Lifestyle
Retired MLB All-Star Gary Matthews Jr.’s Perfect Newport Beach Home
Gary Matthews Jr. is on deck in Southern California, where he hopes to strike gold in the real estate market. According to the Orange County Register, the former Los Angeles Angels outfielder is asking just under $22 million for his longtime Corona del Mar estate, which is listed by Coldwell Banker Realty’s Tim Smith and Casey Lesher.
In 2010, Matthews paid $3 million for a vacant site on the ocean side of Coast Highway and then commissioned architect Carlton Graham, Steve Davidson Construction, and Tom Waters to custom-build a two-story contemporary home on the property. The 2014-built, stone-clad residence has four bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and approximately 6,200 square feet of living space with limestone flooring and white oak ceilings throughout.
The two-story home, situated on a one-third-acre blufftop lot in the desirable Irvine Terrace neighborhood, is framed by an attached three-car garage and accessible via a gated courtyard entrance with a fire pit. A glassy front entrance swings open to reveal an open-concept main level with floor-to-ceiling glass walls that open to a large, heated balcony with a built-in barbecue and panoramic views of the Pacific, Newport Harbor, and the Balboa and Catalina islands.
From there, a spacious great room contains a living room with a fireplace that connects to a dining area and a kitchen with high-end appliances. A luxurious master suite situated discreetly around the corner features a fireplace, walk-in closet, and spa-like bathroom with dual vanities, a freestanding soaking tub, and a separate shower.
The lower level features a lounge and media room, seated wet bar, office space, and wine cellar with full-size beverage refrigerator, all of which lead out to a backyard terrace with a barbecue and kitchen setup ideal for outdoor entertaining, as well as an infinity-edge pool and raised Jacuzzi.
Matthews, 48, is the son of Gary Matthews Sr., a former Major League Baseball player-turned-broadcaster. The younger Matthews played professional baseball from 1999 to 2010, beginning with the San Diego Padres and continuing with the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.