Mike Cameron

Michael Terrance Cameron (born January 8, 1973) is an American former professional Major League Baseball outfielder. He played for the Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, and Florida Marlins over a 16 year career.

For the politician, see Mike Cameron (politician).

Mike Cameron
Cameron with the Red Sox in 2011
Seattle Mariners
Center fielder / Coach
Born: (1973-01-08) January 8, 1973
LaGrange, Georgia
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 runs278
Runs batted in968
Teams

As Coach

Career highlights and awards

In 2002, Cameron became the 13th player to hit four home runs in one game. He was also an All-Star in 2001 and won Gold 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 2 home runs in the same game with 8 separate teams.[3]

Early life

Cameron was born in La Grange, 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 attended LaGrange High School. His grandmother kept him from playing baseball as a high school junior because he failed a chemistry class. As a result, he drew less attention from scouts.[4]

Playing career

Chicago White Sox

Cameron was drafted out of high school in the 18th round by the Chicago White Sox in 1991.[4] His major league debut took place on August 27, 1995, with the Chicago White Sox. In 1997 he won a starting job as the team's regular center fielder.[4]

Cincinnati Reds

He was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Paul Konerko in 1998.[5]

Seattle Mariners

Along with three other players he was traded to the Seattle Mariners for Ken Griffey, Jr. before the 2000 season.[6]

Cameron tied a major league record on May 2, 2002 when he hit four home runs in one game[7][8] becoming only the 15th player in MLB history to do this. In his fifth at bat, he hit one to the warning track, just missing what would have been a record-setting fifth home run. He played in the All-Star Game in 2001[9] and reached the postseason twice and won the Gold Glove Award in 2001, 2003, and 2006 (with the Padres) for his defensive play in the outfield.[10] He led all major league center fielders in range factor (3.42) in 2003.[11]

New York Mets

In 2004, he signed a three-year, $19.5 million contract to play center field for the New York Mets. With the acquisition by the Mets of Carlos Beltrán 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.[12] 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.[13] Beltran also suffered a concussion but was able to walk off the field with help.

San Diego Padres
Cameron batting for the Padres in 2007.

On November 15, 2005 Cameron was traded to the San Diego Padres for Xavier Nady.[14] He won his first National League Gold Glove award during the 2006 season with San Diego.[15]

After leaving the Seattle Mariners in 2004 via free 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 banned stimulants for a second time and would miss the first 25 games of the 2008 season.[16] 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, following Neifi Pérez.[17]

Milwaukee Brewers
Cameron playing for the Brewers in 2008.

On January 14, 2008 he signed a 1-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.[18]

On March 13, 2008, Cameron applied for a therapeutic exemption to use stimulants during the 2008 season because of his outfield collision with former teammate Carlos Beltrán. He claimed to be struggling with after-effects of the collision that ended his 2005 season.[19] 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.[19] If the exemption is granted, Cameron would be permitted to use some amphetamines that are currently banned by the Major League Baseball drug policy.

In November 2008, his club option was picked up by the Brewers for the 2009 season.[20]

On May 24, 2009, Cameron hit his 250th career home run against the Minnesota Twins, becoming the 20th player in the league to hit 250 home runs and steal 250 bases.[21]

Boston Red Sox

On December 16, 2009, Cameron signed a 2-year deal with the Boston Red Sox.[22] 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, batting .143, before being designated for assignment on June 29.[23]

Florida Marlins

On July 5, he was traded to the Florida Marlins for a player to be named later or cash considerations.[24] He was released on September 13, 2011.[25]

Washington Nationals

On December 19, 2011, he agreed to a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals.[26]

Cameron never played in any games for the Nationals and announced his retirement on February 19, 2012.[27] 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.[28]

Personal life

Together with Greg Brown and Robin Roberts, Cameron wrote 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. It was published in 2002 by Triumph 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. He is known for routinely sitting on top of the dugout 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 the Make-A-Wish Foundation as well as the Starlight Foundation.[29]

Cameron married his former high school classmate, JaBreka, in or around 1999. As of 2002, they had three children, sons named Dazmon and Mehki and a daughter named T'aja.[4] Cameron's son, Daz Cameron, played baseball at Eagle's Landing Christian Academy. He was drafted 37th overall by the Houston Astros in the 2015 MLB draft.[30][31] He is currently an outfielder for the Detroit Tigers' organization.

See also

References
  1. "Mike Cameron wins Rawlings Gold Glove Award". MLB.com. November 3, 2006. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
  2. "Cameron joins 250 HR/250 SB club". Major League Baseball. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  3. "Mike Cameron Statistics and History | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  4. Cannella, Stephen (January 14, 2002). "Home Runner CENTERFIELDER MIKE CAMERON IS A STAR IN SEATTLE BUT LOVES BEING WITH THE FOLKS BACK HOME IN GEORGIA". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  5. on (July 20, 2011). "Mike Cameron for Paul Konerko". Berserk Hippo. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
  6. Megdal, Howard (July 9, 2011). "Jack Of All Trades: Mike Cameron: MLB Rumors". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
  7. "Box Score of Four Home Run Game by Mike Cameron". Baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
  8. Jaffe, Chris. "10th anniversary: Mike Cameron hits four homers". HardballTimes.com. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
  9. "Morosi: Don't take your first All-Star Game for granted – MLB News | FOX Sports on MSN". Msn.foxsports.com. July 5, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
  10. "Red Sox trade outfielder Mike Cameron to Marlins". Usatoday.Com. July 5, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
  11. "Single-Season Leaders & Records for Range Factor/9Inn as CF (s.1954)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
  12. "Why is Right Field a black hole for the Mets?". Big Apple Mets Talk. March 21, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
  13. "Cameron suffers fractures in collision". MLB.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2008. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
  14. "Padres acquire Cameron in trade with Mets – MLB – ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. November 18, 2005. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
  15. "MLB National League Gold Glove Award Winners". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
  16. "Baseball suspends Padres' Cameron 25 games for failed test". Slumz.boxden.com. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
  17. "Baseball suspends Cameron 25 games for failed test". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
  18. "Brewers finalize deal with Cameron". MLB.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2008. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
  19. "Brewers' Cameron applies for MLB exemption to use stimulants – MLB – ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. March 13, 2008. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
  20. "Milwaukee Brewers pick up Mike Cameron option for $10M – ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. November 3, 2008. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
  21. Spencer, Clark (June 10, 2011). "Florida Marlins acquire veteran Mike Cameron – Florida Marlins". MiamiHerald.com. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
  22. Browne, Ian. Red Sox welcoming Cameron, Lackey Archived December 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Boston Red Sox. Published December 16, 2009. Retrieved December 16, 2009.
  23. Nicholson-Smith, Ben. "Red Sox Designate Mike Cameron For Assignment". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  24. Links, Zach. "Marlins Acquire Mike Cameron". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  25. "Marlins release veteran outfielder Cameron". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
  26. Kilgore, Adam (December 21, 2011). "Stats, scores and schedules". The Washington Post.
  27. "Former All-Star Cameron retires after 17 years". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  28. Baker, Geoff (April 13, 2012). "Mike Cameron retires as a Mariner". The Seattle Times.
  29. "Former Met, Mike Cameron Shares His Thoughts as a Veteran in a Sox Uniform – Sports News, Blog, Videos, Collectables, and Memorabilia". Latino Sports. May 17, 2011. Archived from the original on March 30, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
  30. "ELCA's Cameron has pedigree, tools and poise to be a star | Clayton News Daily". News-daily.com. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  31. "Player of the Year: Dazmon Cameron | Henry Daily Herald". Henryherald.com. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
Achievements
Preceded by
Mark Whiten		 Batters with 4 home runs in one game
May 2, 2002		 Succeeded by
Shawn Green
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