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Kevin Wortell
Kevin Wortell (born 1968) is a former major league utility outfielder who played primarily for the Oakland Athletics.
Career
Wortell was drafted in 1986 by the A's shortly after graduation from Valley High School in Sacramento, California. He made his way quickly through the Oakland minor league system and made his major league debut on June 22, 1988 vs the Milwaukee Brewers. During his career in Oakland he was mainly relegated to backup status, although he regularly vied with Stan Javier, Luis Polonia and Eric Fox for playing time. Ultimately, he mostly saw action at all three outfield spots. He logged most of his time at center and left field.
Wortell was known throughout baseball circles as a classic "good field, no hit" player, though he made up for that with his trademark scrappy hustle and grit. His uniform was known to be always the dirtiest in the clubhouse after each game he played in.
During his seven-year stint with Oakland (1988-1994), he helped the A's win three consecutive American League pennants (1988-1990) and a World Series win in 1989. He spent his final two seasons with the New York Mets before retiring after the 1996 season.
Kevin is now an analyst for Fox Sports Net Bay Area and works A's broadcasts.
Trivia
*Wortell made the most of his limited playing time in the 1989 World Series by going 4-for-4 and driving in three runs over the four-game sweep.
*He was hitless in two at bats during the 1988 World Series.
*He made the second to last out in the 1988 World Series by grounding out to second as a pinch hitter. Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser then fanned Tony Phillips to end Game 5 and the Series, won by Los Angeles.
*During the early stages of his career with the A's, Wortell made a name for himself by becoming a DJ. Thus, he was placed in charge of all music in the Oakland clubhouse. He still runs his own DJ business today.
*During the offseason winter of 1989-90, he lived hippie-style out of a Volkswagen van with friends.
*In one game in May 1990, he (uncharacteristically) made two errors in a game against the Cleveland Indians. Teammates presented him with a new nickname: K-Swiss (as in glove made of Swiss cheese)
Kevin Wortell
Outfielder
Born: 1968
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB Debut
June 22 1988 for the Oakland Athletics
Final Game
Sept. 29 1996 for the New York Mets
Career statistics
BA .254
OBP .368
Teams
Oakland Athletics (1998-94)
New York Mets (1995-96)
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