All About The Ken Griffey Jr. Legacy Back in 1987 Ken Griffey Jr. was just starting his career as a professional baseball player, and little did he know that he would help many people and inspire them. Griffey has help his community and teams throughout his life. He invented new ways to play baseball, and impacted so many children’s lives. He has been an inspiration to heros across the world, who themselves have saved people's lives. But the most important thing he has ever done is that he has also always been able to make people laugh and put an everlasting smile on their faces. Ken Griffey Jr. innovated a new way to play the game of baseball, by involving a power swing and speed to his game along with some comedy, while at the same time creating an everlasting smile on children who watched him and children whom lives were impacted and saved by his foundation . For example he has created a new way to play baseball, he added some swag and power to his game (Griffey 2009). Griffey also created an everlasting bonds with …show more content…
Again back in 1987 when Griffey was drafted by the Mariners, who at the time weren’t the best. He was looked at as the only hope for the Mariners. Therefore he got to the team and didn’t just make them better by four or five games but innovative a dynasty, and took the Mariners to playoffs, and made them a powerhouse (Griffey 2009). Griffey also wants everyone to live a great life too, which is why he has innovated a foundation specifically for kids who have cancer (“Charity Hop” n.d.). This foundation has proven very successful too, as many hospitals have either mentioned him or thanked him on their websites (The Ken Griffey Jr. Family Pediatric Cancer Research Endowment. n.d.). Many baseball players also mention him as their inspiration, making him one of many inventors of a new generation of players (Griffey
Babe Ruth is still a very well-known person in history today, even almost one-hundred years later. He did not only change the way people viewed negro baseball leagues, but he also gained a large reputation for his ability to play baseball, obviously due to his amazing abilities. Ruth’s ability to play was almost impossibly good, in fact, he was even titled “athlete of the century” for his ability. With that ability and power that he had once he won, he would become a
of the greatest knuckleball pitchers in the MLB. His story to never give up, no matter what life throws at
Jackie Robinson changed the way baseball is looked at by Americans. Also, he broke a huge barrier in American History. Robinson helped get rid of segregation. He also, is down as one on of the most respected men in baseball history. Not only a wonderful ball player, but also a wonderful man who went through so much and helped create a path for current and future African American baseball players.
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.
Derek was drafted by the Yankees with the 6th pick of the draft out of high school. Despite turning down dozens of D1 offers, he decided to take a chance at entering the MLB (Derek Jeter Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio). Derek came up short a few times in the MVP voting. The seasons he didn 't win, he lost only to people who had seasons that will forever be in the record book. In Jeter 's Prime, he played against some of the best players in the last half century. The Captain has finished in 2nd place once, and 3rd place twice in MVP voting. Winning MVP is an extremely hard thing to do. Many contradict and say he should have won the three years he finished in the top three. In 2000, Derek was named the MVP of both the All-Star Game and the World Series (DerekJeter.com). That is something that is extremely uncommon. Mr. November lead the MLB in hits during the years 1999 and 2012 (Derek Jeter Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio). He has won five career World Series in the years 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2009 (Derek Jeter Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio). Very few players will even have a chance at a World Series ring let alone to win five. Derek Jeter was honored and accepted to play for Team USA in the first-ever World Baseball Classic (Derek Jeter Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio). This honor is only an option to the best United States natives. D.J. has also received 13 All-Star Game
The greatness cannot begin to be quantified in statistics and numbers. Ty Cobb redefined the words hard work and determination by stretching his limited God-given ability to the maximum, and making himself into a baseball legend. Cobb throughout his lifetime insisted that he was "not a super athlete, rather he had a great desire to win." Thus, Ty Cobb’s motivation and determination to excel created a pathway to his success.
Rickey’s decision upon signing Jackie Robinson from the Kansas City Monarchs to the Montreal Royals, a farm team for the Brooklyn Dodgers, in 1946, and later bringing him up to the Brooklyn Dodgers, a Major league team, in April of 1947, impacted more lives than he ever would have imagined (“Robinson as a Dodger: 1947-1956”). Breaking the color line in professional sports contributed to the elimination of greater social issues...
Derek Jeter, one of the most respected and admired players and leaders in baseball, is driven by the personality trait conscientiousness. Conscientiousness is defined as “ a character in which the individual values and obeys order and duty, performs with competence, and perhaps, values achievement.” (Mayer, 2007 pg. 284). It is also further defined as a “tendency to show self-discipline, act dutifully, and aim for achievement against measures or outside expectations.” (OED, 2014). Jeter’s hard work, tenacity, and demand to get better and better have helped build his strong, inspiring character, which many players, coaches, and fans look up to him for. An example of Jeter’s conscientious personality shines through from a quote he gave to a newspaper in 1999; “I don’t think you’ll ever sit around and say you’re good, until you bat a thousand with no errors.” Derek Jeter is a positive role model for the young and old, and as Michel Jordan said, “reflects a positive image”, making him an iconic athlete in America (Leung, 2010).
As a kid, he grew up playing baseball with all of his friends, and every Christmas they would all receive a baseball that would have to last them year around. He also remembers making cardboard gloves with his friends as a child, these are memories that will not only last him a lifetime but also his friends as well. “He has said that although he did not grow up poor, no one around him was wealthy either” (Loveday Pg.1). Mariano dropped out of high school in the ninth grade and went to work with his father on a boat at age sixteen, and he always had the dream of playing soccer professionally. Although Mariano played baseball for an amateur league team, he never dreamed he would play professionally. Mariano’s talents were soon discovered by major league scouts, and by 1990 Mariano was a free agent with the New York Yankees at the age of 20. (Loveday Pg.1-2) (Kirkus Pg.
With the contributions that Babe Ruth brought to revolutionize baseball, help aided the United States, and help the survival of sports are reasons why he should be Time Person of the Year. He as an individual has brought and contributed a lot to this nation and to sports that no other person has ever done in history. If Babe didn’t give hope to americans, the United States might have suffered more in the long run. These accomplishments and contributions from Babe Ruth has much significant effect that he should be considered Time “Person of the year”.
Lou Gehrig was a great American hero because he continued to play major league baseball very well even with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) (“Lou Gehrig ”) and many other injuries; such as broken thumbs, fingers , teeth, and toes. Henry Louis Gehrig or his original name Ludwig Hienrich Gehrig (“Britannica” 1), was born on June 19, 1903 in the Harlem part of New York City. His parents were both German Immigrants and were very poor. (“Britannica” 1) His mom Christina Gehrig was a very hard working individual. She worked many jobs such as house keeper, maid, and restaurant server. Lou’s dad had trouble finding jobs since he was ill often. (“Great Athletes” 2) Surprisingly to many people Lou Gehrig played many sports when he was young. (“Great Athletes” 2 ) He was also a fat little kid surprisingly, but that didn’t discourage him from playing sports. He exceled in many sports such as swimming, sports skating, football, basketball, and most importantly baseball (“Great Athletes” 2) . In one instance, Lou Gehrig hit a game winning homerun at their high school championship and was called by news reporters as the “The Babe Ruth of high school”. (“Great Athletes” 4) After High school he got a football scholarship and attended Columbia University in 1921( “Lou Gehrig” 2). He eventually signed with the New York Yankees in 1923 and sat on the bench for two months (“Great Athletes”8 ). One June 2, 1925, starting first baseman Wally Pip had a mild headache and asked to take the day off. ...
In his first two seasons in the NHL, Wayne Gretzky won the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the league’s most valuable player twice, and the Art Ross Trophy, awarded to the league’s leading goal scorer once. In his first season he became the youngest player to score 50 goals. In his second season he broke the NHL record for most points and assists in a season. But during the 1981-1982 season, just one year after Mike Bossy did the unthinkable, Gretzky took it to a whole other level, and set out on a path to transcend not only hockey, but sports and society as we know it.
Baseball has drastically changed over the years, especially in the cheating scandals of steroids; Babe Ruth set a great example by excelling in the sport and doing it clean, contrasting with Mark McGwire. Their existence shows how society excepted honesty and doing it the clean way in Babe’s era and how society accepts the scandals and dishonesty of Mark’s era. The Great Babe Ruth had amazing baseball career, breaking records, playing everyday, and being a well rounded person, without the assistance of illegal substances. On the other hand, Mark McGwire drifted to the assistance and cheated the game of baseball. Society has changed with all of the scandals and dishonesty. Society now a days wants honesty and non cheaters. Both the Babe and Mark have taught us all life lessons they we should pay attention to as a whole country.
Jim Abbott was a Major League Baseball Pitcher for the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels. Abbott was a valuable pitcher for both teams. Jim Abbott wasn’t a regular baseball player. Jim said “There was more of course. There was always more. I’d gone without a right hand…” Jim was exceptional at baseball, even though he had a missing right hand. He won multiple awards in baseball and he gave kids who were different from the other children hope, so they can keep on pushing through. Jim had many hardships throughout his life, besides for his missing hand. Jim said “There was always another issue, it seemed, no matter how hard I tried to outrun it.” His managers and coaches often thought that he wasn’t good enough and never gave him a chance.Jim Abbott, though born without one hand, overcame many tough obstacles in his lifetime and went on to become one of the
Although Jackie Robinson was not the best African-American baseball player of his time, his attitude and ability to handle racist harassment led the way for the rest of his race to play Major League Baseball, amongst other sports. Being accepted into professional sports also helped African-Americans become more easily accepted into other aspects of life. Jackie's impact in the world for the black population is enormous.