He was originally drafted by the Orioles but did not sign, then in 1983 was a second round pick for the New York Mets. McKnight spent over six seasons & more than 1500 at bats before he made it to the big leagues. He never hit above .255 & the year he was called up, he had his minor league best nine HRs.
He came up in June 1989 to replace an injured Tim Tuefel and got a pinch hit single in his first at bat. After six games he went 3-12 batting .250 playing all infield positions, but was sent back down to Tidewater.
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Mets Career: The Mets signed him as a free agent again in 1992 and he came to spring training as a non roster player.
He batted .307 at AAA Tidewater in the teams last season before moving to Norfolk & made a return to the big leagues that August. After going hitless in his first game, he got five hits over a five game period, hitting safely in three straight, keeping himself in the lineup steadily.
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McKnight would play seven positions for the Mets over the three seasons, including one game behind the plate in 1993. Not only was he versatile on the field he was the same with uniform numbers, donning five different numbers on his back as a Mets player.
Uniform Numbers: When he first arrived with the Mets he wore #15. Later taking #5 but Jeromy Burnitz wanted that number & McKnight switched to #7. When the Dallas Green era began, coach Bobby Wine took #7 & McKnight wore #17. He gave that number up to Bret Saberhagen & began to don #18.

By 1994 he was used as a pinch hitter but after going just 4-26 batting only .148 in 31 games he was sent back down to AAA Norfolk in early June. He hit .346 in eight games at Norfolk but then retired from the game. He came back four years later to play two years in the Independent Leagues, spending 1998 with the Newark Bears.
In his six year career McKnight is a .233 hitter with 94 hits five HRs ten doubles 28 walks 34 RBIs & a .284 on base %. On the field he played 39 games at first base, 38 games at second, 34 games at short 13 games at third & 16 games in the outfield.
He played 13 years in the minors batting .266 with 34 HRs 156 doubles 19 triples 354 RBIs 37 stolen bases a & .354 on base % in 1000 games.
Passing: In 2005 McKnight was diagnosed with leukemia. After a ten year battle he passed away on Sunday March1st, 2015 at age 52.
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