Brian McCann is a former American professional baseball catcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 15 seasons. He was born on February 20, 1984, in Athens, Georgia, and attended Duluth High School in Duluth, Georgia. McCann was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the second round of the 2002 MLB draft and made his MLB debut on June 10, 2005.
McCann spent the majority of his career with the Atlanta Braves, where he played from 2005 to 2013. During his time with the Braves, he was a seven-time All-Star and won five Silver Slugger Awards. He was also known for his strong defensive skills, winning the National League Gold Glove Award in 2008.
In 2014, McCann signed a five-year, $85 million contract with the New York Yankees. He played for the Yankees from 2014 to 2018, where he continued to be a reliable catcher and leader on the team. In 2019, McCann returned to the Braves for his final season before announcing his retirement from baseball on February 11, 2020.
Throughout his career, McCann was known for his ability to hit for power and average, as well as his leadership and work ethic. He finished his career with a .262 batting average, 282 home runs, and 1,018 RBIs. He also had a reputation for being a strong defensive catcher, with a career fielding percentage of .995.
Off the field, McCann was known for his philanthropic work, particularly with the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research. He and his wife, Ashley, founded the Brian McCann Rally Celebrity Softball Game in 2013, which has raised over $1 million for childhood cancer research.
In conclusion, Brian McCann had a successful 15-year career in MLB, primarily with the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees. He was a seven-time All-Star, five-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and Gold Glove Award winner. He was also known for his leadership and philanthropic work off the field.
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