One of a Kind

Does the game of baseball have a racial barrier? Many people seem to think so as long ago that is how it used to be. Jackie Robinson was one the greatest baseball players that ever lived, but he so happened to be black. During the time he played, the game of baseball was segregated. This ment that blacks were not allowed to play in a game with whites. Robinson was a great athlete who played four sports: baseball, football, basketball, and track. This man would be later known as one of the games greats. He was the youngest of 5 children and was raised in poverty, but that didn't stop him from pursuing a dream. From 1942 to 1944 Robinson had served in the military. He was later arrested because he wouldn't move to the back of a segregated bus during his training. Robinson was courageous and was against segregation. He was ready to take a huge leap forward. After being removed from the army, Robinson seeked to play baseball professionally.

Robinson played in a negro league seperate from the whites. One day he was chosen by a man named Branch Rickey, who was vice president of the Brooklyn Dodgers to play in an all white farm team called the Montreal Royals. Robinson was tested everyday, as many of the fans yelled racial comments to him, he stood up and had courage. He put up amazing stats for the farm league team and later made his debut for the Dodgers on April 15, 1947. The day was huge as he became the first black to become a major league baseball player. This day was memorable and Jackie Robinson so happens to be a Hall of Famer. He is the only person to have his number retired in all of baseball by all the teams. Number 42 will always be remembered.

Living the wrong kind of dream

Drugs can harm your body in many ways. So what is the point to do them? One man had a dream to become one of the greatest, but these so called "drugs" were holding him back. Josh Hamiliton had a huge problem. He was a number 1 draft pick and had huge potential. Nothing was holding him back, except for one thing he had a huge drug addiction. in 2004 he was banished from baseball because he was snorting cocaine a very deadly drug that makes you do stupid things. An addiciton like this isnt easy to overcome. Hamiliton was burning threw a $4 million dollar check to becoming a major leaguer. He was letting his whole family down and also his teammates. People were starting to think of him differently his hometown thought he was losing it. He had been threw rehab and out of baseball for three years and he found a way to train and keep his composure.



Hamiliton made his debute in 2007 and ever since then he has been an unstoppable force. Each year he has been a part of the majors hes been a triple crown candidate meaning he is leading the league in three categories. Even though Hamiliton has deathly dreams about his past hes learning to put it past himself and become a better man. His potential is great and it is a story that will be greatly remembered

Gambling an Addiction

What is the point to gamble? To win more money to feel better about yourself? One certain man who was a Major Leaguer had a huge gambling issue. Pete Rose who was known as the "hit king" was one of the greatest who ever lived and he had the stats to prove it. Lifetime he had a 303. batting average, and he leads all the majors in games played with 3562, plate apperances with 15,861, at bats with 14,053, and most importantly of all most career hits with 4,256. Rose was unstoppable and was always on the base paths, but one thing he had a huge problem with was gambling. February 1989 baseball has found out that one of the greatest had bet on baseball. In 1985, 86,and 87 Rose bet on his own team the Cincinatti Reds at $10,000 minumum a day. Rose had many problems and was to seek conseling for his addicition. This man was a future Hall of Famer, but this was one thing the baseball world was holding him too. If he would have come clean in the court decision he would have been inducted in the fame years ago.



Rose had denied it for 14 years of his gambling issue, he has been featured in many issues of sports illustrated and is one of baseball most viewed stories. Behind it all Rose hasn't made it to the Hall of Fame yet and awaits the day it comes. In my opinion i believe what Rose did was wrong but that was many years ago, he should be given credit for the success he had as a big leaguer. Baseball so happens to be a hard game and a man who leads the majors in hits and no one is even close to that mark should be in the Hall of Fame. To learn more about Pete Rose and his gambling story you can go to this website, www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2004-01-05-rose_x.htm

The game of baseball and steroids.

What is the point to steroids? It seems like each and every year athlete after athlete is using this anabolic drug. Some people think its cheating but is it? There are some side effects to this drug as there are with other drugs. It can cause bad breath, severe acne, kidney disease, testicular shrinkage and so much more. It makes any man or women the ability to become stronger and become better at any sport. In the game of baseball steroids is a huge issue. Over the past years a couple of big time players have tested positive for steroids. Manny Ramirez one the greatest baseball players in the game tested positive. He has played for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, and now the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is known as one of the greatest hitters in his time and is a potention hall of famer. There have been 104 players who have tested positive for this drug including Alex Rodriguez in 2003 who plays for the New York Yankees, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGuire, and many others.

Barry Bonds another baseball player has used this anabolic drug. Bonds was a homerun hitter many pitchers were scared to face him. In 2001 he broke the single season homerun record with 73 dingers which was previously held by Mark McGuire in 1998 with 70. He also broke the record of homeruns hit in a career with 762 which was held by a hall of famer Hank Aaron who had 755. With all these records Bonds has single handed become one of the greatest baseball players who ever lived. But should he be given any credit to what he's done? Should he be put in the hall of fame? He has lied about the use of the drug when he tested positive for having 3 drugs in his body at the time. All those other hall of famers who broke the records did it the hard way and trained each and every day until they got better. Many people thought he has "cheated" and should never be given any credit for what he has done. So it is left at that steroids is a very harmful drug that can strengthen the body but at the same time can do some harm and consequences will be suffered.