View source for Gary Sheffield

{{short description|American baseball player (born 1968)}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Gary Sheffield
|image=Gary Sheffield2.jpg
|caption=Sheffield with the New York Yankees in 2005
|position=[[Outfielder]] / [[Third baseman]]
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{birth date and age|mf=yes|1968|11|18}}
|birth_place=[[Tampa, Florida]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=September 15
|debutyear=1988
|debutteam=Milwaukee Brewers
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 30
|finalyear=2009
|finalteam=New York Mets
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.292
|stat3label=[[Home run]]s
|stat3value=509
|stat2label=[[Hit (baseball)|Hits]]
|stat2value=2,689
|stat4label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat4value=1,676
|teams=
* [[Milwaukee Brewers]] ({{mlby|1988}}–{{mlby|1991}})
* [[San Diego Padres]] ({{mlby|1992}}–{{mlby|1993}})
* [[Miami Marlins|Florida Marlins]] ({{mlby|1993}}–{{mlby|1998}})
* [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] ({{mlby|1998}}–{{mlby|2001}})
* [[Atlanta Braves]] ({{mlby|2002}}–{{mlby|2003}})
* [[New York Yankees]] ({{mlby|2004}}–{{mlby|2006}})
* [[Detroit Tigers]] ({{mlby|2007}}–{{mlby|2008}})
* [[New York Mets]] ({{mlby|2009}})
|awards=
* 9× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1992 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1992]], [[1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1993]], [[1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1996]], [[1998 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1998]]–[[2000 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2000]], [[2003 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2003]]–[[2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2005]])
* [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|1997}})
* 5× [[Silver Slugger Award]] (1992, 1996, 2003–2005)
* [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions|NL batting champion]] (1992)
}}
'''Gary Antonian Sheffield''' (born November 18, 1968) is an American former professional [[baseball]] [[outfielder]] who played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for eight teams from 1988 to 2009. After his playing career, he became a [[sports agent]].

For most of his career, Sheffield played [[right fielder|right field]], though he has also played [[Left fielder|left field]], [[third base]], [[shortstop]], and a handful of games at [[first baseman|first base]]. He played for the [[Milwaukee Brewers]], [[San Diego Padres]], [[Miami Marlins|Florida Marlins]], [[Los Angeles Dodgers]], [[Atlanta Braves]], [[New York Yankees]], [[Detroit Tigers]], and the [[New York Mets]]. Sheffield was a first-round pick of the Brewers, who selected him sixth overall in the {{baseball year|1986}} amateur draft after a standout prep career at [[Hillsborough High School (Florida)|Hillsborough High School]] in [[Tampa, Florida]]. He batted and threw right-handed. Sheffield hit his 500th home run on April 17, 2009. As of his last game, Sheffield ranked second among all active players in [[base on balls|walks]] (1,475), third in [[run (baseball)|runs]] (1,636), fourth in [[Run batted in|RBIs]] (1,676), fifth in [[Hit (baseball)|hits]] (2,689) and [[home run]]s (509), and sixth in [[hit by pitch]]es (135). He is the only player in history to record 100 RBIs in a season for five different teams. Sheffield's batting swing was an exemplary mix of savage speed and pinpoint control. Despite his high home run total, Sheffield only topped 80 strikeouts twice in 22 seasons, while finishing his career among the all-time top 20 walks leaders. Because of his combination of skill, sportswriter [[Joe Posnanski]] wrote, "I can't imagine there has ever been a scarier hitter to face." His first manager [[Tom Trebelhorn]] said, "Gary can turn on a 38-caliber bullet.”<ref>{{Cite web |last=Posnanski |first=Joe |date=17 January 2017 |title=Ballot 12: Gary Sheffield |url=https://www.joeposnanski.com/p/ballot-12-gary-sheffield |url-access=subscription |access-date=2020-03-06 |website=JoeBlogs}}</ref>

He is the nephew of [[Dwight Gooden]]. After retirement, he started to work as an agent. His clients include former reliever [[Jason Grilli]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/23/sports/baseball/guided-by-sheffield-journeyman-pitcher-is-now-a-star.html|title=Guided by Sheffield, Journeyman Pitcher Is Now a Star|work=The New York Times|date=June 22, 2013|access-date=July 1, 2019|first=Tyler|last=Kepner}}</ref> Sheffield was mentioned in the [[Mitchell Report]] and implicated in the [[BALCO scandal]] with respect to the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

==Early life==
Sheffield was born in [[Tampa, Florida]] and grew up in [[Belmont Heights, Tampa|Belmont Heights]], near the Ponce de Leon projects.<ref name="Jock">{{Cite web |url=http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Sheffield/Sheffield_bio.html |title=JockBio.com Sheffield Biography from Jock Bio |access-date=2008-02-07 |archive-date=2017-08-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821211221/http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Sheffield/Sheffield_bio.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> He and his family lived with his uncle, [[Dwight Gooden]], who would go on to become an ace pitcher for the [[New York Mets]]. They played baseball frequently and Sheffield learned how to hit a [[fastball]] from Gooden,<ref name="Jock"/> who is only four years older than he is.

Sheffield was a good hitter in Little League. However, he had problems with his temper and attitude, which would continue in the majors. Once, when he was late to practice, his coach benched him and Sheffield picked up a bat and chased the coach all over the field, resulting in him being kicked off the team for a year.<ref name="Jock"/> When Sheffield was eleven, he was selected to the Belmont Heights Little League All-Stars, which included future [[Chicago Cubs]] first round pick [[Ty Griffin]], future major leaguer [[Derek Bell (baseball)|Derek Bell]], and other future [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) players.<ref name="Jock"/> The team made it to the finals of the [[1980 Little League World Series]] but lost to [[Taiwan national baseball team|Taiwan]] 4–3. Sheffield set a record for doubles that would be broken in [[2012 Little League World Series|2012]] by Bradley Smith.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 17, 2019 |title=Little League World Series Records |url=https://www.littleleague.org/downloads/llbws-complete-records/ |access-date=October 26, 2020 |website=Little League Baseball and Softball}}</ref>

===High school===

In 1983, Sheffield made the [[Hillsborough High School (Florida)|Hillsborough High School]] varsity baseball team. During his junior year, he bulked up to 175 pounds and was a [[pitcher]] and [[third baseman]].<ref name="Jock"/> During his senior year, his fastball reached the upper 80's and he frequently showed home run power. As a batter, Sheffield hit .500 and 15 [[home run]]s in 62 official [[at-bats]].<ref name="Jock"/> At the end of the season, he was named the [[Gatorade Player of the Year awards|Gatorade National Player of the Year]].<ref name="Jock"/>

==Professional baseball career==

===Minor leagues===
After high school, the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] drafted Sheffield with the sixth pick of the first round of the [[1986 Major League Baseball draft|1986 MLB draft]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Gary Sheffield Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sheffga01.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> Sheffield later said that if he had not been drafted in the first round, he probably would have played [[college baseball]] for the [[Miami Hurricanes baseball|Miami Hurricanes]].<ref name="streetsmarts">{{cite magazine |last1=Gammons |first1=Peter |author-link=Peter Gammons |date=April 5, 1989 |title=Street Smarts |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1989/04/05/street-smarts-gary-sheffield-learned-his-baseball-and-more-in-tampas-belmont-heights |access-date=19 January 2018 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> After being drafted he played for the [[Helena Brewers]] of the [[Pioneer League (baseball)|Pioneer League]], where he had a .365 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] and 71 RBIs in 57 games. The only question was what [[Baseball positions|position]] he would play. He was slotted at shortstop, but struggled at the position, committing many [[error (baseball)|errors]] and wild throws. In 1987, he was assigned to [[Stockton Ports|Stockton]] of the [[Class A (baseball)|Class-A]] [[California League]], where his defense improved and he produced at the plate. His batting average went below .300, but he led the league in RBIs with 103, and at the end of the year he was voted the Brewers' best prospect. In his third season, he went from Double-A to the majors. In 134 games for the [[El Paso Diablos]] and [[Denver]], he batted .327 with 28 homers and 118 RBIs.

===Milwaukee Brewers===
[[File:Gary Sheffield - El Paso Diablos - 1988.jpg|thumb|Sheffield with the [[El Paso Diablos]] in 1988]]
Sheffield was called up from the minors when rosters were expanded in September and made his major league debut on September 3, 1988. Still a teenager, he got off to a fast start, with his first career hit being a home run off [[Mark Langston]], though Sheffield finished the season with a .238 batting average and four home runs in 24 games. After mediocre play and injuries that forced him to miss two months in the summer of 1989, Sheffield was moved to third base, replaced by [[Bill Spiers]] at shortstop. Sheffield said he was shocked by the move and criticized the team. He also said his race affected the reception from other players, management, and fans in Milwaukee.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nightengale |first=Bob |author-link=Bob Nightengale |date=1992-06-09 |title=A Dugout From Hell : Padres' Sheffield Says He Nearly Quit Baseball After Stint With Brewers |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-09-sp-102-story.html |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Claire |date=1990-05-28 |title=BASEBALL; Sheffield Is Older and Better |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/28/sports/baseball-sheffield-is-older-and-better.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525203958/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/28/sports/baseball-sheffield-is-older-and-better.html |archive-date=2015-05-25 |access-date=2025-06-05 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Alipour |first=Sam |date=March 15, 2007 |title=A trip inside Gary Sheffield |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=alipour/070315&sportCat=mlb |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=[[ESPN]] Page 2}}</ref> In his rookie season, he batted .247 with five home runs and 32 RBIs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gary Sheffield 1989 Batting Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=sheffga01&t=b&year=1989 |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> In 1990, he worked under [[Don Baylor]], who had been hired as their [[hitting coach]]. He finished the season batting .294, with 10 home runs. In his final season with the Brewers, he injured his wrist, thumb, and shoulder, playing in only 50 games.<ref name="Jock"/>

===San Diego Padres===
After four seasons in Milwaukee, the Brewers traded Sheffield to the [[San Diego Padres]] for [[Ricky Bones]], [[José Valentin]], and [[Matt Mieske]] on March 26, 1992. Sheffield faced his uncle [[Dwight Gooden]] for the first time in a Major League game on May 12, 1992, getting a hit in three at-bats. In his first [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] season, he contended for the [[Triple Crown (baseball)|Triple Crown]] for much of the year; while he missed out on the home run (33, two fewer than the leader, teammate [[Fred McGriff]]) and RBIs (100, nine fewer than leader [[Darren Daulton]]) titles, he won the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] batting title (the only one of the nine in Padre history not won by [[Tony Gwynn]]) with a .330 average. He started the 1993 season by hitting 10 home runs and batting .295 with the Padres.

===Florida Marlins===
On June 24, 1993, Sheffield was traded with [[Rich Rodriguez (baseball)|Rich Rodriguez]] to the [[Miami Marlins|Florida Marlins]] for [[Trevor Hoffman]], [[José Martínez (pitcher)|José Martínez]], and [[Andrés Berumen]]. He finished the season hitting 10 home runs, batting .292, and driving in 37 runs with the Marlins and was the starting third baseman for the National League in the [[1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]]. After the season, Sheffield signed a four-year, $22.5 million contract with the Marlins that made him the highest-paid third baseman. In 1994, the Marlins moved him from third base to right field.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jaffe |first=Jay |date=August 16, 2004 |title=The Futility Infielder: Gary Sheffield, Reconsidered -- Part I |url=https://futilityinfielder4.blogspot.com/2004/08/gary-sheffield-reconsidered-part-i.shtml |access-date=2025-06-05}}</ref> He never regularly played in the infield for the rest of his career.<ref name=":0" /> Sheffield hit 112 home runs with the Marlins from 1994 to 1998, including 42 in 1996, making the [[1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game in 1996]], and leading Florida to victory in the [[1997 World Series]] against the [[Cleveland Indians]]. On July 13, 1997, Sheffield became the first player in franchise history to [[List of Major League Baseball single-inning home run leaders|hit two home runs in one inning]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 14, 1997 |title=Sheffield Has an Inning to Remember |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-jul-14-sp-12600-story.html |access-date=August 12, 2021 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> He was traded to the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] in 1998 because the Marlins allegedly could not afford a contract extension and because the Dodgers' parent company at the time, [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]], was looking to secure a television contract with the Marlins in exchange for trading popular Dodger [[Mike Piazza]].<ref name="Jock"/>

===Los Angeles Dodgers===
On May 14, 1998, Sheffield, [[Manuel Barrios]], [[Charles Johnson (catcher)|Charles Johnson]], [[Bobby Bonilla]], and [[Jim Eisenreich]] were traded to the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] for [[Mike Piazza]] and [[Todd Zeile]]. Sheffield finished the season with the Dodgers batting .316, hitting 16 homers, and driving in 57 runs. In 3½ seasons with the Dodgers, he hit 129 home runs and drove in 367 runs. He made three All-Star games while playing with the Dodgers and had become one of the best hitting outfielders in the game. But during the off-season, he began lobbying for a trade because he thought the Dodgers were spending their money stupidly and sliding in the wrong direction, and publicly criticized coaches and teammates.<ref name="Jock"/>

===Atlanta Braves===
On January 15, 2002, the Dodgers traded Sheffield to the [[Atlanta Braves]] for [[Brian Jordan]], [[Odalis Pérez]], and [[Andrew Brown (pitcher)|Andrew Brown]]. He spent two seasons with the Braves hitting 64 home runs and knocking in 216 RBIs including 132 in 2003. After two seasons with the Braves, he became a [[Free agency (Major League Baseball)|free agent]] for the first time in his career on October 27, 2003.

===New York Yankees===
On December 19, 2003, after negotiating with owner [[George Steinbrenner]], Sheffield signed a $39 million, three-year contract with the [[New York Yankees]]. This deal included $13.5 million in deferred money and a $13 million team option for 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=1688518 |title=Sheff prepared for Boss to lean on him |access-date=August 6, 2009|agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=December 17, 2003 |work=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref> He joined a lineup that included [[Derek Jeter]], [[Jason Giambi]] and the newly acquired [[Alex Rodriguez]]. In his first season with the Yankees, Sheffield started slowly but finished the season with 36 home runs, 121 RBIs, and a .290 batting average, finishing second in the [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|MVP]] voting behind [[Vladimir Guerrero]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2004 Awards Voting |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2004.shtml |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> On July 27, Sheffield hit his 400th career home run off of [[Micheal Nakamura]] of the [[Toronto Blue Jays]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCarron |first=Anthony |date=2004-07-28 |title=SHEFF HITS 400TH, AND DREAMS ON |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2004/07/28/sheff-hits-400th-and-dreams-on/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=New York Daily News |language=en-US}}</ref>

In his second season with the Yankees, he continued to play well, hitting another 34 home runs and driving in 123 runs. On April 14, 2005, a [[Boston Red Sox|Red Sox]] fan leaned over the railing at [[Fenway Park]] and distracted Sheffield as he was going to field a ball hit by [[Jason Varitek]]. After Sheffield took a swing at the fan with his glove, he threw the ball back into the infield, and then got into a verbal altercation with the fan. Fan interference was not called, resulting in a game-tying RBI triple for Varitek. The fan, a long-time season ticket holder, was not ejected from Fenway Park, but he donated his remaining 2005 [[season ticket]]s to charity in an effort to avoid any controversy for the remainder of the season. Sheffield was fined for the incident. Charges were dismissed against both the fan and Sheffield.<ref name="reading_sox">{{cite news |date=April 19, 2005 |title=Interfering Sox Fan Has Tickets Revoked |work=[[Reading Eagle]] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=20050419&id=jH4xAAAAIBAJ&pg=4325,2877341 |access-date=2 October 2014}}</ref>

Sheffield started the 2006 season on pace for a .300 batting average and 30 homers before he collided with [[Shea Hillenbrand]] of the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] on April 29. Sheffield tried to play despite the injury, but ultimately needed wrist surgery. Sheffield did not return until late September. He had lost his right field job to [[Bobby Abreu]], whom the Yankees had acquired in a trade deadline transaction. This forced Sheffield to play first base for the first time in his MLB career.<ref name=":0" /> At the end of the 2006 season, the Yankees picked up Sheffield's 2007 option and traded him to the [[Detroit Tigers]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mallozzi |first=Vincent M. |date=2006-11-09 |title=Business or Personal? Sheffield Says It's Both |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/09/sports/baseball/business-or-personal-sheffield-says-its-both.html |access-date=2025-06-05 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

During a July 2007 interview with [[HBO]]'s ''[[Real Sports]]'', Sheffield said that Yankees manager [[Joe Torre]] treated black players differently from white players during his time there, citing himself, [[Kenny Lofton]] and [[Tony Womack]] as examples. Lofton later agreed with Sheffield's comments about being treated differently, but disagreed that race was the motivating factor. After it was pointed out that Derek Jeter is [[biracial]], Sheffield responded that he wasn't "all the way black."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-07-13 |title=Sheffield blasts Yanks' Torre on race issues |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2935737 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

===Detroit Tigers===
[[File:Sheffield BP.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Sheffield (right) with the Tigers in {{baseball year|2007}}.]]
On November 10, 2006, the Yankees traded Sheffield to the [[Detroit Tigers]] for minor league pitchers [[Humberto Sánchez]], [[Kevin Whelan]], and [[Anthony Claggett]]. After the trade, Sheffield agreed to a two-year, $28&nbsp;million extension.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061110&content_id=1738741&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=detVeteran|title=Tigers acquire Sheffield for prospects|access-date=August 6, 2009|last=Beck|first=Jason|date=November 10, 2006|work=[[MLB.com]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615121710/http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061110&content_id=1738741&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=detVeteran|archive-date=2011-06-15|url-status=dead}}</ref> In his first season with the Tigers, he hit 25 home runs with 75 RBIs and a .265 batting average. Sheffield also hit his first triple since 2004 and stole 20 bases for the first time since 1990. He was also one of six batters in the [[American League|AL]] with least 20 home runs and 20 [[stolen base]]s, along with [[Alex Rodriguez]], [[Grady Sizemore]], [[Ian Kinsler]], [[B.J. Upton]] and teammate at the time [[Curtis Granderson]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2007 Al Players With 20 Home Runs And 20 Steals |url=https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/2007-al-players-with-20-home-runs-and-20-steals |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=StatMuse |language=en}}</ref>

On September 8, {{baseball year|2008}} in a game against [[2008 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland]], Sheffield hit the 250,000th regular season home run in MLB history according to [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. The home run was a [[Grand slam (baseball)|grand slam]] off [[Gio González]];<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=280908106 |title=Sheffield has 2 homers, 5 RBIs and Tigers beat A's |access-date=August 6, 2009|author=DETROIT (AP) |date=September 9, 2008 |publisher=[[Yahoo! Sports]] |author-link=Associated Press}}</ref> Sheffield had hit baseball's 249,999th home run against Gonzalez in his previous at bat. Sheffield ended the 2008 season with 499 career home runs.

On September 19, 2008, Sheffield was hit by a pitch from [[Cleveland Indians]] pitcher [[Roberto Hernández (starting pitcher)|Roberto Hernández]] (then using the name Fausto Carmona) and walked to first base. When Hernández threw to first base, he and Sheffield exchanged words and Sheffield charged the mound, attempting to tackle Hernández but being caught in a headlock and punched a few times on the top of his head by the pitcher, leading to a [[bench-clearing brawl]]. Hernández and Sheffield were both ejected, along with Indians catcher [[Víctor Martínez (baseball)|Víctor Martínez]] and Tigers second baseman [[Plácido Polanco]].<ref>{{cite web |date=September 19, 2008 |title=Indians win with walk-off hit as Carmona, Sheffield brawl |url=http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/gamecenter/recap/MLB_20080919_DET@CLE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080923061656/http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/gamecenter/recap/MLB_20080919_DET%40CLE |archive-date=September 23, 2008 |access-date=September 20, 2008 |publisher=CBSSports.com wire reports}}</ref> On September 22, the commissioner's office announced four suspensions resulting from the brawl: Hernández was suspended for six games, Sheffield received a four-game suspension, and Martinez and Indians infielder [[Asdrúbal Cabrera]] each received three-game suspensions. Sheffield said after the suspension that the involved players from the Indians would be "penalized" by him as well.<ref>[http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080922&content_id=3528156&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det "Sheffield given four-game suspension: Tigers slugger won't appeal, begins serving it Monday"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927043346/http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080922&content_id=3528156&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det|date=2008-09-27}} ''MLB.com'', Jason Beck, September 22, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-09-26.</ref>

On March 31, 2009, the Tigers released Sheffield despite owing him $14 million. Tigers general manager [[Dave Dombrowski]] said the team wanted to have more versatility at designated hitter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090331&content_id=4093976&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det |title=Tigers release Sheffield |access-date=August 6, 2009 |last=Beck |first=Jason |date=March 31, 2009 |work=[[MLB.com]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403070145/http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090331&content_id=4093976&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det |archive-date=April 3, 2009 }}</ref>

===New York Mets===
[[File:Gary Sheffield 2009 (1).jpg|thumb|right|Sheffield with the New York Mets in 2009]]
On April 3, 2009 Sheffield agreed to sign with the [[New York Mets]].<ref>{{cite web |date=April 3, 2009 |title=Mets statement regarding Gary Sheffield |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090403&content_id=4118832&vkey=pr_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406050706/https://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090403&content_id=4118832&vkey=pr_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym |archive-date=2009-04-06 |access-date=August 6, 2009 |work=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=April 4, 2009 |title=Slugging outfielder Sheffield joins the Mets |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/wires/04/04/2010.ap.bbn.mets.sheffield.0844/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721041216/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/wires/04/04/2010.ap.bbn.mets.sheffield.0844/ |archive-date=2012-07-21 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

On April 17, Sheffield hit [[500 home run club|his 500th home run]], becoming the 25th player in MLB history to reach that milestone, the first player to achieve this as a pinch-hitter, and the first to do so with the Mets.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Thomas A. |title=April 17, 2009: Gary Sheffield hits 500th career home run |url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/april-17-2009-gary-sheffield-hits-500th-career-home-run/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]]}}</ref> Sheffield was the third player in major league history to hit a home run before age 20 and after age 40, joining [[Ty Cobb]] and [[Rusty Staub]]. [[Alex Rodriguez]] became the fourth player to do so in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/alex-rodriguez-homers-on-40th-birthday/c-139113372|title=Alex Rodriguez homers on 40th birthday|author=Hoch, Bryan|website=MLB.com|date=July 27, 2015|access-date=July 27, 2015}}</ref> Sheffield sat out a game in August when the Mets declined to offer him a contract extension.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/21/sports/baseball/21mets.html?_r=1&hpw |last=Hine |first=Chris |work=The New York Times |date=August 20, 2009 |title=Hernandez Is Released, Wagner Returns, and Sheffield Sits and Pouts |access-date=September 24, 2024 }}</ref>

===Retirement===
Sheffield did not play in 2010. Though he initially suggested he wanted to sign with a team for the 2011 season,<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 8, 2010 |title=Gary Sheffield Wants To Make A Comeback With The Rays At Age 42 |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/gary-sheffield-wants-to-make-a-comeback-with-the-rays-2010-12 |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> he announced his retirement at the beginning of 2011 [[spring training]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-02-17 |title=Sheffield says he's retired, makes pitch for Hall |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=6131472 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

==Career highlights==
{|class="wikitable" margin: 5px; text-align: center;
|+ '''Championships earned or shared'''
|-
!Title
!{{Tooltip|Times|Number of times achieved}}
!Dates
!{{Tooltip|Ref|References}}
|-
| [[National League (baseball)|National League]] [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions|batting champion]] 
|align="center"| 1 
| [[1992 Major League Baseball season|1992]]
| rowspan="3" |<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Gary Sheffield |url=https://flasportshof.org/fshofmember/gary-sheffield/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Florida Sports Hall of Fame}}</ref>
|-
| National League [[List of National League pennant winners|champion]] 
|align="center"| 1 
| [[1997 National League Championship Series|1997]] 
|-
| [[World Series]] [[List of World Series champions|champion]] 
|align="center"| 1
| [[1997 World Series|1997]]
|-
|}

{|class="wikitable" margin: 5px; text-align: center;
|+ '''Awards received'''
|-
!Name of award
!{{Tooltip|Times|Number of times achieved}}
!Dates
!{{Tooltip|Ref|References}}
|-
| [[ESPY Awards|ESPY Award]] for Best Breakthrough Athlete 
|align="center"| 1
| 1993
|<ref>{{cite book |title=The ESPN Sports Almanac |year=2008 |publisher=ESPN Books |isbn=978-1-933060-38-5 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/2008espnsportsal00brow/page/528 528] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/2008espnsportsal00brow/page/528 }}</ref>
|-
| Florida Marlins Most Valuable Player Award 
|align="center"| 1
| 1996
| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/awards.php?p=sheffga01 |title=Gary Sheffield awards |work=[[Baseball Almanac]] |access-date=August 27, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| [[Gatorade Player of the Year awards#Baseball|Gatorade National High School Baseball Player of the Year]] 
|align="center"| 1
| 1986
|<ref name="streetsmarts" />
|-
| [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|Major League Baseball All-Star]]
|align="center"| 9
| [[1992 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1992]]–[[1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|93]], [[1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1996]], [[1998 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1998]]–[[2000 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2000]], [[2003 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2003]]–[[2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|05]]
| rowspan="4" |<ref name=":0" />
|-
| [[Major League Baseball Player of the Month Award|Major League Baseball Player of the Month]] 
|align="center"| 1
| August 1992
|-
| [[Major League Baseball Player of the Week Award|Major League Baseball Player of the Week]]
|align="center"| 12
| May 24, 1992; June 13, 1993; May 1, 1994; Sept. 24, 1995; Aug. 11, 1996; June 18, 2000; July 16, 2000; Apr 15, 2001; May 18, 2003; June 6, 2004; July 17, 2005; June 10, 2007
|-
| [[Silver Slugger Award]]
* at [[List of Silver Slugger Award winners at third base|third base]] 
* 4× at [[List of Silver Slugger Award winners at outfield|outfield]] 
|align="center"| 5<br />1<br />4
| <br />1992 <br />1996, 2003−05
|-
| [[The Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year Award|''Sporting News'' Comeback Player of the Year]]
|align="center"| 1
| 1992
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=1992-10-28 |title=Sheffield, McGriff Honored |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-10-28-sp-800-story.html |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| [[Sporting News MLB Player of the Year Award|''Sporting News'' Major League Player of the Year]] 
|align="center"| 1
| 1992
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nightengale |first=Bob |author-link=Bob Nightengale |date=1992-10-24 |title=Sheffield Honored by TSN |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-10-24-sp-519-story.html |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| [[Sporting News Minor League Player of the Year Award|''Sporting News'' Minor League Player of the Year]] 
|align="center"| 1
| 1988
|<ref>{{cite news |date=December 3, 1988 |title=Locally |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65572432/locally/ |accessdate=December 18, 2020 |newspaper=[[Wisconsin State Journal]] |location=[[Madison, Wisconsin]] |page=2D |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[USA Today]]'' Top High School Baseball Player 
|align="center"| 1
| 1986
|{{cn|date=August 2022}}
|-
|Florida Sports Hall of 
| align="center" |1
|2018
|<ref name=":1" />
|}

===Achievements===
*The second Padres hitter in franchise history to win a batting title, following [[Tony Gwynn]]
*Holds Los Angeles Dodgers single-season record for at-bats per home run (11.7 in 2000)
*His Tampa team finished second in the 1980 [[Little League World Series]]
*Is the first player to represent five different teams in the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]].
*Tied [[Paul O'Neill (baseball)|Paul O'Neill]] as the oldest player to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in a season, at age 38 (2007)
*First player to hit at least 25 home runs for 6 different teams
*25th player in MLB history to reach 500 home runs, and the first player to do so as a Met
*8 seasons with 30 or more home runs
*Holds the record for most MLB ballparks played in (51) <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1V4CkqFlzgHvjeLpHtTy_Cyj2Sb43YsnKcG5koHQ6S3w/edit?usp=embed_facebook|title=Most MLB Ballparks Played In|website=Google Docs|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=31257|title=Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast|website=www.stitcher.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-06}}</ref>
*One of two players in MLB history, along with [[Fred McGriff]], to have 30 or more home runs in one season for 5 different teams: Los Angeles Dodgers (three times); New York Yankees (twice); Atlanta Braves, Florida Marlins, and San Diego Padres (once) <ref>{{cite web | title=Gary Sheffield Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | website=Baseball-Reference.com | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sheffga01.shtml?redir | access-date=2025-11-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fred McGriff Batting Stats |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcgrifr01-bat.shtml |access-date=2025-11-14 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Statistical leader===
*Led National League in batting average (.330) and total bases (323) in 1992
*Led National League in on-base percentage (.465) and OPS (1.090) in 1996

===National Baseball Hall of Fame consideration===
Sheffield first appeared on balloting for the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]] in [[2015 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2015]], when he received 11.7% of the vote, well short of the 75% required for election, but above the 5% minimum required to remain on the ballot.
In 2024, his tenth and final appearance on the BBWAA ballot, he received 63.9%, falling short of the necessary threshold.

==Steroid allegations==
During a workout with [[Barry Bonds]] in 2001, a cream was applied to Sheffield's knee by a trainer to help heal ripped stitches from a knee surgery. Sheffield states in his book, ''Inside Power'', that he had no knowledge of the cream containing steroids, and had no reason to assume so at the time. He goes on to say in his book that the cream did nothing to strengthen his knee, and also states that a look at his numbers shows no improvement after the incident.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ktvu.com/sports/3786297/detail.html|title=MLB Will Not Punish Sheffield For BALCO Admission|publisher=KTVU|location=San Francisco|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116052511/http://www.ktvu.com/sports/3786297/detail.html|archive-date=2009-01-16}}</ref>

On December 13, 2007, Sheffield was named in the [[Mitchell Report (baseball)|Mitchell Report]] as one of the players who had obtained and used steroids.<ref name="tmr">{{cite report |last=Mitchell |first=George |author-link=George J. Mitchell |date=December 13, 2007 |title=Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of an Independent Investigation into the Illegal Use of Steroids and Other Performance Enhancing Substances by Players in Major League Baseball |url=https://files.mlb.com/mitchrpt.pdf |publisher=[[Office of the Commissioner of Baseball]] |pages= |docket= |access-date=October 26, 2023}}</ref> Sheffield agreed to meet with the report's investigators for an interview but, due to the unavailability of his attorney, no interview could be scheduled before the report was published.<ref name="tmr" />{{rp|121}}

In their book ''[[Game of Shadows]]'', reporters [[Mark Fainaru-Wada]] and [[Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada|Lance Williams]] allege that Sheffield worked with and received steroids such as testosterone and human growth hormone from his and Barry Bonds's personal trainer Greg Anderson. The book also details steroid calendars found in possession of Anderson outlining numerous steroid cycles Sheffield was to have undertaken after the 2001 season.

==Personal life==
In 1986, Sheffield was arrested alongside his uncle, [[Dwight Gooden]], and fellow [[Tampa]] baseball player [[Vance Lovelace]] and charged with resisting arrest with violence and battery on a police officer. He pleaded no contest in January 1987 and was sentenced to two years probation.<ref>{{cite news |date=24 January 1987 |title=Gooden Pleads No Contest, Gets Probation |pages=47 |work=[[The Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94437015/gooden-pleads-no-contest-gets-probation/ |access-date=7 February 2022}}</ref>

In October 1987, while still on probation, Sheffield was arrested and charged with [[driving while intoxicated]] and related offenses. Those charges were eventually consolidated into one reckless driving charge. His probation was extended for an additional 18 months.<ref>{{cite news |date=21 January 1988 |title=Player's probation extended |pages=10 |work=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94437400/players-probation-extended/ |access-date=7 February 2022}}</ref>

On December 5, 1993, Sheffield was arrested after being clocked driving a [[Ferrari Testarossa]] {{convert|110|mph|km/h}} on [[Interstate 4]] in Florida and failing a [[breathalyzer]] test. In May 1994, he pleaded no contest to reckless driving and was sentenced again to nine months of probation and 40 hours of community service.<ref>{{cite news |date=25 May 1994 |title=Outfielder Sentenced |pages=37 |work=[[Reno Gazette-Journal]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94197952/reno-gazette-journal/ |access-date=5 February 2022}}</ref>

In October 1995, Sheffield was shot in his left shoulder after an attempted robbery when he stopped his car at a traffic light in Tampa.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CEFDC1738F932A05753C1A963958260 |title=Sheffield Shot at Traffic Light |date=October 31, 1995 |agency=Associated Press |work=The New York Times |page=B11 |access-date=September 24, 2024 }}</ref>

Throughout his career, Sheffield was verbal about his need for sufficient financial compensation and respect, demanding better pay when he was with the Dodgers, and refusing to play in the inaugural [[World Baseball Classic]], saying the regular "season is when [he's] getting paid."<ref>{{cite news |date=August 5, 2005 |title=Gary Sheffield, Unplugged |work=CNN |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/baseball/mlb/08/05/sheffield.quotes/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050807001437/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/baseball/mlb/08/05/sheffield.quotes/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 7, 2005 |access-date=May 3, 2010}}</ref>

Sheffield and his wife [[Deleon Richards|Deleon]] reside in [[Tampa, Florida]]. They have three sons Jaden Sheffield, Noah Sheffield, and Christian Sheffield. Sheffield has five other children from previous relationships. Deleon is a gospel recording artist and has sung the National Anthem at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]] during a playoff game with Sheffield on the lineup.<ref>{{cite news |author=Doug Miller |title=Gospel star finds church of baseball |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/mlb/y2008/m09/d24/c3539498.jsp |access-date=December 29, 2022 |work=MLB.com |date=September 24, 2008}}</ref> In February 2005, a man was arraigned in federal court on charges of [[extortion|extorting]] Sheffield by threatening to release a sex tape of Deleon with an ex-boyfriend.<ref>{{cite news |last=Oberfield |first=Gabriel S. |date=18 February 2005 |title='Activist' pleads not guilty in extortion case |pages= |work=[[The Times of Northwest Indiana]] |agency=Medill News Service |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122517478/activist-pleads-not-guilty-in/ |access-date=8 April 2023 |via=Newspapers.com }}</ref> In January 2006, the man was sentenced to 27 months in prison.<ref>{{cite news |date=19 January 2006 |title=Man Sentenced in Sheffield Case |pages=24 |work=[[Clarion-Ledger]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122538840/man-sentenced-in-sheffield-case/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=9 April 2023 }}</ref>

Sheffield's cousin, Derrick Pedro, played outfield in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.<ref name="streetsmarts" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Derrick Pedro Minor Leagues Statistics|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=pedro-001der|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|publisher=[[Sports Reference]]|access-date=19 January 2018|language=en}}</ref> Sheffield's cousin, [[Tim Carter (wide receiver)|Tim Carter]], played professional [[American football|football]] as a [[wide receiver]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Schwartz|first1=Paul|title=It's All Relative – Jints' Carter Has 7 Pro-Athlete Kin|url=https://nypost.com/2004/09/22/its-all-relative-jints-carter-has-7-pro-athlete-kin/|access-date=19 January 2018|work=[[New York Post]]|date=22 September 2004}}</ref>

In the June 2007 issue of ''[[GQ (magazine)|GQ]]'' magazine, Sheffield (a Detroit Tiger at the time) was quoted saying that there are more Latin baseball players than African-American players because Latinos are easier to control. "What I said is that you're going to see more black faces, but there ain't no English going to be coming out. ... (It's about) being able to tell (Latin players) what to do — being able to control them.... Where I'm from, you can't control us." He continued "They have more to lose than we do. You can send them back across the island. You can't send us back. We're already here."<ref>{{cite news |title=Sheffield tries to explain controversial remarks |work=MSNBC.com |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19013033/ |date=June 5, 2007 |agency=Associated Press |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070606065447/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19013033/ |archive-date=2007-06-06}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}
{{Div col}}
* [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career total bases leaders]]
* [[List of Miami Marlins team records]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball players named in the Mitchell Report]]
* [[List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences]]
{{end div col}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{baseballstats|mlb=122111 |espn=2113 |br=s/sheffga01 |fangraphs=114 |brm=sheffi001gar}}
*[https://archive.today/20130119103139/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/baseball/mlb/08/05/sheffield.mouth/index.html cnn.com] Sports Illustrated Interview
* {{SABR Baseball Biography Project|gary-sheffield}}
:

{{s-start|header={{s-ach}}}}
{{succession box | before = [[Brett Butler (baseball)|Brett Butler]] | title = [[Major League Baseball Player of the Month Award|National League Player of the Month]]| years = August, 1992| after = [[Barry Bonds]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year}}
{{The Sporting News Minor League Player of the Year Award}}
{{NL batting title}}
{{1997 Florida Marlins}}
{{NL 3B Silver Slugger Award}}
{{NL OF Silver Slugger Award}}
{{AL OF Silver Slugger Award}}
{{NL Comeback Players of the Year}}
{{500 home run club}}
{{The Sporting News MLB Player of the Year Award}}
{{1986 MLB Draft}}
{{Milwaukee Brewers 1st round}}
{{Major League Baseball on TBS}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheffield, Gary}}
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:African-American baseball players]]
[[Category:American League All-Stars]]
[[Category:American sports agents]]
[[Category:Atlanta Braves players]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Tampa, Florida]]
[[Category:Denver Zephyrs players]]
[[Category:Detroit Tigers players]]
[[Category:El Paso Diablos players]]
[[Category:Florida Marlins players]]
[[Category:Helena Gold Sox players]]
[[Category:Lakeland Flying Tigers players]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Dodgers players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball controversies]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball right fielders]]
[[Category:Milwaukee Brewers players]]
[[Category:National League All-Stars]]
[[Category:National League batting champions]]
[[Category:New York Mets players]]
[[Category:New York Yankees players]]
[[Category:Portland Sea Dogs players]]
[[Category:San Diego Padres players]]
[[Category:Silver Slugger Award winners]]
[[Category:Stockton Ports players]]
[[Category:Trenton Thunder players]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:People convicted of battery]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]