Cecil Espy was a professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues for several years. He was born on August 20, 1963, in Redwood City, California, and attended high school in San Mateo. After graduating, he was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 2nd round of the 1981 MLB draft.
Espy began his professional career in the minor leagues, playing for several teams before making his Major League debut with the Rangers in 1987. He played for the Rangers for three seasons, primarily as an outfielder. In 1990, he was traded to the Montreal Expos, where he played for two seasons.
Espy's best season came in 1991, when he hit .276 with 6 home runs and 38 RBIs in 109 games for the Expos. He also stole 22 bases that season, which was a career high. However, he struggled in 1992, hitting just .202 in 73 games.
After the 1992 season, Espy was traded to the Chicago White Sox, where he played for one season before being released. He signed with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1994, but was released before the season began.
Overall, Espy played in 479 Major League games over seven seasons, hitting .242 with 11 home runs and 99 RBIs. He also stole 56 bases and played all three outfield positions.
After his playing career ended, Espy worked as a coach and scout for several teams, including the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also worked as a hitting instructor for several years.
In addition to his baseball career, Espy is known for his involvement in a landmark legal case. In 1991, he and several other African American players sued Major League Baseball, alleging that the league's free agency system discriminated against them. The case was settled out of court, and the players received a total of $280 million in damages.
Today, Espy is retired from baseball and lives in California. He remains involved in the sport, coaching youth teams and working with young players to help them develop their skills.
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