Bernard Gilkey

Otis Bernard Gilkey (born September 24, 1966 in St. Louis, Missouri) is a former Major League Baseball (MLB) player for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, and Atlanta Braves. Primarily a left fielder, Gilkey occasionally played right field as well. He also played a small number of games as a center fielder, first baseman, and designated hitter. Gilkey was a right-handed batter.

Gilkey graduated from St. Louis's University City High School in 1984 and signed a contract with his hometown Cardinals as an undrafted free agent. In 1989, he led the league with 53 stolen bases and 109 runs while playing for Double-A Arkansas. In 1990, he led the league with 75 walks while playing with Triple-A Louisville and eventually reached the MLB team. In 1991, he was the first rookie to start for the Cardinals in left field since Hall of Famer Red Schoendienst.

In 1992, Gilkey hit .302 in 131 games with the Cardinals. Gilkey batted over .300 twice more during his career.

During the offseason in January 1996, Gilkey was traded by the Cardinals to the Mets. Gilkey arguably had his strongest season in 1996. His .317 average was eighth in the National League, while his 44 doubles ranked fourth (and also set a Mets single season record). Gilkey finished fourteenth in National League MVP voting that year. Gilkey and center fielder Lance Johnson formed a formidable offensive one-two punch as outfielders in their first year with the Mets. Gilkey led the league with 18 outfield assists from that year—one of six double-digit assist years in his career with his career high being 19 outfield assists in 1993 when tied for the league lead.

Gilkey statistics dropped off substantially the next year. His batting average fell to .249. In 1998, Gilkey was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Gilkey offensive numbers were less impressive in the latter years of his career and his playing time declined, although he did rebound to hit .294 in 1999. He was released by the Diamondbacks in the middle of the 2000 season and signed with the Red Sox as a free agent. Gilkey made the playoffs as a Diamondback in 1999 and in 2001 as a Brave. Gilkey's career ended after the 2001 season.

Gilkey had a small role in the 1997 film Men in Black. The climax of the film took place in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in New York City near Shea Stadium, home of the Mets. Gilkey appeared in his real-life role as a Mets outfielder. Gilkey was distracted by a massive spacecraft above Shea Stadium (actually one of the two circular observation towers from the 1964 World's Fair) and was hit on the head by a fly ball.