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DEWEY, THANKS FOR SIGNING MY BALL!!
Dwight Evans~in 1978 when we waited after the game for Jim Rice to sign our ball Dwight Evans came up and signed the ball after Jim Ed said "not today, boys"
Hard-working Dwight Evans mastered the tricky angles of Fenway Park's right field corner, winning eight Gold Gloves for this skill and his powerful throwing arm. Tutored by batting coach Walt Hriniak, Evans altered his batting style in mid-career, which resulted in a tremendous power increase in his 30s. After batting .265 with 150 homers and 514 RBI in his 20s, Evans clubbed 235 home runs, drove in 870, and batted .277 in his 30s and over the last 10 years of his career. In the second-half of his career, Evans became a patient hitter and was used as a leadoff man starting in 1986. That year he hit the first pitch of the season from Detroit's Jack Morris for a home run, and started the BoSox on their way to 95 wins, the pennant, and within one out of a World Series title. Evans began his career with promise of being a superstar, having won International League Most Valuable Player honors, but he settled into a role as a defensive standout in right field with a modest bat, until he emerged as an offensive threat in the early 1980s. When he retired he ranked among Boston's all-time leaders in games played, runs, hits, home runs (379), walks and RBI.
Played For
Boston Red Sox (1972-1990)
Baltimore Orioles (1991)
All-Time Rankings
Dwight Evans ranks #19 among the Top 50 all-time at RF. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 1981
Despite the strike-shortened season, Evans had his best all-around year. He paced the AL in homers (22), total bases (215) and walks (85), one of three times he led the loop in walks. He was also still at his best with the glove, gunning down nine runners from right field, giving him 49 assists in a four-year span. This is all the more amazing, considering that runners were rarely running on him.
Scouting Report
"Can hit to right field, has excellent power to right-center, and can pull high, hanging curves… has trouble with the Ron Guidry-type pitcher who can get the fastball over the outside corner and the slider low and in… one of the best bunters in the league… Gets an excellent jump on any ball hit toward him in right, and is not intimidated by any park… arm is considered the model arm when talking about comparisons. It is powerful and accurate." — from the 1984 Scouting Report
Born
Dwight Michael Evans was born on November 3, 1951, in Santa Monica, CA.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: OF
Primary Team: BOS
Major League Debut
September 16, 1972
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1972
Dwight Evans
Buddy Bell
Mike Schmidt
Bob Boone
Gary Matthews
Davey Lopes
Goose Gossage
Rick Reuschel
Garry Maddox
Nicknames
Dewey, #24
Uniform Numbers
#24 (1972-1991), #40 (1972-1973)
Similar Players
Al Kaline, defensively.
Related Players
Jim Rice and Fred Lynn, who together with Evans, formed one of baseball's greatest outfields.
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1997 |
BBWAA |
28 |
5.9% |
| 1998 |
BBWAA |
49 |
10.4% |
| 1999 |
BBWAA |
18 |
3.6% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1975 American League Championship Series
1975 World Series
1986 American League Championship Series
1986 World Series
1988 American League Championship Series
1990 American League Championship Series
Post-Season Notes
Evans had his finest post-season performance in the 1986 World Series, when he drove in nine runs. He hit a home run in Boston's Game Two victory, and a homer in Game Seven, which gave the Red Sox the lead. Unfortunately the Sox lost that game.
Awards and Honors
1976 AL Gold Glove
1978 AL Gold Glove
1979 AL Gold Glove
1981 AL Gold Glove
1982 AL Gold Glove
1983 AL Gold Glove
1984 AL Gold Glove
1985 AL Gold Glove
Feats
On June 28, 1984, against Seattle in Fenway, Evans hit for the cycle in dramatic fashion. Needing a home run to complete the cycle, Evans blasted a three-run shot in the bottom of the 11th inning to defeat the Mariners, 9-6.
Milestones
Evans collected his 2,000th hit on May 27, 1988, and his 300th homer on June 1, 1987.
Batting Feats
Notes
Evans hit four home runs on opening days in his career. On April 7, 1986, in Tiger Stadium, he hit the first pitch of the season from Jack Morris for a homer, the first time that had occurred in baseball history... Only one man - Carl Yastrzemski, played more games for the Red Sox than Dwight Evans.
Transactions
June 5, 1969: Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 5th round of the 1969 amateur draft; October 24, 1990: Released by the Boston Red Sox; December 6, 1990: Signed as a Free Agent with the Baltimore Orioles; November 4, 1991: Granted Free Agency; December 7, 1991: Signed as a Free Agent with the Baltimore Orioles.
All-Star Selections
1978 AL
1981 AL
1987 AL
Replaced
In 1973, Evans supplanted Reggie Smith as the Red Sox' right fielder. Smith moved to center field, while 1972's center fielder, Tommy Harper, moved to left. This put Carl Yastrzemski at first base. By 1974, Smith was traded, Harper was washed up, Yaz was spending more time back in left field, and Rick Miller was in center alongside Evans. In 1975, rookies Fred Lynn (CF) and Jim Rice (LF) joined Evans.
Replaced By
The Sox moved Evans to DH in 1990 after they acquired right fielder Tom Brunansky from St. Louis. Evans was in right field the next year for the Orioles, but gradually lost time to Chito Martinez and Joe Orsulak.
Best Strength as a Player
His throwing arm, which was the best in baseball during his prime.
Largest Weakness as a Player
Speed
 Dwight Evans
Evans had already become a regular in the Boston outfield when he was joined by sensational rookies Jim Rice and Fred Lynn in 1975. Number 24, affectionately known to the Boston faithful as Dewey, made his reputation as a strong-armed outfielder who froze baserunners in their tracks, and later blossomed into one of the AL's better hitters.
After winning International League MVP honors at Louisville in 1972 (.300, 17 HR, 95 RBI), Evans joined the Red Sox for good in 1973 but hit only .223. His offensive contributions were unexciting for several seasons, but he excelled defensively. He mastered Fenway Park's tricky right-field corner and employed the strongest outfield throwing arm in the AL. His lunging catch in the 11th inning of Game Six of the 1975 World Series robbed Joe Morgan of a possible Series-winning extra-base hit, started an inning-ending double play, and set the stage for Carlton Fisk's famous HR in the 12th. In 1976, he won the first of his eight Gold Gloves, trailing only Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Al Kaline and Ken Griffey Jr. among outfielders.
In the strike-shortened 1981 season, Evans suddenly arrived as a slugger. He hit .296, shared the AL HR title with 22, and led the league in what would become his specialty, bases on balls. Evans walked 85 times in 1981 (he had never drawn more than 69 walks before), drew 112 in 1982, and led the AL twice more in '85 and '87 with 114 and 106. Along with his improved patience at the plate, Evans unveiled a new batting stance - a deeper crouch with his weight shifted drastically onto his back foot. The improvements were swift and dramatic. He hit .292 with 32 HR, 98 RBI, and 122 runs scored in 1982, and had a virtually identical season in 1984 (.295, 32 HR, 104 RBI, 121 runs scored). His average slumped in 1985-86, but he still slugged 55 HR and drew 211 walks over the two seasons. He also turned in a strong showing during the Red Sox seven-game defeat at the hands of the Mets in the 1986 Fall Classic, batting .308 with two home runs and a team-high nine RBIs.
In 1987, at the age of 35 and in his 16th major league season, Evans recorded career highs in batting average (.305), HR (34), and RBI (123). He was shifted to first base that July, but never adjusted to the infield, and in mid-1988 he returned to right field, where his play declined appreciably. In mid-1989 he became Boston's regular DH. Still, Evans retained his reputation as an outstanding clutch hitter, and his careful pitch selection made him particularly dangerous batting with a 3-0 count.
Only Carl Yastrzemski played more games for the Boston Red Sox, but after 19 years in Beantown, Evans spent his final season with the Orioles, batting .270 with six home runs in 101 games. (SCL)
Dwight Evans
Born: November 3, 1951; Santa Monica, CA Height: 6'2" Weight: 180
Bats: Right Throws: Right Position: Right field, First base, 1972-90; Hitting coach, 2002 #24
Dwight Evans was arguably the best right fielder ever to play for the Red Sox. He patrolled the Fenway grass for parts of 19 seasons, winning 8 Gold Gloves and working his way onto the Red Sox career leaderboards in a number of offensive categories. "Dewey" became my favorite player in 1986, the year I got officially hooked on the Sox, and he is now a member of the Red Sox Hall of Fame.
Career Notes
• Dwight Evans hit .300 with 17 HR and 95 RBI for AAA Louisville in 1972, earning him the International League MVP. He was called up to Boston at the end of the season.
• Dewey hit .292 in the 1975 World Series against Cincinnati. In Game 6, it was his spectacular catch in the deepest part of right field that robbed Joe Morgan of an 11th-inning homer, started a double play, and set up Carlton Fisk's dramatic game-winner in the 12th.
• Evans won his first Gold Glove in 1976. His fielding percentage was .994, the 7th highest all-time among Red Sox outfielders. His strong arm and excellent defense would win Dewey a total of 8 Gold Gloves over the course of his career, including five straight seasons from 1981 to 1985.
• In 1978, Evans was named to the All-Star team. He played in two other mid-summer classics, in 1981 and 1987.
• In 1981, Dewey emerged as a power hitter. In that strike-shortened season, he led the league with 22 home runs, 85 walks, 215 total bases, and a .937 OPS. The following season he played in all 162 games, and led the league with a .402 OBP.
• He played all 162 games in 1984, too, and led the AL with 121 runs scored and a .920 OPS, while hitting .295 with 32 home runs. On June 28, 1984, he hit for the cycle in a game against Seattle.
• Dewey led the Sox with 9 RBI in the 1986 World Series against the Mets, including homers in Game 2 and Game 7.
• Evans hit 251 homers from 1981 to 1990, more than any other AL player during that decade.
• Dewey finished his Red Sox career among the all-time team leaders in several categories. He is 2nd in games and at-bats; 3rd in runs, doubles, walks, and extra-base hits; and 4th in home runs, RBI, hits, and total bases. He played his last season with Baltimore.
• In 2000, Dwight Evans was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame.
• Dewey served as Red Sox hitting coach for the 2002 season.
Career Stats
Year Team AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K OBP SLG
_______________________________________________________________________
1972 BOS .263 18 57 2 15 3 1 1 6 7 13 .344 .404
1973 BOS .223 119 282 46 63 13 1 10 32 40 52 .320 .383
1974 BOS .281 133 463 60 130 19 8 10 70 38 77 .335 .421
1975 BOS .274 128 412 61 113 24 6 13 56 47 60 .353 .456
1976 BOS .242 146 501 61 121 34 5 17 62 57 92 .324 .431
1977 BOS .287 73 230 39 66 9 2 14 36 28 58 .363 .526
1978 BOS .247 147 497 75 123 24 2 24 63 65 119 .336 .449
1979 BOS .274 152 489 69 134 24 1 21 58 69 76 .364 .456
1980 BOS .266 148 463 72 123 37 5 18 60 64 98 .358 .484
1981 BOS .296 108 412 84 122 19 4 22 71 85 85 .415 .522
1982 BOS .292 162 609 122 178 37 7 32 98 112 125 .402 .534
1983 BOS .238 126 470 74 112 19 4 22 58 70 97 .338 .436
1984 BOS .295 162 630 121 186 37 8 32 104 96 115 .388 .532
1985 BOS .263 159 617 110 162 29 1 29 78 114 105 .378 .454
1986 BOS .259 152 529 86 137 33 2 26 97 97 117 .376 .476
1987 BOS .305 154 541 109 165 37 2 34 123 106 98 .417 .569
1988 BOS .293 149 559 96 164 31 7 21 111 76 99 .375 .487
1989 BOS .285 146 520 82 148 27 3 20 100 99 84 .397 .463
1990 BOS .249 123 445 66 111 18 3 13 63 67 73 .349 .391
1991 BAL .270 101 270 35 73 9 1 6 38 54 54 .393 .378
_______________________________________________________________________
TOTALS .272 2606 8996 1470 2446 483 73 385 1384 1391 1679 .370 .470
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Evans Honored the Right Way
Team makes spot in its Hall for him
By Larry Whiteside, Boston Globe Staff, 2/17/2000
His peers will tell you that Dwight Evans was the best there will ever be when it comes to roaming Fenway Park's spacious right field.
That's why it comes as no surprise that he would be inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame at the enshrinement dinner May 18 at the Sheraton Boston. Evans, who played in 2,505 games for Boston from 1972-1990 before playing one season with Baltimore, will be honored with pitchers Bill Monbouquette and Bob Stanley.
 ''I enjoyed my time with the Red Sox,'' Evans said from his California home last night. ''I spent three years in the minors and 18 years with the big club. That's a long time. I had some fun. We were all together on some great teams.''
Evans had 2,373 hits for the Sox, including 379 home runs. He played in two World Series (1975 and '86), hitting .300 in 14 games with 14 RBIs.
''No, we didn't win and it will always stick out in my memory that we couldn't win a World Series,'' he said. ''We were close in 1986 and yet so far away. But I can stand back and look at that year and say it was great for me and what a great event it was for all the people who loved baseball.''
The '75 Series was a first for Evans, then 23. He never thought that it would take 11 years before he'd play in another one. ''I thought we had a team that would go the next five years and win three championships,'' he said. ''We really did have the talent to do it and I don't know why it never happened. We had wonderful teams, great players, and great chemistry.
''People ask me about the most exciting time of my career. It had to be the World Series and the 25 guys who played together in good times and bad times to get there. You fought. You hugged. You were like brothers.''
From 1981-90, Evans hit 251 homers, the most of any American League player. In the strike-shortened '81 season, Evans tied for the league lead with 22.
But it was his fielding at Fenway that made him a hero to the Fenway Faithful. Evans, who won eight Gold Gloves, would pick fly balls out of a blazing sky with relative ease. In '76, Evans made only two errors and had a .994 fielding percentage, fifth best all-time. Six times Evans threw out 10 or more runners in a season; he had 15 assists three times.
This story ran in the Boston Globe on 2/17/2000.
© Copyright 2000 Globe Newspaper Company.
Tags: DEWEY THANKS FOR SIGNING MY BALL!!
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