Mike Cameron
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| Image:MikeCameron.jpg Cameron, playing for the Padres in 2007 |
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|---|---|
| Free Agent — No. 25 | |
| Center Fielder | Born: January 8 1973 |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Major League Baseball debut | |
| August 27, 1995 for the Chicago White Sox | Selected MLB statistics (through June 10, 2007) |
| AVG | .251 |
| RBI | 735 |
| HR | 201 |
| Teams | |
Michael Terrance Cameron (born January 8 1973 in LaGrange, Georgia) is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
Mike Cameron was a standout player at LaGrange High School. Cameron was drafted out of high school by the Chicago White Sox in 1991. In the minor leagues, he was in danger of losing his sight when his eye socket was almost fractured by a flying ball.[citation needed]
His major league debut took place in August 27, 1995 with the White Sox. In 1997 he won a starting job as the team's regular center fielder. He was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Paul Konerko in 1998. Along with 3 other players he was traded to the Seattle Mariners for Ken Griffey Jr. before the 2000 season.
He played in the All-Star Game in 2001 and has reached the postseason twice and won the Gold Glove Award in 2001 and 2003 for his defensive play in the outfield. He led all major league center fielders in range factor (3.42) in 2003. In 2004 he signed a three year, $19.5 million dollar contract to play center field for the New York Mets.
With the acquisition by the Mets of Carlos Beltran before the 2005 season, Cameron surrendered his position to the star center fielder and played most of his games in right field during the 2005 season. On August 11, 2005, in San Diego, Cameron collided with Beltran in the outfield as both made diving attempts to catch a fly ball. Cameron suffered multiple fractures of his nose and cheekbones and was removed from the field on a stretcher.[1]
On November 15, 2005 Cameron was traded to the San Diego Padres for Xavier Nady. He won his first National League Gold Glove award during the 2006 season with San Diego.
His former manager Jack McKeon has described him as "a simple young man."
Cincinnati Reds announcer Marty Brennaman once said Cameron is one of his top 10 favorite players he has ever been around.
After being selected to the American League All-Star Team in 2001, Cameron used his salary bonus to purchase All-Star Game warm-up jackets for all of his Seattle Mariner teammates. He is known for routinely sitting on top of the dugout to sign autographs and talk with fans before games. He is also founder of the Cam4Kids Foundation and host of the First State Goft Tournament in Seattle in efforts to raise money to provide scholarships to inner-city kids. He is actively involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation as well as the Starlight Foundation.[citation needed]
After leaving the Seattle Mariners in 2004 via free agency, Cameron played his first game back in Seattle during interleague play in May of 2006. Mariners fans greeted his return with a standing ovation.
As of December 15, 2007, Cameron is unsigned for the 2008 season and remains a free agent. The Philadelphia Phillies have expressed interest in Cameron to fill the roll of Center Fielder since Aaron Rowand's departure.
Cameron has won 3 Rawlings Gold Gloves. He won them in 2001, 2003, and 2006.[2]
On October 31, 2007, it was announced that Cameron had failed a test for banned stimulants for a second time and will miss the first 25 games of the 2008 season. Cameron has said he believes that a supplement he took was "tainted." However, given the requirement of two failed drug tests before an announcement is made, this explanation is questionable. He is just the second major leaguer to be suspended for a second positive test for stimulants, following Neifi Perez.[1]
[edit] Trivia
| Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- 2001: Cameron (along with teammate Bret Boone) set the Seattle Mariners single season record for sacrifice flies, with 13.
- 2002: Cameron set the Seattle Mariners single season strikeout record, with 176.
- 2 May, 2002: Against the Chicago White Sox, Cameron hit back-to-back home runs twice in the same inning with Bret Boone, setting a MLB record. Cameron ended the night with four home runs, becoming only the 13th Major Leaguer to do so up to that point.
- 1999-2003: Cameron was one of only three MLB players (along with Carlos Beltran and Bobby Abreu) to record 100 home runs and 150 stolen bases.
- Until 2006: Cameron's number was 44, but changed to 25 when traded to the San Diego Padres since 44 was Jake Peavy's number.
- 2007: Hit his 200th Career Home Run against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- He and his wife, JaBreka, have a daughter, T'aja, and two sons, Dazmon and Mekhi.
[edit] His book
Together with Greg Brown and Robin Roberts he has written a book (aimed primarily at children) titled "It Takes a Team: Mike Cameron", ISBN 1-57243-502-X, where he presents his views on the importance of teamwork and describes his life. Published in 2002 by Triumph Books.
According to the book, the keys to his success are "self-confidence, open-mindedness, and teamwork".
[edit] See also
- List of top 500 Major League Baseball home run hitters
- Batters with four home runs in one game
- Major League Baseball hitters with three home runs in one game
- List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
- Baseball Library
| Preceded by Mark Whiten | Batters with 4 home runs in one game May 2, 2002 | Succeeded by Shawn Green |
Categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since February 2007 | Articles with trivia sections from June 2007 | 1973 births | Living people | Major league center fielders | Chicago White Sox players | Cincinnati Reds players | Seattle Mariners players | New York Mets players | San Diego Padres players | American League All-Stars | Major league players from Georgia (U.S. state) | African American baseball players | Gold Glove Award winners | Baseball players suspended for drug offenses | Birmingham Barons players | Nashville Sounds players
