Mariano Duncan

Mariano Duncan
Mariano Duncan
	Duncan with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2007
	Second baseman / Shortstop
	Born: March 13, 1963 (age 61); San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic
	Batted: Right Threw: Right
Professional debut
	MLB: April 9, 1985, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
	NPB: April 3, 1998, for the Yomiuri Giants
Last appearance
	MLB: September 17, 1997, for the Toronto Blue Jays
	NPB: September 17, 1998, for the Yomiuri Giants
MLB statistics
Batting average	.267
Home runs	87
Runs batted in	491
NPB statistics
Batting average	.232
Home runs	10
Runs batted in	34
	Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
	As player Los Angeles Dodgers (1985–1987, 1989); Cincinnati Reds (1989–1991); Philadelphia Phillies (1992–1995); Cincinnati Reds (1995); New York Yankees (1996–1997); Toronto Blue Jays (1997); Yomiuri Giants (1998); As coach Los Angeles Dodgers (2006–2010);
Career highlights and awards
	All-Star (1994); 2× World Series champion (1990, 1996);

Mariano Duncan Nalasco (born March 13, 1963) is a Dominican former second baseman and shortstop who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, and Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball and the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball during his 12-year career. He was the infield coach and first base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers under managers Grady Little and Joe Torre. Duncan was an MLB All-Star in 1994 and won two World Series championships as a player.

Playing career

Los Angeles Dodgers

Duncan was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an undrafted free agent on January 7, 1982. He played in the Dodgers minor league system for three seasons with the Lethbridge Dodgers in 1982, Vero Beach Dodgers in 1983 and San Antonio Dodgers in 1984. He stole 56 bases for Vero Beach and 41 bases for San Antonio, and at San Antonio he tied Stu Pederson for the league lead in triples.^[1] He made his major league debut, starting at second base, for the Dodgers on April 9, 1985 against the Houston Astros, and was 0 for 4 in his debut. He got his first major league hit on April 10 against Astros pitcher Joe Niekro.

In his rookie season, July 6, 1985, vs. St. Louis Cardinals, Duncan accomplished the rare feat of bunting for a double where the ball was untouched and did not roll beyond the base paths. The Dodgers won the game 8-3.^[2]^[3]

He stole 38 bases in his rookie season and finished third in the rookie of the year voting.

Cincinnati Reds

Duncan was traded by the Dodgers to the Cincinnati Reds with Tim Leary on July 18, 1989 for Lenny Harris and Kal Daniels.^[4]

Philadelphia Phillies

Duncan signed with the Philadelphia Phillies on April 14, 1992. He played three seasons for the Phils before being claimed off waivers by the Reds on August 8, 1995.

New York Yankees

On December 11, 1995, Duncan signed with the New York Yankees, and he spent a season and a half in New York. In his only full season in 1996, he hit .340 with 56 runs batted in.^[5]

Duncan coined the phrase, "we play today, we win today... das it!" which became the mantra for the 1996 World Series champion New York Yankees. Many of the players wore T-shirts with the slogan under their uniforms daily.^[6]

In 1997, he played in 50 games, hitting just .244 with 13 runs batted in. On July 6, 1997, Duncan and Kenny Rogers were traded to the San Diego Padres for Greg Vaughn and two minor league players. The deal was voided days later due to Vaughn failing his physical.^[7]

Toronto Blue Jays

Duncan was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on July 29, 1997 for minor leaguer Angel Ramirez. He spent a half of the season with the Blue Jays.^[8]

Yomiuri Giants

Duncan played one season for the Yomiuri Giants in 1998.

Career statistics

In 1279 games over 12 seasons, Duncan compiled a .267 batting average (1247-for-4677) with 619 runs, 233 doubles, 37 triples, 87 home runs, 491 RBI, 174 stolen bases, 201 walks, 913 strikeouts, .300 on-base percentage and .388 slugging percentage. Defensively, he recorded a .963 fielding percentage, primarily at second base and shortstop. In 43 postseason games (3 World Series, 7 playoff series) he batted .243 (37-for-152) with 14 runs, 1 home run, 12 RBI and 7 stolen bases.

Highlights

Member of the Reds' 1990 World Champion team, the Phillies' 1993 National League Champion team, and the Yankees' 1996 World Champion team.

Coaching career

2003: Gulf Coast Dodgers
2004: Jacksonville Suns
2005: Las Vegas 51s
2006–2010: Los Angeles Dodgers
2011–2012: Tennessee Smokies
2013–2014: Daytona Cubs
2015–2016, 2018: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
2017: Iowa Cubs
2018: West Michigan Whitecaps
2019: Kingsport Mets
2020: Columbia Fireflies (Season Cancelled)
2021: Brooklyn Cyclones
2022: Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Notes

^ Duncan batted as a switch hitter between 1985 and 1987.

References

^ King, David (2004). San Antonio at Bat: Professional Baseball in the Alamo City. Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 9781585443765.
^ "Mariano Duncan Bunt Double! "Los Angeles Dodgers" "St. Louis Cardinals"". YouTube.
^ "Los Angeles Dodgers at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, July 6, 1985".
^ "Mariano Duncan".
^ "Mariano Duncan Stats".
^ "We Play Today, We Win Today, Das It: The Out of Nowhere Greatness of Mariano Duncan". riveraveblues.com. River Avenue Blues (reposted from the New York Daily News). February 3, 2016. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
^ "Yankees-Padres 5-player trade not going to happen". July 6, 1997.
^ "Mariano Duncan Stats".

External links

Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
Mariano Duncan at SABR (Baseball BioProject)
Mariano Duncan at Baseball Almanac

Preceded by John Shelby	Los Angeles Dodgers First Base Coach 2006–2010	Succeeded by Davey Lopes

[1] Duncan batted as a switch hitter between 1985 and 1987.

[2] King, David (2004). San Antonio at Bat: Professional Baseball in the Alamo City. Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 9781585443765.

[3] "Mariano Duncan Bunt Double! "Los Angeles Dodgers" "St. Louis Cardinals"". YouTube.

[4] "Los Angeles Dodgers at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, July 6, 1985".

[5] "Mariano Duncan".

[6] "Mariano Duncan Stats".

[7] "We Play Today, We Win Today, Das It: The Out of Nowhere Greatness of Mariano Duncan". riveraveblues.com. River Avenue Blues (reposted from the New York Daily News). February 3, 2016. Retrieved April 7, 2023.

[8] "Yankees-Padres 5-player trade not going to happen". July 6, 1997.

[9] "Mariano Duncan Stats".

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v t e Cincinnati Reds 1990 World Series champions
7 Mariano Duncan 9 Joe Oliver 10 Luis Quiñones 11 Barry Larkin 12 Billy Bates 15 Glenn Braggs 16 Ron Oester 17 Chris Sabo 20 Danny Jackson 21 Paul O'Neill 22 Billy Hatcher 23 Hal Morris 25 Todd Benzinger 26 Terry Lee 27 José Rijo (World Series MVP) 28 Randy Myers (NLCS MVP) 29 Herm Winningham 32 Tom Browning 34 Jeff Reed 37 Norm Charlton 40 Jack Armstrong 42 Rick Mahler 44 Eric Davis 47 Scott Scudder 49 Rob Dibble (NLCS MVP)
Manager 41 Lou Piniella Coaches 2 Sam Perlozzo 3 Larry Rothschild 4 Jackie Moore 24 Tony Pérez 35 Stan Williams
Regular season National League Championship Series

v t e New York Yankees 1996 World Series champions
2 Derek Jeter 12 Wade Boggs 13 Jim Leyritz 17 Kenny Rogers 18 Mariano Duncan 19 Luis Sojo 20 Mike Aldrete 21 Paul O'Neill 22 Jimmy Key 24 Tino Martinez 25 Joe Girardi 26 Andy Fox 27 Graeme Lloyd 28 Rubén Rivera 31 Tim Raines 33 Charlie Hayes 35 John Wetteland (World Series MVP) 36 David Cone 39 Darryl Strawberry 41 Brian Boehringer 42 Mariano Rivera 43 Jeff Nelson 45 Cecil Fielder 46 Andy Pettitte 51 Bernie Williams (ALCS MVP) 52 David Weathers
Manager 6 Joe Torre Third Base Coach 30 Willie Randolph Pitching Coach 34 Mel Stottlemyre Bullpen Coach 40 Tony Cloninger Bench Coach 48 Don Zimmer Hitting Coach 49 Chris Chambliss First Base Coach 53 José Cardenal Bullpen Catcher Rudy Árias Bullpen Catcher Mike Borzello
Regular season American League Division Series American League Championship Series