J. D. Drew

1.1. Early Life and Education

J. D. Drew was born on November 20, 1975. He grew up in Valdosta, Georgia, where he attended Lowndes County High School, graduating in 1994. Following his high school career, Drew was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 20th round of the 1994 Major League Baseball draft. However, he chose not to sign with the Giants, opting instead to pursue his collegiate baseball career. He enrolled at Florida State University, where he played under the guidance of head coach Mike Martin.

1.2. Family and Siblings

Drew comes from a family with a strong baseball background, as his two younger brothers, Tim Drew and Stephen Drew, also became professional baseball players and reached Major League Baseball. In a unique instance, J. D. and Tim Drew made history by becoming the first brothers to be drafted in the first round of the MLB draft in the same year, which occurred in 1997. J. D. and Tim were also teammates on the Atlanta Braves in 2004. Both J. D. and Stephen Drew achieved the ultimate success in professional baseball by winning a World Series championship with the Boston Red Sox; J. D. won in 2007, and Stephen followed in 2013.

2.1. College Baseball Career

During his time at Florida State University, J. D. Drew established himself as one of the most dominant collegiate baseball players in history. He became the first player in college baseball history to achieve the rare feat of hitting 30 home runs and stealing 30 bases in the same season. In 1997, he set a Florida State record by achieving an impressive batting average of .455. Furthermore, Drew became one of only three players in college baseball history to record 100 hits, 100 runs, and 100 RBIs in a single season. Throughout his collegiate career, Drew broke a remarkable 17 school and conference records, solidifying his legacy at Florida State. He was also a member of Team USA in 1996, earned First Team honors in 1996, was recognized as a Freshman All-American in 1995, and was named to the College World Series All-Tournament Team in 1995.

2.2. Collegiate Achievements and Awards

Drew's exceptional performance at Florida State University earned him numerous prestigious awards and honors. In 1997, he was the recipient of both the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award, which are presented to the top collegiate baseball player in the United States. That same year, he was recognized as the 1997 Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year and the 1997 Sporting News Player of the Year. He was also named a consensus All-American in 1997 and received the 1997 ACC Player of the Year award, highlighting his widespread recognition as the nation's premier college baseball talent.

3.1. 1997 Draft Controversy and Independent League

The Philadelphia Phillies selected J. D. Drew as the second overall pick in the 1997 Major League Baseball draft, following pitcher Matt Anderson. However, Drew and his agent, Scott Boras, chose not to sign with the Phillies, demanding a contract worth no less than 10.00 M USD. The Phillies, unwilling to meet such a high demand for an unproven player, offered a contract of 2.60 M USD (or 6.00 M USD over four years, including a 2.00 M USD signing bonus, according to Japanese sources). This significant financial disagreement led to a highly publicized contract dispute, and Drew ultimately did not sign with the Phillies.

To circumvent the rules of the Major League Baseball draft, Boras had Drew sign with the St. Paul Saints of the independent Northern League. During his time with the Saints, Drew played in 44 games, where he posted a .318 batting average, hit 18 home runs, and recorded 50 RBIs. His performance earned him the league's Rookie of the Year award.

3.2. St. Louis Cardinals (1998-2003)

After his stint in the independent league, J. D. Drew was again eligible for the MLB draft. In the 1998 Major League Baseball draft, he was selected in the first round, fifth overall, by the St. Louis Cardinals. In June 1998, he signed a four-year contract worth 7.00 M USD (or 8.50 M USD), which included a 3.00 M USD signing bonus, marking the highest signing bonus ever for a drafted player at that time.

Drew quickly advanced through the Cardinals' minor league system, hitting .316 in 26 games with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds. He was recalled by the Cardinals and made his MLB debut on September 8, 1998, a historic game in which teammate Mark McGwire broke the single-season home run record. Drew's first at bat resulted in a strikeout, and he finished the night 0-for-2. However, he quickly adjusted, going 15-for-36 (.417) with five home runs during the remainder of the 1998 season.

His return to Philadelphia for his first game against the Phillies was met with intense hostility from fans. On August 9, 1999, Drew sat out, citing a bruised right hand, and even attempted to confuse fans by having bullpen catcher Jeff Murphy wear his jersey. This attempt failed, and he was booed and heckled throughout batting practice, with cheers only erupting when he misplayed three consecutive ground balls in the outfield. The following day, August 10, 1999, in Drew's actual first game at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, he was booed loudly by the crowd. The situation escalated when two fans threw batteries at him, causing a 10-minute delay in the game and prompting the umpire to warn of a potential forfeit. The Phillie Phanatic mascot also joined in, dropping two large trash bags marked with dollar signs in the outfield between innings, symbolizing the fans' resentment over his contract demands.

Throughout his tenure with the Cardinals, Drew struggled with injuries, landing on the disabled list every season he played in St. Louis. In his book Three Nights in August, author Buzz Bissinger noted former manager Tony La Russa's frustration with Drew's perceived lack of passion, with La Russa suggesting that Drew seemed content to "settle for 75%" of his talent, largely due to his substantial contract.

3.3. Atlanta Braves (2004)

On December 13, 2003, Drew was traded to the Atlanta Braves along with catcher Eli Marrero in exchange for starting pitcher Jason Marquis, relief pitcher Ray King, and rookie prospect Adam Wainwright. With the Braves, Drew experienced what was arguably the best season of his professional career in 2004, finally managing to stay healthy for an extended period. He demonstrated excellent power, patience at the plate, and strong defensive play, hitting .305 with 31 home runs, 118 walks, and 93 RBIs. From June 30 to July 26, he recorded a 22-game hitting streak, which was the second-longest in the league that year, trailing only Jeff Kent's 25-game streak. His outstanding performance led him to finish sixth in the MVP voting for the season.

3.4. Los Angeles Dodgers (2005-2006)

In December 2004, Drew signed a five-year contract worth 55.00 M USD with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a deal that included an opt-out clause after the second year. Roughly halfway through the 2005 season, his season was prematurely ended after he sustained a wrist injury from being hit by a pitch thrown by Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brad Halsey.

On September 18, 2006, Drew was part of a rare and notable event, participating in only the fourth instance in MLB history (at that time) of four consecutive home runs, alongside fellow Dodgers Jeff Kent, Russell Martin, and Marlon Anderson.

Following the 2006 season, Drew exercised his contract opt-out clause, choosing to forgo the remaining 33.00 M USD over the next three years to become a free agent. This decision came as a surprise to many, including Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti, who stated he was "surprised how it came down," especially since Drew had expressed happiness in Los Angeles and looked forward to the 2007 season just days prior. In 2006, Drew had a very productive season, batting .284 with 20 home homes and 100 RBIs.

3.5. Boston Red Sox (2007-2011)

On January 26, 2007, Drew officially signed a five-year contract with the Boston Red Sox worth 70.00 M USD. The contract included a specific clause that allowed the Red Sox to opt out of the agreement after three or four years if Drew experienced extensive injuries due to a pre-existing problem in his right shoulder, or if he became unable to play due to a new injury for 35 or more days. The formal signing of the contract was delayed after a physical examination revealed an abnormality in his right shoulder.

Drew was again involved in a sequence of four consecutive home runs on April 22, 2007, in a game against the New York Yankees, joining Manny Ramírez, Mike Lowell, and Jason Varitek. This made him the only player in MLB history to participate twice in a string of four straight home runs, and he was the second player to hit a home run in each instance. He concluded the 2007 season with a .270 batting average, 11 home runs, and 64 RBIs.

On October 20, 2007, Drew hit a crucial grand slam in Game 6 of the 2007 American League Championship Series (ALCS) with the Red Sox facing elimination. This home run, combined with his brother Stephen Drew's home run for the Arizona Diamondbacks in the same postseason, marked the third time that two brothers had both hit home runs in the same postseason. The Red Sox went on to win the 2007 World Series, with Drew playing a significant role.

In 2008, Drew hit one of the longest home runs in Fenway Park history, measured at 460 ft. He finished the season with a .280 batting average, a .408 on-base percentage (OBP), and a .519 slugging percentage. At the end of June, Drew was named the American League Player of the Month after batting .337 with 12 home runs, effectively filling in for David Ortiz who was on the disabled list. On July 6, Drew was officially announced as an AL All-Star reserve, marking his first All-Star game appearance. He hit a two-run homer in his first All-Star at-bat, earning him the game's MVP award. In what became the longest All-Star Game in MLB history by time, American League manager Terry Francona even considered putting Drew, a former high school pitcher, on the mound to close the game due to a depleted bullpen. Drew later spent time on the 15-day disabled list from August 27 to September 8 with a strained lower back.

In the 2008 postseason, Drew continued to deliver key hits. On October 3, in Game 2 of the 2008 American League Division Series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, he hit a go-ahead two-run home run. On October 16, in Game 5 of the 2008 ALCS against the Tampa Bay Rays, Drew contributed to a remarkable comeback from a seven-run deficit in the late innings with a two-run home run in the eighth inning, and then delivered the walk-off hit in the ninth. This Game 5 comeback, sparked by Drew, is recognized as the second-biggest in postseason history and the largest for a team on the brink of elimination. However, the Red Sox ultimately lost to the Rays in Game 7 of the series.

After the 2009 season, Drew's statistics began to decline. In 2009, he batted .279 with a .392 OBP, hitting 24 home runs and 68 RBIs, marking his first season with over 20 home runs since joining the Red Sox. The following year, 2010, he hit .255 with 22 home runs and 68 RBIs, playing in 139 games, his highest total since 2007. However, 16 of his 22 home runs were solo shots, highlighting a weakness in clutch situations. In his final season, 2011, Drew's performance saw a further decline, as he hit .222 with four home runs and 22 RBIs in 81 games, with a .315 OBP. Drew retired from professional baseball at the end of the 2011 season after completing his five-year contract with the Red Sox.

4.1. Regular Season Statistics

• Statistics are for his entire 14-year MLB career.

4.2. Postseason Statistics

In 55 postseason games throughout his career, J. D. Drew maintained a batting average of .261 (48-for-184). During these playoff appearances, he scored 19 runs, hit six doubles and seven home runs, drove in 25 RBIs, and drew 18 walks.