Doug Mientkiewicz, born Douglas Andrew Mientkiewicz [mint-KAY-vich] (June 19, 1974 in Toledo, Ohio) is a first baseman who plays with the New York Mets (since 2005). His long name and peculiar spelling often confuse the average fan. Previously, he played for the Minnesota Twins (1998-2004) and Boston Red Sox (2004). Mientkiewicz was also on the U.S. Olympic team when they won the gold medal at the 2000 games in Sydney, hitting the game-winning grand slam against favorite Cuba. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed.

Mientkiewicz is a notorious line-drive hitter and hits well against both lefties and righties. He has a nice, short stroke with gap power, but he's no home run hitter. Yet he has tremendous discipline at the plate and good knowledge of the strike zone. For his career he has a good 0.970 walk-to-strikeout ratio (262-to-270). Though not a base-stealing threat, Mientkiewicz will get every extra base he can.

Defense is still the best part of Mientkiewicz's game. He has a great glove with soft hands, great mobility, good range and a strong arm. Also, Mientkiewicz is excellent at scooping balls in the dirt, tagging down on a high throw and extending himself to make the play. He won the Gold Glove Award in 2001.

In a seven-year career, Mientkiewicz is a .272 hitter with 44 homeruns and 276 RBI in 692 games.

The ball controversy

Mientkiewicz recorded the final out of the 2004 World Series, ending Boston's 86-year championship drought. The Red Sox led 3-0 in Game 4 in St.Louis when Mientkiewicz entered in the bottom of the seventh inning as a substitute in first base. Mientkiewicz didn't handle the ball until there two outs in the ninth. Then, Edgar Rentería grounded it back to pitcher Keith Foulke, who trotted toward first base and underhanded the ball to Mientkiewicz. The baseball used in that play, as the ball that symbolically ended the Curse of the Bambino, would be of considerable interest to memorabilia collectors. A controversy resulted when Mientkiewicz kept the ball and the Red Sox later asked for it to be returned. A spokesperson for Major League Baseball indicated that the ball belonged to Mientkiewicz, but the Red Sox contended that it belonged to them, as the team wanted to have it for use in archives or a museum. In an announcement made with the Red Sox in January 2005, Mientkiewicz said the ball will now accompany the World Series trophy as it makes its way through the cities, towns, and other assorted places of New England during its yearlong tour. The ball will be displayed as part of a special plaque. What is clear from the announcement is that the ownership of the ball remains unresolved, or deferred, while giving fans the chance to see the ball, and for now, this is the compromise that has been struck.

Other facts

• Mientkiewicz went to high school and was friends with all-star infielder Alex Rodriguez.

External links

• ESPN (profile and daily update) [1]
• Baseball Reference (statistics and analysis) [2]
• Baseball Library (biography and achievements) [3]