Andy Van Slyke Biography

Andrew James Van Slyke, born on December 21, 1960, is an American former Major League Baseball player and coach who competed in the National and American Leagues. Van Slyke played high school baseball at New Hartford Central High School in New York, where he earned All-American recognition as a senior. Early in his professional career, Van Slyke played multiple infield and outfield positions, including first base, third base, and all three outfield spots. During the 1991 Gulf War, Van Slyke removed the Canadian flag from his batting helmet, commenting on the reception of the Canadian national anthem in Quebec. In 1988, Van Slyke achieved personal bests with 25 home runs and 100 RBIs, led the majors in triples and sacrifice flies, and placed fourth in National League MVP voting. Van Slyke recorded 199 hits and 45 doubles in 1992, finishing second in the National League with a .324 batting average. He has played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles, and Philadelphia Phillies during his MLB career.