This is an accepted version of this page
| Mike Cameron | |
|---|---|
 Cameron with the Red Sox in 2011 | |
| Center fielder | |
| Born: (1973-01-08)January 8, 1973 (age 52) LaGrange, Georgia, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 27, 1995, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 12, 2011, for the Florida Marlins | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .249 |
| Home runs | 278 |
| Runs batted in | 968 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Michael Terrance Cameron (born January 8, 1973) is an American former professionalMajor League Baseballoutfielder. He played for theChicago White Sox,Cincinnati Reds,Seattle Mariners,New York Mets,San Diego Padres,Milwaukee Brewers,Boston Red Sox, andFlorida Marlins over a 16 year career and is currently the Special Assignment Coach for theSeattle Mariners.
In 2002, Cameron became the 13th player to hitfour home runs in one game. He was also anAll-Star in 2001 and wonGold Gloves in 2001, 2003, and 2006.[1] Mike Cameron has distinguished himself by being only one of 22 players in the history of baseball to have at least 250 home runs and 250 stolen bases and became the 20th member of this exclusive 250/250 club.[2] Cameron is also the only MLB player to hit two home runs in the same game with eight separate teams.[3]
Cameron was born inLaGrange, Georgia, and raised on Render Street by his grandmother; he moved into her house when he was seven years old to keep her company after her husband died. Cameron attendedLaGrange High School. His grandmother kept him from playing baseball as a high school junior because he failed achemistry class. As a result, he drew less attention from scouts.[4]
Cameron was drafted out of high school in the 18th round by theChicago White Sox in1991.[4] His major league debut took place on August 27,1995, with the Chicago White Sox. In1997 he won a starting job as the team's regular center fielder.[4]
He was traded to theCincinnati Reds forPaul Konerko in1998.[5]
Along with three other players he was traded to theSeattle Mariners forKen Griffey Jr. before the2000 season.[6]
Cameron tied a major league record on May 2, 2002, when he hitfour home runs in one game,[7][8] becoming only the 13th player in MLB history to do so. His first two home runs of the game both came in the first inning, each coming after a home run by teammateBret Boone, making them the first teammates in history tohit back-to-back home runs twice in the same inning.[9] In Cameron's fifth at bat, he hit a line drive to the warning track, just missing what would have been a record-setting fifth home run. He played in theAll-Star Game in2001,[10] reached the postseason twice and won theGold Glove Award in 2001 and 2003 for his defensive play in the outfield.[11] He led all major league center fielders inrange factor (3.42) in 2003.[12]
On December 23, 2003, Cameron signed a three-year, $19.5 million contract to play center field for theNew York Mets. In his first season with the Mets, Cameron hit a career-high 30 home runs. With the acquisition by the Mets ofCarlos Beltrán before the 2005 season, Cameron surrendered his position to the starcenter fielder and played most of his games inright field during the 2005 season.[13]
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.[14] Beltran also suffered a concussion but was able to walk off the field with help.
On November 15,2005, Cameron was traded to theSan Diego Padres forXavier Nady.[15] He won his first National LeagueGold Glove award during the2006 season with San Diego.[16]
After leaving the Seattle Mariners in 2004 viafree agency, Cameron played his first game back in Seattle during inter-league play in May 2006. Mariners fans greeted his return with a standing ovation.
On October 31, 2007, it was announced that he had failed a test for bannedstimulants for a second time and would miss the first 25 games of the 2008 season.[17] 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 was just the second major leaguer to be suspended for a second positive test for stimulants, followingNeifi Pérez.[18]
On January 14,2008 he signed a 1-year contract with theMilwaukee Brewers.[19]
On March 13, 2008, Cameron applied for a therapeutic exemption to usestimulants during the 2008 season because of his outfield collision with former teammateCarlos Beltrán. He claimed to be struggling with after-effects of the collision that ended his 2005 season.[20] 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 toldUSA Today that he would see aneurologist to determine if he was suffering frompost-concussion syndrome.[20] If the exemption were granted, Cameron would have been permitted to use someamphetamines that are banned by theMajor League Baseball drug policy.
In November 2008, his club option was picked up by the Brewers for the 2009 season.[21]
On May 24, 2009, Cameron hit his 250th career home run against theMinnesota Twins, becoming the 20th player in the league to hit 250 home runs and steal 250 bases.[22]
On December 16, 2009, Cameron signed a 2-year deal with theBoston Red Sox.[23] He missed most of the season with a groin injury but managed to still hit 4 home runs on the season.
Cameron made 70 plate appearances for Boston in 2011, batting .143, before being designated for assignment on June 29.[24]
On July 5, he was traded to theFlorida Marlins for aplayer to be named later or cash considerations.[25] He was released on September 13, 2011.[26]
On December 19, 2011, he agreed to a minor league deal with theWashington Nationals.[27]
Cameron never played in any games for the Nationals and announced his retirement on February 19, 2012.[28] He signed a one-day contract with Seattle on April 14, 2012, to officially retire as a Mariner before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the Mariners' home opener that same day.[29]
Together with Greg Brown andRobin Roberts, Cameron wrote a book (aimed primarily at children) titledIt Takes a Team: Mike Cameron,ISBN 1-57243-502-X, where he presents his views on the importance ofteamwork and describes his life. It was published in 2002 byTriumph Books.
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. During his playing career he was known for routinely sitting on top of thedugout to sign autographs and talk with fans before games. He is also the founder of the Cam4Kids Foundation and was host of the First State Golf Tournament for Inner City Kids in Seattle in 2002; these in effort to raise money to provide scholarships to inner-city youth. He is actively involved with theMake-A-Wish Foundation as well as theStarlight Foundation.[30]
Cameron married his former high school classmate, JaBreka, in or around 1999. As of 2002, they had three children, sons namedDazmon and Mehki and a daughter named T'aja.[4] Cameron's son,Daz Cameron, played baseball atEagle's Landing Christian Academy. He was drafted 37th overall by theHouston Astros in the2015 MLB draft.[31][32] Daz is currently an outfielder for theMilwaukee Brewers organization. On April 26, 2019, Mike returned to theSeattle Mariners as a Special Assignment Coach.[33]
· Baseball Almanac| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Batters with 4 home runs in one game May 2, 2002 | Succeeded by |
