John Garrett Olerud (/ˈoʊləruːd/; born August 5, 1968), nicknamed Johnny O and Big Rude, is a left-handed American former Major League Baseball first baseman. Olerud played with the Toronto Blue Jays (1989–96), New York Mets (1997–99), Seattle Mariners (2000–04), New York Yankees (2004), and Boston Red Sox (2005).\n', '

A patient, productive hitter throughout his career, Olerud won the American League batting title in 1993 and was runner-up for the National League batting title in 1998. Also a three-time Gold Glove winner, he was an excellent defensive first baseman and part of Sports Illustrated\'s "The Best Infield Ever?" cover in 1999 with Edgardo Alfonzo, Rey Ordóñez, and Robin Ventura, when he played for the Mets.\n', '

Olerud was born to Lynda and John E. Olerud, a physician, dermatologist, and baseball player from Lisbon, North Dakota. The elder Olerud played college baseball for the Washington State Cougars as a catcher and was the captain of the team which advanced to the semifinals of the College World Series in 1965. An All-American, he was selected by the California Angels in the 1965 amateur draft and spent the next seven years studying medicine and playing minor league baseball.\n', '

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