Cliff Floyd

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Cliff Floyd

|image=AAAA9427 Cliff Floyd.jpg

|caption=Floyd batting for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008

|position=Left fielder

|bats=Left

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1972|12|5}}

|birth_place=Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=September 18

|debutyear=1993

|debutteam=Montreal Expos

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=June 17

|finalyear=2009

|finalteam=San Diego Padres

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.278

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=233

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=865

|teams=

Montreal Expos ({{mlby|1993}}–{{mlby|1996}})
Florida Marlins ({{mlby|1997}}–{{mlby|2002}})
Montreal Expos ({{mlby|2002}})
Boston Red Sox ({{mlby|2002}})
New York Mets ({{mlby|2003}}–{{mlby|2006}})
Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|2007}})
Tampa Bay Rays ({{mlby|2008}})
San Diego Padres ({{mlby|2009}})

|awards=

All-Star (2001)
World Series champion ({{wsy|1997}})

}}

Cornelius Clifford Floyd Jr. (born December 5, 1972) is an American former Major League Baseball left fielder who played for 17 seasons, most notably for the Montreal Expos, Florida Marlins and New York Mets. He is currently a baseball analyst who co-hosts on Sirius XM Radio and appears on MLB Network.

Early years

Floyd was born to parents Cornelius Clifford Floyd Sr. and Olivia Floyd. After spending 13 years as an only child, Floyd was joined by brother Julius. Sister Shanta was later adopted when the Floyds noticed her as a six-year-old classmate of Julius' who had been troublesome for her then adoptive parents. The three siblings were raised in Markham, Illinois, a small suburb southwest of Chicago. Floyd's father, a former member of the United States Marine Corps, worked double shifts at a U.S. Steel plant in Chicago to allow the family to live in a safe and stable neighborhood.{{cite web|last1=Bamberger|first1=Michael|date=August 20, 2001|title=Cliff Notes: His body healthy at last and his mind clear--at least most of the time--Cliff Floyd is having a career year for the resurgent Marlins|url=https://www.si.com/vault/2001/08/20/8117078/cliff-notes-his-body-healthy-at-last-and-his-mind-clearat-least-most-of-the-timecliff-floyd-is-having-a-career-year-for-the-resurgent-marlins|url-status=live|access-date=April 8, 2006|website=SI.com|publisher=Sports Illustrated|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824233032/https://www.si.com/vault/2001/08/20/8117078/cliff-notes-his-body-healthy-at-last-and-his-mind-clearat-least-most-of-the-timecliff-floyd-is-having-a-career-year-for-the-resurgent-marlins |archive-date=2019-08-24 }}

At Thornwood High School in South Holland, Illinois, Floyd was a three-sport star in baseball, football, and basketball. In basketball, he led his high school to the Class AA Sectional Playoffs. He hit .508 with 130 RBI during the final two years of his high school career and led his team to the Illinois Class AA state baseball championship as a senior. He was heavily recruited by Arizona State University, Stanford, and Creighton University and signed a letter of intent to play for head coach Jim Hendry at Creighton.{{cite news|last1=Botte|first1=Peter|date=November 20, 2004|title=Mets Eye Deal For Johnson (Nick)|language=en|work=NY Daily News|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/mets-eye-deal-johnson-nick-article-1.562209|access-date=November 15, 2017}} However, when the Montreal Expos drafted him as the 14th pick in the 1st round of the 1991 Major League Baseball draft, Floyd chose to go to the minor leagues.

Major league career

=Montreal Expos=

Prior to being called up by the Expos, Floyd won The Sporting News Minor League Player of the Year Award in 1993 after successful stints with the Harrisburg Senators of the Eastern League and Triple-A Ottawa Lynx.{{cite web|last1=Mickleburgh|first1=Rod|title=June 27, 1994: Rookie Cliff Floyd 'swings for the fences' off Maddux|url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/june-27-1994-rookie-cliff-floyd-swings-fences-maddux|url-status=live|website=Society for American Baseball Research|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824233039/https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/june-27-1994-rookie-cliff-floyd-swings-fences-maddux |archive-date=2019-08-24 }} He made his major league debut that same year at only 21 years old, playing in 10 games with the Expos. On June 27, 1994, Floyd hit a home run off Atlanta Braves pitcher Greg Maddux at Olympic Stadium on a pitch that was low, by golfing the ball out in what would become a signature moment in the Expos dominant but strike-shortened 1994 season. Although Floyd never showed the power that was to come in later years during his first tenure with the Expos, he has expressed fondness for his time in Montreal, crediting his initial experience there for helping him grow both professionally and as a person.{{cite web|last1=Cullen|first1=Matt|date=July 10, 2015|title=Former Expo Floyd optimistic on MLB's return to Montreal|url=https://www.tsn.ca/former-expo-floyd-optimistic-on-mlb-s-return-to-montreal-1.329370|url-status=live|access-date=August 24, 2019|website=TSN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712071121/http://www.tsn.ca:80/former-expo-floyd-optimistic-on-mlb-s-return-to-montreal-1.329370 |archive-date=2015-07-12 }}

=Florida Marlins=

In {{mlby|1997}}, Floyd was traded from the Expos to the Florida Marlins for Dustin Hermanson and Joe Orsulak. He won his lone World Series with the franchise in 1997. In {{mlby|1998}}, Floyd earned a starting position in the Marlins' outfield. In {{mlby|2000}}, in 420 at-bats, he hit .300 with 22 home runs and 91 RBI,{{cite web |title=Cliff Floyd Stats |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/floydcl01.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com}} including two walk-off home runs.{{cite web |title=Cliff Floyd Career Home Runs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.fcgi?id=floydcl01&t=b |website=Baseball-Reference.com}} In 2001, Floyd hit 31 home runs and set career highs with a .317 batting average and 103 RBIs in 149 games and was selected to play in his first and only All-Star Game.

=Second stint with Expos=

In {{mlby|2002}}, Floyd was traded from the Marlins back to the Expos, with Claudio Vargas, Wilton Guerrero, and cash, for Graeme Lloyd, Mike Mordecai, Carl Pavano, Justin Wayne, and Donald Levinski.{{cite web|date=July 11, 2001|title=Marlins deal Floyd to Expos, Dempster to Reds|url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/news/2002/0711/1404602.html|url-status=live|access-date=January 21, 2007|website=ESPN|publisher=Associated Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824233029/http://www.espn.com/mlb/news/2002/0711/1404602.html |archive-date=2019-08-24 }} His second stint with the Expos was short-lived; he appeared in only 15 games before being traded.

=Boston Red Sox=

On July 30, 2002, Floyd was traded from the Expos to the Boston Red Sox for Sun-woo Kim and Song Seung-jun.{{cite web|last1=Callis|first1=Jim|date=July 30, 2002|title=Floyd moves on to Red Sox|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/020730floyd.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129072937/http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/020730floyd.html|archive-date=January 29, 2010|access-date=August 28, 2012|website=Baseball America}} Theories swirled around baseball as to the move (along with several others done by the Expos that year), with critics suggesting the MLB-owned Expos had traded Floyd in order to help the Red Sox.{{cite news|last1=Chass|first1=Murray|date=August 6, 2002|title=ON BASEBALL; Heard the One About the Expos' Trades?|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/06/sports/on-baseball-heard-the-one-about-the-expos-trades.html#}} Floyd hit .317 in 47 games for the Red Sox.{{cite web |title=Cliff Floyd Baseball Stats |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=floydcl01 |website=Baseball-Almanac.com}}

=New York Mets=

File:Cliff Floyd warmup.jpg

In {{mlby|2003}}, Floyd was signed by the New York Mets. He played well for the Mets, but was hampered by injuries in 2003 and {{mlby|2004}}. However, Floyd stayed healthy in {{mlby|2005}} and responded with a career-high and team-leading 34 home runs. The next year, though, Floyd was once again limited by injuries and only played in 97 games during New York's division-winning year. He caught the division-clinching out for the Mets,{{cite news|date=September 18, 2006|title=Mets Beat Marlins to Clinch Division|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/18/sports/baseball/19mets.wire.html|access-date=January 21, 2007}} but was slowed by injuries in the playoffs for New York, only recording twelve at-bats in his team's ten postseason games.

=Chicago Cubs=

On January 21, 2007, Floyd agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with his hometown Chicago Cubs for the 2007 season. The deal included multiple incentives and an option for {{mlby|2008}}.{{Cite web|last=Stark|first=Jayson|date=January 21, 2007|title=Cliff Floyd makes deal to return home to play for Cubs|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2738583|access-date=April 4, 2021|website=ESPN|language=en}} Floyd missed nine games in August 2007 to mourn the death of his father, Cornelius. He returned on August 21, 2007, to play the San Francisco Giants, where he drove in the winning runs in the top of the 9th.{{cite web|title=Chicago Cubs at San Francisco Giants Box Score, August 21, 2007|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN200708210.shtml|url-status=live|access-date=August 22, 2007|website=Baseball-Reference.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018220837/http://www.baseball-reference.com:80/boxes/SFN/SFN200708210.shtml |archive-date=2007-10-18 }}

=Tampa Bay Rays=

On December 14, 2007, Floyd signed a $3 million, one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.{{cite web|date=December 12, 2007|title=Free-agent OF Floyd agrees to one-year deal with Rays|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3152188|access-date=December 12, 2007|website=ESPN}} Floyd spent 2008 platooning for the Rays at DH against righties.

=San Diego Padres=

File:Jim Lefebvre & Cliff Floyd.jpg for the San Diego Padres on March 5, {{Baseball year|2009}}]]

On February 5, {{mlby|2009}}, Floyd agreed to a one-year contract with the San Diego Padres.{{cite web|author=Stark|first=Jayson|date=February 5, 2009|title=Source: Floyd, Padres agree to deal|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3885820|url-status=live|access-date=February 5, 2009|work=ESPN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207030250/http://sports.espn.go.com:80/mlb/news/story?id=3885820 |archive-date=2009-02-07 }} On October 8, 2009, the Padres released Floyd.{{Cite web|last=Greenspan|first=Eli|date=October 8, 2009|title=Padres release Cliff Floyd, Shawn Hill|url=https://www.mlbdailydish.com/2009/10/8/1077297/padres-release-cliff-floyd-shawn|url-status=live|access-date=April 4, 2021|website=MLB Daily Dish|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015223745/http://www.mlbdailydish.com:80/2009/10/8/1077297/padres-release-cliff-floyd-shawn |archive-date=2009-10-15 }}

=Career statistics=

In 1621 games over 17 seasons, Floyd posted a .278 batting average (1,479-for-5,319) with 824 runs, 340 doubles, 23 triples, 233 home runs, 865 RBI, 148 stolen bases, 601 bases on balls, .358 on-base percentage and .482 slugging percentage. He finished his career with a .980 fielding percentage playing at all three outfield positions and at first base. In 19 postseason games, he batted .216 (8-for-37) scoring 7 runs with 2 home runs and 4 RBI.

Broadcasting career

On February 22, 2010, Floyd accepted a broadcasting job with Fox Sports Florida.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

Floyd made his debut in the broadcasting booth for FOX Sports' Baseball Night in America on June 21, 2014.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

In 2015, Floyd joined SportsNet New York where he would be an analyst for New York Mets games. On March 8, 2015, Floyd broadcast his first Mets game, a spring training game against the Boston Red Sox on WPIX-TV, with Gary Cohen doing play-by-play.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

Floyd is currently a co-host on SiriusXM's MLB Network Radio and Fantasy Sports Radio. He is also a contributor to the MLB Network, occasionally appearing on its flagship studio show MLB Tonight.{{cite web|title=Cliff Floyd - MLB Network|url=https://www.mlb.com/network/personalities?id=63184862|access-date=August 24, 2019|website=MLB.com}}

In 2018, Floyd joined Sportsnet to become a featured analyst for the network's Toronto Blue Jays coverage.{{Cite news|date=February 28, 2018|title=Joe Siddall joins Blue Jays Central as TV analyst on Sportsnet|language=en-US|work=Sportsnet|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/joe-siddall-joins-blue-jays-central-tv-analyst-sportsnet/|access-date=April 18, 2018}}

In 2022, Floyd joined the Marquee Sports Network as a studio analyst and also appeared on Apple TV+ Friday Night Baseball as one of three rotating analysts.{{cite web | url=https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/on-air-talent/marquee/ | title=Meet the Marquee Sports Network Reporters and On-Air Talent }}

{{Cite web |date=April 7, 2022 |title=Apple introduces broadcasters and production details for "Friday Night Baseball" |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/04/apple-introduces-broadcasters-and-production-details-for-friday-night-baseball/ |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=Apple Newsroom |language=en-US}}

Personal life

Floyd lives in Florida with his longtime companion Maryanne Manning, the couple's three children (Bria, Tobias, and Layla), his mother, and the two children of his sister Shanta. Shanta died in 2006 after a long battle with cancer.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

In 1997, Floyd appeared in a Season 23 episode of Saturday Night Live in full Florida Marlins uniform with fourteen other MLB players.{{cite news |last1=Lindbergh |first1=Ben |title=The Oral History of the "Baseball Dreams Come True" 'Saturday Night Live' Sketch |url=https://www.theringer.com/tv/2022/12/13/23506851/saturday-night-live-baseball-dreams-come-true-sketch-oral-history |access-date=13 December 2022 |publisher=The Ringer |date=13 December 2022 |language=en}}

He appeared on Season 9 and 10 of Dragons' Den.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

References

External links

{{Baseballstats | mlb=114260 | espn=3019 | br=f/floydcl01 | fangraphs=518 | brm=floyd-001cor }}
[http://patrickhickeyjr.tripod.com/clifffloyd.html/Cliff Floyd Interview 6-30-06]
{{SABR Baseball Biography Project|cliff-floyd}}