José Antonio Offerman Dono (born November 8, 1968) is a Dominican retired professional
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding tea ...
player who played professional baseball for nearly 20 years. He played for 15 seasons in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
and played four seasons of
independent
Independent or Independents may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups
* Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s
* Independ ...
and
Mexican League
The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country.
The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five te ...
baseball after leaving MLB.
He most recently managed the
Licey Tigers of the
Dominican Winter League
Dominican may refer to:
* Someone or something from or related to the Dominican Republic ( , stress on the "mi"), on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles, in the Caribbean
** People of the Dominican Republic
** Demographics of the Domi ...
, leading them to the 2008–2009 and 2013–2014 Dominican Winter League Championship. During a baseball game on January 16, 2010, Offerman attacked an umpire during an argument and, as a result, was banned from the Winter League for three years. He managed the
Rojos del Águila de Veracruz of the
Mexican League
The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country.
The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five te ...
in 2014.
Early career
After attending Colegio Biblico Cristiano High School in
San Pedro de Macorís
San Pedro de Macorís is a city and Municipalities of the Dominican Republic, municipality (''municipio'') in the Dominican Republic and the capital of the San Pedro de Macorís Province, San Pedro de Macorís province in the east region of the ...
, Offerman signed with the
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...
as an amateur
free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...
in 1986. In , he completed his first season of professional play being named as Best Prospect in the
Pioneer League. Progressing rapidly through the minor leagues, he made his major league debut against the
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos (french: link=no, Les Expos de Montréal) were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Quebec. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in t ...
on August 19, , becoming the 55th player in major league history to hit a
home run
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
in his first major league
at-bat
In baseball, an at bat (AB) or time at bat is a batter's turn batting against a pitcher. An at bat is different from a plate appearance. A batter is credited with a plate appearance regardless of what happens during their turn at bat, but a bat ...
.
Major leagues
By , Offerman became the Dodgers' starting shortstop. On opening day 1993, he was the first batter to ever face the
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park.
The franc ...
, striking out against
Charlie Hough
Charles Oliver Hough (; born January 5, 1948) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) knuckleball pitcher and coach who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and Florida Marlins from 1970 to 1994.
Play ...
. He made his first appearance in the
All-Star Game
An all-star game is an exhibition game that purports to showcase the best players (the "stars") of a sports league. The exhibition is between two teams organized solely for the event, usually representing the league's teams based on region or div ...
in
1995
File:1995 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: O.J. Simpson is O. J. Simpson murder case, acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman from the 1994, year prior in "The Trial of the Century" in the United States; The ...
but was traded to the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...
after the season, mostly because of his very poor defense. After a year as a utility player, he won the starting
second baseman job in 1997. Offerman had his best offensive seasons in Kansas City, culminating in , when he hit .315 with a league-leading 13 triples and the fifth most stolen bases, 45. After that season, he signed with the
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
as a free agent, making the All-Star Game for the second time in
1999
File:1999 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The funeral procession of King Hussein of Jordan in Amman; the 1999 İzmit earthquake kills over 17,000 people in Turkey; the Columbine High School massacre, one of the first major school shootin ...
.
Offerman was a more productive hitter than fielder; in 1992, 1993 and 1995, he committed 42, 37 and 35 errors respectively.
Offerman's offensive production declined beginning in . He was sent to the
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West division. The team joined the American League ...
during the season, but was released afterwards. In , he joined the
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos (french: link=no, Les Expos de Montréal) were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Quebec. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in t ...
in
spring training
Spring training is the preseason in Major League Baseball (MLB), a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for Schedule (workplace), roster and position spo ...
but was cut before the regular season began. He spent the entire year with the
Bridgeport Bluefish
The Bridgeport Bluefish were an American minor league baseball team based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The team was a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which was not affiliated with Major League Baseba ...
of the independent
Atlantic League. In , he won a spot on the
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...
roster and led the league in pinch-hits with 12 in 29 attempts. He started with the
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
but was released after a slow start. Later, he signed with the
New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
and was called back up to the majors in June.
Post-USA major leagues
Most recently, Offerman played in the
2008 Caribbean World Series for the
Licey Tigers – Dominican Republic 2 team – where he assisted the team in winning its 10th Caribbean World Series title. During the series he signed a contract with the 2008
Veracruz Red Eagles
Veracruz (), formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave), is one of the 31 states which, along with Me ...
of the
Mexican Summer League
The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country.
The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five te ...
.
In December, 2008, Offerman was named player-manager of
Licey Tigers of the
Dominican Winter League
Dominican may refer to:
* Someone or something from or related to the Dominican Republic ( , stress on the "mi"), on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles, in the Caribbean
** People of the Dominican Republic
** Demographics of the Domi ...
. With Offerman as manager, Licey swept the Dominican Winter League Baseball Championships, winning five straight against the Gigantes del Cibao. As champions, Licey was then invited to participate in the 2009 Caribbean World Series with Offerman as manager (the series was ultimately won by Venezuela). (The Caribbean World Series is affiliated with the Winter League programs of Major League Baseball, featuring MLB players and prospects from the Dominican Winter League, Mexican Pacific League, Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League and Venezuelan Professional Baseball League.)
On January 7, 2014, Offerman was again named manager of the
Licey Tigers of the
Dominican Winter League
Dominican may refer to:
* Someone or something from or related to the Dominican Republic ( , stress on the "mi"), on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles, in the Caribbean
** People of the Dominican Republic
** Demographics of the Domi ...
, replacing Mike Guerrero. With Offerman at the helm, Licey won the Dominican Winter League Baseball Championships, winning five games to three over the Leones del Escogido. As champions again, Licey has been invited to the 2014 Caribbean World Series with Offerman as manager. At present, his team has qualified for the semifinals of the tournament.
Bat incident
He has not played or managed professional baseball in the United States since 2007. On August 14, 2007, while playing for the
Long Island Ducks
The Long Island Ducks are an American professional minor-league baseball team based on Long Island in Central Islip, New York. The Ducks compete in the North Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB), an independent "partne ...
of the
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) is a professional independent baseball league based in the United States. It is an official MLB Partner League based in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. The Atlantic League's ...
, Offerman was thrown out of a game against the
Bridgeport Bluefish
The Bridgeport Bluefish were an American minor league baseball team based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The team was a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which was not affiliated with Major League Baseba ...
for charging Bluefish pitcher
Matt Beech
Lucas Matthew Beech (born January 20, 1972) is a professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1996 to 1998.
In 2005, Beech played for the Erie SeaWolves of the Eastern League. As an inde ...
with a bat after he was hit by a pitch. Beech sustained a broken finger in the resulting melee. Bluefish catcher
John Nathans was also hit in the back of the head during the bench-clearing melee, receiving a severe concussion that effectively ended his playing career.
Beech and Nathans were taken to Bridgeport Hospital where they were treated and released. After being removed from the game, Offerman was arrested by the
Bridgeport
Bridgeport is the most populous city and a major port in the U.S. state of Connecticut. With a population of 148,654 in 2020, it is also the fifth-most populous in New England. Located in eastern Fairfield County at the mouth of the Pequonnoc ...
Police.
On August 15, 2007, he was suspended indefinitely. The independent Atlantic League announced on August 17, 2007, that Offerman would remain suspended at least until the legal case was resolved.
On September 24, 2007, Offerman pleaded not guilty to two second degree assault charges.
His case was pending in Bridgeport Superior Court GA#2 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was represented by Attorney Frank J. Riccio II. On October 30, 2007, Offerman was given two years special probation called "
Accelerated Rehabilitation ('AR')." The Court determined that his actions on August 14, 2007, were of an aberrant nature. The Court also found that Offerman is not likely to offend again in the future.
Nathans filed a $4.8 million civil suit against Offerman in February 2009, alleging that he still has
post-concussion syndrome
Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) is a set of symptoms that may continue for weeks, months, or a year or more after a concussion – medically classified as a so-called mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). About 34 to 35% of people with concussi ...
and that the injury caused by Offerman ended his baseball career.
On July 29, 2014, Nathans won his suit, and Offerman was ordered to pay $940,000.
Dominican Republic Winter League incident
On 16 January 2010, Offerman once again engaged in an on-field assault when he struck an umpire while managing a Dominican Republic winter league game. Offerman, manager of the
Licey Tigers, came onto the field during the third inning while losing a 6–0 game to the
Cibao Giants, to protest ejection of his catcher for arguing balls and strikes and ended up arguing with first-base umpire
D.J. Reyburn. He swung with a right hook at Reyburn, who then fell to the ground. Offerman was detained by stadium security, eventually being transported to the local police station to await the end of the game and Reyburn's decision whether to ask for charges to be pressed against him or not.
A day after the incident, the American crew that umpired the game resigned their positions with the Dominican Baseball League and left the country, reportedly due to threats and concerns about their own safety. Because of this incident Offerman received a lifetime ban from the Dominican Republic Winter League, a suspension that was eventually lifted in February 2013. Coincidentally, at the time he was suspended, Offerman was replacing
Dave Jauss
David Patrick Jauss (born January 16, 1957) is an American professional baseball coach and scout who currently serves as an advisor in the Washington Nationals organization. He previously served as a coach for the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Lo ...
as Licey manager after Jauss was suspended himself for two years for bumping an umpire during a playoff game.
Personal life
He is the father of former
WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., d/b/a as WWE, is an American professional wrestling promotion. A global integrated media and entertainment company, WWE has also branched out into other fields, including film, American football, and vario ...
ring announcer and former reality television star
JoJo Offerman
Joseann Alexie Offerman (born March 10, 1994) is an American ring announcer, professional wrestler, and singer. She is best known for her time with WWE under the ring name JoJo. She was part of the E! Network reality television show ''Total Div ...
.
See also
*
List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders
In baseball, a triple is recorded when the ball is hit so that the batter is able to advance all the way to third base, scoring any runners who were already on base, with no errors by the defensive team on the play. In Major League Baseball (ML ...
*
List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
In baseball statistics, a stolen base is credited to a baserunner when he successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is throwing the ball to home plate. Under Rule 7.01 of Major League Baseball's (MLB) Official Rules, a runner acqu ...
References
External links
Ducks' Offerman Arrested After AttackMost overpaid baseball playersThe 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time- #42 José Offerman
{{DEFAULTSORT:Offerman, Jose
1968 births
Living people
Albuquerque Dukes players
American League All-Stars
Azucareros del Este players
Bakersfield Dodgers players
Baseball players at the 2007 Pan American Games
Boston Red Sox players
Bridgeport Bluefish players
Caribbean Series managers
Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in Mexico
Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in the United States
Dominican Republic people of Cocolo descent
Great Falls Dodgers players
Kansas City Royals players
Long Island Ducks players
Los Angeles Dodgers players
Major League Baseball first basemen
Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic
Major League Baseball second basemen
Major League Baseball shortstops
Mexican League baseball first basemen
Mexican League baseball managers
Minnesota Twins players
Minor league baseball managers
National League All-Stars
New York Mets players
Norfolk Tides players
Pacific Coast League MVP award winners
Sportspeople from San Pedro de Macorís
Philadelphia Phillies players
Rojos del Águila de Veracruz players
San Antonio Missions players
Seattle Mariners players
Tigres del Licey players
Vero Beach Dodgers players
Violence in sports
Pan American Games competitors for the Dominican Republic