Vladimir Guerrero
From BR Bullpen
Vladimir Alvino Guerrero (Miqueas)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 3", Weight 218 lb.
- Debut September 19, 1996
- Born February 9, 1975 in Nizao, Peravia, D.R.
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[edit] Biographical Information
According to the similarity scores method, the most similar player to Vladimir Guerrero at age 29 was Willie Mays. All ten on the most similar list were Hall of Famers except for two players who are not yet eligible, Manny Ramirez and Juan Gonzalez. However, it was learned in 2009 that Guerrero was actually one year older than thought, having been born in 1975 and not 1976, making his career slightly less impressive.
Although Guerrero has never led the league in batting average, home runs or RBI, he was the 2004 MVP and is now an eight-time All-Star.
Guerrero was to play for the Dominican Republic in the 2006 World Baseball Classic but lost three cousins in an auto accident right before the games and went on bereavement leave; ageless Luis Polonia took his roster spot and led the Dominican team in average. He pulled out of the 2009 Dominican team's roster in 2009 and has never played for his country in spite of being one of its greatest players ever.
He won the 2007 Home Run Derby, beating Alex Rios in the finals. In the 2009 opening night game, Guerrero had his 19th career opening day RBI, breaking the record he had shared with Frank Robinson and Jeff Kent.
He is the brother of Wilton Guerrero.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 1996 The Sporting News Minor League Player of the Year, West Palm Beach Expos, Florida State League & Harrisburg Senators, Eastern League
- 1996 MVP Eastern League Harrisburg Senators
- 8-time All-Star (1999-2002 & 2004-2007)
- AL MVP (2004)
- 7-time Silver Slugger Award Winner (1999/NL, 2000/NL, 2002/NL & 2004-2007/AL)
- AL Runs Scored Leader (2004)
- NL Hits Leader (2002)
- 2-time League Total Bases Leader (2002/NL & 2004/AL)
- 20-Home Run Seasons: 11 (1998-2008)
- 30-Home Run Seasons: 8 (1998-2002 & 2004-2006)
- 40-Home Run Seasons: 2 (1999 & 2000)
- 100 RBI Seasons: 9 (1998-2002 & 2004-2007)
- 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 6 (1998-2002 & 2004)
- 200 Hits Seasons: 4 (1998, 2002, 2004 & 2006)
| AL MVP | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
| Alex Rodriguez | Vladimir Guerrero | Alex Rodriguez |
[edit] Further Reading
- Danny Gallagher: "Expo turns heads", in Remembering the Montreal Expos, Scoop Press, Toronto, ON, 2005, pp. 269-275.
