egan High School in 1990 where he played baseball and basketball. He earned his first state honors in baseball as a senior. He attended the County College of Morris in Randolph, New Jersey, where he played baseball and received all-conference, all-region, and second team All-America honors.
  4. ↑ "McEwing number retired at college". New Jersey Hills Media Group. January 18, 2001. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  5. ↑ Cardinals' Media Relations, ed. (2001). St. Louis Cardinals 2001 Media Guide. Hadler Printing Company. p. D-19.
  6. ↑ "News: Super Joe Finally Retires". Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  7. ↑ Cooney, Kevin (July 4, 2011). "'Super Joe' McEwing managing his time well". Courier-Times. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Catching up with Joe McEwing". The Washington Times. May 8, 2009. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  9. ↑ "'Twas The Summer Of '98". Bleacher Report. July 25, 2008. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  10. ↑ Phillies bolster bench by signing Doug Glanville By Don Bostrom, The Morning Call, January 13, 2004. Retrieved September 2nd, 2011
  11. ↑ Johnson Is No Match For Mets' McEwing
  12. ↑ "Mets Give Little Mac Big Shoes". New York Daily News. New York. 17 May 2000. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  13. ↑ "McEwing's Release Hits Wright Hard". Archived from the original on 2005-03-20. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  14. ↑ "McEwing a Royal". Nevada Daily Mail. Associated Press. March 25, 2005. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Looper pitch catches Biggio, but X-rays negative". ESPN.com. April 13, 2005. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  16. ↑ Elkins, Ashley (March 31, 2006). "Royals, Astros make trade". Daily Journal. Associated Press. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  17. ↑ Red Sox sign McEwing
  18. ↑ Development No. 1 priority in Minors Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine retrieved on 5 Nov., 2008
  19. ↑ McEwing top managerial prospect in South Atlantic League retrieved on September 21, 2009 Archived September 24, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  20. ↑ "Waring, Britton get top Carolina honors". MinorLeagueBaseball.com. September 2, 2009. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  21. ↑
  22. ↑ Cooney, Kevin (October 31, 2011). "Manto, McEwing named to White Sox staff". Courier-Times. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Charlotte Knights Manager Joe McEwing Promoted". MILB.com. October 31, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Ozzie Guillén out as White Sox manager, will join Marlins". USA Today. September 26, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  25. ↑ "Sox name McEwing bench coach, Capra third-base coach and Hasler bullpen coach". MLB.com. October 14, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  26. ↑ Merkin, Scott (October 14, 2016). "McEwing named bench coach amid staff changes". MLB.com. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  27. ↑ "White Sox announce coaching staff for 2021 season". MLB.com. December 1, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Matt Holliday resigns; McEwing hired as bench coach". MLB.com. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Cardinals hire Joe McEwing as bench coach after Matt Holliday resigns". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 12, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  30. ↑ "MLB Ejections 040-41 - Junior Valentine (2-3; STL x2)".
  31. ↑ "Greene, Báez spark Tigers to 5-4 win over slumping Cardinals". 6 May 2023.
  32. ↑ "Cardinals hire '11 champ Descalso as bench coach". MLB.com. November 20, 2023.
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