David Justice

David Christopher Justice, born on April 14, 1966, in Cincinnati, Ohio, carved out a distinguished career as a professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter across 14 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Raised Catholic, Justice attended Covington Latin School and later Thomas More College on a basketball scholarship. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the fourth round (94th overall) of the 1985 Major League Baseball draft, marking the beginning of his professional journey.

Justice made his MLB debut with the Atlanta Braves in May 1989. He quickly established himself, earning the starting right fielder position and subsequently winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1990 after hitting 28 home runs. Throughout his tenure with the Braves from 1989 to 1996, he was a key figure in their success, contributing significantly to their division titles and securing a World Series championship in 1995. His career with the Braves included an impactful 1993 season where he hit 40 home runs and recorded 120 RBIs, finishing third in MVP voting. A notable highlight was his crucial home run in Game 6 of the 1995 World Series, which clinched the championship for Atlanta in a 1-0 victory against the Cleveland Indians.

Following his time with the Braves, Justice played for the Cleveland Indians from 1997 to 2000, where he continued to demonstrate his offensive prowess, including a .329 batting average and 33 home runs in 1997. He then joined the New York Yankees in 2000, contributing to another World Series victory and earning the League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award. His MLB career concluded in 2002 after a season with the Oakland Athletics. Post-retirement, Justice transitioned into broadcasting, serving as a commentator for ESPN for two years and later joining the YES Network as an analyst. He received significant recognition for his baseball achievements, including induction into the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame in 2007.