David Ross (baseball)

1.1. Early life and upbringing

Ross was born in Bainbridge, Georgia, on March 19, 1977, but grew up in Tallahassee, Florida. His family had a strong athletic background; his father, David Ross Sr., played in a men's softball league, and his mother, Jackie, was a basketball player. Additionally, two of his uncles played college football. Ross is one of five children. He attended Florida High School, a laboratory school of Florida State University in Tallahassee, where he played high school baseball for the Florida High School Demons.

1.2. College baseball career

Ross received an athletic scholarship to attend Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, where he played for the Auburn Tigers baseball team from 1996 to 1997. In 1996, he also played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League. A notable moment in his college career occurred during the 1997 NCAA Division I baseball tournament East Regional semifinal, where he hit a walk-off three-run home run against Florida State to advance Auburn to the regional final. The Auburn Tigers eventually reached the 1997 College World Series, being eliminated in the second round by Stanford.

Following the 1997 season, he transferred to the University of Florida and played one season for the Florida Gators baseball team in 1998. In 63 games during the 1998 season, Ross excelled with a .332 batting average, 19 home runs, and 69 RBIs, contributing to the Gators' advancement to the 1998 College World Series. He was teammates with future MLB players such as Josh Fogg, Brad Wilkerson, and Mark Ellis during his time at Florida. Ross is one of the few players in history to have participated in the College World Series with two different collegiate teams, first with Auburn in 1997 and then with Florida in 1998. After his junior season with the Gators, Ross chose to forgo his final year of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) eligibility after being drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

2.1. Professional debut and minor leagues

Ross was first drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 19th round of the 1995 amateur draft, but he opted not to sign, choosing instead to accept a scholarship to Auburn University. The Dodgers drafted him again in 1998, this time in the seventh round, and he signed, beginning his professional career.

Before his major league debut, Ross played in the minor leagues, including with the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s, where he recorded a .297 batting average, 15 home runs, and 68 RBIs in 92 games.

2.2. Los Angeles Dodgers

Ross made his MLB debut on June 29, 2002, as a pinch hitter, striking out in his first at-bat. On September 2, 2002, in a game where the Dodgers were leading the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-0 by the sixth inning, Ross entered as a pinch hitter for Dave Roberts in the seventh inning and hit his first major league double. Later in the same game, with the Dodgers leading 18-0, Mark Grace, a first baseman (a position player), volunteered to pitch for the Diamondbacks to save the bullpen. Ross hit his first major league home run off Grace's approximately 70 mph ^{(113 km/h)} pitch with two outs in the ninth inning, contributing to a 19-1 victory. This marked a rare achievement of hitting a first career home run off a position player pitching.

Ross's career with the Dodgers was challenged by a crowded catching roster, which included Paul Lo Duca as the primary catcher, along with Brent Mayne, Koyie Hill, and Todd Hundley vying for playing time. He remained with the team until 2004.

2.3. Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres

On March 30, 2005, the Dodgers sold Ross's contract to the Pittsburgh Pirates. With the Pirates, he was the third-string catcher, behind Humberto Cota and Ryan Doumit, which limited his playing opportunities. After playing 40 games for Pittsburgh, he was traded to the San Diego Padres on July 28, 2005, in exchange for infielder J. J. Furmaniak. His playing time further decreased with the Padres, where he competed with catchers like Ramón Hernández, appearing in only 11 games.

2.4. Cincinnati Reds

The Padres traded Ross to the Cincinnati Reds during spring training for the 2006 season. On January 15, 2006, he signed a two-year contract with the Reds worth 4.54 M USD. Ross became the Reds' primary catcher and was often used as the "personal catcher" for right-hander Bronson Arroyo. He started the 2006 season strong, maintaining a batting average above .300 until August, and showcased his power by hitting 21 home runs in just 247 at-bats, benefiting from the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park.

Despite his offensive contributions, Ross's 2007 season was marked by a slump, with his batting average hovering around .200. On April 21, 2007, he notably grounded into a rare 5-4-3 triple play against the Philadelphia Phillies. He finished the 2007 season with a .203 batting average and 17 home runs. On August 13, 2007, he suffered a concussion after colliding with Mike Cameron at home plate during a game against the Padres but returned from the disabled list after the minimum 15 days. In 2008, his struggles continued with a .231 batting average and three home runs. On August 10, he was designated for assignment and subsequently released on August 18.

2.5. Boston Red Sox (first stint)

Ross signed a minor-league contract with the Boston Red Sox on August 22, 2008. He was called up to the MLB club on August 29 and became a free agent after the season.

2.6. Atlanta Braves

On December 5, 2008, the Atlanta Braves signed Ross to a two-year, 3.00 M USD deal, with an additional 3.30 M USD in incentives. In 2009, he played in 54 games and hit .273. On July 27, 2010, he signed a two-year extension to remain with the Braves through the 2012 season. He achieved a career-high batting average of .289 in 59 games in 2010.

During his four seasons with the Braves, Ross primarily served as the secondary catcher behind Brian McCann. He was known for his strong defensive skills, committing only one error in 52 games in 2009. His offensive contributions were highlighted by a hot start in the 2011 season, where he hit .333 with three home runs in his first seven starts. In 2012, Ross hit the first home run in the history of the Wild Card Game, a new playoff format introduced that year. He became a free agent on October 29, 2012.

2.7. Boston Red Sox (second stint)

Ross returned to the Red Sox on November 10, 2012, signing a two-year, 6.20 M USD deal, which was officially announced on November 14. He was brought in to be "more than a backup but not a starter" behind primary catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

In 2013, Ross experienced two concussions, leading to over two months on the disabled list. Despite these setbacks, he played a crucial role in Boston's run to the 2013 World Series championship against the St. Louis Cardinals. He started four games during the series, driving in the game-winning run with an RBI double in Game 5. He was also behind the plate to catch the series-clinching out in Game 6 when Koji Uehara struck out Matt Carpenter.

In 2014, Ross served as Jon Lester's personal catcher. However, his offensive performance declined, with a .184 batting average in 50 games, his lowest in ten years. His defensive numbers also showed a decline, with a career-low 22% caught stealing rate. He became a free agent after the season.

2.8. Chicago Cubs

On December 23, 2014, the Chicago Cubs announced they had signed Ross to a two-year contract worth 5.00 M USD, structured as 2.25 M USD per year with a 500.00 K USD signing bonus. He started on Opening Day 2015, catching for Jon Lester, with whom he had previously formed a strong battery with the Red Sox.

Ross made his professional pitching debut on May 9, 2015, recording a perfect inning against the Milwaukee Brewers. He repeated this feat on July 26 against the Philadelphia Phillies, and then led off the next inning by hitting a home run off of Héctor Neris. On April 21, 2016, he caught his first career no-hitter with starting pitcher Jake Arrieta against his former team, the Cincinnati Reds. Ross hit his 100th career home run off Adam Morgan of the Philadelphia Phillies on May 27, 2016.

Ross announced his plans to retire following the 2016 season, concluding a 15-season major league career. In Game 7 of the 2016 World Series against the Cleveland Indians, Ross hit a solo home run off of relief pitcher Andrew Miller in the sixth inning, making him the oldest player at 39 years old to hit a home home run in World Series history. The Cubs went on to win Game 7 by a score of 8-7 in 10 innings, securing Ross his second World Series championship and the Cubs' first in 108 years, providing a memorable end to his playing career.

Following his retirement from MLB, on January 14, 2017, the Cubs named Ross a special assistant to baseball operations for the 2017 season. He also briefly joined the Kansas Stars, an independent baseball team composed of former MLB stars who play an abbreviated tournament annually.

2.9. Playing style and statistics

David Ross was primarily known for his defensive abilities as a catcher, particularly his strong arm and leadership behind the plate. He had a career caught stealing percentage of 34.7%, significantly higher than the MLB average of approximately 28% during his playing years. In 2009, he achieved his career-best caught stealing rate of .475. While he sometimes struggled with catching off-speed pitches, his overall defensive contributions were highly valued.

Offensively, Ross possessed significant punch power, enabling him to hit home runs, but he was also prone to strikeouts due to an aggressive approach at the plate. Despite this, he demonstrated an ability to handle breaking balls effectively.

Over his 15-year MLB career, Ross played 883 games, accumulating a .229 batting average, 106 home runs, and 314 RBIs. He also made two pitching appearances in 2015, throwing 2.0 innings pitched with no hits, runs, or walks.

Ross wore several jersey numbers throughout his career:

• 40 (2002-2004, Los Angeles Dodgers)
• 29 (2005, Pittsburgh Pirates)
• 9 (2005, San Diego Padres)
• 26 (2006-2008, Cincinnati Reds)
• 28 (2008, Boston Red Sox)
• 8 (2009-2012, Atlanta Braves)
• 3 (2013-2016, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs)

3.1. Broadcasting and analyst roles

After his retirement from playing, Ross was hired by ESPN as a baseball color analyst in January 2017, providing commentary and analysis for their baseball coverage.

3.2. Special assistant roles

The Chicago Cubs named Ross a special assistant to baseball operations on January 14, 2017, a role he took on immediately after concluding his playing career with the team.

3.3. Other media and entertainment appearances

On March 1, 2017, Ross was announced as a contestant on season 24 of Dancing with the Stars, where he was paired with professional dancer Lindsay Arnold. He made history as the first professional baseball player to compete on the show. Despite having only the sixth-highest scoring average, Ross and Arnold advanced to the finals and finished as runners-up to winner Rashad Jennings and his partner Emma Slater.

Ross also co-authored a book titled Teammate: My Life in Baseball with Don Yaeger, which was published in May 2017. The book delves into his career and experiences, including the Cubs' 2016 World Series victory.

He made an appearance on Saturday Night Live alongside some of his Chicago Cubs teammates to celebrate their championship win. Additionally, Ross appeared in commercials for "The Bryzzo Souvenir Company," portraying an intern attempting to meet the demands of his "bosses," Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo.

4.1. Chicago Cubs manager

On October 24, 2019, the Chicago Cubs hired Ross as their new manager, replacing Joe Maddon, and signed him to a three-year contract. His managerial debut occurred on July 24, 2020, leading the Cubs to a 3-0 home victory against the Milwaukee Brewers. On March 11, 2022, the Cubs announced a contract extension for Ross through the 2024 season, which also included a club option for the 2025 season. However, Ross was dismissed from his managerial role on November 6, 2023, and was subsequently replaced by Craig Counsell.

4.2. Managerial record

Ross's managerial record with the Chicago Cubs is summarized below:

6.1. Positive assessments

Ross is widely praised for his leadership qualities, particularly his ability to mentor younger players and foster strong team chemistry. He was often affectionately referred to as "Grandpa Rossy" by his Chicago Cubs teammates, a testament to his veteran presence and guiding influence. His clutch performances, especially his game-winning RBI double in Game 5 of the 2013 World Series and his historic home run in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, underscore his ability to perform under pressure and contribute significantly to team success. His contributions to two World Series championships are central to his positive legacy.

6.2. Criticisms and controversies

While generally well-regarded, Ross's career did see periods of struggle. Notably, in 2014, his batting average dropped to .184, his lowest in a decade, and his defensive statistics, including a 22% caught stealing rate, indicated a decline in his performance behind the plate. These periods of lower performance were part of his journey, though they did not overshadow his overall positive impact.

6.3. Impact and influence

Ross's impact extended beyond his individual statistics. He was a crucial figure in the clubhouse, known for his ability to connect with teammates and serve as a calming, experienced presence. His role as a "personal catcher" for pitchers like Jon Lester highlighted his skill in building trust and maximizing a pitcher's performance. His legacy is that of a selfless team player who prioritized collective success, culminating in his pivotal role in breaking the Chicago Cubs' 108-year championship drought. His transition to managing the Cubs further solidified his influence within the organization, demonstrating his continued dedication to the team and the sport.