Robin Ventura

{{Short description|American baseball player and manager (born 1967)}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Robin Ventura

|position=Third baseman / Manager

|image=Robin Ventura 2011.jpg

|caption=Ventura in 2011

|team=

|number=

|bats=Left

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1967|7|14}}

|birth_place=Santa Maria, California, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=September 12

|debutyear=1989

|debutteam=Chicago White Sox

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=October 2

|finalyear=2004

|finalteam=Los Angeles Dodgers

|statyear=

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.267

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=294

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=1,182

|stat4label=Managerial record

|stat4value=375–435

|stat5label=Winning %

|stat5value={{Winning percentage|375|435}}

|teams=

As player

Chicago White Sox ({{mlby|1989}}–{{mlby|1998}})
New York Mets ({{mlby|1999}}–{{mlby|2001}})
New York Yankees ({{mlby|2002}}–{{mlby|2003}})
Los Angeles Dodgers ({{mlby|2003}}–{{mlby|2004}})

As manager

Chicago White Sox ({{mlby|2012}}–{{mlby|2016}})

|highlights=

2× All-Star (1992, 2002)
6× Gold Glove Award (1991–1993, 1996, 1998, 1999)
Golden Spikes Award (1988)
Dick Howser Trophy (1988)

|medaltemplates=

{{MedalCountry | {{flagu|United States}} }}

}}

Robin Mark Ventura (born July 14, 1967) is an American former professional baseball third baseman and manager. Ventura played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox, New York Mets, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was also the manager for the White Sox for five seasons. The White Sox selected Ventura with the tenth overall pick in the 1988 amateur draft from Oklahoma State University (OSU). He is a six-time Rawlings Gold Glove winner, two-time MLB All-Star selection and a National College Baseball Hall of Fame inductee.

While playing college baseball for the Cowboys at OSU, Ventura was a three-time All-American who achieved a Division I-record 58-game hitting streak. In 1988, he won the Dick Howser Trophy and Golden Spikes Award and played for the gold medal-winning Olympic baseball team. In his MLB career, he hit 18 grand slams, ranking fifth all-time. In Game 5 of the 1999 National League Championship Series, Ventura hit the "Grand Slam Single" that won the game but did not actually become a home run because he was unable to complete the circuit around the base paths. Later in his playing career, cartilage and arthritis issues in his ankle hampered his abilities in the field.

After the 2011 season, the White Sox hired Ventura to be their manager. He managed the team from 2012 until 2016.

Amateur career

Born to parents John and Darlene Ventura{{Cite web |date=August 1, 2013 |title=Winning Comes 1st With Ventura - Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/09/22/winning-comes-1st-with-ventura/ |access-date=November 18, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801064734/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1993-09-22/sports/9309220088_1_batted-lockman-odd |archive-date=August 1, 2013 }} on July 14, 1967, in Santa Maria, California, Ventura is of Italian and Portuguese descent.{{cite web |url=http://www.aiha-wrc.org/summer_2008_newsletter.pdf |title=President's Message |author=Teri Ann Bengiveno |date=July 3, 2008 |publisher=the American Italian Historical Association's Western Regional Chapter |access-date=March 14, 2012 |quote=San Diego has an active Little Italy Association and a few years ago it began a banner program to "honor Italian Americans and their contribution to the world as we know it today." The current banners feature Italian-American baseball players including Yogi Berra, Joe Torre, Tony La Russa, Robin Ventura and local boys Joe DiMaggio and Ken Caminiti.}} After attending Righetti High School in Orcutt, California, Ventura was a 3-time All-American at Oklahoma State University, where he played college baseball for the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

With the Cowboys, Ventura led the nation in runs (107), runs batted in (RBIs; 96) and total bases (204) in 69 games as a freshman in 1986. In 1987, he had an NCAA-record 58-game hitting streak,{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/news/story?id=5175613|title=FIU's Wittels ties fourth-longest NCAA hit streak|date=May 9, 2010|website=ESPN.com}}{{Cite web |title=With DiMaggio's streak in the spotlight, Ventura recalls his own |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/robin-ventura-remembers-his-ncaa-hit-streak-c178269494 |access-date=November 18, 2023 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} breaking the previous record of 47; he also led Division I in RBIs two years in a row. His hitting streak remains the Division I record, though his mark was surpassed in 2003 by Damian Costantino of Division III Salve Regina University, who had a 60-game streak.{{Cite web |date=April 3, 2003 |title=Baseball America - NCAA hitting streak |url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/leagues/NCAA/streak031103.html |access-date=November 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030403212438/http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/leagues/NCAA/streak031103.html |archive-date=April 3, 2003 }}

File:Robin Ventura Oklahoma State.jpg in 1987]]

Ventura helped OSU reach the finals of the 1987 College World Series, although they lost the championship game to a Stanford University team that included future teammate Jack McDowell.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}} Ventura collected four hits – including a pair of doubles – in the final game and batted .364 for the series. That summer, he played for the Hyannis Mets in the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL), hitting .370 and led the league in runs batted in with 37. On January 19, 2002, Ventura was inducted into the CCBL Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 2001.{{cite web|url=http://capecodbaseball.org/news/hofnews/?article_id=243 |title=Hall of Fame Ceremony 19 January 2002 |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |access-date=September 1, 2019}} In January 2020, Ventura returned to Oklahoma State to complete his degree and serves as a student assistant coach for the baseball team.{{cite web |title=OSU Baseball Roster |url=https://okstate.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/robin-ventura/1810 |website=Okstate.com |access-date=April 1, 2020}}

In 1988, Ventura earned a spot on the gold medal-winning Olympic baseball team, batting .409 during the tournament. He won both the Golden Spikes Award{{Cite web |title=Golden Spikes Award Winners |url=https://www.usabaseball.com/golden-spikes-award/history/winners |access-date=November 18, 2023 |website=USA Baseball |language=en}} and the Dick Howser Trophy for outstanding collegiate play, concluding his 3-year OSU career with a .428 batting average, a .792 slugging percentage, and 302 RBI.{{Cite web |last=Brown Jr. |first=Thomas J. |title=Robin Ventura – Society for American Baseball Research |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/robin-ventura/ |access-date=November 18, 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Robin Ventura, who hit .428 in three seasons at... - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/11/01/Robin-Ventura-who-hit-428-in-three-seasons-at/2601594363600/ |access-date=November 18, 2023 |website=UPI |language=en}} On July 4, 2006, Ventura was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame as a member of its inaugural class.{{Cite web |title=Class of 2006 Inductees {{!}} College Baseball Hall of Fame |url=https://www.mlb.com/college-baseball-hall-of-fame/class-of-2006 |access-date=November 18, 2023 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Ventura Elected To College Baseball Hall Of Fame |url=https://okstate.com/news/2006/4/27/Ventura_Elected_To_College_Baseball_Hall_Of_Fame |access-date=November 18, 2023 |website=Oklahoma State University Athletics |language=en}}

Professional career

=Chicago White Sox=

After being picked tenth in the 1988 Major League Baseball draft by the White Sox, Ventura spent much of {{Baseball year|1989}} at AA Birmingham before joining the White Sox that September. While in Birmingham, he earned a spot in the Southern League All-Star Game and was voted the league's top defensive third baseman. He was named to the 1990 Topps All-Star Rookie Roster{{citation needed|date=November 2023}} and earned the starting third base role with the White Sox the next spring. While his {{Baseball year|1990}} rookie year was marred by an 0-for-41 slump and 25 errors, his 123 hits were the most by a White Sox rookie since Ozzie Guillén in 1985; he also led AL rookies with 150 games played. The next year he won his first Gold Glove Award for fielding excellence, set a team record for RBI at third base, and led the AL in putouts. In {{Baseball year|1992}}, Ventura won another Gold Glove and earned a spot on the All-Star team.{{Cite web |date=November 6, 1992 |title=VENTURA, 2 CUBS MINE GOLD |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-11-06-9204100742-story.html |access-date=November 18, 2023 |website=Chicago Tribune}}{{Cite web |title=1992 MLB All-Star Game Roster - Major League Baseball - ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/allstargame/history/results/_/year/1992 |access-date=November 18, 2023 |website=ESPN.com}}

In {{Baseball year|1993}}, Ventura saw his batting average drop 20 points to .262, though both his slugging and on-base percentages rose slightly. He also collected his 500th hit that May and won his third straight Gold Glove,{{Cite web |title=Robin Ventura Awards by Baseball Almanac |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/awards.php?p=venturo01 |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=www.baseball-almanac.com}} while becoming the first AL third baseman with three consecutive 90-RBI campaigns since Graig Nettles (1975–78). On August 4, 1993, during a game against the Texas Rangers, Ventura was hit by a pitch thrown by Nolan Ryan. Ventura charged the mound, where Ryan, 20 years Ventura's senior, placed Ventura in a headlock and punched him six times, causing a bench-clearing brawl.{{Cite web |title=When Robin Ventura charged the mound vs. Nolan Ryan |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/robin-ventura-charges-mound-against-nolan-ryan |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} This brawl was voted the top baseball brawl of all time by ESPN's SportsCenter.{{cite video|url=http://videosift.com/video/ESPNs-Top-10-Baseball-Fights|work=ESPN|title=Top 10 Baseball Brawls|access-date=October 1, 2012}} The White Sox won the AL West that year, which resulted in Ventura's only playoff trip while in Chicago. They would lose in the ALCS to the Toronto Blue Jays.

When play resumed in {{Baseball year|1995}} following the 1994 strike, Ventura had ten errors in the first ten games. He spent some time at first base that year amid trade rumors, but ended the year with a career-high .295 average, and on September 4 hit two grand slams in one game, the eighth player in history to do so and the first since Frank Robinson in 1970.{{Cite web |last=Huber |first=Mike |title=September 4, 1995: Robin Ventura routs Rangers with two grand slams – Society for American Baseball Research |url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/september-4-1995-robin-ventura-routs-rangers-with-two-grand-slams/ |access-date=November 19, 2023 |language=en-US}} The next season, he won his fourth Gold Glove,{{Cite web |date=October 8, 1996 |title=VENTURA WINS 4TH GOLD GLOVE |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1996-10-08-9610090024-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=Chicago Tribune}} reached new highs in fielding percentage, homers and RBIs, and set team records in career homers by a third baseman (142) and grand slams (9).

When spring training began in {{Baseball year|1997}} the White Sox were picked by many to win their division. In a spring training game at Ed Smith Stadium, Ventura slid into home plate and caught his foot in the mud, suffering a compound fracture and dislocation to his right ankle. The initial prognosis was that he would be lost for the season.{{Cite news |title=VENTURA OF WHITE SOX OUT WITH BROKEN LEG |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/03/22/ventura-of-white-sox-out-with-broken-leg/0ed3b82d-cb0f-4d3f-bf4c-b0dde4db8c08/ |access-date=November 19, 2023 |issn=0190-8286}}{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=L. A. Times |date=March 22, 1997 |title=Ventura Dislocates Ankle While Sliding |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-03-22-sp-40905-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} However, Ventura was able to return on July 24, more than a week ahead of the most optimistic predictions. He collected the game-winning hit that night, and homered in his first at-bat the next evening.{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=July 25, 1997 |title=Ventura Comes Back Too Soon for Rangers |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/25/sports/ventura-comes-back-too-soon-for-rangers.html |access-date=November 19, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news |title=VENTURA IS CLUTCH IN DRAMATIC RETURN |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/07/25/ventura-is-clutch-in-dramatic-return/c8c627bb-feaa-4e72-83be-ce75f61fb38b/ |access-date=November 19, 2023 |issn=0190-8286}} The White Sox did not make the playoffs, in part due to the "White Flag Trade". In {{Baseball year|1998}}, Ventura's final season with the Sox, he won his fifth Gold Glove, but only hit .263. His homer and RBI totals were close to his career averages, but the White Sox attempted repeatedly to trade him and declined to renew his contract, with owner Jerry Reinsdorf claiming that he was "deteriorating."{{Cite web |date=September 23, 1998 |title=REINSDORF: VENTURA COULD RETURN IN '99 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-09-23-9809230016-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=Chicago Tribune}}

=New York Mets=

File:NYM199904VENTURA.jpg Ventura departed Chicago in December 1998 when the New York Mets signed him to a four-year deal.{{Cite web |date=December 2, 1998 |title=Mets Sign Robin Ventura - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mets-sign-robin-ventura/ |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}} In his first year in New York, Ventura hit .301 with 32 homers, 120 RBI and just nine errors in the field. On May 20, he became the first player ever to hit a grand slam in both games of a doubleheader.{{Cite web |last=Brown Jr. |first=Thomas J. |title=May 20, 1999: Mets' Robin Ventura hits grand slams in both ends of doubleheader – Society for American Baseball Research |url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/may-20-1999-mets-robin-ventura-hits-grand-slams-in-both-ends-of-doubleheader/ |access-date=November 19, 2023 |language=en-US}} In 1999, he and fellow infielders Edgardo Alfonzo, Rey Ordóñez, and John Olerud were featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated as the "Best Infield Ever."{{Cite web |title=New York Mets The Best Infield Ever Sports Illustrated Cover by Sports Illustrated |url=https://sicovers.com/featured/new-york-mets-the-best-infield-ever-september-06-1999-sports-illustrated-cover.html |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=Sports Illustrated Covers |language=en}} However, Ventura injured his left knee in August; when the problem finally came to light, just before the postseason, it had worsened into a tear of the cartilage.{{Cite web |last=Sherman |first=Joel |date=October 1, 1999 |title=V: I SHOULD'VE RESTED ROBIN |url=https://nypost.com/1999/10/01/v-i-shouldve-rested-robin/ |access-date=November 19, 2023 |language=en-US}} Ventura borrowed the phrase "Mojo Risin" from The Doors' "L.A. Woman" and made it the rally cry for the Mets that year, meeting Doors lead singer Jim Morrison's widow Patricia Kennealy-Morrison when the Mets invited her to a game just before the playoffs.{{Cite web |date=September 30, 2007 |title=Mets have only themselves to blame after trading Ventura. {{!}} South Florida Sun-Sentinel (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service) (September 2002) |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-8774129_ITM |access-date=November 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930165138/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-8774129_ITM |archive-date=September 30, 2007 }}

Despite his injury, Ventura provided the game-winning, bases-loaded, two-out single in the eleventh inning against the Pirates on the final weekend of the regular season.{{Cite web |title=Pittsburgh Pirates vs New York Mets Box Score: October 1, 1999 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN199910010.shtml |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} After sweeping Pittsburgh, the Mets defeated the Cincinnati Reds in a play-in game to determine the National League Wild Card team.{{Cite web |last=Moland-Kovash |first=Seth |title=October 3, 1999: Win or go home: Mets stay alive for NL wild card – Society for American Baseball Research |url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/october-3-1999-win-or-go-home-mets-stay-alive-for-nl-wild-card/ |access-date=November 19, 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Battista |first=Judy |date=October 5, 1999 |title=PLAYOFF PREVIEW; The Mets Eliminate Cincinnati, The Doubts and the Frustration |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/05/sports/playoff-preview-the-mets-eliminate-cincinnati-the-doubts-and-the-frustration.html |access-date=November 19, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}} In Game 5 of the 1999 NLCS, with the Atlanta Braves up 3–2 in the fifteenth inning, a bases-loaded walk to Todd Pratt forced in the tying run and brought Ventura to the plate. Ventura hit a home run into right-center field. Pratt, however, did not see the ball leave the park and ran back to first base, hoisting Ventura into the air and lugging him off the field before he could round the bases. The hit was officially scored an RBI single, commonly referred to as the "Grand Slam Single."{{Cite web |title=Washingtonpost.com: Robin Ventura's 'Grand Single' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/pmextra/oct99/15/achenbach.htm |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=www.washingtonpost.com}}{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Brian |title=October 17, 1999: Robin Ventura's 'grand slam single' sends Mets to win in Game 5 – Society for American Baseball Research |url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/october-17-1999-robin-venturas-grand-slam-single-sends-mets-to-win-in-game-5/ |access-date=November 19, 2023 |language=en-US}} The Mets eventually lost the series. He won his first NL Gold Glove that fall, bringing his career total to six.{{Cite web |title=Ventura wins sixth Gold Glove |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1999/11/11/ventura-wins-sixth-gold-glove/62221751007/ |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}}

In {{Baseball year|2000}}, still recovering from off-season surgery on both his knee and right shoulder,{{Cite web |last=Marchand |first=Andrew |date=February 22, 2000 |title=ROBIN SHOULD BE ARMED AND READY |url=https://nypost.com/2000/02/22/robin-should-be-armed-and-ready/ |access-date=November 19, 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Ventura is still healing Mets' third baseman playing in pain |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2000/02/25/ventura-is-still-healing-mets-third-baseman-playing-in-pain/62209246007/ |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}} he hit just .232 with 24 homers and 84 RBI. He spent part of July on the disabled list with inflammation in his repaired shoulder,{{Cite web |date=July 15, 2000 |title=TIRED OF SHOULDERING PAIN, VENTURA SITS OUT |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2000/07/15/tired-of-shouldering-pain-ventura-sits-out/ |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=New York Daily News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=July 15, 2000 |title=Ventura On Highway To DL - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ventura-on-highway-to-dl/ |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}} and was plagued with errors; but rebounded to hit .320 with three homers and 13 RBIs in the last two weeks of the season. When the Mets reached the World Series, he hit his only World Series home run against the Yankees' Orlando Hernández. In {{Baseball year|2001}}, he batted .237 with 21 homers and 61 RBI.

=New York Yankees=

At the end of the season, the Mets traded Ventura to the Yankees for David Justice.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/08/sports/baseball-mets-and-yankees-find-a-common-solution.html|title=BASEBALL; Mets and Yankees Find a Common Solution|first=Buster|last=Olney|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 8, 2001}} In {{Baseball year|2002}}, Ventura batted .247 with 27 homers and 93 RBI, the eighth time he topped 90 RBI. He was selected to his second and final All-Star team, along with all other members of the Yankees infield.{{Cite web |title=2002 MLB All-Star Game Roster - Major League Baseball - ESPN |url=http://www.espn.ph/mlb/allstargame/history/results/_/year/2002 |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=ESPN.com}} In that year, Ventura had the lowest fielding percentage of all third basemen in the major leagues at .941. The Yankees lost the Division Series, where Ventura hit .286 with four RBI.

After hitting free agency, Ventura re-signed with the Yankees on a one-year deal with $5 million.{{Cite news |last=Curry |first=Jack |date=December 4, 2002 |title=BASEBALL; Yankees and Ventura Are Close On $5 Million Deal for a Year |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/04/sports/baseball-yankees-and-ventura-are-close-on-5-million-deal-for-a-year.html |access-date=November 19, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |title=Ventura re-signs with Yankees - UPI.com |url=https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2002/12/05/Ventura-re-signs-with-Yankees/66921039121941/ |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=UPI |language=en}} In {{Baseball year|2003}}, he was platooned at third base with Todd Zeile, another former Met. Ventura struggled through the first few months of the year; by late July he hit nine homers and 42 RBI. He tied Shea Hillenbrand for the major league lead in errors by a third baseman, with 23.

=Los Angeles Dodgers=

On July 31, {{Baseball year|2003}}, Ventura was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Bubba Crosby and Scott Proctor.{{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Jason |date=August 1, 2003 |title=They Need Bat Man, Get Robin |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-aug-01-sp-ventura1-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} On August 3, he hit an inside-the-park home run in Atlanta for his first home run as a member of the Dodgers.{{Cite web |date=August 4, 2003 |title=VENTURA LEGS OUT INSIDE-THE-PARK HR |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2003/08/04/ventura-legs-out-inside-the-park-hr/ |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=New York Daily News |language=en-US}} He spent most of the remainder of the season on the bench.

Re-signed by the Dodgers in December, Ventura entered {{Baseball year|2004}} with a chance to be the Dodgers' starting first baseman, but that changed during the last week of spring training when new general manager Paul DePodesta traded for Cleveland outfielder Milton Bradley.{{Cite web |last= |last2= |last3= |last4= |date=April 5, 2004 |title=Dodgers Acquire Bradley |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-apr-05-sp-dodgers5-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} This set off a domino effect that ended in Ventura being relegated to a bench role as a backup infielder and pinch hitter.

He had a game-winning RBI in the second game of the season against the San Diego Padres. He only hit five home runs that season, two of which were pinch-hit game-winning home runs: on July 17 against the Arizona Diamondbacks and on August 1 against the San Diego Padres.{{Cite web |date=August 2, 2004 |title=Ventura HR gives Dodgers win |url=https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Ventura-HR-gives-Dodgers-win-11680551.php |access-date=November 18, 2023 |website=New Haven Register}} He also hit his 17th career grand slam on August 29 against the Mets and his 18th career grand slam on September 7 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ventura made his pitching debut on June 25 during a blowout loss against the Anaheim Angels, allowing a single amid three fly ball outs.{{Cite web |title=Angels 13-0 Dodgers (Jun 25, 2004) Game Recap |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/240625119 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705140950/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/240625119 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=ESPN |language=en}} The Dodgers made it to the NLDS, but lost in four games. The Dodgers went a perfect 10–0 in games that he hit a home run. Ventura retired after the season due to arthritis in his right ankle.{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=October 12, 2004 |title=Ventura Says He Is Retiring |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/12/sports/baseball/ventura-says-he-is-retiring.html |access-date=November 19, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}

Post-playing career

=Retirement=

File:Robin Ventura 2008.jpg in 2008]] Ventura's 1997 ankle injury—a compound fracture and dislocation—also affected his leg muscles, which began to atrophy following the accident. Full strength in his leg never returned, and the daily pain from his ankle and leg contributed to Ventura's decision to retire from baseball. After retirement, Ventura limped badly and was forced to walk with a cane regularly. On November 18, 2005, Ventura underwent an ankle allograft. Following the surgery and rehabilitation, he now walks without pain and without a limp.{{Cite web |date=December 12, 2009 |title=Former Mets third baseman Robin Ventura is rockin' once again |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2009/12/12/former-mets-third-baseman-robin-ventura-is-rockin-once-again/ |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=New York Daily News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Crowe |first=Jerry |date=June 19, 2011 |title=Ankle transplant surgery gave former baseball star Robin Ventura a new lease on life |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2011-jun-19-la-sp-crowes-nest-20110620-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} He returned to Shea Stadium for the final game on September 28, 2008, for the closing ceremonies with ex-teammates Edgardo Alfonzo, John Franco, Todd Zeile and Mike Piazza.{{Cite news |last=Robinson |first=Joshua |date=September 29, 2008 |title=Immersed in Gloom, a Farewell to Shea Still Enchants |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/29/sports/baseball/29ceremony.html |access-date=November 19, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}

Ventura's first year of eligibility for the Baseball Hall of Fame was in 2010, when he received just 1.3% of the votes, failing to reach the 5.0% threshold to stay on the ballot. His next opportunity for Hall of Fame consideration will be in 2023 by the Expansion Era Committee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazinavenue.com/2015/12/23/9981406/new-york-mets-robin-ventura-hall-fame|title = Mets Hall of Fame case: Robin Ventura|date = December 23, 2015}}{{Cite web |title=2010 Hall of Fame Voting |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_2010.shtml |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

He was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.{{Cite web |title=Ventura Inducted Into Oklahoma Sports Hall Of Fame |url=https://okstate.com/news/2018/8/6/baseball-ventura-inducted-into-oklahoma-sports-hall-of-fame |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=Oklahoma State University Athletics |language=en}} In January 2020, Ventura returned to Oklahoma State to complete his degree and serve as a student assistant coach for the baseball team. He earned his bachelor's degree in 2022.{{cite web | url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/college/cowboys/2022/05/06/oklahoma-state-baseball-robin-ventura-graduate-osu-cowboys/9658759002/ | title='I'm glad I'm getting my degree': Why this is a big weekend for Oklahoma State student assistant Robin Ventura }} Ventura remained on staff with the Cowboys as a volunteer assistant for the 2023 season.{{Cite web |title=Ventura Tabbed As Cowboy Baseball Volunteer Assistant |url=https://okstate.com/news/2023/1/26/ventura-tabbed-as-cowboy-baseball-volunteer-assistant |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=Oklahoma State University Athletics |language=en}}

=Managerial career=

In June 2011, Ventura joined the White Sox organization as special advisor to director of player development Buddy Bell.{{Cite web |date=June 6, 2011 |title=White Sox Add Ventura To Player Development Role - CBS Chicago |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/white-sox-add-ventura-to-player-development-role/ |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}} Just four months later, he was hired as the 39th manager for the Chicago White Sox on October 6, 2011, succeeding interim manager Don Cooper (who succeeded Ozzie Guillén for two games). Ventura was the 17th former White Sox player to manage the club.{{cite web |url=http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111006&content_id=25528952&vkey=news_cws&c_id=cws |title=White Sox tab Robin Ventura as new skipper |access-date=October 6, 2011 |last=Singer |first=Tom |date=October 6, 2011 |website=MLB.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008021655/http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111006&content_id=25528952&vkey=news_cws&c_id=cws |archive-date=October 8, 2011 }}{{Cite web |date=October 6, 2011 |title=White Sox hire former 3B Ventura as manager |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/7068083/chicago-white-sox-name-robin-ventura-manager |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} In his first season as their manager, the White Sox finished 85–77, three games behind the AL Central champion Detroit Tigers.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2012.shtml|title=2012 American League Season Summary|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=December 29, 2012}} Ventura's first ejection as a manager came on May 30, 2012, when he was thrown out by umpire Mark Wegner while protesting Wegner's ejection of White Sox pitcher José Quintana.{{Cite web |date=October 23, 2013 |title=Left-hander Jose Quintana, White Sox manager Robin Ventura ejected in fourth inning {{!}} MLB.com: News |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120530&content_id=32491910&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb |access-date=November 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023071815/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120530&content_id=32491910&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb |archive-date=October 23, 2013 }} Ventura was a finalist to be the American League Manager of the Year,{{Cite web |date=October 23, 2013 |title=Richard Justice: Robin Ventura deserving of AL MOY in his first season {{!}} MLB.com: News |url=https://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121112&content_id=40252854&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb |access-date=November 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023071817/https://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121112&content_id=40252854&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb |archive-date=October 23, 2013 }} which was ultimately awarded to Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/8628975/oakland-athletics-bob-melvin-washington-nationals-davey-johnson-managers-year|title=Melvin, Johnson top managers|work=ESPN.com|date=November 13, 2012|access-date=December 29, 2012}} Despite ending 2013 in last place, the White Sox re-signed Ventura for the 2014 season.{{Cite news |date=January 24, 2014 |title=Last-place White Sox extend manager Ventura's contract |language=en-US |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.comarticle/idUSBREA0N1T8-OCASP/ |access-date=November 19, 2023}}

Chicago planned to bring him back for the 2017 season, despite growing dissatisfaction with Ventura among the fan base.{{Cite web |last=Nightengale |first=Bob |title=White Sox to retain Robin Ventura as manager |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2016/09/28/mlb-managers-hot-seat-robin-ventura-chip-hale/91226072/ |access-date=November 19, 2023 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}} However, after four straight losing seasons, he resigned after the 2016 season.{{Cite web |date=October 2, 2016 |title=Ventura announces departure from White Sox |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/17698113/robin-ventura-announces-return-chicago-white-sox-manager |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}

rowspan="2"\|Team	rowspan="2"\|Year	colspan="5"\|Regular season	colspan="4"\|Postseason
class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
Games	Won	Lost	Win %	Finish	Won	Lost	Win %	Result
CWS\|\| {{mlby\|2012}} \|\|162\|\|{{WinLossPct\|85\|77}}\|\| 2nd in AL Central \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| –
CWS\|\| {{mlby\|2013}} \|\|162\|\|{{WinLossPct\|63\|99}}\|\| 5th in AL Central \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| –
CWS\|\| {{mlby\|2014}} \|\|162\|\|{{WinLossPct\|73\|89}}\|\| 4th in AL Central \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| –
CWS\|\| {{mlby\|2015}} \|\|162\|\|{{WinLossPct\|76\|86}}\|\| 4th in AL Central \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| –
CWS\|\| {{mlby\|2016}} \|\|162\|\|{{WinLossPct\|78\|84}}\|\| 4th in AL Central \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| –
colspan="2"\|Total \|\|810\|\|{{WinLossPct\|375\|435}}\|\| \|\| {{WinLossPct\|0\|0}} \|\|

=Broadcasting=

Ventura has also provided color commentary for the College World Series. In 2010, he worked as a color commentator for the Little League Southwest Region Finals on ESPN with Carter Blackburn.{{cite web|url=http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2010/08/09/espn-thisweek-august-9-2010/|title=Hostgator Promo Codes And Factors To Consider When Choosing A Web Host|website=ESPN Media Zone|access-date=November 13, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125174801/http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2010/08/09/espn-thisweek-august-9-2010/|archive-date=January 25, 2012|url-status=dead}} Ventura also occasionally appeared on ESPNU as an anchor.{{cite web|url=http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080111&content_id=2343655&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|title=Ventura a marvel of modern medicine|last=Noble|first=Marty|date=January 11, 2008|website=MLB.com|access-date=January 11, 2008|archive-date=July 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717112247/http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080111&content_id=2343655&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|url-status=dead}}

Highlights

Golden Spikes Award (nation's best amateur player) (1988){{citation needed|date=November 2018}}
2-time All-Star (1992, 2002)
6-time Gold Glove winner at third base (1991–93, 1996, 1998–99){{citation needed|date=November 2018}}
Hit two grand slams in one game (September 4, 1995)
Only player to hit one grand slam during each end of a double-header (May 20, 1999){{citation needed|date=November 2018}}
Hit 18 career grand slams, placing him in a tie with Willie McCovey for 5th on the all-time list, behind Alex Rodriguez (25), Lou Gehrig (23), Manny Ramírez (21), and Eddie Murray (19). 6.1% of his career home runs were grand slams, the highest ratio of any player with at least 250 career home runs.
Hit a "Grand Slam Single" in the 1999 NLCS against the Atlanta Braves (see walk-off home run)
Named American League Player of the Month, July 1991
Was one of the first class of inductees into the College Baseball Hall of Fame on July 4, {{Baseball year|2006}}{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}
Inducted into Oklahoma State University Athletic Hall of Fame on October 17, 2009, along with Barry Sanders, and Garth Brooks.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}
Introduced as inductee into Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame on February 19, 2018.

Career rankings

Third basemen with most 90-RBI seasons

Mike Schmidt – 11 (1974–1977, 1979–1981, 1983–1984, 1986–1987)
Eddie Mathews – 10 (1953–1957, 1959–1962, 1965)
Robin Ventura – 8 (1991–1993, 1995–1996, 1998–1999, 2002)
Pie Traynor – 8 (1923, 1925–1931)
Ken Boyer – 8 (1956, 1958–1964)
Ron Santo – 8 (1963–1970)
Chipper Jones – 8 (1996–2001, 2004, 2007)

Note: Schmidt also had one 90-RBI season as a first baseman; Jones had two 90-RBI seasons as a left fielder.

Third basemen with highest career slugging average

(Minimum 1500 games at 3B)

Chipper Jones – .533
Mike Schmidt – .527
Eddie Mathews – .509
Matt Williams – .489
George Brett – .487
Scott Rolen – .474
Ron Santo – .464
Ken Boyer – .462
Ken Caminiti – .447
Ron Cey – .445
Doug DeCinces – .445
Robin Ventura – .444

References

External links

{{baseballstats|mlb=123697|espn=2275|br=v/venturo01|fangraphs=854|brm=ventur002rob}}

[https://www.baseballamerica.com/today/features/ventura0125.html Baseball America] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716195953/http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/features/ventura0125.html |date=July 16, 2012 }} – selection as greatest amateur player 1981–2001

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{{Succession box|before = Craig Worthington|title = Topps Rookie All-Star Third Baseman|years = 1990|after = Leo Gómez}}

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