|
|
|
|
|
|
Shawn David Green (born November 10, 1972 in
Des Plaines, Illinois) is a left-handed power hitter in Major League
Baseball. He is noted for his swing and his arm in the outfield. He is also
one of the most notable Jewish ball players.
Early career
Shawn Green was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1st round (16th
pick) of the 1991 amateur draft and made his Major League debut on September
28, 1993. He spent most of 1993 and 1994 playing in the minors, where he
compiled impressive numbers. For the Syracuse Chiefs in 1994 he hit .344
with 13 HRs and 81 RBIs.
In 1995, his rookie season, Shawn started slowly but picked up the pace
later on as he became more comfortable with Major League pitching. He
started in 97 games that season, hitting 15 HRs and batting .288. The 1996
and 1997 seasons were very similar in that Shawn faced limited at-bats,
wasn't trusted to hit left-handed pitching, and continued to produce only in
sporadic intervals. He was, however, developing in other ways. He proved to
be more aggressive on the base paths in 1997 than any previous year and
stole 14 bases. He was also developing his upper body strength in hopes of
alleviating the skinny kid persona which had followed him from the minors.
Best years
In 1998, for the first time, Shawn was granted an every day spot in the line-up
-- right-handed pitcher or left -- and he delivered by becoming the first
Blue Jay to hit 30 or more home runs and steal 30 or more bases in the same
season. The season was beyond what even his fiercest apologists over the
previous seasons had predicted. Shawn had never hit more than 18 HRs in a
season (Major or minor leagues) but was now showing the signs of becoming a
true power hitter. He finished the season batting .278 with 35 HRs, 100 RBIs
and 35 SBs.
In 1999, Shawn proved his new-found power swing was no fluke. On April 22 he
belt a 449-foot home run into SkyDome's 5th deck, putting him in prestigious
company with the likes of Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire and Joe Carter. By the
All-Star break he had hit 25 HRs and knocked in 70 RBIs, earning him not
only his first All-Star appearance, but also the chance to compete in the
Home Run Derby at Fenway Park. Shawn hit two home runs but was eliminated in
the first round. He finished the season batting .309 (a career best), with
42 HRs and 123 RBIs.
In the off-season, Shawn expressed his desire to sign with a team closer to
his California roots as a free agent after the 2000 season. The Blue Jays,
strapped with the rising contract demands of Shawn and slugger teammate
Carlos Delgado, decided it was best not to leave the decision of which
player to pursue until mid-way through the season. On November 8, 1999,
Shawn was traded with Jorge Nunez to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Pedro
Borbon and Raul Mondesi.
Shawn was quick to sign an extension with Los Angeles, agreeing to a $84-million/6
year deal that included a $4 million signing bonus. With a lot of pressure
riding on his now well-paid shoulders, Shawn struggled in 2000, his first
season with Los Angeles, but had a career year in 2001, batting .297 with 49
HRs, 125 RBIs and 20 SBs. His 49 HRs were a Dodgers season record but placed
only fourth in the league, behind Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Luis Gonzalez.
Shawn started off slowly in 2002 but quickly turned things around. On May
23, which can aptly be called the turning point of the season, Shawn hit
four home runs against the Milwaukee Brewers and had a total of 19 total
bases, both Major League records. Shawn went on a tear from there on,
finishing with a .285 AVG, 42 HRs, 114 RBIs and 20 SBs.
Accomplishments
All-Star (1999, 2002)
American League Gold Glove (1999)
Finished 5th in National League MVP voting (2002)
Finished 6th in National League MVP voting (2001)
Finished 9th in American League MVP voting (1999)
Member of the 30-30 club (1998)
Holds Dodgers record for most home runs in a season (2001, 49 HRs)
Hit 4 home runs in a game (May 23, 2002)
Holds record for total bases in a game (May 23, 2002, with 19 TBs)
Hit a home run into the upper deck of SkyDome (April 22, 1999)
Yearly salaries
1993 Toronto Blue Jays $109,000
1994 Toronto Blue Jays $109,000
1995 Toronto Blue Jays $130,000
1996 Toronto Blue Jays $287,500
1997 Toronto Blue Jays $500,000
1998 Toronto Blue Jays $1,475,000
1999 Toronto Blue Jays $3,125,000
2000 Los Angeles Dodgers $9,416,667
2001 Los Angeles Dodgers $12,166,667
2002 Los Angeles Dodgers $13,416,667
2003 Los Angeles Dodgers $15,666,667
Teams
Toronto Blue Jays (1993-1999)
Los Angeles Dodgers (2000-2004)
Arizona Diamondbacks {2005-} |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SHAWN GREEN PICTURES |
|
|
Warning: include() [function.include]: URL file-access is disabled in the server configuration in /home/iguazufa/public_html/123celebs.net/s/shawn-green/shawn-green-biography.htm on line 144
Warning: include(http://www.123celebs.net/footer.htm) [function.include]: failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /home/iguazufa/public_html/123celebs.net/s/shawn-green/shawn-green-biography.htm on line 144
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://www.123celebs.net/footer.htm' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/iguazufa/public_html/123celebs.net/s/shawn-green/shawn-green-biography.htm on line 144
|