Kenny Lofton

A speedster who rewrote the postseason playbook and anchored Cleveland's center field for a decade.

Kenneth Lofton, born May 31, 1967, is an American former Major League Baseball center fielder known for his elite speed and defensive mastery. A six-time All-Star (1994–1999) and four-time Gold Glove winner (1993–1996), he ranks 15th all-time with 622 stolen bases. Though drafted by the Houston Astros, Lofton found his true home in Cleveland, where he spent the majority of his career. He holds the all-time postseason stolen-base record with 34 and led the American League in steals on five occasions. His tenure with the Indians defined an era of division dominance, helping the franchise secure six titles before his induction into their Hall of Fame in 2010.

Quick Facts

Position: Center fielder
Born: 31 May 1967
Birthplace: East Chicago, Indiana, U.S.
Bats: Left
Debut league: MLB
Debut date: September 14
Debut year: 1991
Debut team: Houston Astros

Facts from the source article.

Background

Lofton's time with the Indians began after a trade from Houston, where he felt abandoned. He immediately transformed, breaking the AL rookie stolen-base record in 1992 with 66 steals. His development was rapid; manager Phil Garner noted his evolution from a raw player who "could hardly get the ball past the infield" to a dominant force. In 1994, despite the season ending abruptly due to a strike that canceled the World Series, Lofton led the AL in hits (160) and stolen bases (60) while posting a career-best .349 average. The following year, he was instrumental in Cleveland's first pennant since 1954. During Game six of the 1995 ALCS against Seattle, his infield bunt, steal of second, and run scored on a passed ball by Randy Johnson was described as "the run that demoralized the Mariners." This victory sent the Indians to their first World Series appearance in decades.

Did You Know?

He is one of only two men to play in both a college basketball Final Four and an MLB World Series; the other is Tim Stoddard.
Lofton weighed just 3 lb (1.4 kg) at birth and was raised by his widowed grandmother, Rosie Person, in East Chicago, Indiana.
He declined to play minor-league baseball immediately after being drafted in 1988 because he promised his grandmother he would obtain his college degree first.
Lofton is distantly related to actor Cirroc Lofton, who played Jake Sisko on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.