Andrew James Van Slyke (born December 21, 1960, in Utica, New York) is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder and former first base coach for the Detroit Tigers.
Van Slyke earned All-American honors in baseball as a senior at New Hartford Central High school located in New Hartford, New York.
He was drafted in the first round (sixth overall pick) of the 1979 Major League Baseball amateur draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. Called up from the AA...
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Andrew James Van Slyke (born December 21, 1960, in Utica, New York) is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder and former first base coach for the Detroit Tigers.
Van Slyke earned All-American honors in baseball as a senior at New Hartford Central High school located in New Hartford, New York.
He was drafted in the first round (sixth overall pick) of the 1979 Major League Baseball amateur draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. Called up from the AAA Louisville Redbirds, he made his Major League debut with the Cardinals on June 17, 1983.
In 1985, he was one of five Cardinals to steal at least 30 bases. He stole 34 that season, part of the "Whiteyball" era.
He began his career the first two years by playing first base, third base, and all three outfield positions. He mostly played right field the next two years because Van Slyke had a serious cannon for a right arm, occasionally platooning with Tito Landrum or substituting for Willie McGee in center. During spring training of 1987, he was...
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