Three-Time Gold Glover, 2011 American League All-Star, Mike Cameron, to be Enshrined Into Potomac Baseball Hall of Fame at Pfitzner Stadium on Sunday, August 2nd
Woodbridge, VA--The Potomac Nationals are proud to announce the induction of former Major League Baseball veteran outfielder, Mike Cameron, the three-time Gold Glove Award recipient (2001, 2003, and 2006) and 2001 American League All-Star, into the Potomac Baseball Hall of Fame at Pfitzner Stadium during the 2015 baseball season.
Cameron, 42, is ushered onto the team's elite roster of former franchise hallmarks as the 11th Potomac Baseball Hall of Fame member in club history in recognition of his membership with the 1994 Prince William Cannons (Chicago White Sox).
The 1997 Rookie of the Year Award candidate with the Chicago White Sox and two-time top Most Valuable Player Award vote-getter (16th-most votes for the 2001 AL MVP Award and 21st-most votes for the 2006 National League MVP Award) while with the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres will be enshrined in an on-field, pre-game ceremony at The Pfitz on Sunday, August 2nd, 2015 before the Potomac Nationals take on the Salem Red Sox (Boston) at 6:05pm.
Gates to Pfitzner Stadium will open at 5:00pm on 8/2 for Mike Cameron's franchise Hall of Fame induction.
The Potomac Baseball Hall of Fame located in the F.H. Furr Stadium Café Area at Pfitzner Stadium will contain a plaque bearing Cameron's image and an unabridged description of his standout professional career.
"Mike Cameron is one of the most well-polished players to ever play for our storied franchise. Cameron is a rare player who possessed all five tools and made a name for himself as a gold glover with a powerful bat. Sunday, August 2nd will be a special day as we will honor Mike's career and put him in an elite class of Potomac Baseball Hall of Famers," said Potomac Nationals Executive Vice President/General Manager, Josh Olerud regarding Cameron's induction.
Cameron will be on hand at Pfitzner Stadium to personally accept his Potomac Baseball Hall of Fame plaque during the induction and also meet and greet P-Nats fans.
The 17-year MLB journeyman will also sign autographs for the Potomac Nationals' faithful on the Pfitzner Stadium concourse during the event.
The former Prince William Cannon, eventually known by his fans as "Cammy," was a top producer for the 1994 club. Cameron's slash line in '94 with the Chicago White Sox-affiliated Prince William County team was .248/.343/.391/.734 while he submitted 116 hits, 86 runs scored, 15 doubles, 17 triples, six home runs, 48 runs batted in, 22 stolen bases, and 60 walks while being hit by a pitch on eight occasions.
The gritty defensive wizard known for robbing home run balls and swatting them out of the park just as easily made his Major League debut with Chicago on August 27th, 1995. The heyday of Cameron's career was his four-year stretch with Seattle from 2000 to 2003.
In all, Cameron played for eight MLB clubs; Chicago (1995-1998), Cincinnati Reds (1999), Seattle (2000-2003), New York Mets (2004-2005), San Diego Padres (2006-2007), Milwaukee Brewers (2008-2009), Boston Red Sox (2010-2011), and Florida Marlins (2011).
Arguably, Cameron's most productive season was with the Mariners in 2011 when the AL All-Star and gold glover turned in a .267/.353/.480/.832 hitting line with 144 base knocks, 99 runs, 30 doubles, five triples, 25 homers, 110 RBIs, 34 swipes, and 69 walks.
Famously, Cameron on May 2nd, 2002, for the Seattle Mariners, tied a Major League record when he cranked four home runs in one game at Comiskey Park in Chicago, IL against the Chicago White Sox, the team that drafted him in the 18th round of the 1991 MLB Amateur Draft. The distances on the home run clouts were (in order of accomplishment): 405 feet (center field), 425 feet (center field), 412 feet (left field), and 412 feet (center field) again.
As of 2015, only 16 players in the history of MLB have recorded four longballs in one contest. Most recently, Texas Rangers OF Josh Hamilton achieved the feat on May 8th, 2012 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, MD, home of the Baltimore Orioles.
On December 19th, 2011, Cameron agreed to a Minor League deal with the Washington Nationals but never appeared in a Nats uniform and announced his retirement on February 19th, 2012.
Seattle signed Cameron to a one-day contract on April 14th, 2012 to officially retire as a Mariner before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the M's home opener later that day.
In 1,955 career MLB games, Cameron amassed a .249 batting clip, .751 OPS, 383 doubles, 59 triples, 278 four-baggers, 968 RBIs, 297 stolen bags, 867 walks, and 3,035 total bases.
Cameron's entrance into the exclusive Potomac Baseball Hall of Fame at Pfitzner Stadium will align his playing career with current Hall of Fame players: LHP/OF Rick Ankiel, C Brad Ausmus, OF Barry Bonds, IF/OF Bobby Bonilla, OF Magglio Ordonez, LHP Andy Pettitte, C Jorge Posada, 1B/OF Albert Pujols, and OF Bernie Williams; in addition to Potomac franchise owner and CEO, Art Silber.
The Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League play at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia, and are the Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Washington Nationals. The Potomac Nationals have claimed five Carolina League Championship titles (1982, 1989, 2008, 2010, and 2014) and nine CL Northern Division Championships. The P-Nats are the defending Carolina League Champions after winning the 2014 Mills Cup Championship Series. Potomac Nationals 2015 season tickets and mini plans are now on sale. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2015 season and beyond are available. Corporate outing reservations for the 2015 season to watch the future stars of the Washington Nationals at The Pfitz may be placed now as the P-Nats offer discounted group rates and all-inclusive picnics. Visit the P-Nats online at www.potomacnationals.com or call the Potomac Nationals Ticket Office at 703-590-2311 for more information!
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