Wally Joyner

Lore & Background

Joyner was the starting first baseman in the 1986 All-Star Game and tied Darryl Strawberry for first place in that year's Home Run Derby. During the 1986 season, he broke up two no-hit bids in the ninth inning. Against the Texas Rangers on June 16, he foiled Charlie Hough's bid with a single with one out in the ninth, scoring Jack Howell to tie the game at 1–1; Joyner's hit would be the Angels' only one of the game, and he eventually scored the winning run on a passed ball for a 2–1 Angels victory. Against the Detroit Tigers on August 20, Joyner broke up Walt Terrell's bid for a no-hitter by doubling with two out in the ninth; this would also be the Angels only hit in losing to the Tigers 3–0. When the Angels met the New York Yankees in a game in August 1986, a fan threw a knife at Joyner. Joyner was grazed on the left arm by the butt end of the weapon, escaping injury. Joyner and the Angels advanced to the 1986 American League Championship Series, where they came within one strike of reaching the franchise's first World Series before losing in seven games. In game 3 of the series, Joyner was running home on an infield hit, and as he stepped on home plate, he unknowingly opened up a previously unseen staph infection on his shin, which led to him having to be hospitalized and miss the rest of the series. At the end of the 1986 season, Joyner was the runner-up in the voting for the Rookie of the Year Award, losing to José Canseco. On October 3, 1987, Joyner hit three solo home runs against the Indians in a 12–5 victory on the next to last day of the season. He finished the 1987 season with 34 home runs and 117 RBI, both career highs.

Reader's Guide

In a 16-year career, Joyner posted a .289 batting average with 204 home runs and 1,106 RBI in 2,033 games played. Defensively, he was an excellent first baseman, recording a career .994 fielding percentage. He led the American League in fielding percentage at first base in 1989 and 1995 and the National League in 1996 and 1997. In a November 2005 interview with ESPN The Magazine, Joyner revealed that he had briefly used steroids. At age 36, as his career was beginning to decline, he asked Padres teammate Ken Caminiti how to obtain them and did so. He took three pills before deciding not to continue and flushed them down the toilet. Joyner told Buster Olney that his reason for telling his story in public was to set the record straight for the sake of his daughters. Joyner was listed in the 2007 Mitchell Report. After his playing career, Joyner served as a hitting coach for the San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies assistant hitting coach, and Detroit Tigers hitting coach. He resides in Mapleton, Utah. Joyner has invested in and appeared in films marketed to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including playing "Brother Angel" (a reference to the California Angels) in The Singles Ward, and "Brother Jensen" in the 2003 movie, The R.M.. He is the nephew of former United States Senator Paula Hawkins.

Did You Know?

• Joyner won the Triple Crown in the Puerto Rican Winter League during the 1985–86 season, batting .356 with 14 home runs and 48 RBI in 54 games.
• Joyner announced his retirement on June 16, 2001, and received a standing ovation after a taped message was played on the Edison Field videoboard.