Terry Pendleton is a former professional baseball player who played for several teams during his career. He was born on July 16, 1960, in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in Fresno. Pendleton was a standout athlete in high school, excelling in both baseball and football. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 7th round of the 1982 MLB draft.
Pendleton made his major league debut with the Cardinals in 1984 and quickly established himself as a solid defensive third baseman. He was known for his strong arm and quick reflexes, which made him a valuable asset to any team. Pendleton also had a good bat, hitting for both power and average. He was a consistent hitter throughout his career, finishing with a .270 batting average and 140 home runs.
In 1987, Pendleton had a breakout season, hitting .286 with 12 home runs and 96 RBIs. He also won his first Gold Glove award for his outstanding defensive play. The following year, he helped lead the Cardinals to the World Series, where they lost to the Minnesota Twins in seven games. Pendleton had a strong series, hitting .367 with two home runs and six RBIs.
After the 1990 season, Pendleton became a free agent and signed with the Atlanta Braves. He had another strong season in 1991, hitting .319 with 22 home runs and 86 RBIs. He also won his second Gold Glove award and was named the National League Most Valuable Player. Pendleton helped lead the Braves to the World Series, where they lost to the Minnesota Twins in seven games. He hit .367 in the series with one home run and four RBIs.
Pendleton continued to play well for the Braves over the next few seasons, helping them win the National League pennant in 1992 and 1995. He was a key member of the team's "Big Three" infield, along with second baseman Mark Lemke and shortstop Jeff Blauser. Pendleton won his third Gold Glove award in 1992 and was named to the All-Star team in 1992 and 1993.
After the 1994 season, Pendleton became a free agent again and signed with the Florida Marlins. He played two seasons with the Marlins before finishing his career with the Cincinnati Reds in 1998. Pendleton retired with a career batting average of .270, 140 home runs, and 822 RBIs.
After his playing career, Pendleton became a coach and manager. He served as the hitting coach for the Braves from 2002 to 2010 and was the first base coach for the Miami Marlins in 2011. Pendleton was also the bench coach for the Braves in 2018 and 2019. In 2020, he was named the manager of the High Point Rockers, an independent minor league team.
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