Brady Anderson

Brady Kevin Anderson (born January 18, 1964) is an American former baseball outfielder and executive who currently serves as the hitting coach for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Cleveland Indians. He spent the majority of his career as a center fielder and leadoff hitter for the Orioles in the 1990s, where he was a three-time All Star, and, in 1996, became the 15th player in major league history to hit 50 home runs in one season. Anderson bats and throws left-handed, stands 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall, and weighs 199 pounds (90 kg).

A native of Silver Spring, Maryland, Anderson was selected by the Red Sox in the tenth round of the 1985 amateur draft. His 50 home runs in 1996 set an Orioles team record until surpassed by Chris Davis in 2013. With 53 stolen bases in 1992, Anderson became the first player in major league history to have achieved separate season totals of both 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases. He was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame in 2004.

Anderson was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, on January 18, 1964, and attended Carlsbad High School in Carlsbad, California. He went on to study economics at the University of California, Irvine where he played outfield and first base for the Anteaters. He left college following his junior season after being drafted in the 10th round of the 1985 Major League Baseball draft by the Boston Red Sox.

Anderson made his major league debut on April 4, 1988. Batting .230 with 12 runs batted in (RBI) and 4 stolen bases, he was optioned on June 4, 1988 to the Pawtucket Red Sox where he hit .287 in 49 games. He was traded along with Curt Schilling to Baltimore for Mike Boddicker on July 29, 1988, two days prior to the non-waivers trade deadline. He was the key player acquired by the Orioles who needed a center fielder and leadoff batter. Anderson hit his first major league home run on August 6, 1988 versus Milwaukee's Tom Filer at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore.

In only his first season as a full-time player in 1992, Anderson played in all but three of the Orioles games and led the major leagues with 749 plate appearances. He earned his first of three All-Star nominations and played in the 1992 All-Star Game at San Diego on July 14. By season's end, he had become the first player in American League history to reach 20 homers, 50 steals and 75 RBI in a season. Anderson finished 15th in AL MVP voting.

Despite missing 15 games with chicken pox and patellar tendinitis in both knees, Anderson led all American League leadoff hitters in extra-base hits (56) and RBI (62). He also led the Orioles in eight offensive categories, including runs scored (87), stolen bases (24), walks (82), triples (8), and extra base hits (57). He batted .571 (8-14) with the bases loaded, the fourth highest total in the American League.

The 1994 season was cut short two months by the player's strike. Anderson led all American League left fielders with a 1.000 fielding percentage, and his 31 stolen bases in 32 attempts was a major league record for 25 or more steals.

On June 12, Anderson set an American League record with 34 consecutive stolen bases. The streak ended on July 3 at 36 when he was caught by Minnesota Twins catcher Matt Walbeck. His record was eclipsed by Chicago's Tim Raines later in the year and was matched by Toronto's Paul Molitor. Anderson was the hardest to double up in the American League, grounding into only three double plays on the year: once every 184.7 at-bats. He hit two home runs on September 5, the night teammate Cal Ripken Jr. tied Lou Gehrig's consecutive games played record of 2,130. On September 6, Anderson spoke on behalf of his teammates at a post-game ceremony honoring Ripken's 2,131st consecutive game.