Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1997
- Class:
- 1988
“Sly” was one of the greatest shortstops to ever play for the Tigers during his career from 1986-88. A native of St. Louis, Silvestri was a first-team all-American in 1987 and ’88. He was also all-Big Eight Conference and all-District V in 1987-88 and was named to the Big Eight all-Tournament team in 1988. At the time of his induction, he appeared in the top-10 of 29 all-time statistical categories at MU, and he held 10 single-game, season or career records for the Tigers. His senior year, he hit .406, with eight triples, 21 home runs, 89 runs scored, 58 walks and 17 stolen bases and each of those marks led the team. He was the shortstop for the U.S. team that won the gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. He was drafted by the Houston Astros but was traded to the New York Yankees in 1990 with whom he made his major league debut in 1992. He played eight seasons in the majors with the Yankees, Montreal Expos, Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Anaheim Angels. His first National League hit was a run-scoring pinch-hit single against his hometown St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in 1995. After his playing days he managed in the minor leagues with the Hudson Valley Renegades of the New York-Penn League and the Great Falls Dodgers of the Pioneer League.
