Mike Trout is a small town kid who spent his childhood around the game of baseball, his athletic abilities on the baseball field is second to none and therefore he is worthy of high praise. His profile has improved from a phenom in a small town in rural New Jersey to the best player in the Major Leagues and arguably one of the best ever. Trout continues to flourish and just get better with age. Trout is one of the few examples in the Major Leagues of a five tool player (speed, power, average, defense, and a strong arm). He, along with other young players such as Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, have livened up the game and continuously amaze fans with their talents. Michael Nelson Trout grew up in a rural town of New Jersey called Millville. …show more content…
He was born into a family that was all about baseball with his father being the local high school baseball coach. Jeff Trout, his father, was an exceptional high school player that landed him an opportunity to play in college where he continued to flourish. In the 1982 draft, he was taken in the fifth round of the draft by the Minnesota Twins. Moreover, his father was a very good hitter for the minor league organizations but because of his lack of defensive skills he was never called up to the Major Leagues. After having a career ending knee injury he returned to Millville and became a high school teacher and coach. Ever since Mike was born he was exposed to baseball, he served as a bat boy and would often help with catching fly balls during batting practice. Since, Trout was used to playing up his whole childhood, many of the fellow coaches said that at 9 years old he was the best 12 and under player in the league. Possessessing a great amount of talent, not only could he hit, but he was one of the fastest kids they had seen. His primary position was a short stop throughout the little leagues were he wore the number 2 in order to pay tribute to Derek Jeter (Mike Trout Early Life). Upon reaching high school, it was discovered what a talent he would become. Once Trout reached high school he was converted from a shortstop to being a centerfielder.
As well as, switching positions he also switched his number in high school to 1 (Growing Up). During high school he was a two way player who was exceptional as both a pitcher and a hitter. Learning under the coaching of his father, he continued to sharpen his talents and improve on his baseball intelligence. Despite his great hitting and pitching they were not his most attractive ability, once again his blazing speed was the main source of his attention. Mike began to get more and more attention as a sophomore after pitching in a big rival game and shutting down the opposing team throwing a two hitter to beat them for the first time in years (Growing Up). The following year he continued to dominate the competition on the mound as he threw a 18 strike out no hitter. Therefore, he was the main focus of many Major League scouts as they recognized his exceptional talents. Regardless of all of the attention he was getting for his pitching, he continued to thrive in the batter’s box. As a senior he set the New Jersey High School record for home runs with 18 (Mike Trout Early Life). Trout had previously committed to continue his career at East Carolina University but with the big numbers he was producing it was more likely that he would get drafted by a Major League club. In the 2009 Major League Draft Mike Trout was taken 25th overall by the Los Angeles Angels (College and Ametuer Career). …show more content…
This 2009 draft really kicked off his professional career. After being drafted by the Angels in 2009 he was sent to the Angels farm teams where he sharpened his talents and quickly worked his way up to the big leagues.
On July 8th of the 2011 season he made his debut; even though his first stint in the big leagues did not go as well as planned. Trout struggled with the first call up and therefore started the 2012 season in the Minors but he was quickly called back up where he found success easily. In the 2012 season he was the Rookie of the Year as well being named the runner up Most Valuable Player behind Miguel Cabrera. Going into his sophomore season was just as good as his freshman season as he once again finished second in the MVP voting behind Miguel Cabrera; however, he was still awarded a Silver Slugger award and All-star selection. Every season since the 2012 season has seemed to only be better than the last, he has earned an All-star selection in each of his first six years and a Silver Slugger award in four of his six years in the league. Injuries did get to him in the 2017 campaign as he suffered a broken thumb which caused him to miss about 6 weeks; despite the injury he still came in fourth in the MVP voting. Furthermore, with the 2018 season under way it does not seem that he shows any signs of slowing down in his age 26 season. He is currently leading the majors with 12 home runs through just 34 games on the young season (baseball-reference.com). If this trend continues all throughout his career it is without a
doubt that he will finish his career as one of the best baseball players to ever walk on the field. Overall, it is easy to see why many baseball experts can easily claim that Mike Trout is the best player in baseball. Very few have gone as far as to say that he is the best player to ever walk on the field but some believe that at the end of his career he will be arguably the best. It is easy to support Trout because he is not only good for the game on the field, but also off the field; he presents a positive image for the game.
Atlanta and earning a bronze medal. A lot of the top baseball scouts started looking at him more seriously
In his first year in the major league, he was voted Rookie of the Year by the newspapers writers who cover the American league.
Who would have thought a little boy from the Dominican Republic would have so much effect on people. David Ortiz is a well known player around the Major League Baseball Association, many people know him by Big Papi. He has created foundations and many other things for all types of people. From children to adults and in between, Ortiz has been an influential individual.
Since then he has led his team to five world series titles and become the team captain. He is known for his good looks and quiet confidence. He is still playing shortstop for the Yankee’s today and never stops improving. More world series titles are seen in his future.
...rst all time in total accumulated bases with 6,856. He was second all time in at bats with 12,364. He was third all time in hits with 3,771. He was third all time in runs scored with 2,174. He was also third all time in games played with 3,298. He was elected into the Hall Of Fame in 1982. His autobiography, I had a Hammer, was published in 1990. In 1999, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of breaking Babe Ruth’s record, Major League announced the Hank Aaron Award, given to the best overall hitter in each league.
Albert Pujols said, “Baseball was an outlet for him to be able to do that, and he had some special talent to go through what he did and still set an example for others. You cannot replace it.”
Jackie Robinson overcame many struggles in life such as being included in the civil rights movement, facing discrimination, and he achieved being the first black man in major league baseball. He was born on January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia on Hadley Ferry Road. It is a blue-collar town of about 10,000 people. Jackie Robinson became the first black player in the major leagues with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Even though he achieved this major goal he still had trouble getting there. He and his siblings were raised by his single mother. Jackie attended Muir High School and Pasadena Junior College. He was a great athlete and played many sports. He played football, basketball, track, and of course baseball. He left school in 1941, worked as an athletic director and played semiprofessional football for the Honolulu Bears before being drafted to the Army in 1942. While he was in the army he became close friends with Joe Louis. The heavyweight used his popularity to protest about the delayed entry of black soldiers. Two years later he got the honor to be second lieutenant in 1943. After an accident where he refused to sit in the back of an unsegregated bus, military police arrested Robinson. A duty officer requested this and then later he requested that Jackie should be court martialed. Since this happened Jackie was not allowed to be deployed overseas to the World War II. He never saw combat during the war. Jackie left the Army with an honorable discharge.
For much of the 20th century, African-American citizens had been disenfranchised throughout the South and the entire United States, they were regarded as inferior second-class citizens. Despite efforts to integrate society, the political and economic systems were meant to continue the cycle of oppression against African-Americans, throughout the south and indirectly yet ever present in the north. These laws of segregation, otherwise knows as Jim Crow laws, applied to almost every aspect of southern American society, including sports. During this time period, African-American athletes had to resort to second class organizational leagues to play in, this included the famous baseball player Jackie Robinson. Much of this institutionalized racism
With about 83 players currently to in the MLB, 682 players since 1950, and so far 2 players in the Hall of Fame with much more to get inducted, it’s clear that the Dominican Republic dominates the game of baseball. In the Dominican Republic, baseball is the country’s pastime and official sport. Baseball doesn’t discriminate, regardless of gender, race, and economic status. In my personal view, baseball runs in the blood and embedded in the genetic coding of Dominicans. As a person whose mother and father are Dominican and born and raised in Miami, there seems to be little to nothing that connects me to their culture. Nonetheless, this Miami-born Dominican- American is proud to say that the sport I love the most can connect me to the Dominican
I love baseball. I love to play baseball and read baseball comics. I have read a lot of Japanese baseball comics, and almost all Japanese baseball comics’ heroes were fastball pitchers. This comic’s hero was a typical typed pitcher in Japanese baseball comics. He could throw the fastest fastball in his team, and became the ace pitcher of his team when he was a freshman.
Jackie Robinson once said that “"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." (Brainy Quotes). Jackie Robinson faced more abuse than any other baseball player. Jackie Robinson had his mind set on breaking the color barrier for African Americans. Jackie Robinson had the muscle strength and talent to inspire and change the color barrier in Major League baseball. Jackie Robinson was one of the most significant baseball players that America has ever known for Jackie Robinson’s bravery to stop the color barrier for, his inspiration he gave to people all around the world and for his accomplishments during baseball and outside of baseball this made him one of the most valuable players in the National League.
Ortiz learned from Martinez what a pitchers mind set is and Ortiz learned off of that and learned how to read a pitcher and use it as an advantage while he was at the plate. They became sorta like brothers and had a special connection. Ortiz started hitting better and getting playing time. He couldn’t seem to find that starting lineup though. Martinez told the manager he wanted Ortiz batting for him while he was pitching. “Pedro put his ass on the line in order to give me a chance. He believed in me. How many guys would have done that?” said Ortiz. “I’m a World Series champion because of Pedro. He is the most loyal guy I’ve ever met in baseball. He cares about everybody.” Ortiz talks about how where he comes from things don’t come easy. The majority of the population live in poverty but they are the most loyal people and the most joyful people he’s ever met. Since Ortiz and Martinez come from the same area he says he’s blessed to receive this opportunity. “When I was a little kid, we didn’t have money for real baseballs. So on Three King’s Day, my sister got a new baby doll. I figured she wasn’t gonna use the old one, so I chopped off the head and shaved all the hair off. It made for a perfect baseball. You know how I got the idea? I read that Pedro did it. I stole that trick from him.” said Ortiz. David Ortiz and Pedro Martinez are still friends to this day and Ortiz still has charities to help kids in the Dominican because he knows what it’ like coming out of there it’s not
One game he fell hard on his left shoulder and he was never able to pitch another game. He began playing in the outfield and little did he know he would be one of the best athletes to ever play in the outfield, from his outstanding catches to his amazing speed. After he he got hurt with his shoulder injury, he feared he would never be able to play the game of baseball ever again. He then became an excellent hitter and his minor league career was going very well for his future. After playing about three and a half years in the minors, he then was called up to the Major Leagues to come and play for the St. Louis Cardinals at left field. He finished his Minor League career with a .379 batting average in 87 games, 26 home runs and 94 RBIs. Stan was taking off in the Majors and becoming a team leader and starting to get more and more well known. He finished his rookie year with only 47 at bats, 8 runs, 20 hits, one home run, seven RBIs and an amazing .426 batting average. He finished 1942 with with 467 at bats, 87 runs, 147 hits, 10 home runs, 72 RBIs and a .315 batting average. 1943 was his best season he ever had. He finished 43 with 617 at bats, 108 runs, 220 hits, 13 home runs, 81 RBIs and a .357 batting average. Stan led the Cardinals to the World Series in 1942, 43, 44 and 46 which they won in 42, 44, and 46. Stan played the Hall of Famer Ted Williams in the World Series of 1946 against the New York Yankees. That was the last World Series Stan would play in for the rest of his baseball career. In 1945 Stan was drafted into the military of the final months of World War II. He joined the United States Navy and remained there four fourteen months. In 1946 he continued his Major League career on discharge. This is when he earned his nickname “Stan The Man” from the Los Angeles Dodgers fans. 1947 is when Jackie Robinson became the first African American to ever play Major League
He is also being called the new Babe Ruth of the century and is being compared to the legendary Babe. A reason why he is being compared is because they have similar stats, and are becoming more similar to Babe Ruth’s. But soon their stats will be more similar to each other, since Ohtani hasn’t been in baseball as long. People also think this because they can