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.
Ortiz was born on November 18, 1975 in the Dominican Republic. When Ortiz was a child, his inspiration to play baseball was his father because he also played baseball. In high school, believe it or not, Ortiz championed in the game of basketball(Thefamouspeople.com)l. In 1992, he was signed on by the Seattle Mariners and he played for them until 1996 and then got traded off to Minnesota Twins(Thefamouspeople.com). In 1997, Ortiz made his debut in the Major League, playing for the Minnesota Twins but he suffered from many injuries. He experienced serious knee problems, which finally led to his release by the Twins in 2002. Ortiz signed a contract with the Boston Red Sox in 2003(Thefamouspeople.com). After Ortiz made it to the Red Sox, he started to be seen as a fatherly figure to the younger players. Ortiz has made an impact on younger players and other players all around him.
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Papi is father in spanish and that is what the players see him as; “‘It was like 24 kindergarteners looking up at the teacher,’left-fielder Jonny Gomes said”(Lemrie). People in the dugout admire Ortiz and look up to him. The metaphor about the children and the teacher represent Ortiz and the other players because as a child people look up to their teachers as inspiration and strive to be like them, the players meeting Ortiz and just being near him make them push themselves more and just see respect in him. Ortiz is also impacting the lives of the
Baseball was popular the most sport in 1919; players were seen as heroes and celebrities. At this time the players were payed very low wages and the owners of the team made huge profit. Because of this many players were into scams that involved them losing games on purpose. During that time of baseball, players didn’t make as much as they do today.Players would be offered large amount of money that would multiply to several times their salary.
Derek Jeter’s young years were helped by his parents. When Derek was 5 years old, Derek moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan with his parents. His Dad was a counselor for drugs/alcohol, while his mom is an accountant. Derek and his sister were big baseball fans as kids. In 8th grade, Jeter predicted he would be in a New York Yankees uniform by age 18. Derek’s had already built his legendary confidence in the young years of grade school. Jeter attended St. Augustine Cathedral School in Kalamazoo. “He was one of those kids you just never forget,” recalled his teacher Shirley Garzelloni, “and I would say that even if he wasn’t still playing baseball.” Jeter’s character was built up well even at a young age.
The game of baseball has changed ever since Babe Ruth has joined the league. He has changed the game with the amount of power he brings to the plate. Right now with the Yankees, he has showed how amazing he is and has helped make the Yankees popular by winning a few World Series and breaking many homerun records. For Babe to come into the league, it took a little help to get noticed.
George Herman Ruth Jr., also known as Babe Ruth, is known as one of the most influential people in America. George Herman Ruth brought many fans into the stands when baseball was not very popular. Additionally, he is most known for his home run record. Although, he has downfalls in his reputation and his actions, he still changed the game of baseball and gave people hope while doing so.
David Ortiz is an icon because of his contributions to the welfare of children and to baseball. His charity raises money to give kids medical care that they need or don’t have access to, and it trains doctors and nurses. He has made significant contributions to baseball by changing the designated hitter’s role and donating equipment to children in need. If more wealthy people followed Ortiz’s humanitarian values, many of our current problems like poverty, racism and education imbalance would most likely not exist.
Even as a child Derek loved baseball. He and his dad would often throw in the baseball field behind his house almost everyday. Although his dad sounds like a great role model for him, his Grandma Dot and Grandpa Bill were the most important people in his childhood. They were his moms parents. He would go visit them in New Jersey for weeks at a time. His Grandma would tell him stories about the best Yankee players and basically plant dreams in his head. At night he would watch the Yankee’s play with his Grandpa Bill and fall asleep in his lap. As soon as he woke up in the morning(which was ussualy pretty early) he would go into to his Grandma and say “Come on Gram! Lets go throw!”. They went through this routine every morning.
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
Alex Rodriguez was born on July 27, 1975 in New York City. From the time he was born baseball had always been apart of his life; his father was a professional baseball player in the Dominican Republic (Alex Rodriguez Biography). He lived in New York for a very short time and then moved to the Dominican Republic when he was four years old. That is where he began his baseball career (Alex Rodriguez Biography). However his family moved again when Alex was in the fifth grade to Miami, Florida. He stayed in Miami for the rest of his school days and went to Westminster Christian School for high school (Alex Rodriguez Biography). Alex was a gifted athlete and played football and baseball. He was the quarterback for the football team and played shortstop on the baseball team (Alex Rodriguez Biography). Alex had a great high school, “In his junior year, he hit .477 and stole 42 bases in just 35 games while leading the school to the 1992 state championship” (Alex Rodriguez Biography). His senior year he decided to quit football and focus completely on baseball. Every scout you...
The differences between black and white players has been going on for a long time since the early 1920’s. The players have always been at each other since the Negro Leagues have been around. There were two players that made the transition from the Negro Leagues to the Majors and those players were Satchel Paige and Jackie Robinson. Most people know of Robinson more than Paige because of the Brooklyn Dodgers recruiting him from Kansas City Monarchs. Satchel Paige was a pitcher from the Kansas City Monarchs like Robinson but he was recruited to the Cleveland Indians at the time. Paige has changed baseball today because he has shown new ways to pitch, broke the racial barrier with Robinson, and was an influence on many players in todays day.
A hero is someone who doesn’t give up and keeps on fighting for their goal. Jackie Robinson is a great hero and came over great challenges, but he achieved his goal. How Jackie Robinson embodies the human spirt is that he broke the color barrier, and the challenges he faced, and his life.
He used the beloved sport mainly as a way to bond and spend time with me, but also an attempt to continue the cultural tradition of baseball. His attempt to do that succeeded, watching the game sitting on the couch, enraged at the fact that the Marlins can barely win any games together. He serves as a prime example that proved to me that baseball runs in Dominican blood. I have only visited the Dominican Republic a few times, but that was more than enough to show me how much the people care about the game. They would play and enjoy baseball with anything, and play it anywhere.
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.
Miguel came from a very poor part of Venezuela. One thing that kept his family going, was baseball. His father played baseball as a child up to his twenties. His mother was on the Venezuelan national softball team for fourteen years. Miguel’s uncle, Davis Torres, played Class-AA for the St. Louis Cardinals minor league team, before being released.
Jackie Robinson was a black man that played a white man only sport. Jackie Robinson’s life was outstanding regardless of the obstacles that were thrown in his way in order for him to make it to the top. Jackie Robinson overcame the pain people put him through with the support of his family, friends, and his God given talent, which was playing baseball. Jackie Robinson overcame the negativity of white people during the Civil Rights Movement. For this reason, Jackie Robinson never gave up on his dream and proved people wrong. Jackie Robinson became a vocal champion for the African-American athletes around the world (“Robinson, Jackie - Black History”).
Hank Aaron was a famous baseball player who was respectful to his teammates and his fans. His nickname was “Hammerin’ Hank”. At one time he led the league in the most home runs. He was born in a poor family and then grew up to be a great professional baseball player. He became one of the most admired baseball players in Major League history.