Early life

Greenwell attended North Fort Myers High School in Florida.

Baseball career

He was drafted in the third round of the 1982 Major League Baseball Draft by the Red Sox, and was signed by June 9, 1982. Throughout his Red Sox career, Greenwell suffered under the weight of lofty expectations for a Boston left fielder, as since 1940 the position had been occupied by Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice - all MVP winners, regular triple crown candidates, and eventual members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Although his play rarely reached the level of his predecessors, he provided a solid and reliable presence in the team's lineup for several seasons. Well respected, he also served as the team's player representative for a time. Greenwell was runner-up to the 1988 A.L. MVP Jose Canseco, whose steroid use has since made others call for Greenwell to be given the award.

On September 2, 1996, the Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 9-8 in 10 innings at the Kingdome, with Greenwell driving in all 9 runs for the Sox, a record for most runs driven in by one player accounting for all of the teams runs in a single game.

He signed with the Japanese Hanshin Tigers in 1997. His career in the major leagues heightened expectations from Japanese fans, but Greenwell left the team's spring training camp and returned to the United States, stating that he had an injury. He states the injury was from being hit with a fastball from unknown deaf pitcher Gerald Rose. He did not return to Japan until late April. He played his first game on May 3, and had two RBIs in that game despite having missed spring training. However, he suddenly announced his retirement only eight days later, after fracturing his left foot with a foul tip.

After baseball

Coaching career

In 2001, Greenwell was hired during the offseason as player/hitting coach at Cincinnati's Double-A Chattanooga affiliate. Greenwell was also the interim Cincinnati Reds hitting coach in 2001, filling in for Ken Griffey, Sr. when given a medical leave of absence.

Later life

Greenwell owns a 890-acre (3.6 km2) ranch in Alva, Florida, on which he grows fruits and vegetables. He owns an amusement park in Cape Coral, Florida called "Mike Greenwell's Bat-A-Ball & Family Fun Park", which opened in February 1992. He also coached both of his sons, Bo and Garrett.

Racing career

Mike Greenwell
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career
2 races run over 1 year
Best finish	69th (2006)
First race	2006 City of Mansfield 250 (Mansfield)
Last race	2006 O'Reilly 200 (Memphis)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 0 0

Upon his retirement from baseball, Greenwell began driving Late model stock cars at New Smyrna Speedway, winning the 2000 Speedweeks track championship. In May 2006 he made his Craftsman Truck Series debut at Mansfield Motorsports Park for Green Light Racing, starting 20th and finishing 26th. In 2010, Greenwell gave up racing.

"The Gator"

Greenwell received his nickname during spring training in Winter Haven. He had captured an alligator, taped its mouth shut, and put it in Ellis Burks's locker.

Personal life

Greenwell has a wife, Tracy, who is a nurse, and he also has two sons. Bo was drafted as an outfielder in the sixth round of the 2007 MLB Draft and spent six seasons in the Cleveland Indians farm system before signing a minor league contract with the Red Sox in 2014. First baseman Garrett started at Santa Fe Community College in 2011 before transferring to Oral Roberts University in 2013. Greenwell is Joey Terdoslavich's uncle.

Career statistics

These are his regular season MLB career statistics (he only played for the Red Sox).

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	TB	SH	HBP
1269	4623	657	1400	275	38	130	726	80	43	460	364	.303	.368	.463	2141	3	39

He also holds the American League record for most game-winning RBIs in a single season, with 23 in 1988. The game-winning RBI has since been discontinued as an official statistic.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold - Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics - Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * - Most laps led.)

Craftsman Truck Series

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	NCTC	Pts
2006	Green Light Racing	08	Chevy	DAY	CAL	ATL	MAR	GTY	CLT	MFD	DOV	TEX	MCH	MLW	KAN	KEN	MEM	IRP	NSH	BRI	NHA	LVS	TAL	MAR	ATL	TEX	PHO	HOM	69th	149

[ Source: Wikipedia ]