Gary Sheffield

Gary Antonian Sheffield (born November 18, 1968 in Tampa, Florida) is a Major League Baseball designated hitter and outfielder for the Detroit Tigers.

Sheffield has primarily played right field, though he has also played left field, third base, shortstop, and a handful of games at first base. He previously played for the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, and New York Yankees. Sheffield was a first round pick of the Brewers, who selected him sixth overall in the 1986 amateur draft after a standout prep career at Hillsborough High School in Tampa. He bats and throws right handed.

Through 2006, Sheffield was 6th among all active players in walks (1,293), 7th in hit-by-pitches (119), 8th in runs (1,433), hits (2,390), and RBIs (1,523), and 29th all-time in home runs (474).

Sheffield was acquired by Detroit via trade with the New York Yankees during the 2006-07 offseason for minor league pitchers Humberto Sanchez, Kevin Whelan and Anthony Clagget. The Tigers extended his contract for a further three years shortly after the trade.

Highlights
Sheffield is also known for having one of the fastest bat speeds in Major League Baseball.
 * 9-time All-Star (1992-93, 1996, 1998-2000, 2003-05)
 * 4-time Silver Slugger Award (1992, 1996, 2003-04)
 * Led National League in batting average (.330) and total bases (323) in 1992
 * Member of the 1997 World Series Champions Florida Marlins
 * Led National League in on-base percentage (.465) and OPS (1.090) in 1996
 * Los Angeles Dodgers career leader in on-base percentage (.424), slugging percentage (.573), OPS (.998) and at-bats per home run (14.5)
 * Holds Los Angeles Dodgers single-season record for at-bats per home run (11.7 in 2000)
 * His Tampa team finished second in the 1980 Little League World Series
 * Is the first player to represent five different teams in the All-Star Game.
 * Holds Florida Marlins franchise record for home runs in a season (42) in 1996

Controversy
Sheffield has often put himself in controversial situations with his somewhat confrontational attitude, which sometimes leads to remarks construed as offensive.

He's been very verbal about his need for sufficient financial compensation and respect, demanding better pay when he was with the Dodgers, and refusing to play in the inaugural World Baseball Classic, saying "[his] season is when [he's] getting paid."

In the June, 2007 issue of GQ Magazine, Sheffield (a Detroit Tiger at the time) was quoted saying that there are more Latin baseball players than black players because Latinos are easier to control.

“What I called is that you’re going to see more black faces, but there ain’t no English going to be coming out. ... (It’s about) being able to tell (Latin players) what to do — being able to control them,” he told the magazine. “Where I’m from, you can’t control us.” He went on to elaborate, "They have more to lose than we do. You can send them back across the island. You can’t send us back. We’re already here.”

Sheffield has openly admitted to not playing up to his potential in the early days of his career to ensure a trade or release from the Milwaukee Brewers.

Steroid allegations
During a workout with Barry Bonds in 2001, a cream was applied to Sheffield's knee by a trainer to help heal ripped stitches from a knee surgery. Sheffield states in his book, Inside Power, that he had no knowledge of the cream containing steroids, and had no reason to assume so at the time. He goes on to say in his book that the cream did nothing to strengthen his knee, and also states that a look at his numbers shows no improvement of his numbers after the incident.

Trivia

 * Played in the 1980 Little League World Series representing Tampa Bay along with former Major Leaguer Derek Bell.


 * On April 14, 2005 a Red Sox fan leaned over the railing at Fenway Park and swiped at Sheffield as he was going to field a ball hit by Jason Varitek. After Sheffield shoved him back with his glove, he threw the ball back into the infield, and then got into a verbal altercation with him. The fan, who was under the influence of alcohol, was ejected from Fenway Park and his 2005 season tickets were revoked. Sheffield was fined for the incident. Charges were dismissed against both the fan and Sheffield.


 * Married to gospel singer Deleon Richards, they have two sons, Jaden and Noah. His wife was caught in a scandal in 2004 when a sex tape featuring her with R. Kelly surfaced.


 * Sheffield also has three children from three previous relationships, daughters Ebony and Carissa, and a son Gary Sheffield Jr.


 * Tim Carter of the NFL's Cleveland Browns is Sheffield's cousin.


 * Gary is a nephew of former Major League pitcher Dwight Gooden.


 * He has recently released a book entitled Inside Power.


 * Sheffield is a Detroit Pistons fan.


 * Sheffield has shown interest in joining the Boston Red Sox, if he gets traded.