Chad Kreuter, 1982, football, basketball, baseball—kreuter, who is the baseball coach at the University of Southern California, spent 19 yearsas a professional baseball player, including 15 years as a centerfielder at the Major League level, playing for the Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals and the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

In is three years playing baseball at Redwood (1980-82), Kreuter was named three times to the All MCAL team. In 1982, he was named to the Northern California All-Star team and the California All-Star team.

Although Kreuter’s forte was baseball, he also played football and basketball at the junior varsity and varsity level during his three years at Redwood (1980-82). In 1981 and 1982, he was named to the All MCAL and All CIF varsity football teams. In varsity basketball, he earned All MCAL team honors in 1982.

He won a baseball scholarship to Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., and was a member of the Team USA that played in the 1984 World Games in Cuba.

Kreuter’s Major League baseball career had some notable highlights. In his first big league at-bat as a Texas Ranger against Oakland A’s pitcher Dave Stewart, he was the first player ever to debut with a single and a homerun in one inning. In 1989, he caught the fly ball that gave legendary pitcher Nolan Ryan’s his 5,000th strikeout, and in 1994, he was the 18th player to ever hit a ball over the roof of Tiger Stadium in Detroit. In 2001, Kreuter was the first player in Dodger history to hit a homerun as a designated hitter.

His most notable feat was his comeback from a devastating injury that almost took his life. In 1996, Kreuter collided with another player at home plate and nearly died from internal bleeding. His shoulder was broken so badly that his doctors told him that not only would he never play baseball again, he wouldn’t even be able to brush his teeth.

But Kreuter had the last word. “By God’s will,” he says, “I played seven more seasons.”

Chad Kreuter lives in Los Angeles.