Jermaine Dye
Jermaine Dye
Free Agent — No. --
Right fielder
Born: January 28, 1974 (1974-01-28) (age 35) Oakland, California
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 18, 1996 for the Atlanta Braves
Career statistics (through 2009)
Batting average	.274
Home runs	325
Runs batted in	1,072
Teams
Atlanta Braves (1996) Kansas City Royals (1997–2001) Oakland Athletics (2001–2004) Chicago White Sox (2005–2009)
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion (2005) 2x All-Star selection (2000, 2006) Silver Slugger Award winner (2006) Gold Glove Award winner (2000) World Series MVP (2005) Babe Ruth Award (2005)

Jermaine Trevell Dye (born January 28, 1974 in Oakland, California), dubbed "Live and Let" Dye by Chris Berman^[1][2], is a right fielder in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. Dye has played with the Atlanta Braves (1996), Kansas City Royals (1997-2001), Oakland Athletics (2001-04), and the Chicago White Sox (2004-2009). Jermaine helped the White Sox win the World Series in 2005. He was awarded the World Series MVP. Dye bats and throws right-handed and is known for his ability to hit for power and his powerful throwing arm.^[3]

[edit] Professional career

[edit] Atlanta Braves

Dye attended Will C. Wood High School in Vacaville and Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, California, and was selected by Atlanta in the 17th round of the 1993 amateur draft. Dye then played for the braves , where he started his career.

[edit] Kansas City Royals

He was traded to Kansas City on March 27, 1997. In 1999 Dye played in 158 games for the Royals, hitting 26 home runs. He was one of the more well-liked Royals at that time, with fans frequently chanting "Dye-no-mite" after he came up to bat. The next year he made the American League All-Star team. Dye, Mike Sweeney, and Carlos Beltran composed the historic 2000 Royals offense.

[edit] Oakland Athletics

Dye was traded to the Oakland Athletics on July 25, 2001. Despite his relatively short stint in Kansas City, Dye left his mark on the Royals record book, and still ranks in the top twenty in franchise history in total bases (19th), doubles (19th) and home runs (13th). After the trade, he posted a .913 OPS for Oakland, helping them clinch the wild card spot. In game 4 of the 2001 American League Division Series, Dye fouled a ball off his leg, shattering his fibula. Dye struggled to return from the injury, posting modest numbers and missing 123 games over the next three seasons.

[edit] Chicago White Sox

Prior to the 2005 season, Dye was signed by the Chicago White Sox to a two-year, $10.15 million free-agent contract with an option for 2007.[1]

Dye played 145 games in 2005, the most since his injury. He batted .274 with 31 home runs, slugged .512 and stole 11 bases in regular season play, and was named World Series MVP, batting .438 with one home run and three RBIs. His RBI single off Houston Astros closer Brad Lidge provided the deciding run in Chicago's 1-0 Game 4 victory, clinching the Series sweep

Dye with then-U.S. President George W. Bush.

2006 proved to be his best offensive season; he finished second in the league with 44 home runs, third in slugging at .622, fifth in runs batted in with 120, batted .315, and placed fifth in AL Most Valuable Player voting. On Mother's Day, May 14, Dye was one of more than 50 hitters who brandished a pink bat to benefit the Breast Cancer Foundation. Dye was selected to the American League All-Star Team for the second time in his career after a scorching first half in which he batted .318, struck 25 home runs and slugged .646. Dye was awarded a Silver Slugger for his offensive performance. He also finished second in the AL voting.

On October 30, 2006, the White Sox exercised their $6.75 million option for Dye's 2007 season.^[4]

Dye, along with many other Chicago hitters, struggled in the first half of 2007, including a cold June in which he batted just .203 with one home run. He turned his game around in the second half, batting .298 and knocking out 20 doubles and 16 home runs, and finished with a batting line of .254/.317/.486. He was signed to a two-year contract extension in August.

Dye returned to form in 2008 for the division champion White Sox, finishing second in the American League with 77 extra-base hits and batting .292 with 34 home runs overall. Dye finished second to Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria in Final Vote balloting for the last spot on the American League All-Star roster. He also received MVP votes for the second time in his career, placing fifteenth.

On Monday, April 13, 2009, Dye connected for his 300th home run off of Detroit Tigers pitcher Zach Miner. After Dye hit his 300th home run Paul Konerko hit his 300th home run. This was the first time that this had ever happened in Major League history; where two players had hit a century milestone home run in one game, let alone back to back.

On November 6, 2009, Dye's $12 million mutual option was bought out for $950,000, thus making him a free agent.^[5]

[edit] See also

• List of top 500 Major League Baseball home run hitters
• Home run in first at-bat
• The 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time- #44 Jermaine Dye

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jermaine Dye

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube