Gary Pettis is a former Major League Baseball player who played as a center fielder for several teams during his career. He was known for his exceptional speed and defensive skills, which earned him five Gold Glove Awards during his career.
Pettis was born on April 3, 1958, in Oakland, California. He attended high school in nearby Castlemont and was drafted by the California Angels in the sixth round of the 1979 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the Angels in 1982 and quickly established himself as one of the best defensive outfielders in the league.
Pettis played for the Angels for six seasons, from 1982 to 1987. During this time, he won all five of his Gold Glove Awards and was a key player on the team that won the American League West division in 1986. He was also a threat on the basepaths, stealing 186 bases during his time with the Angels.
In 1988, Pettis was traded to the Detroit Tigers, where he played for two seasons. He continued to be a solid defensive player and stole 50 bases in his first season with the Tigers. However, his offensive production declined during his time in Detroit, and he was traded to the Texas Rangers in 1990.
Pettis played for the Rangers for three seasons, from 1990 to 1992. He was primarily used as a defensive replacement and pinch runner during this time, but he still managed to steal 56 bases in his three seasons with the team. He also played in the 1991 All-Star Game as a reserve outfielder.
After the 1992 season, Pettis became a free agent and signed with the California Angels, where he had started his career. However, he struggled during the 1993 season and was released by the team in August. He signed with the Detroit Tigers for the remainder of the season but did not play in the majors again after that.
Overall, Pettis played in the majors for 11 seasons, from 1982 to 1992. He was a career .236 hitter with 20 home runs and 254 RBIs. However, his true value was in his defense and speed, as he was one of the best defensive outfielders of his era and a constant threat on the basepaths. He also played in two postseasons during his career, with the Angels in 1986 and the Rangers in 1992.
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