Way back in Spring Training, Oakland A’s First Baseman-Outfielder-Heartthrob Nick Swisher showed up at camp with his hair grown out to a hippie-esque eleven inches in length.
It seemed to work for him. He was hitting the ball well with a .290 batting average (41 points above his career average) and a .500 slugging percentage with 6 Home Runs.
Internet reports had him dating former Playboy model and Oakland Raiderette Danielle Gamba.
And on May 11, Swisher signed a five year contract extension with the A’s for $26.75 Million.
Life was good.
Then, before a game on May 19th, Swisher had his lengthy locks clipped (by his father) so he could donate them to charity (Pantene’s Beutiful Lengths) to honor his grandmother, who had died of cancer.
At the time of the celebrated haircut, HRD wondered if there would be a Samson-like effect on Swisher’s stats.
| Dates | Hair | Games | BA | OBA | Slug% | OPS | AB/HR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAREER AVG | N/A | 389 | .249 | .360 | .464 | .824 | 19.81 |
| 4/1-5/18 | Long | 35 | .290 | .418 | .500 | .918 | 20.67 |
| 5/19-7/8 | Short | 46 | .242 | .377 | .406 | .784 | 33.00 |
Gah. A 48 point drop in batting average and a 13 point drop in the AB/HR ratio. That’s not good.
On June 29, Milton Bradley, one of Swisher’s best pals on the A’s, was traded to the San Diego Padres. There went Swisher’s cool post-Home Run celebration with Bradley.
And it’s also come out that Swisher was never dating Gamba in the first place. In his own words in an interview with the Northwest Herald …
I’ve never even met that girl [model Danielle Gamba].
People have asked me about it; there was a story about it in some Web site, and the next thing you know, I got phone calls from people saying I had a new girlfriend. I was like, “Really. I’d like to meet her, too.” Total lie. Nothing true about that.
The lesson to learn? Never cut your hair.
Entries (RSS)
November 15th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
swisher and zito hit on her, nothing more.
swisher is banned from bay area country clubs for not paying his boozing bills.
January 29th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Nick Swisher looked just terrific with that long hair. Sorry to see him get a haircut.
March 10th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Nick is a sweet guy. I liked his hair long too, but the only reason he grew it long was so that he could donate it to locks of love. God Bless him.
March 17th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
i think that nick swisher looks good with short or long hair and he is an awesome Yankees player. my number is 33 just like him.i used to play right field but now i play first.
July 2nd, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Nick Swisher is one of my favorite New York Yankee players, and I see no point in making this page. I agree with johna, he only grew it to give it to a cause. There is no point in making a whole page about how his stats dropped and how his life “apparently” went down the hole. He is still making more money than me and you.
July 8th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Nick Swisher is my favorite player even if he is a yankee now he was a much better fit for the sox but they were stupid and didnt resign him but anyway he just went through a hitting slump but look at him now back to the top as one of baseballs greats of the day and he looks great with short hair or long no matter what he is an amazing baseball player and i will love him were everhe travels and will be happy for him were ever he end up because he is on his way to cooperstown for sure