Marc Newfield

In 1989, following his junior year of high school, 16-year-old Marc Newfield led his Orange County, California-based Mickey Mantle League team to a national championship. That summer, Newfield demonstrated such prodigious power that his teammates nicknamed him “Captain Crunch.”1 One teammate recalled, “You should have seen him in the league. He just bombed balls … He had 12 homers in only 20 games.”2 It was the most fun that Newfield ever had on a baseball diamond.3

“Captain Crunch” eventually became “Newf,” but Newfield continued to hit. During his senior year of high school, scouts compared him to big-league All-Stars.4 After the Seattle Mariners drafted him in the first round in 1990, Newfield collected multiple accolades as he quickly ascended the minor leagues. He became the youngest player in the majors upon his debut in 1993.5 When he was eventually given extended opportunities to play every day at the major league level, he excelled. Unfortunately, just as he was poised to undertake his first full season as an everyday big-leaguer, a cascade of injuries stalled and then ultimately ended Newfield’s playing career.

Marc Alexander Newfield was born October 19, 1972, in Sacramento, California. His parents were Richard Lawson Newfield, a California Parole Board officer; and Defloris “Dee” Craig Newfield, a translator of shorthand stenographic records.

Newfield grew up in Huntington Beach, California, roughly 20 miles southwest of Anaheim. There, he and his older brother, Paul, played baseball in their driveway, emulating their heroes, and competed to strike each other out.6 Newfield’s mother registered her sons to play on the same youth teams, where she also volunteered as a coach; against older competition, Marc developed into a talented athlete.7

Before his junior season at Marina High School, Newfield experienced a growth spurt.8 That season, as the Vikings’ DH, he hit .440 and slammed a county-leading 10 homers, earning recognition on the Los Angeles Times’ Preps 1989 All-County Baseball Team.9

At the first game of Newfield’s senior season, Marina head coach Paul Renfrow saw “more scouts than fans in the stands” to watch the Vikings’ first baseman.10 That season, Newfield took Marina to its first playoff appearance in a decade.11 The Vikings, 12-12-1 in the regular season, upset five different teams during a Cinderella-story playoff run, including USA Today’s top-ranked prep team in the nation.12 As a result, they won the California Interscholastic Federation 1990 Southern Section Championship.13 After an impressive senior season, in which he hit .457 over 31 games and slugged .750, Newfield ranked among the nation’s best high school hitters, as chosen by Baseball America.14 He was also named the California Player of the Year and a Second-Team High School All-American.15

Scouts compared Newfield to Eric Davis and Darryl Strawberry, who’d also emerged from southern California some years before.16 In the 1990 amateur draft, the Seattle Mariners selected him sixth overall, coveting his ability to hit for both power and average.17 Though Newfield had never played outfield, the Mariners projected him as a corner outfielder. Newfield had no reservations about learning a new position.18 He allowed himself to dream aloud, “Playing next to Ken Griffey—I can get used to that.”19

Just weeks after the draft and graduation from high school, the Mariners assigned Newfield to their Arizona Rookie League affiliate in Tempe. There, he had little problem wielding a wooden bat against professional pitching, “It’s not much different than the high school pitching except they have better junk pitches.”20 In 51 games, he slashed .313/.394/.495 with six homers and was voted the league’s MVP.21 The Mariners also named him the MVP of the Tempe squad.22 Mariners scout Ken Compton lauded Newfield: “He seems to have his head squarely on his shoulders. He’s very mature for a 17-year-old.”23

Newfield had exceeded expectations on offense. Defensively, he faced a steeper learning curve. In rookie ball, he played just six games in the outfield. So, during the 1990 fall Instructional League, Newfield began learning the outfield.24 He reflected later, “The first couple of games, I couldn’t catch anything.”25

Because of Newfield’s rookie league success, in 1991 the Mariners assigned him to San Bernardino in the high-A California League. Spirit Manager Tommy Jones had high expectations for his 18-year-old left fielder. “We’re looking for real big things out of Marc. He’s going to open the season as our cleanup hitter, and we’ll leave him there as long as he feels comfortable and is productive.”26 Jones assessed Newfield’s outfield defense at the start of the season, “He’s adapted to it well, yet he’d be the first one to tell you that he has a long way to go.”27

Despite playing night games in the California League’s poorly lit ballparks, Newfield continued to hit. He earned Player of the Week honors the last week of April.28 In June, Mariners scouting director Roger Jongewaard said, “At 18, Newfield is doing everything that Griffey did at that age. I’m not saying he’s going to become another Griffey, but he’s doing more than I expected.”29

In addition to adjusting to the outfield and advanced pitching, Newfield also adjusted to minor-league life. He had three roommates,30 and life on the road was challenging: “The motels can wear you out and the $12 a day (per diem) doesn’t carry too far,” Newfield said. “That’s about two fast-food meals.”31 Initially, playing before larger crowds made Newfield nervous, but he learned to channel that energy.32

In June, California League Southern Division managers selected Newfield for the league’s all-star game.33 Jones credited Newfield for his strong mental approach,34 “The most impressive thing about him, is that he does not seem to be in awe of anything he’s faced with.”35 Jones later commended Newfield’s maturity and professionalism, calling them “amazing intangibles for an 18-year-old.”36 And, “for all the success he’s had, he’s not a cocky athlete. You look at all the off-field things he’s had to deal with—the national media, the card companies, a long line of agents who want a piece of him—he seems unaffected by it all. There aren’t many guys like that, no matter how old they are.”37

In 1991, Newfield appeared in 125 games with San Bernardino, 86 of those in the outfield. But after his first full professional season, he was worn down, having dropped 32 pounds since the spring.38 In turn, his offensive production trailed off down the stretch. Despite this late-season slump, Newfield still slashed .300/.391/.439 with 11 homers. After the season, he was named a California League All Star.39 The Mariners also gave him the San Bernardino Spirit team MVP award.40

In 1992, Newfield rose to Class AA Jacksonville. At 19, he was the youngest player on the Suns’ opening day roster. But his season was cut short. By June, his left foot—the subject of a minor offseason procedure months before—increasingly bothered him. According to Mariners farm director Jim Beattie, Newfield’s foot “hurt more and more. He couldn’t run. He couldn’t play in the field.”41 In turn, of his 45 games, Newfield played only 15 in the outfield before season-ending surgery.

Seattle returned Newfield to Jacksonville in 1993. By then 20 and coming off surgery, he started slowly but soon found his timing.42 In June, the floundering Mariners were publicly discussing adding homegrown youth to their roster.43 Then on July 5, Jacksonville manager Marc Hill called Newfield into his office and told him he was going to the big leagues.44 Newfield, who had been hitting .305 with 12 home runs and 36 RBIs in AA, thought his skipper was joking45 or meant that he would be promoted to AAA.46 “I didn’t believe him at first,” Newfield said. “I was maybe hoping for a September call-up, but never this.”47 Newfield was not sure he was ready for the big leagues, but after encouragement from his teammates, he embraced the opportunity.48

By the following evening, Newfield, then the youngest player in the league, was the Mariners’ starting DH against the Yankees. Pre-game, he was nervous, “I’ll just try to do the best I can.”49 He tapped back to the pitcher in his first two at-bats, then reached on an RBI fielder’s choice in the fifth. In the sixth, in his fourth at-bat, Newfield notched his first big-league hit, lining a Rich Monteleone breaking ball into left field for an RBI single as the Mariners scored six runs to break open the game which they won, 12-4. After the game, the elated rookie gushed, “I’m happy with the game, happy I got a hit and I’ll always save that ball, and happiest we won.”50

In his fifth game, Newfield went 3-4 with two RBIs and, against Jeff Mutis, launched his first big-league home run, which he described as “the greatest feeling I’ve ever had.”51 Initially, the Mariners used Newfield exclusively at DH, but on July 17, he debuted in left field at Fenway Park. After the game, he admitted, “I was nervous and I wasn’t sure which base to throw to a couple of times…I’m not real comfortable yet. But I’ll learn. I’ll work.”52 Just two days later, Mariners manager Lou Piniella projected that with more experience, Newfield would “be our everyday left fielder.”53

But on July 20, Newfield was sent back to AA Jacksonville for further seasoning. Said Piniella, “It wasn’t fair to make [him] learn to play outfield here in the major leagues…He’ll be back, and he knows it.”54 Reflecting on his first big-league stint, Newfield said, “I had a great time up there. I found out I could play.”55

Back in Jacksonville, Newfield continued to hit; in late August, the Mariners recalled him for a handful of games. In total, in 1993, Newfield appeared in 91 games for Jacksonville (24 in the outfield), going .307/.374/.530 with 19 homers. In Seattle, in 70 plate appearances over 22 games—17 starts—Newfield hit .227/.257/.318. He went deep once.

In spring training 1994, a bulked-up Newfield reported with a “rebuilt” 225-pound body.56 The Mariners assigned him to AAA Calgary. Farm director Beattie explained that Newfield needed to demonstrate consistency at the plate and in the field.57 In Calgary, Newfield got off to a torrid start, “hitting some balls as hard as you can,” according to manager Steve Smith.58 He tallied an 11-game hitting streak in April;59 by June 23, he was batting .337 with 15 home runs. With the Mariners’ offense stumbling, the organization recalled Newfield. A hopeful Piniella stated, “We’re going to get [him] up and get him in the lineup. We’ve got to do something to see if we can start producing some offense, and he’s hit well at Calgary.”60

In early July, Piniella said, “Newfield can hit in this league, but he’s got to relax and just go out and do it.”61 On July 7, with two baserunners running on the pitch, Newfield hit a liner right at Red Sox shortstop John Valentin, who went to a knee to catch it before stepping on second to double up one runner and then tagging out the runner approaching second from first—the first unassisted triple play in the AL since 1968.62

Newfield’s bat did not heat up after 40 plate appearances over 12 games, so the Mariners returned him to AAA Calgary. There he went on another tear and was named the Pacific Coast League batter of the week after hitting .615 the first week of August.63 He stayed hot while the players’ strike unceremoniously ended the major-league season. Over the last month of his 1994 season, Newfield battled fatigue—he ultimately lost 40 pounds over the season—and a shoulder injury.64 But if he was ailing, his sparkling stats did not reflect it—.349/.413/.593, 19 homers and a then-franchise-record 44 doubles. He was named a Pacific Coast League All-Star,65 and USA Today selected him for minor-league all-star honors.66

When the strike ended in early April 1995, Ken Griffey, Jr. implored the Mariners to finally give Newfield a long look: “He can hit! If they put him in left, hey, we already got two-thirds of the best defensive outfield in the league. I’ll be there for him.”67 But, a week into spring training, Piniella named rookie Darren Bragg his left fielder and Newfield a “backup.”68 Again, Newfield wound up in AAA.

With Tacoma (Washington), Seattle’s new top affiliate, Newfield displayed more steady hitting. Through 15 games, he hit .263 with three home runs. However, Steve Smith (by then Rainiers manager), sounded a note of caution. “He’s had some big hits, but it’s not the same swing he had last year. He’s trying to find it right now.”69

In May, after Griffey, Jr. fractured his wrist making a catch against the outfield wall, the Mariners recalled Newfield. Immediately, he put in extra work to find his stroke.70 It paid off when, on May 29 versus the Yankees, he connected for two hits and two RBIs in a dramatic come-from-behind extra-inning victory.71 Newfield hoped that, after shuttling between the minors and Seattle for three seasons, he would stick with the big club. He remarked, “To tell you the truth, I don’t think I have anything left to prove after the season I had last year [in AAA]. This is my chance to stay.”72

On June 3, he hit his first home run of the season, and Piniella said, “Newfield is going into left to play.” This prompted the Seattle Times to note that Piniella “has said this before and diverted from the plan.”73 Yet the very next day, the same paper opined that Newfield was “looking better each game.”74 On June 21, Newfield hit the first inside-the-park home run at Chicago’s new Comiskey Park.75 Two days later, Piniella assured Newfield that he was performing according to the team’s expectations.76 But one week later, in a 5-for-31 slump, Newfield was returned to AAA Tacoma; Piniella said sharply, “I told him to call me when he feels he’s capable of hitting major-league pitching.”77 Newfield had appeared in just 24 games and hit safely in 13 of them.

Through July, scouts attended Rainiers games to survey the Mariners’ young talent that might be available—including Newfield, who, per Piniella’s public statements, now appeared out of favor with the organization.78 Sure enough, on July 31, the Mariners traded Newfield and Ron Villone to the Padres for Andy Benes and a player to be named later.

Newfield hoped that a different organization might give him more consistent playing time at the top level.79 He added about Seattle, “I don’t know if I wore out my welcome here, but I kind of felt like that.”80 Tacoma’s manager Smith observed, “A guy like [Newfield] needs opportunity and enough (at-bats) to prove himself, which he hasn’t gotten.”81 Spokane’s Spokesman-Review critiqued the Mariners’ handling of Newfield, opining that he was “never in Seattle long enough for the hotel maid to change the sheets,” a “perpetual passenger on Lou Piniella’s Triple-A shuttle,” and a “candidate for a reputable Dramamine dependency program and little more.”82

San Diego GM Randy Smith stated that Newfield “just needed a change of scenery.”83 And the Padres happily offered that. They initially assigned him to AAA Las Vegas, where in 20 games he slashed .343/.373/.571 with three homers. The Padres then recalled Newfield at the end of August, and he played 21 games in left field. For the first time in his young career, Newfield was afforded the chance to play consistently and make adjustments at the big-league level without fear of imminent demotion. He was able to relax, and he hit .309/.333/.491 with one homer.

Given his outstanding stretch run, Newfield believed he would compete for a starting spot in the Padres lineup in 1996, his age-23 season. But instead, San Diego signed 18-year vet Rickey Henderson to play left field. A disappointed Newfield said, “It makes me wonder. I hit .300 and played OK in left field, but it’s kind of hard to complain when they bring in a Hall of Fame player.”84 As a result, in spring training, many around the league viewed Newfield as available.85 Even the Mariners inquired about reacquiring their former prospect.86

Though he may have been peeved about losing his opportunity to be a starter in 1996, Newfield’s effort never waned. He led the Cactus League by hitting .475 and won a roster spot.87 Manager Bruce Bochy promised to try to find him 300-350 at-bats during the season.88

Through the early season, Newfield filled in for injured players and gave veterans rest. On April 28, the New York Times described him as “invaluable moving between left field and right while hitting .333 and driving in 12 runs.”89 By late May, in 15 starts, Newfield was hitting .338 with three homers. Padres right fielder Tony Gwynn said of his teammate, “I wonder what happened [in Seattle]? Seems like Seattle always needs a left fielder. I think Lou gave him the business every day. Here, he can relax and flourish.”90

Into summer, as Newfield continued putting up solid numbers playing semi-regularly as a fourth outfielder, the Padres were rumored to be including him in several trade proposals.91 Then, on July 31, he went to the Milwaukee Brewers, with Villone and Bryce Florie, for veteran slugger Greg Vaughn and a player to be named. In 84 games with the Padres in 1996, Newfield hit .251/.311/.387 with five homers.

In Milwaukee, Newfield was thrilled to be promised the opportunity to play every day, his second such chance in the majors. He noted, “I think I’m too young to pinch hit and spot start. I need to get my rhythm down.”92 He thrived, compiling a 10-game hitting streak in September. Also, according to Brewers manager Phil Garner, Newfield showed “better defense than most gave him credit for.”93 In 49 games for the Brewers, he batted .307/.354/.508 with seven homers and 15 doubles.

Heading into 1997, his age-24 season, Newfield was primed for his first full season of everyday duty. Garner was optimistic, saying, “He’s a good player. He’s a young player who’s getting better and better and better. I think that as he gets more accustomed to this league, he’s going to really end up being a super player.”94 Newfield, too, was ready, “You can’t feel any better than knowing that the manager and the organization trusts you and they’re throwing you there saying, ‘the job’s yours.’ That’s just a nice feeling. I can go out there relaxed and not worry about anything else.”95

But the season took an inauspicious turn during the Brewers’ last spring game when Newfield pulled a hamstring.96 He missed time as a result, but more problematic was that the hamstring never fully healed, yet Newfield tried to play through the ailment, relying too heavily on his upper body to compensate for his injured lower body.97 It affected his swing and caused what he termed a “snowball effect” in which, by mid-May, not only was his hamstring still “only about 60 percent,” but also he was experiencing shoulder problems.98 And once the shoulder pain intensified, he could no longer play through his injuries.

The Brewers put Newfield on the injured list in May with a strain in his throwing shoulder.99 The standard remedy, a cortisone injection, did not help.100 Further testing revealed that Newfield had a torn rotator cuff.101 To avoid season-ending surgery, he tried to rehab the injury in AAA.102 He even changed his batting stance to try to accommodate the injury.103 But the Brewers, in what Garner called an act of “desperation,” cut short Newfield’s rehab assignment to get his bat into their struggling lineup at DH.104 Three weeks later, Newfield was back on the injured list, and on August 1, he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery. He had taken just 157 at-bats in 50 games.

In 1998, the Brewers transitioned to the NL and, consequently, lost their use of the DH. This was not ideal for Newfield, who was coming off a major shoulder injury and now needed to play defense to crack the lineup. He earned the starting left field job out of camp, but his surgically repaired throwing shoulder had not fully recovered. His arm felt heavy, and he experienced discomfort throwing.105 By August, he was largely a reserve, and by season’s end, he’d taken just 186 at-bats over 93 games.

After the 1998 season, Newfield entered free agency. In January 1999 he signed with the Oakland Athletics as a non-roster spring training invitee. He had a solid camp but did not make the team.

In May, Newfield signed with the Red Sox organization and was assigned to AA Trenton (New Jersey). During his first week there, he collided with his shortstop while chasing a pop-up down the left field line.106 Though team doctors believed that he suffered a minor knee bruise in the collision, the knee pain continued, frustrating Newfield.107 He tried to rehab the injury, but when it never healed, he learned that he had in fact suffered significant bone damage.108

This major knee injury effectively ended Newfield’s baseball career. Though he was invited to spring training with the Tigers in 2000, his knee was simply not healthy enough to play. Newfield hoped that further medical treatment would someday allow him to return to the field professionally, perhaps even overseas.109 But after multiple surgeries and rehab attempts, the knee did not improve to the point that he could play at a professional level. Newfield never did enjoy the chance to play a full season as a healthy, everyday big-leaguer.

Of his playing days, Newfield has one regret. At the end of the 1996 season, the Brewers were at Detroit. Law enforcement had received an anonymous tip that Newfield would be receiving a drug delivery at his hotel room.110 When Newfield signed for the package, nine shouting undercover officers rushed his room.111 Inside the package they found small amounts of marijuana.112 It was “the scariest moment” of Newfield’s young life and deeply affected him. 113 He expressed embarrassment after the arrest, stating, “I can’t blame anybody but myself. I feel bad about what happened. All I want is to right the wrong and make the Brewers organization proud of me.”114 Though the Brewers quickly moved past the incident, public details of the arrest shaped how people perceived Newfield, and those negative characterizations damaged his self-esteem.115 For a long time, he did not want to be recognized in public.116

Newfield’s big-league dream was to play in the MLB All-Star Game.117 Though he earned all-star accolades at various levels in the minors, injuries precluded his achieving this goal at the big-league level. But when he was healthy and given the opportunity to play every day—a sample covering 234 at-bats over 70 games after the trade deadlines in the 1995 and 1996 seasons—Newfield played like an All-Star, slashing .308/.349/.504.

After injuries ended his playing career, Newfield initially struggled to transition to life after baseball. He described himself as “reclusive” during that period because he largely stayed at home in southern California.118 Eventually, he began working with his uncle’s Georgia-based demolition company, a business enterprise in which he had invested some of his baseball money years before.119

In his post-playing life, Newfield largely keeps a low public profile. He’s had six knee surgeries stemming from his collision in 1999 and needs at least one more before he will regain his mobility and be able to comfortably pursue some of his past joys—dancing, golfing, exercising, going out, or even working.120 Though unmarried and without children, he’s open to someday starting his own family.

Newfield still loves baseball. He watches it on television and still studies the mechanics of hitting. He also occasionally offers private hitting instruction; in this role, he strives to simplify the physics of hitting and communicate his principles so that young amateur hitters can understand, digest, and easily incorporate them into their own mechanics.121 He aspires to return to professional baseball someday, as a hitting instructor, scout, or in another capacity.122

Newfield is a kindhearted people-pleaser, patient and eager to make time for his family and friends, who still lovingly call him “Newf.” One such friend is former big-leaguer Desi Relaford, who forged a lifelong bond with Newfield in 1993 when they were teammates and roommates at AA Jacksonville.123 Relaford, a year younger than Newfield, looked up to his teammate like a brother, one who had already experienced minor-league success.124 The young men found they had much in common.125 According to Relaford, Newfield would “give you the shirt off his back,” and he added these verifiable truths: “He’s a really good person, witty, funny. And he could really hit a baseball.”126

Last revised: July 12, 2023

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Marc Newfield and Desi Relaford for their involvement and input.

This biography was reviewed by Rory Costello and David Bilmes and fact-checked by Paul Proia.

Sources

In addition to the sources cited in the Notes, the author also relied on Baseball-Reference.com.

Photo credit: Trading Card DB.

Notes

1 Mike Reilley, “He Comes Through with a Crunch: Prep baseball: Scouts are taking notice of Marina’s Marc Newfield, ranked 12th nationally by Baseball America, and his big league swing,” Los Angeles Times (Orange County Edition), May 10, 1990: 16.

2 Reilley, “He Comes Through with a Crunch.”

3 Marc Newfield, video interview with author, January 4, 2023.

4 Mike Reilley, “Seattle Selects Newfield with Sixth Pick: Baseball Draft: Marina star is only third Orange County player to be drafted in the first round out of high school,” Los Angeles Times (Orange County Edition), June 5, 1990: 12.

5 Bob Finnigan, “Newfield of dreams debut,” Seattle Times, July 7, 1993: C1.

6 Jim Callis, “On the Mark,” Baseball Cards, January 1992: 55.

7 Callis, “On the Mark.” Gail Malorana, “Top pick is top prospect among Arizona rookies,” Arizona Republic, August 28, 1900: Southeast Insert-5.

8 Matt Hayes, “Great Expectation,” Beckett Focus on Future Stars, No. 16 (August 1992): 67.

9 “The Preps 1989 All-County Baseball Team,” Los Angeles Times (Orange County Edition), June 7, 1989: 8.

10 Randy Franz, “Newfield turns up power—Scouts getting in line to see Marina slugger,” Orange County Register, March 12, 1990: D11.

11 Tom Hamilton, “Southern Section Baseball Playoffs: Los Alamitos Hopes to Salvage Disappointing Season,” Los Angeles Times (Orange County Edition), May 18, 1990: 14.

12 Hamilton, “Southern Section Baseball Playoffs 5-A Division.”

13 Reilley, “Seattle Selects Newfield with Sixth Pick.”

14 Reilley, “He Comes Through with a Crunch.” Mike Reilley, “Newfield Feels Heat of Draft,” Los Angeles Times (Orange County Edition), June 4, 1990: 16.

15 Reilley, “Newfield Feels Heat of Draft.”

16 Reilley, “Seattle Selects Newfield with Sixth Pick.”

17 Fernando Dominguez, “Newfield Is a Major Hit in Minor Leagues: Baseball: Former Marina standout, playing for Mariners’ affiliate in San Bernardino, is No. 2 hitter in California League,” Los Angeles Times (Orange County Edition), June 6, 1991: 12.

18 Jim Moore, “M’s draft slugger in first round,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, June 5, 1990: D1.

19 T.C. Porter, “Mariners add muscle in top pick, Newfield,” Seattle Times, June 5, 1990: E4.

20 Martin Beck, “Newfield: He’s as Hot as Weather in Arizona,” Los Angeles Times (Orange County Edition), July 23, 1990: 19.

21 Bob Finnigan, “Too-hard luck hits Mariners—Cotto’s line drive turns into Tiger double play,” Seattle Times, August 31, 1990: D1.

22 Bob Finnigan, “Hot-hitting Rangers take game of number—M’s wait almost 1 hour to get 2 straight outs,” Seattle Times, September 18, 1990: B1.

23 Beck, “Newfield.”

24 Callis, “On the Mark.”

25 Callis, “On the Mark.”

26 Kal Rucker, “Marina’s Newfield new kid on block,” San Bernardino County Sun, April 17, 1991: E5.

27 Rucker, “Marina’s Newfield new kid on block,” E18.

28 Rich Johnson, “Calgary’s Brundage enjoying a hit parade,” Seattle Times, May 12, 1991: C5.

29 Bob Sherwin, “’Success spoils M’s draft—11th pick is second lowest since 1977,” Seattle Times, June 2, 1991: C6.

30 Randy Franz, “He’s already a hit—Ex-Marina star Newfield, 18, serves as new hero on the block for Spirit,” Orange County Register, June 20, 1991: C01.

31 Dominguez, “Newfield Is a Major Hit in Minor Leagues.”

32 Pete Marshall, “Players oblivious to attendance war,” San Bernardino County Sun, July 14, 1991: C2.

33 Marc Stein, “Garcia runs winning streak to 5 as Spirit downs Salinas,” San Bernardino County Sun, June 13, 1991: C3.

34 Dominguez, “Newfield Is a Major Hit in Minor Leagues.”

35 William Gildea, “In the High Desert, Baseball Blooms,” Washington Post, July 11, 1991: B01.

36 Gregg Patton, “Majors seem in the cards for Newfield,” San Bernardino County Sun, August 23, 1991: C1.

37 Patton, “Majors seem in the cards for Newfield.”

38 Marc Stein, “Newfield promoted to Double-A team,” San Bernardino County Sun, August 28, 1991: C3.

39 San Bernardino County Sun, August 28, 1991: C4.

40 Bob Sherwin, “.500—Jubilant Mariners find 81 reasons to celebrate after win over Texas assures them of place in history,” Seattle Times, October 3, 1991: E1.

41 Rich Johnson, “M’s top pick in ’90 out for season after surgery, but might return in fall,” Seattle Times, June 14, 1992: E7.

42 Larry LaRue, “New start for Newfield—Foot surgery slows M’s rookie’s march to the major leagues,” Morning News Tribune (Tacoma, WA), July 20, 1993: C1.

43 Bob Finnigan, “Mariners acquire Piniella’s godson—Cotto goes to Marlins; Manager expects more deals,” Seattle Times, June 28, 1993: C1.

44 Ron Newberry, “Mariners update: Boone shipped back to Calgary—again,” News Tribune (Tacoma, WA), July 7, 1993: E5.

45 Newberry, “Mariners update.”

46 LaRue, “New start for Newfield.”

47 Newberry, “Mariners update.”

48 Marc Newfield, video interview with author, November 19, 2022.

49 Jim Moore, “Boone leaves again, but only temporarily,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 7, 1993: D3.

50 Bob Finnigan, “Newfield of dreams debut,” Seattle Times, July 7, 1993: C1.

51 Bob Sherwin, “M’s ‘Big Unit’ has grown—6-foot-10 Johnson standing taller,” Seattle Times, July 12, 1993: C1.

52 LaRue, “New start for Newfield.”

53 Jim Street, “Who’s left? It’s Newfield for M’s—Piniella projects a 20-year-old should complete club’s outfield,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 20, 1993: D1.

54 Larry LaRue, “Mariners update: Tinsley’s up, Newfield down to Jacksonville,” Morning News Tribune (Tacoma WA), July 21, 1993: C6.

55 Chris Foster, “Minor Leagues: Dreamer Wakes Up in Mesa,” Los Angeles Times (Orange County Edition), August 23, 1993: 12.

56 Larry LaRue, “M’s Turang scrapping for starting spot at 2nd,” News Tribune (Tacoma, WA), February 26, 1994: C1.

57 Matt Hayes, “A New Field to dream,” Beckett Baseball, April 1994: 126.

58 Rich Johnson, “Mariner farm report—Converse misfires with Cannons,” Seattle Times, April 24, 1994: C11.

59 Rich Johnson, “Mariner farm report—Sizzling Foxes have league by the tail,” Seattle Times, May 1, 1994: C6.

60 Finnigan, “Mariners expected to call up Newfield.”

61 Bob Finnigan, “Elia, Piniella tips yield clutch hitting,” Seattle Times, July 8, 1994: C4.

62 “Triple play helps Red Sox to win,” San Bernardino County Sun, July 9, 1994: C3.

63 Rich Johnson, “Mariner farm report—Ex-shortstop given new life as pitcher,” Seattle Times, August 14, 1994: C8.

64 Bob Sherwin, “Anything left for Newfield in M’s future?—No. 1 pick seeks AAA escape,” Seattle Times, August 31, 1994: C1.

65 “Turang, Rodriguez trigger Cannon romp over Tigers,” Seattle Times, September 2, 1994: E3.

66 Rod Beaton, “L.A. has high hopes for prospect,” USA Today, September 13, 1994: 01C.

67 Larry LaRue, “Who’s in left? 35 have tried supporting role,” News Tribune (Tacoma, WA), April 16, 1995: C1.

68 Jim Cour, “M’s turn to farmhands in left field,” Columbian (Vancouver, WA), April 12, 1995: 1.

69 Rich Johnson, “Mariner farm report—Bonnici powers Roosters,” Seattle Times, May 14, 1995: D6.

70 Bob Finnigan, “Amaral power-lifts Mariners—Homer in 12th beats Yankees,” Seattle Times, May 30, 1995: C1.

71 The next night, Newfield fielded a single off the bat of Derek Jeter, the rookie’s first big-league hit.

72 Gary Brooks, “Mariners’ pitching staff finally appears to be in solid shape,” News Tribune (Tacoma, WA), June 1, 1995: D5.

73 Bob Finnigan, “Mariners wear down,” Seattle Times, June 7, 1995: C1.

74 Bob Finnigan, “This time, M’s get one back—Game seems lost until 9-run inning knocks out Brown,” Seattle Times, June 8, 1995: C1.

75 “White Sox Pull Out Win,” Pharos-Tribune (Logansport, IN), June 22, 1995: B6.

76 Larry LaRue, “Mariners Update: Rodriguez sent to Rainiers, Newfield stays, Sojo’s back,” News Tribune (Tacoma, WA), June 24, 1995: C7.

77 Bob Finnigan, “Mariner log—Seattle 4, Texas 3—Widger to give Mariners another new look in left,” Seattle Times, July 3, 1995: C5.

78 Larry LaRue, “Mariners rally past Cleveland,” News Tribune (Tacoma, WA), July 30, 1995: D1.

79 Rich Johnson, “Traded M’s surprised,” Seattle Times, August 1, 1995: C1.

80 Johnson, “Traded M’s surprised.”

81 Kevin Iole, “San Diego high on recent acquisitions,” Las Vegas Review-Journal, August 2, 1995: 2D.

82 John Blanchette, “Benes could be winning ticket,” Spokesman Review (Spokane, WA), August 2, 1995: C1.

83 Rod Beaton, “Trade of Benes offers Padres certain relief in the long run,” USA Today, August 2, 1995: 08C.

84 Larry LaRue, “Newfield waits in the wings—Former Mariner playing well for SD, but can’t land a job,” News Tribune (Tacoma, WA), March 9, 1996: C8.

85 Bob Finnigan, “Mariner spring training—Davison an autograph might be worth saving,” Seattle Times, March 1, 1996: C1.

86 Finnigan, “Mariner spring training.”

87 Paul Bauman, “Padres rally past Toronto,” Las Vegas Review-Journal, March 31, 1996: 10E.

88 Rod Beaton, “Injuries, walks decimate Mets’ promising pitching,” USA Today, April 17, 1996: 08C.

89 Murray Chass, “The Padres Discover a New Winning Formula,” New York Times, April 28, 1996: S8.

90 Nick Canepa, “Newfield should lose seat on bench,” San Diego Union-Tribune, April 25, 1996: D-1.

91 Rod Beaton, “Mull before the storm: GMs ponder trades,” USA Today, July 24, 1996: 06C.

92 “Milwaukee Extends White Sox Wild-Card Woes,” Pharos-Tribune (Logansport, IN), August 28, 1996: B2.

93 Leadoff: 1997 Milwaukee Brewers Yearbook Magazine: 92.

94 Jim Hoehn, “Newfield’s Dream,” Leadoff: 1997 Milwaukee Brewers Yearbook Magazine: 99.

95 Hoehn, “Newfield’s Dream.”

96 John Weyler, “Newfield Is Hoping for Better Days in Milwaukee,” Los Angeles Times (Orange County Edition), May 17, 1997: 5.

97 Weyler, “Newfield Is Hoping for Better Days in Milwaukee.”

98 Weyler, “Newfield Is Hoping for Better Days in Milwaukee.”

99 “Yankees’ Irabu to make his U.S. debut next week,” San Bernardino County Sun, May 31, 1997: C6.

100 “Brewers Feel a Little Powerless,” Washington Post, June 6, 1997: C.04.

101 “Tigers go deep, run wild in 6-5 win over Orioles,” Indiana Gazette, July 6, 1997: C-2.

102 “Yankees void trade for Vaughn,” San Bernardino County Sun, July 6, 1997: C5.

103 Mel Antonen, “A midseason viewpoint on postseason honors,” USA Today, July 8, 1997: C6.

104 “Newfield back in lineup,” Seattle Times, July 6, 1997: D8.

105 Newfield, video interview, January 4, 2023.

106 Anthony Coleman, “On line with 9 in a row,” Trenton Times, May 27, 1999: B1. Anthony Coleman, “Senators ‘strike’ back to defeat Thunder,” Trenton Times, June 2, 1999: B1.

107 John Nalbone, “Everett living in Nomar’s shadow,” Trenton Times, June 15, 1999: C1.

108 Newfield, video interview, November 19, 2022.

109 Newfield, video interview, November 19, 2022.

110 “Orioles spitting mad after loss,” Seattle Times, September 28, 1996: B6.

111 Weyler, “Newfield Is Hoping for Better Days in Milwaukee.”

112 Larry LaRue, “Newfield’s biggest challenge is improving image, not play,” News Tribune (Tacoma, WA), March 23, 1997: C13.

113 Weyler, “Newfield Is Hoping for Better Days in Milwaukee.”

114 “Newfield Says Arrest Was Embarrassment,” AP News, September 28, 1996.

115 Newfield, video interview, November 19, 2022.

116 Newfield, video interview, November 19, 2022.

117 Marc Newfield, interview, April 23, 2023.

118 Newfield, video interview, November 19, 2022.

119 Newfield, video interview, November 19, 2022.

120 Newfield, interview, April 23, 2023.

121 Newfield, video interview, November 19, 2022.

122 Newfield, video interview, January 4, 2023.

123 Desi Relaford, text exchange with author, March 2, 2023.

124 Relaford, text exchange.

125 Relaford, text exchange.

126 Relaford, text exchange.