Professional baseball career

In 1998, he had a total of 51 doubles with Triple-A Memphis and Double-A Arkansas. His first full season in the majors was also his best. McEwing batted .275 in 1999 with 141 hits and nine home runs, both career highs. He also amassed a 25-game hitting streak, the fifth longest at that time by a rookie, and finished fifth in National League Rookie of the Year balloting.

McEwing became an immediate fan favorite because of his energy, hustle and obvious love for the game. During his rookie season, McEwing played every position on the field, except for pitcher and catcher. In his honor, St. Louis Cardinals fans created what was known as "Little Mac Land," in a play on words of the official "Big Mac Land" created in the upper deck of Busch Stadium for Mark McGwire. McEwing had a streak of 230 errorless games, which at one point was the longest such streak by an active major league outfielder. McEwing was often successful against Randy Johnson, so McEwing was nicknamed "Little Unit" (a reference to Johnson who was called "Big Unit").

During Spring training just before the start of the 2000 season, he was traded to the New York Mets for Jesse Orosco. Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa admired McEwing so much that he requested a pair of the player's spikes upon the trade.

Released by the Mets toward the end of spring training in 2005 (which especially upset All-Star David Wright), the Kansas City Royals signed him to provide extra infield insurance. The Royals called him up to the major leagues on March 12, when regular third baseman, Mark Teahen, went on the 15-day disabled list.

On March 30, 2006, he was sent to the Houston Astros by the Royals. In 2007, he signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox. On January 16, 2008, McEwing officially announced his retirement from baseball.

Post-playing career

In the 2008 season, McEwing started his baseball coaching career as the hitting coach for the Charlotte Knights. On November 3, 2008, he was named manager of the Winston-Salem Dash, the Class A affiliate for the Chicago White Sox, for the 2009 season. During that season, Baseball America rated McEwing as the top managerial prospect in the South Atlantic League. McEwing was also named Manager of the Year for his work managing the Dash in 2009.

McEwing was named manager of the Charlotte Knights, the White Sox triple-A affiliate for the 2011 season. On October 10, 2011, several sources reported that McEwing would be promoted to serve as the third-base coach for the White Sox in 2012, serving under new manager Robin Ventura. Several managerial and coaching positions opened up shortly before the end of the 2011 season when then White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen announced that he would be leaving. Joe McEwing was given an honorary Wampum Willy Award for his on and off the field efforts.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]