Keith Lockhart
|
Birth Name: Keith Virgil Lockhart College: Oral Roberts Personal: Wife Lisa, Childern: Daniel and Sydney  1998
|
In Keith’s career he served largely as a utility infielder and pinch hitter. Keith did come up with some large hits in his career, and when the Braves asked him to play full time one season he responded with respectable stats.Keith didn’t have a ton of talent, but he was one of the players you could feel for. Keith is always going to be one of the favorites of tireball.com. He worked hard at what he did and played like every pitch mattered. Greg Maddux once said during the playoffs that “Baseball needs more players like Keith Lockhart.”Keith Lockhart was drafted in the 11th round of the 1986 draft by the Cincinnati Reds. For almost a decade he played in the minors with the Reds, Athletics and Cardinals. At the age of 29 Keith played his first games with the San Diego in 1994. Keith’s first hit came April 7, 1994 off of Greg McMicheal in the 10th inning scoring a run and forcing the game to the 11th. In his first big league start (April 8, 1994) Lockhart belted two homeruns in the Padres 4-0 win against the Marlins. Lockhart hit homers off of David Weathers and Rob Nen. In winter of 1994 Lockhart signed a contract with the Kansas City Royals.On August 25, 1994 Keith Lockhart had once of his most memorable moments. Lockhart and teammate Kevin Higgins played all nine positions as the Las Vegas Stars beat the Tacoma Rainers in a Class AAA game.In Lockhart’s two seasons with the Royals he was able to slap the ball around Kaufman and produce as a almost everyday player. In his best season (1995) he hit .321/.355/.478 with 6 homeruns while scoring 41 times and having 33 RBI’s. In 1996 Keith set a career high with 7 homers and 55 RBI but his on base percentage and slugging took a hit.Keith’s big break however came by the hand of Brave’s general manager John Schuerholz. In 1997 The Braves acquired Lockhart and Michael Tucker from the Royals for Jamie Walker and Jermaine Dye.
For the next six seasons Lockhart would be part of a Braves team that was always playoff bound. On June 3, 1997 the umpires reversed a call that would of helped the Braves beat the Padres. Lockhart had hit what was believed to be a two run homerun later to be ruled foul. Keith then grounded out and the Braves lost. Keith later atoned for it when he hit a bases grand slam as the Brave rebounded from a five run deficit to beat the Phillies on June 29th. In the final game of the NLCS the Braves lost 7-4 to the Marlins but Keith gave it his all as he collected four hits. With the loss of Mark Lemke to the Red Sox in 1998 Keith again found himself playing everyday. His numbers were much of what you would expect for a back of the order hitter but he had helped the Braves navigate again to the playoffs. The Braves got Bret Boone the following season and Lockhart was used again primarily as a pinch hitter and utility infielder with the exception of 2002. Braves second basemen Marcus Giles was going though and awful sophomore season and the Braves actually played Lockhart at second for much of the season. By seasons end Lockhart had played 222 more innings at second base then Giles. The Braves again were poised for the playoffs. Despite a homerun in the 2002 playoffs against the Giants the Braves were again victimized, this time falling to the Giants. At the end of the season Lockhart signed with the San Diego Padres. The 2003 season was the last in Keith’s career. Lockhart played in 62 games compiling respectable numbers. He went out with little fan fare and most fans failed to notice that one of baseball’s nicest men had walked away. Keith even contacted me about this page. I think Keith likes it, I’ve also sent Keith a few baseball cards and he signed them. Thanks Keith for being such an outstanding person. |
