Toronto Blue Jays History: John Olerud Has Brain Surgery
John Olerud was a solid player during his 17 years in the Majors, finding stardom with the Toronto Blue Jays. However, as a student at Washington State University, he had an aneurysm, for which he underwent surgery on this day in 1989.
John Olerud looked like a future star at Washington State University. In 1988, splitting his time between first base and the mound, he produced an excellent .464 batting average, hitting 23 home runs and driving in 81 runs. On the mound, he was 15-0, striking out 113 batters while posting a 2.49 ERA. He appeared to be on his way to a high draft pick, and possibly an excellent Major League career.
Then, Olerud had a brain aneurysm, collapsing after a workout on January 11 and putting his career in jeopardy. On this day in 1989, he underwent surgery to remove that aneurysm, and while he would need to wear a batting helmet in the field, was able to put his career in motion once again.
Later that year, he was drafted in the third round by the Toronto Blue Jays as a first baseman. He would not spend a day in the minors before making his debut in the Majors in September, where he had three hits in eight at bats, scoring twice. The following year, he emerged as the Blue Jays primary first baseman, despite being part of a platoon for his first few years.
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Once he was in the lineup every day, his career took off. Olerud made his first All Star Game in 1993, when he produced a .363/.473/.599 batting line, hitting 24 home runs. He led the league in batting average, on base percentage, and doubles (54). The Blue Jays won their second consecutive World Series, and Olerud appeared to be a star in the making.
While he never again reached that level of production, he settled in as a solid player. He made another All Star Game while he was with the Mariners, and was finally rewarded for being one of the better fielding first basemen in the game when he won a Gold Glove award in 2000. Olerud finished his career with three Gold Glove awards, while posting a lifetime .295/.398/.465 batting line, hitting exactly 500 home runs and 255 homers.
Olerud was also a part of one of the more entertaining Rickey Henderson stories. Allegedly, when Henderson became a member of the Mariners while Olerud was there, he came up to Olerud and mentioned that he had played with someone last year on the Mets that wore a batting helmet in the field. Olreud, according to the tale, responded by telling Henderson that he was that player. While that encounter never actually happened, it has become a part of baseball lore.
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John Olerud was a very good player, and a key part of the Toronto Blue Jays two championship teams. His career is even more remarkable because it almost never happened due to an aneurysm that he had suffered.