Mike Cameron
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2008) |
 |
|
|---|---|
| Milwaukee Brewers — 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 May 23, 2008) |
|
| Batting average | .250 |
| Home runs | 221 |
| Runs batted in | 800 |
| Teams | |
|
|
Michael Terrance Cameron (born January 8, 1973 in LaGrange, Georgia) is an outfielder in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Contents |
[edit] High school years
Mike Cameron attended LaGrange High School in LaGrange, Georgia and was a good student and a letterman in baseball.
[edit] Professional baseball overview
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 a concussion and multiple fractures of his nose and cheekbones, and was removed from the field on a stretcher.[1] Beltran also suffered a concussion but was able to walk off the field with help.
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. He was picked off of first base. Mariners fans greeted his return with a standing ovation.
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]
On January 14, 2008 he signed a 1 year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.[3]
On March 13, 2008 Cameron applied for a therapeutic exemption to use stimulants during the 2008 season because of the outfield collision with former team mate Carlos Beltran. After feeling that he may be struggling with after-effects of the collision that ended his season.
If he had applied for the exemption in 2007, he could have avoided the 25-game suspension he had to serve to begin this season for testing positive for a banned stimulant for the second time. He also told USA Today that he will see a neurologist to determine if he is suffering from post-concussion syndrome.
If the exemption is granted, Cameron would be permitted to use some amphetamines that are currently banned by the Major League Baseball drug policy.
[edit] Year-by-year stats
- 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 wore uniform number 44, but then changed to uniform number 25 when he was traded to the San Diego Padres, since Jake Peavy already wore uniform number 44.
- 2007: Hit his 200th career home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
[edit] Personal Life
- He is married to his wife JaBreka, and has a daughter, T'aja, and two sons, Dazmon and Mekhi.
- In 2001, he created the Cam4Kids Foundation through which he donates to various charities benefiting inner city youths
[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] References
[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 |
