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Mike Cameron

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Mike Cameron
Milwaukee Brewers – No. 25
Center fielder
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
debut
August 27, 1995, for the Chicago White Sox
Career statistics
(through July 2, 2009)
Batting average.250
Home runs253
Runs batted in889
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Cameron batting for the Padres in 2007

Michael Terrance Cameron (born January 8, 1973, in LaGrange, Georgia) is an outfielder in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers.

High school

Mike Cameron attended LaGrange High School in LaGrange, Georgia, and was a letterman in baseball.[citation needed]

Professional baseball career

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]

Major leagues

His major league debut took place on 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 three other players he was traded to the Seattle Mariners for Ken Griffey, Jr. before the 2000 season.

Cameron tied a major league record on May 2, 2002 when he hit four home runs in one game. 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 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.

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 2006. Mariners fans greeted his return with a standing ovation.

Cameron has been suspended twice with the Padres by major league baseball. Cameron has won 3 Rawlings Gold Gloves. He won them in 2001, 2003, and 2006. [2]

2007

On October 31, 2007, it was announced that Michael Cameron had failed a test for banned stimulants for a second time and would 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 was just the second major leaguer to be suspended for a second positive test for stimulants, following Neifi Pérez.[3]

2008

On January 14, 2008 he signed a 1-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.[4]

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 Beltran. He claimed to be struggling with after-effects of the collision that ended his 2005 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.

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

2009

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

In voting for the All Star Game, as of June 22 Cameron was 7th among all NL outfielders, with 1,162,507 votes.[1]

Personal life

He and his wife JaBreka have a daughter, T'aja, and two sons, Dazmon and Mekhi. His wife had an emergency C-Section on October 3, 2008, and gave birth to a baby girl.

In 2001, he created the Cam4Kids Foundation through which he donates to various charities benefiting inner city youths

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".

See also

References

  1. ^ "Cameron suffers fractures in collision". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  2. ^ "http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20061103&content_id=1731853&vkey=pr_sd&fext=.jsp&c_id=sd". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-08-08. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  3. ^ "Baseball suspends Cameron 25 games for failed test". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  4. ^ "Brewers finalize deal with Cameron". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-08-08.]
Preceded by Batters with 4 home runs in one game
May 2, 2002 		Succeeded by

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