Robin Ventura is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major League Baseball (MLB) for 16 seasons. He was born on July 14, 1967, in Santa Maria, California, and grew up in California. Ventura played college baseball at Oklahoma State University, where he was a two-time All-American and won the Golden Spikes Award in 1988.
Ventura was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the first round of the 1988 MLB draft and made his debut in the major leagues in 1989. He quickly established himself as a solid third baseman and was known for his excellent defense and clutch hitting. Ventura played for the White Sox for 10 seasons and was named to two All-Star teams during his time with the team.
In 1999, Ventura was traded to the New York Mets, where he played for four seasons. He had a career year in 1999, hitting .301 with 32 home runs and 120 RBIs. Ventura also had a memorable moment in the 1999 playoffs when he hit a walk-off grand slam in the 15th inning of Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves.
After his time with the Mets, Ventura played for the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and finished his career with the White Sox in 2004. He retired with a career batting average of .267, 294 home runs, and 1,182 RBIs.
After his playing career, Ventura went into coaching and managed the White Sox from 2012 to 2016. He led the team to a 85-77 record in his first season and was named the American League Manager of the Year. However, the team struggled in the following seasons and Ventura resigned as manager after the 2016 season.
Overall, Ventura had a successful career in the MLB and was known for his excellent defense and clutch hitting. He was also a respected leader and was named the captain of the White Sox in 1996. Ventura's legacy in baseball will be remembered for his contributions both on and off the field.
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