Larry Sheets

Larry Kent Sheets

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 225 lb.
• School Eastern Mennonite University
• High School Robert E. Lee High School (Staunton)
• Debut September 18, 1984
• Final Game October 1, 1993
• Born December 6, 1959 in Staunton, VA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

In the minors Larry Sheets was a mystery - an outstanding lefthanded slugging prospect who apparently had no great desire to play baseball professionally. He was signed as a 2nd round pick of the 1978 amateur draft by the Baltimore Orioles and scout Dick Bowie and finished out the season with the Bluefield Orioles appearing in 67 games, with 11 home runs for a .267 BA.

He was with Bluefield in 1979, but only for 3 games and in 1980 for 37 games, hitting 14 dingers and had a .379 BA.

He chose not to play organized ball at all in 1981 due to college commitments and his personal indecision about his future. He returned midway through the 1982 season, and in 1983 he tied Glenn Davis for the Southern League home run title with 25 for the Charlotte O's.

By 1985 the enigmatic Sheets had reached the major leagues, where he made the Topps and Baseball Digest All-Rookie teams with a .262 average and 17 home runs as Baltimore's designated hitter.

In 1987 Sheets was outstanding, hitting .316 with 31 HR, including five two-home run games and one blast onto the roof of Chicago's Comiskey Park, but he fell apart in 1988, hitting just .230 with 10 HR. 1989 was not any better, he hit only 7 home runs and batted .243.

The Orioles decided to trade Sheets to the Detroit Tigers for Mike Brumley on January 10, 1990. Sheets appeared in 131 games for Detroit but managed to hit only 10 home runs and average .261. On November 5th of that year, he was granted free agency.

On October 14, 1991 he signed as a free agent with the California Angels. The Angels released him on November 1st. On December 2, 1992, Sheets signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Brewers. On September 2, 1993 he was sent to the Seattle Mariners by the Brewers as part of a conditional deal.

Sheets played for the Yokohama Taiyo Whales of the Pacific League in 1992, hitting a solid .308 with 32 doubles and 26 RBIs in 131 games, while driving in an even 100 runs.

Sheets reappeared in 1993 and played 127 games for the New Orleans Zephyrs getting 457 plate appearences with 128 base hits, including 18 home runs, and a batting average of .280. He also showed up late in the season in 11 games for the Mariners, getting 2 hits in 17 at bats, and was given his unconditional release.

Sheets's major league stats showed him appearing in 748 games, at bat 2,284 times with 607 base hits, including 94 home runs, and hitting for a .266 batting average. In the minors he appeared in 610 games, at bat 2,137 times with 601 base hits, including 99 home runs, and hitting for a .276 Batting average.

His son Gavin Sheets reached the major leagues in 2021.

Notable Achievements

• 1985 Topps All-Star Rookie Team
• 20-Home Run Seasons: 1 (1987)
• 30-Home Run Seasons: 1 (1987)

Sources

Baseball-Reference.com
Baseball Library.com
SABR MILB Database:page