Baseball players are the sports persons who are skilled at playing baseball and play the game as an amateur or professional. Baseball is a bat and ball game that is played between two teams consisting of nine players each. The teams take turns batting and fielding. Baseball in its modern form evolved from a series of older bat and ball games in England in the 18th century and later spread to different parts of the world. Baseball became the national sport of the U.S. by the late 19th century and is today popular in North America, Central and South America, East Asia and Europe. Baseball is a sport of precision. The end result of a game depends heavily on the accuracy of the players—a pitcher’s throw, the batter’s swing of a bat, and the runners’ speed. Baseball players should adopt a multi-dimensional approach towards training as they need to develop their explosive strength, build their core strength and improve their agility and feet movement. A baseball player's diet is also of great significance. Proper nutrition and consumption of adequate amounts of fluids is essential for enabling the players to reach their highest level of performance. Read on to learn about the life and works of various famous baseball players from all over the world.
A former professional baseball player, Billy Beane went on to become a front office executive, a position which he has used to apply statistical analysis called sabermetrics to baseball. This has proved to be a game-changer as teams are now evaluating players based on this statistical analysis. His career inspired the film Moneyball where he was played by Brad Pitt.
American football player Deion Sanders is considered one of the strongest pass defenders of the game. He was an electrifying athlete and played in the National Football League for 14 seasons. He played for teams like Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens. He is now a coach and a sports analyst. He’s also a rapper.
An eight-time MLB All-Star, Clayton Kershaw is an American professional baseball player, often described as the best pitcher in the history of baseball. Also known for his humanitarian work, Clayton Kershaw has been honored with the Branch Rickey Award and Roberto Clemente Award. A prolific donator, Kershaw donated $260,000 to build an orphanage called Hope's Home.
Former professional baseball player Alex Rodriguez is considered one of the best baseball players in American baseball history. In his 22 years career, he created numerous records and won both awards and appreciation; however he also attracted a lot of controversies. Primary amongst them were his use of performance enhancing drugs.
First baseman and outfielder Cody Bellinger, son of former MLB player Clay Bellinger, led the Los Angeles Dodgers to their first World Series win in 30 years, in 2020. The two-time All-Star was named the National League Rookie of the Year in 2017 and the National League MVP in 2019.
Derek Jeter is an American former baseball player whose popularity had made him one of the most marketed sportsmen of his generation during his playing career. Since 2017, he has been playing a key role as part owner and the chief executive officer of the Miami Marlins. Also a well-known philanthropist, Jeter created a charitable organization called Turn 2 Foundation.
Former professional baseball and football player Bo Jackson has the distinction of being the only professional athlete in history to be named an All-Star in both the sports. Considered one of the greatest athletes of all time, he pursued his other interests following his retirement from sports in the 1990s. He has acted in a few TV shows, playing minor characters.
Scott Hatteberg is an American former baseball player who played as a first baseman and catcher. In an illustrious Major League Baseball (MLB) career that spanned 13 years, Scott Hatteberg played for popular teams like the Cincinnati Reds, Oakland Athletics, and Boston Red Sox. He also represented the US national baseball team at the 1990 Baseball World Cup.
Chuck Connors was an American actor, professional baseball and basketball player. Connors is one of 13 athletes to have played in both National Basketball Association and the Major League Baseball. As an actor, he contributed to the success of the popular Western television program The Rifleman. Also known for his charity work, Connors helped found the Chuck Connors Charitable Foundation.
Bing Russell was an American actor whose career spanned nearly 40 years. Perhaps Bing Russell's biggest contribution to the American entertainment industry is his son Kurt Russell. Also a baseball enthusiast, Russell owned the Portland Mavericks, a professional baseball team, which was featured in a 2014 documentary titled The Battered Bastards of Baseball.
Lou Gehrig was an American baseball player. Nicknamed The Iron Horse for his durability and prowess as a hitter, Lou Gehrig played for the New York Yankees of the Major League Baseball (MLB). His life and career inspired the 1942 film The Pride of the Yankees in which he was portrayed by actor Gary Cooper.
Professional baseball player Mickey Mantle played his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the New York Yankees. He played as a center fielder, right fielder, and first baseman. Regarded by many as the greatest switch hitter in baseball history, he won the Triple Crown in 1956 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.
Ted Williams was an American baseball player who spent his entire 19-year MLB career with the Boston Red Sox. A nineteen-time All-Star and two-time Triple Crown winner, Ted Williams is widely considered one of the greatest hitters in the history of baseball. In 1991, he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Mike Trout is an American baseball player. An eight-time MLB All-Star, Mike Trout is widely regarded as one of the best Major League Baseball (MLB) players of the current generation and one of the best young players in baseball history. He is also one of the most popular American sportsmen, with endorsement deals worth $2.5 million in his kitty
Baseball left-handed pitcher Sanford Koufax played for the MLB team Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers for 12 seasons. He was the youngest Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and the first three-time Cy Young Award winner. He skipped pitching for a 1965 World Series game because it fell on Jewish festival Yom Kippur.
