Mike Cameron
American baseball player (born 1973)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 17-year career and is currently the special assignment coach for the Seattle Mariners.
| Mike Cameron | |
|---|---|
Cameron with the Red Sox in 2011 | |
| Center fielder | |
| Born: January 8, 1973 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 at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| 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] 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 different teams.[3]
Early life
Cameron was born in LaGrange, 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] He played football in high school with future National Football League player Walt Harris.[5]
Playing career
Chicago White Sox
Cameron was drafted out of high school in the 18th round by the Chicago White Sox in 1991.[4] In 1994, he set a Carolina League record with 17 triples.[5] His major league debut took place on August 27, 1995, and he collected his first hit on August 30, off C. J. Nitkowski. He hit his first home run off Jason Jacome of the Kansas City Royals on September 27.[5]
Cameron returned to the minors to start the 1996 season. He led the Southern League in runs, stolen bases, and slugging percentage and was a mid-season and postseason All-Star. League managers named him the most exciting player. He returned to the majors for one game in August, then played in 10 games as a September call-up.[5] Over his first two partial seasons in the majors, he had a .163 batting average in 39 games.[3]
In 1997, Cameron won the starting center fielder job.[4] On June 27, he robbed Roberto Kelly of the Minnesota Twins of what would have been a go-ahead home run. Cameron finished sixth in American League (AL) Rookie of the Year Award voting, leading league rookies in walks and steals. He hit .259 with 14 home runs in his first full season in the majors, striking out 105 times.[3]
Cameron's offense dipped in 1999, batting .210 with eight home runs.[6][7]
Cincinnati Reds
The White Sox traded Cameron to the Cincinnati Reds for Paul Konerko on November 11, 1998.[7][6] In his sole season with Cincinnati, Cameron batted .256 with 25 home runs with career highs of 38 steals and 80 walks.[3]
Seattle Mariners
The Reds traded Cameron, Brett Tomko, Antonio Pérez, and Jake Meyer to the Seattle Mariners for Ken Griffey Jr. on February 10, 2000.[7]
Cameron tied a major league record on May 2, 2002, when he hit four home runs in one game,[8][9] 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 teammate Bret Boone, making them the first teammates in history to hit back-to-back home runs twice in the same inning.[10] 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 the All-Star Game in 2001,[11] reached the postseason twice and won the AL Gold Glove Award in 2001 and 2003 for his defensive play in the outfield.[12] He led all major league center fielders in range factor (3.42) in 2003.[13]
New York Mets
On December 23, 2003, Cameron signed a three-year, $19.5 million contract to play center field for the New York Mets. In his first season with the Mets, Cameron hit a career-high 30 home runs. With the acquisition by the Mets of Carlos Beltrán before the 2005 season, Cameron surrendered his position to the future Hall of Famer and played mostly in right field during the 2005 season.[14]
On August 11, 2005, in San Diego, Cameron collided with Beltrán 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. Beltrán also suffered a concussion but was able to walk off the field with help.[15]
San Diego Padres
On November 15, 2005, the Mets traded Cameron to the San Diego Padres for Xavier Nady.[16] Cameron won a National League Gold Glove Award in 2006.[17]
After leaving the 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.[citation needed]
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.[18] 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.[19]
Milwaukee Brewers
On January 14, 2008, Cameron signed a one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.[20] On March 13, he 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.[21] 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 would see a neurologist to determine if he was suffering from post-concussion syndrome.[21] If the exemption were granted, Cameron would have been permitted to use some amphetamines that are banned by the Major League Baseball drug policy.[citation needed]
In November 2008, his club option was picked up by the Brewers for the 2009 season.[22]
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.[23]
Boston Red Sox
On December 16, 2009, Cameron signed a 2-year deal with the Boston Red Sox.[24] He missed most of the season with a groin injury, going on the injured list in early August. He hit four home runs in 48 games.[25]
Cameron made 70 plate appearances for Boston in 2011, batting .143, before being designated for assignment on June 29.[26]
Florida Marlins
On July 5, 2011, Cameron was traded to the Florida Marlins for a player to be named later or cash considerations.[27][23] He was released on September 13.[28]
Washington Nationals and retirement with Mariners
On December 19, 2011, Cameron agreed to a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals.[29] Cameron never played in any games for the Nationals and announced his retirement on February 19, 2012.[30]
Cameron 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 day.[31][32] On April 26, 2019, Mike returned to the Seattle Mariners as a special assignment coach.[33]
Personal life
Together with Greg Brown and Robin Roberts, Cameron wrote a book (aimed primarily at children) titled It Takes a Team: Mike Cameron, where he presents his views on the importance of teamwork and describes his life. It was published in 2002.[34]
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 his Seattle teammates. During his playing career he was 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 was also involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation[citation needed] and Starlight Foundation.[35]
Cameron married a former high school classmate in or around 1999. They have four children.[4][36] Their 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[37][38] and has played for multiple MLB teams from 2020 to 2026.[39]
