View source for Cecil Fielder

{{short description|American baseball player (born 1963)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Cecil Fielder
|image=Cecil Fielder 1996.jpg
|caption=Fielder in 1996
|position=[[First baseman]] / [[Designated hitter]]
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1963|9|21}}
|birth_place=[[Los Angeles, California]], U.S.
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|debutleague=MLB
|debutdate=June 20
|debutyear=1985
|debutteam=Toronto Blue Jays
|debut2league=NPB
|debut2date=April 8
|debut2year=1989
|debut2team=Hanshin Tigers
|finalleague=NPB
|finaldate=September 14
|finalyear=1989
|finalteam=Hanshin Tigers
|final2league=MLB
|final2date=September 13
|final2year=1998
|final2team=Cleveland Indians
|statleague=MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.255
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
|stat2value=319
|stat3label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat3value=1,008
|stat2league=NPB
|stat21label=Batting average
|stat21value=.302
|stat22label=Home runs
|stat22value=38
|stat23label=Runs batted in
|stat23value=81
|teams=
* [[Toronto Blue Jays]] ({{mlby|1985}}–{{mlby|1988}})
* [[Hanshin Tigers]] ({{npby|1989}})
* [[Detroit Tigers]] ({{mlby|1990}}–{{mlby|1996}})
* [[New York Yankees]] ({{mlby|1996}}–{{mlby|1997}})
* [[Anaheim Angels]] ({{mlby|1998}})
* [[Cleveland Indians]] ({{mlby|1998}})
|highlights=
* 3× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1990 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1990]], [[1991 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1991]], [[1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1993]])
* [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|1996}})
* 2× [[Silver Slugger Award]] (1990, 1991)
* 2× [[List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders|AL home run leader]] (1990, 1991)
* 3× [[List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders|AL RBI leader]] (1990–1992)
}}
'''Cecil Grant Fielder''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ɛ|s|əl}}; born September 21, 1963) is an American former professional [[baseball]] [[designated hitter]] and [[first baseman]]  in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB). Fielder was a power hitter in the 1980s and 1990s. He attended college at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He played in MLB for the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] (1985–1988), in Japan's [[Central League]] for the [[Hanshin Tigers]] (1989), and then in MLB for the [[Detroit Tigers]] (1990–1996), [[New York Yankees]] (1996–97), [[Anaheim Angels]] in 1998, and [[Cleveland Indians]] in 1998. With the Yankees, he won the [[1996 World Series]] over the [[Atlanta Braves]]. In 1990, he became the first player to reach the 50–[[home run]] mark since [[George Foster (baseball)|George Foster]] hit 52 for the [[Cincinnati Reds]] in 1977 and the first American League player to do so since [[Mickey Mantle]] and [[Roger Maris]] famously hit 54 and 61 in 1961.

He is the father of [[Prince Fielder]], who similarly established himself as a premier power hitter during his career. The Fielders are the only father and son to both have 50-home run seasons in MLB history, and were the only father–son duo to have 40–home run seasons until 2021, when they were joined by [[Vladimir Guerrero Jr.]] and [[Vladimir Guerrero Sr.|his own father]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Werle |first=Andy |date=September 6, 2021 |title=Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hits 40th home run |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-hits-40th-home-run |access-date=September 7, 2021 |website=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref>

==Early career==
Fielder attended [[Nogales High School (La Puente, California)|Nogales High School]] in [[La Puente, California]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Former Nogales Baseball Players Drafted – Baseball |url=http://www.nogaleshs.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=83782&type=d&pREC_ID=698107 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006112514/http://www.nogaleshs.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=83782&type=d&pREC_ID=698107 |archive-date=October 6, 2017 |access-date=May 7, 2018 |website=[[Nogales High School (La Puente, California)|Nogales High School]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> He was named an [[All-America]]n while playing for the school's baseball team in 1981.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ramirez |first=Stephen |date=May 14, 2014 |title=John Romano set to end his legacy at Nogales High School |url=http://www.sgvtribune.com/2014/05/14/john-romano-set-to-end-his-legacy-at-nogales-high-school/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006112650/http://www.sgvtribune.com/2014/05/14/john-romano-set-to-end-his-legacy-at-nogales-high-school/ |archive-date=October 6, 2017 |access-date=May 7, 2018 |website=[[San Gabriel Valley Tribune]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> He enrolled at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where he played for the [[UNLV Rebels baseball|UNLV Rebels]] [[college baseball|baseball]] team. Fielder was drafted by the [[Baltimore Orioles]] in the 31st round (767th overall) of the [[1981 Major League Baseball draft]], but did not sign.<ref>{{Cite web |title=31st Round of the 1981 MLB June Amateur Draft |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/index.fcgi?year_ID=1981&draft_round=31&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round |access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> He was drafted by the [[Kansas City Royals]] in the fourth round (67th overall) of the [[1982 Major League Baseball draft|1982 MLB draft]], and this time did sign.<ref>{{Cite web |title=4th Round of the 1982 MLB June Draft-Secondary Phase |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/index.fcgi?year_ID=1982&draft_round=4&draft_type=junsec&query_type=year_round |access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Miech |first=Rob |date=August 5, 2008 |title=The short UNLV baseball career of slugger Cecil Fielder |url=https://lasvegassun.com/blogs/sports/2008/aug/05/short-unlv-baseball-career-slugger-cecil-fielder/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006113446/https://lasvegassun.com/blogs/sports/2008/aug/05/short-unlv-baseball-career-slugger-cecil-fielder/ |archive-date=October 6, 2017 |access-date=May 7, 2018 |website=[[Las Vegas Sun]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> On February 5, 1983, Fielder was traded to the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] for [[Leon Roberts]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 5, 1983 |title=The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired designated hitter-first baseman... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/02/05/The-Toronto-Blue-Jays-have-acquired-designated-hitter-first-baseman/6678413269200/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=[[United Press International]] |language=en}}</ref>

The Blue Jays promoted Fielder to the major leagues on July 18, 1985.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=September 15, 1985 |title=The Blue Jays Purchased a Fielder--but What They Got Was a Hitter |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-09-15-sp-23416-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507100922/http://articles.latimes.com/1985-09-15/sports/sp-23416_1_press-box |archive-date=May 7, 2018 |access-date=May 7, 2018 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |df=mdy-all |agency=[[United Press International]]}}</ref> He became a part-time first and third baseman for the Blue Jays, sharing playing time with [[Willie Upshaw]] and [[Fred McGriff]].<ref>{{cite news |date=March 26, 1988 |title=SPORTS PEOPLE; Upshaw Joins Indians |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/26/sports/sports-people-upshaw-joins-indians.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006113507/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/26/sports/sports-people-upshaw-joins-indians.html |archive-date=October 6, 2017 |access-date=May 7, 2018 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Fielder hit .243 with 31 home runs and 84 [[Run batted in|runs batted in]] (RBIs) across four seasons with the team, earning $125,000 in his final season.<ref name="baseball-reference1" />

==Hanshin Tigers==
The [[Hanshin Tigers]] of [[Nippon Professional Baseball]]'s [[Central League]] signed Fielder after the 1988 season, paying him $1,050,000 ($1,968,644 today), including a chauffeur and a full-time interpreter. More than the money, he said, he went to Japan for the opportunity to play every day.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}} In the beginning of spring training, Fielder had a difficult time adjusting to Japan's baseball culture, but with the help of Tiger manager [[Minoru Murayama]] and Junichi Kashiwabara, he became adjusted to the new environment. The Tigers offered Fielder the position of [[cleanup hitter]], and he became a hero to the local baseball fans, who nicknamed him "Wild Bear"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cecil Fielder |url=https://www.thehanshintigers.com/team-history/imports-year-by-year/cecil-fielder/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=Hanshin Tigers English News |language=en-US}}</ref> (wild, in Japan, is the image of power; bear, for his hulking presence). Fielder batted .302 and hit 38 home runs and 81 RBIs for Hanshin in 1989.<ref name=remade/>

==Detroit Tigers==
On January 15, 1990, Fielder signed a two-year, $3&nbsp;million contract with the [[Detroit Tigers]].<ref name="baseball-reference1" /><ref name="remade">{{cite web |last=Kim |first=Albert |date=May 14, 1990 |title=REMADE IN JAPAN |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1990/05/14/121978/remade-in-japan |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006112436/https://www.si.com/vault/1990/05/14/121978/remade-in-japan |archive-date=October 6, 2017 |access-date=May 7, 2018 |website=[[Sports Illustrated]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> In his first season with the Tigers, Fielder hit .277 while leading the major leagues with 51 home runs and 132 RBIs in 159 games.<ref name="baseball-reference1" /> On the last day of the Tigers' season at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]], Fielder hit his 50th and 51st home runs to become the 11th player in MLB history — and only the second in the previous 25 years — to reach the 50-home-run plateau.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |date=September 26, 2007 |title=Prince hits 50, but it's 52 he wants to 'shut up' his dad |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3036841 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927203611/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3036841 |archive-date=September 27, 2013 |access-date=January 9, 2014 |website=[[ESPN]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> No Tigers player had turned the mark since [[Hank Greenberg]] slugged 58 in 1938, and no Tiger player has reached 50 home runs since. Fielder, whose previous high mark was 14 with Toronto in 1987, provided a sudden and unexpected emergence as a legitimate slugger. In addition to home runs and RBIs, Fielder also led the majors in [[slugging percentage]] (.592) and [[Strikeout|strikeouts]] (182), and he led the [[American League]] in [[total bases]] (339).<ref name="baseball-reference1" /> After the season, he finished as the runner-up for the AL MVP Award.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Muder |first=Craig |title=Henderson named 1990 AL MVP |url=https://baseballhall.org/discover/inside-pitch/henderson-wins-1990-AL-MVP |access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=[[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]]}}</ref> In 1990, Fielder also became the ninth major leaguer to record two three-home run games in a season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 7, 1990 |title=FIELDER SOME HITTER, LAUNCHES 3 HOMERS |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1990/06/07/fielder-some-hitter-launches-3-homers/ce02442a-8c12-465e-a2f8-9fa27ef361d3/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=[[The Washington Post]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

Fielder enjoyed a successful second season with the Tigers in 1991, batting .261 with 44 home runs and 133 RBIs in 162 games.<ref name="baseball-reference1" /> He again led the majors in home runs and RBIs,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=1991 Awards Voting |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1991.shtml |access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> and joined Hank Greenberg (1937–38) as the only Tiger players at that time to hit 40 or more homers in consecutive seasons ([[Miguel Cabrera]] joined Fielder and Greenberg in 2012–13).<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 18, 2013 |title=Cabrera belts 40th, Scherzer wins No. 18 as Tigers roll |url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/recap/MLB_20130818_KC@DET |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195437/http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/recap/MLB_20130818_KC@DET |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |access-date=August 21, 2013 |website=[[CBS Sports]]}}</ref> Fielder was the runner-up in the AL MVP balloting for the second consecutive year.<ref name=":0" /> 

On January 29, 1992, Fielder avoided [[salary arbitration]] by agreeing to a one-year, $4.5{{nbsp}}million contract, which at the time set a record for highest salary by an arbitration-eligible player.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 29, 1992 |title=Tigers' Fielder gets his windfall |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1992/01/29/tigers-fielder-gets-his-windfall/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |language=en}}</ref> Fielder responded by hitting 35 home runs and leading the league in RBIs (124) for the third consecutive season, becoming the first American Leaguer since [[Babe Ruth]] to do so.<ref name="baseball-reference1" /><ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=Cecil Fielder |url=https://baseballbiography.com/cecil-fielder |access-date=January 9, 2014 |website=Baseball Biography |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

During the 1990s, Fielder built a reputation for clutch hitting and power, though the Tigers continued to be no better than mediocre. His team's fates possibly hurt him with MVP voters. [[Rickey Henderson]] and [[Cal Ripken Jr.]] narrowly edged him for the AL's [[MLB Most Valuable Player award|MVP]] Award in 1990 and 1991, respectively. His new fans in Detroit nicknamed him "Big Daddy" for his big smile, peaceful temperament, and prodigious home runs (as well as his massive physical stature).<ref name="baseball-reference1">{{cite web |title=Cecil Fielder Statistics and History |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fieldce01.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008061245/https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fieldce01.shtml |archive-date=October 8, 2018 |access-date=January 9, 2014 |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |publisher=[[Sports Reference]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Cecil Fielder Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=fieldce01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117045107/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=fieldce01 |archive-date=January 17, 2014 |access-date=January 9, 2014 |website=[[Baseball Almanac]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In his six-year tenure with Detroit, Fielder had four consecutive 30-homer and 100-RBI seasons. He had 28 home runs and 90 RBIs in 109 games during the 1994 season before it was ended by a player strike, denying him a chance to extend his accomplishments to a fifth season.<ref name="baseball-reference1" /> He also became the first Tiger to hit at least 25 home runs in six consecutive seasons. No player in Detroit history hit as many over a six-year period (219) until Miguel Cabrera hit 227 in 2008–13, and no major league player had more home runs between 1990 and 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Most Home Runs From 1990 To 1995 |url=https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/most-home-runs-from-1990-to-1995 |access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=[[StatMuse]] |language=en}}</ref>

Fielder was a member of the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Team]] in 1990, 1991, and 1993,<ref name="baseball-reference1" /> and was named "Tiger of the Year" by the Detroit chapter of the [[Baseball Writers' Association of America]] in 1990, 1991, and 1992. He is the only player to receive the award three consecutive years.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 24, 2013 |title=Tigers Awards |url=http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/det/history/awards.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724133801/http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/det/history/awards.jsp |archive-date=July 24, 2011 |access-date=January 9, 2014 |website=[[Detroit Tigers]] |publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref>

On January 8, 1993, Fielder signed a five-year, $36{{nbsp}}million contract with the Tigers;<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 8, 1993 |title=FIELDER AGREES TO $36 MILLION, 5-YEAR CONTRACT |url=https://www.deseret.com/1993/1/8/19025555/fielder-agrees-to-36-million-5-year-contract/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=[[Deseret News]] |language=en |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> which made him the [[List of highest paid baseball players#Annual salaries by year|highest-paid player in baseball]] for two seasons (1995 and 1996).<ref>{{cite web |date=April 24, 2003 |title=Cecil Fielder |url=http://everything2.com/title/Cecil+Fielder |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109004702/http://everything2.com/title/Cecil+Fielder |archive-date=January 9, 2014 |access-date=January 9, 2014 |website=Everything2 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Fielder had a reputation for being a slow baserunner. In 1996, he set a major league record by taking 1,096 games to record his first career [[stolen base]], which occurred on a botched [[Hit and run (baseball)|hit and run]]. He stole another base that season, as well, and finished his career with two stolen bases over 13 seasons and 1,470 games.<ref name="baseball-reference1" /> Fielder also had a reputation as a below-average fielder, mostly caused by his poor speed and range. He was, however, considered a competent defensive first baseman when it came to putouts and digging infield assists out of the dirt.

Fielder's massive power was exemplified by two long home runs:
*He was one of only four players, and the only Tiger, to homer over the left-field roof at [[Tiger Stadium (Detroit)|Tiger Stadium]] (the other three are [[Harmon Killebrew]], [[Frank Howard (baseball)|Frank Howard]], and [[Mark McGwire]]). He hit the homer off [[Oakland Athletics]] pitcher [[Dave Stewart (baseball)|Dave Stewart]] on August 25, 1990.
*He also hit the only home run to ever travel completely out of [[Milwaukee County Stadium]]—during either the [[Atlanta Braves|Braves]]' Milwaukee history (1953–1965) or [[Milwaukee Brewers|Brewers]]' park history (1970–2000). It was hit off the Brewers' [[Dan Plesac]] on September 14, 1991.<ref name=":1" />
Fielder played his final season for the Tigers in 1996, batting .248 with 26 home runs and 80 RBIs in 107 games before being traded.<ref name="baseball-reference1" />

==Later career==
Fielder was traded to the [[New York Yankees]] on July 31, 1996, for [[Rubén Sierra]] and [[Matt Drews]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Freeman |first=Denne H. |date=August 1, 1996 |title=Fielder traded to Yankees |url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/sports/1996/08/01/fielder-traded-to-yankees/50633984007/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=[[The Standard-Times (New Bedford)|The Standard-Times]] |language=en-US |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> He batted .260 with 13 home runs and 37 RBIs in 53 games with the Yankees.<ref name="baseball-reference1" /> Fielder's acquisition was integral in the Yankees' [[1996 World Series|World Series]] championship that year, as he won the [[Babe Ruth Award]] for most outstanding performance in the 1996 postseason. In 14 postseason games, Fielder hit .308 (16-for-52) with two doubles, three home runs, and 14 RBIs.<ref name="baseball-reference1" />

Despite requesting a trade at the end of the 1996 season,<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=November 30, 1996 |title=FIELDER, HAYES FILE TRADE DEMANDS |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/11/30/fielder-hayes-file-trade-demands/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Fielder ultimately remained with the Yankees in 1997. On July 15, Fielder suffered a broken thumb after an awkward slide during a game against the [[Cleveland Indians]], and the subsequent surgery caused him to miss eight weeks.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Curry |first=Jack |date=July 17, 1997 |title=Fielder to Miss 8 Weeks With Injury to Thumb |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/17/sports/fielder-to-miss-8-weeks-with-injury-to-thumb.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527062337/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/17/sports/fielder-to-miss-8-weeks-with-injury-to-thumb.html |archive-date=May 27, 2015 |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en}}</ref> He returned to the team on September 15.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 12, 1997 |title=FIELDER WILL ADD TO CROWD |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/1997/09/12/fielder-will-add-to-crowd/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=[[New York Daily News]] |language=en-US}}</ref> In 98 games, Fielder batted .260 with 13 home runs and 61 RBIs.<ref name="baseball-reference1" /> In the [[1997 American League Division Series]], he recorded one hit in eight at-bats (.125) with one RBI in the Yankees' five-game series loss to Cleveland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1997 AL Division Series - Cleveland Indians over New York Yankees (3-2) |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1997_ALDS1.shtml |access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

On December 19, 1997, Fielder signed a one-year contract with the [[Anaheim Angels]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kahrl |first=Christina |date=January 5, 1998 |title=Transaction Analysis: December 19-January 4 |url=https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/40/transaction-analysis-december-19-january-4/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=[[Baseball Prospectus]]}}</ref> He was [[designated for assignment]] on August 6, 1998. At the time, he was hitting just .241 with 17 home runs and 68 RBIs in 103 games.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=August 6, 1998 |title=Angels Drop Cecil Fielder |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/angels-drop-cecil-fielder/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=[[CBS News]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Fielder was released by the Angels on August 10,<ref name="baseball-reference1" /> and signed with the Cleveland Indians four days later.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 15, 1998 |title=Still Miffed, Fielder Joins the Indians |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-aug-15-sp-13383-story.html |access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|agency=[[Associated Press]] |language=en-US}}</ref> He was released again on September 18 after batting .143 (5-for-35) with no RBI.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=September 18, 1998 |title=Indians Release Cecil Fielder |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/indians-release-cecil-fielder/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=[[CBS News]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

Fielder was signed by the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] before the start of the 1999 season. Despite batting .264 (14-for-53) with two doubles, a team-high three homers, and 11 RBIs in 17 spring training games, Toronto traded for [[Dave Hollins]] and Fielder was released once spring training wrapped.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=April 1, 1999 |title=After Acquiring Hollins, Blue Jays Release Fielder |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-apr-01-sp-23216-story.html |access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref> He subsequently retired.

Fielder [[batting average (baseball)|batted]] .255, with 744 runs, 200 doubles, 319 home runs, 1,008 RBIs, and a .482 [[slugging average]], drawing 693 [[Base on balls|walks]] for a .345 [[on-base percentage]] with two career stolen bases.<ref name="baseball-reference1" /> As neither of his stolen bases came in the 1990 season, he held the single-season record for most home runs (51) without a single stolen base (later passed by Mark McGwire in 1996 and 1999, when he hit 52 and 65, respectively).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mark McGwire Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcgwima01.shtml |access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> He was inducted in the Kinston Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 3, 2010 |title=Gene Michael is Inducted Into the Kinston Professional Baseball Hall of Fame! |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-8660536 |access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=[[Minor League Baseball]] |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In October 2004, ''[[The Detroit News]]'' reported that Fielder was suffering from domestic and gambling problems. They relied on court documents from Fielder's divorce and a lawsuit brought against him by Trump Plaza Hotel and Casinos in [[New Jersey]] describing debts to various casinos, credit-card companies, and banks.<ref>{{cite web |last=Girard |first=Fred |date=October 19, 2004 |title=Poor tale of Cecil Fielder |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2004-10-18-cecil-fielder-troubles_x.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714113700/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2004-10-18-cecil-fielder-troubles_x.htm |archive-date=July 14, 2012 |access-date=January 9, 2014 |website=[[USA Today]] |publisher=[[The Detroit News]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Fielder later filed a [[libel]] suit against [[Gannett]], the parent company of ''The Detroit News'', and the lead reporter, Fred Girard, accusing them of slander and defamation of character. The suit sought US$25{{nbsp}}million in damages and fees. The trial court dismissed the suit and the [[Michigan Court of Appeals]] affirmed the decision.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wall |first=Barbara W. |date=August 11, 2006 |title=DISMISSAL OF FORMER ATHLETE'S LIBEL SUIT AGAINST DETROIT NEWS UPHELD |url=http://www.gannett.com/go/newswatch/2006/august/nw0811-3.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061022114732/http://www.gannett.com/go/newswatch/2006/august/nw0811-3.htm |archive-date=October 22, 2006 |website=[[Gannett]]}}</ref>

Fielder's son [[Prince Fielder|Prince]] was a [[first baseman]] who played his career with the [[Milwaukee Brewers]], [[Detroit Tigers]], and [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]. Fielder was originally involved in his son's professional career, even negotiating his first contract. After a dispute as to whether Cecil should receive a typical agent's fee for negotiating the contract, Prince and his family were no longer on speaking terms with Cecil.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> In a 2012 interview, Cecil Fielder said that Prince and he had recently begun speaking again, and that their relationship was improving.<ref>{{cite web |last=Schrader |first=Steve |date=January 24, 2012 |title=Cecil Fielder shocked by son Prince's signing with Tigers |url=http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012120124055 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203005930/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012120124055 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |access-date=January 9, 2014 |website=[[Detroit Free Press]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> On September 25, 2007, Prince hit his 50th home run of the season, making Cecil and Prince the only father/son duo in MLB history to each reach the milestone. The two each have 319 career home runs, and are tied for 126th on the career MLB home run list.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Career Leaders & Records for Home Runs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/HR_career.shtml |website=[[Baseball Reference]]}}</ref>

After managing the [[South Coast League]]'s [[Charlotte County Redfish]] in 2007, Fielder became the manager of the [[Atlantic City Surf]] of the [[Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball]] in 2008. On March 25, 2011, Fielder was named to the [[Torrington Titans]] advisory board.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 26, 2011 |title=Cecil Fielder to Join Torrington Titans |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4172446 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109010000/http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4172446 |archive-date=January 9, 2014 |access-date=January 9, 2014 |website=OurSports Central |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

On October 17, 2024, Fielder was inducted into the [[Michigan Sports Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kildee |first=Katy |date=October 17, 2024 |title=Michigan Sports Hall of Fame inducts 2024 honorees |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/picture-gallery/media/photo/2024/10/17/michigan-sports-hall-of-fame-inducts-10-new-honorees/75725868007/ |access-date=December 30, 2024 |website=[[The Detroit News]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}
* [[50 home run club]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders]]
* [[List of second-generation Major League Baseball players]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Baseballstats|mlb=114106|espn=1622|br=f/fieldce01|fangraphs=1004026|brm=fielde001cec|retro=F/Pfielc001}}
*[https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/cecil-fielder/ Cecil Fielder] at [[Society for American Baseball Research|SABR]] Bio Project

{{1996 New York Yankees}}
{{AL home run champions}}
{{AL RBI champions}}
{{Babe Ruth Award}}
{{AL 1B Silver Slugger Award}}
{{50 home run club|state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fielder, Cecil}}
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