Center Field

Birthdate: July 28, 1962

2005 Opening Day Age: 42

Birthplace: Alameda, CA

Bats: Left

Throws: Left

Height: 5-8

Weight: 160

How Obtained: Signed by Bill Soliday in 1984.

Contract Status: Signed new contract in 2005 and couldn't be happier.

 

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE...Nickname-JB...although getting up there in age, will always be "The Baby Bear" to several generations of former teammates who were on hand for his formative years...graduated from San Leandro High...led club in hitting in '84 at .536... entered '04 season as Bears all-time career leader in at-bats (759), runs (211), hits (258), hit-by-pitches (22) and stolen bases (59)...made what was described by teammate Dino Vournas as "the greatest catch in Bears history" during his rookie season...nearly duplicated catch in '97, but dropped the ball...son Brady born during 2004 off season...feared slugger was walked 10 times to lead league in '89...has been hit by more pitches (21) than any other Bear...former Oakland A's batboy during the Billy Martin era...his ex-fiancee of 17 years, Heidi Ruiz, now lives in Australia...led HARD with .600 on-base percentage in '89...can play all three outfield positions...in younger years, could play all three outfield positions simultaneously...sparkling season at the plate in '84 also led the league when he hit .536 (15 for 28)...hit by 4 pitches in '00...swiped 10 bags in '85 season to lead all of HARD...brother of Bob Becker, owner and operator of B&B Plumbing...once mistaken for a hooker in Sacramento along with former Bears skipper Mitch Pritchard...lists greatest Bears thrill as "the time Smithson threw the ball into centerfield"...a longtime fan favorite...is employed by the Alameda Newspaper Group during the off-season...legged out 4 doubles in both '85 and '91 campaigns...leads club in career steals with 56...hit 2 round trippers in famous '84 season...still a fleet-footed sweet-swinging-left-handed sparkplug who never fails to antagonize the enemy, especially Hayward Fishery...off the field Jon has not shown his flaky tendencies as much since becoming married to Kari Hulac in 2000...moved into posh new home around the corner from popular valley brew-pub after 2004 season...wife Kari enjoys fetta cheese on her pizza at Bronco Billy's...daughter Lacy named after former Dodger Lee Lacy...resides in Pleasanton, Calif. with wife Kari, son Brady and daughter Lacy.

LIFETIME STATISTICS (Thru 2004)

AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BA SLG SO BB HBP OB% SAC SB
759 211 258 32 13 3 91 .340 .430 48 92 22 .473 17 59

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