Bobby Abreu

Through 2004, Abreu is a .305 hitter with 166 home runs and 674 RBI in 1167 games. Sheffield remains a great hitter with an on base and slugging high numbers, even to this day. He also posted the league's tenth best OPS (.971) and eight highest in total bases (312). His bat speed, cited among the best in the American League, allows him to make contact with almost any pitch and keeps his strikeouts low; however, it also makes it nearly impossible for him to check his swing, due to the momentum of his bat. Abreu finished the season with a .301 average, 30 home runs and 105 RBI, and ranked among the National League top five in five offensive categories: runs (4th, 118), doubles (4th, 47), stolen bases (3rd, 40), walks (2nd, 127) and on base percentage (5th, .428). Sheffield's immense strength allows him to induce a lot of torque on the bat, producing a unique swing that nonetheless drives the ball far upon contact. Finally, in 2004, he got his first All-Star berth, being voted in as the "32nd man" in online voting on MLB.com. A free agent before the 2004 season, he signed with the New York Yankees.

In 2001 Abreu reached career highs in home runs (31) and RBI (110), and hit .308 in 2002 and .300 a year later. Sheffield also stole his 200th bag on September 6th of that year off the Pittsburgh Pirates and made his seventh All-Star team appearance as a starting outfielder. His .335 average that season ranked third in the National League and was the highest posted by a Phillies player since outfielder Tony González hit .339 in 1967. He smashed 39 home runs and drove in 132 runs, breaking the Atlanta record of 127 set by Hank Aaron. In 1999 he made a brief run at the batting title. After an injury plagued season, in 2003 Sheffield resumed his place as one of the most feared hitters in baseball. In his first season with the Phillies, Abreu led his team with a .312 batting average and collected 17 home runs, 74 RBI, and 19 stolen bases in 151 games, with 271 putouts and 17 assists in right field. Sheffield missed ten of his last twelve games because of a sprained left thumb.

Despite the fact that Astros and Devil Rays both deeming him expendable, Abreu firmly established himself as one of the most promising young hitters and strong-armed rightfielders in the game. But his hits again were clutch, with 23 game-winning RBI for the Braves. Left unprotected in the 1997 expansion draft when Houston decided to keep fellow Venezuelan outfielder Richard Hidalgo, Abreu was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, but minutes later he was traded to the Phillies for shortstop Kevin Stocker. However, Sheffield had a sub-par season by his standards only hitting 25 home runs and driving in 84 runs. He played only 74 games over two seasons. He reached base in 52 consecutive games, breaking Dale Murphy's Atlanta record of 48 games. Abreu started his major league career with the Houston Astros on September 1, 1996. Sheffield spent his 2002 season with the Atlanta Braves.

. His 17 outfield assists ranked second in the NL.
. Again, his deft fieldwork paid off. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed. He hit his 300th career home run in July 21. Bob Kelly Abreu [ah-BRAY-oo] (born March 11, 1974 in Maracay, Aragua State, Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball right fielder who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies. He also supplied the only scoring by homering in April 2, against the Brewers, and in May 7, against Florida.

Abreu is the first player in Phillies history and the first Venezuelan big leaguer to ever steal 30 bases and hit 30 home runs in one single season. On June 12, he became the first player in major league history to win three 1-0 games in a season with a home run, when he solos to beat the Braves, 1-0. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum displays the bat used by Abreu to hit the first home run in the Phillies’ new ballpark, Citizens Bank Park on April 12, 2004. Twenty-three of his 36 homeruns gave the Dodgers the lead or tied the game, and he also extended his career seasons with twenty or more home runs to ten. Abreu's longest homer was measured at 517'. He had 36 home runs and 100 RBI while hitting .311. He set records with 24 home runs in a single round and 41 overall, topping Miguel Tejada's previous marks of 15 and 27, set a year earlier. In 2001 Sheffield played with a painful sprained left index finger.

At Comerica Park –a field normally considered a "pitcher's park"–, Abreu won the Home Run Derby. For one month from June 10 to July 13, he hit .500. Louis Cardinals Jim Edmonds. Sheffield reached base safely in 123 of 141 games, ending with a .438 on base percentage that ranked him third in the NL, and had the second best home run-hitting ratio (one-for-11.7 at bat). Abreu was voted a starter of the NL outfield for the All-Star Game, finishing second in fan voting, behind St. He also set a team record by hitting his 41st home run, surpassing the old mark set by Mike Piazza. He also became the first player in major league history to hit nine home runs in a 10-game stretch. He became the first Dodger to hit .300 with 30 homers, 100 RBI, 100 runs and 100 walks in consecutive seasons.

Abreu also led the NL in slugging average (.792), on-base percentage (.535), walks (30) and was tied for the league lead with 30 RBI. 2000 was one of Sheffield's best offensive seasons ever. In May, Abreu was honored as the Player of the Month in the National League, after hit .396 and 11 home runs. He finished the season strong hitting home runs in four of his last six games. Bobby Bonds had seven straight 20/20 seasons (1969-75), while his son Barry had nine in a row (1990-98). On August 22, Sheffield hit his career sixth grand slam off reliever Steve Montgomery. One of three ML players with seven consecutive 20-HR, 20 stolen base seasons. He finished with a team-high 101 walks and a .407 on base percentage.

.929 career OPS [18th among active players, 39th on the all-time list] (1996-2004). In his first full season with the Dodgers in 1999, Sheffield batted .304 with 34 home runs and 101 RBI and again was selected to the All-Star Game. .517 career slugging average [25th between active players, 62nd on the all-time list] (1996-2004). He also wiped twenty bags, making this the first time he had reached the 20/20 plateau, and struck out only once for every 11.9 at bats. .412 career on base percentage [6th among active players, 30th on all-time list] (1996-2004). He played in a combined 130 games with Florida and the Dodgers during that season, batting .302 with 22 home runs and 85 RBI, despite missing the last 25 games after suffering a severely sprained left ankle. 210 career stolen bases [ranks him 25th among active players] (1996-2004). In 1998 Sheffield was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Rested only in 12 games in four consecutive seasons (2001-04). He also hit 21 home runs with 71 RBI and collected his 1000th career hit off Alan Benes. Led league in games played (162, 2001). He had 14 outfield assists, which ranked third in the league. 7-time top 10 in walks (1998-2004). Sheffield wasn't only a great hitter but a deft fielder. Twice reached the 30-30 club (2001, 2004). The following season, Sheffield led the 1997 World Champions Marlins with a .424 on base percentage and 121 walks.

6-time hit .300 or more in seven regular seasons (1998-2000, 2002-04). He also broke ten of the Marlin's individual club records and made his third All-Star berth. Led league in power/speed number (34.3, 2004). This was his first full year without going on the DL. Led league in triples (11, 1999). Sheffield had his career-best numbers in 1996, after hit 42 home runs with 120 RBI, 118 runs, 163 hits, and 142 walks in 161 games. Led league in doubles (50, 2002). Still he ranked third on the team with 19 stolen bases and third with 55 walks.

Silver Slugger Award (2004). A torn ligament in his left thumb limited him to only 63 games. Twice All-Star (2004-05). Injury plagued him again in the 1995 season with the Marlins. At the time of his injury Sheffield had a career high .584 slugging percentage; ninth in the league. His shoulder bothered him again, and he spent two stints on the disabled list with a bruised rotator cuff and an irritated labrum in his left shoulder.

During the 1994 strike shortened season, Sheffield hit 27 home runs in only 87 games, breaking a Marlins season-record. He had an average season driving in only 73 runs with 17 stolen bases, and his on base percentage was still in the mid to high 300s. He made history as the first player from a first year expansion team to start an All-Star Game. Sheffield began 1993 with the Padres but was traded to the Florida Marlins midseason.

He was honored by The Sporting News with the Player of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year awards. Sheffield led the league with a .330 average, and hit 33 home runs with 100 RBI and a .385 on base percentage. He made a run at becoming the first National League Triple Crown winner since Joe Medwick in 1937. Unhappy in Milwaukee, Sheffield was traded to the San Diego Padres before the 1992 season.

In 1991 he was limited to only 50 games because of lingering wrist and shoulder problems. He also had a team high 25 stolen bases. He broke out in 1990 with the Milwaukee Brewers, batting .294 with 67 RBI. He is one of the most feared right handed hitters in all of baseball, known for his pre-swing waggle and unmatched bat speed.

Sheffield has posted high-caliber numbers wherever he's played. . He bats and throws right handed. He has since played for the San Diego Padres, Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees as a right fielder.

Sheffield was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers as an infielder. He was born in Tampa, Florida, where he played on the same high school team as his uncle, Dwight Gooden. Gary Antonian Sheffield (born November 18, 1968) is an American baseball player. The Red Sox fan had his season ticket revoked, while Sheffield was not penalized by major league baseball.

Although most baseball commentators concluded that Sheffield had done nothing wrong, the incident drew headlines because of the melee in 2004 involving players and fans during a Pistons-Pacers NBA game. After he threw the ball, he appeared to consider entering the stands to confront the fan, before stadium security staff appeared. Sheffield pushed the fan back prior to throwing the ball into the infield. On April 14, 2005 at Fenway Park, while playing for the New York Yankees in a game against the Boston Red Sox, Sheffield was involved in an incident where a fan apparently struck him in the face while Sheffield was attempting to field a ball hit to the outfield.

[1]. However, he claimed that at the time he used the product, he did not know that it contained steroids. Sheffield has recently been linked in media reports with the controversial Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative, and admitted to having used a BALCO product that contained a steroid. Led National League in batting average (1992).

4-time Silver Slugger Award (1992, 1996, 2003-04). 9-time All-Star (1992-93, 1996, 1998-2000, 2003-05). New York Yankees (2004-present). Atlanta Braves (2002-03).

Los Angeles Dodgers (1998-2001). Florida Marlins (1993-98). San Diego Padres (1992-93). Milwaukee Brewers (1988-91).