Miguel Cabrera

34 Pages·2014·33.771 MB·English

by  Jameson Anderson

A
n
d
e
r
s
o
n
Checkerboard
Library
M
i
g
u
e
l

C
Meet the greatest stars in sports with Awesome Athletes! In this
a
series, each book tells the inspiring story of one athlete’s journey b
r
from childhood dreams to professional success. Scores, stats, and e
r
record-breaking accomplishments are just part of the experience. a
You’ll also discover the contributions each athlete makes to his or
her community. Jam-packed with career highlights, high-impact
photographs, and more, Awesome Athletes is a winner!
BOOKS IN THIS SET
Miguel Cabrera Colin Kaepernick Danica Patrick
Gabby Douglas Peyton Manning Aaron Rodgers
Kevin Durant Johnny Manziel Mike Trout
LeBron James Clay Matthews Russell Wilson
ABDO PUBLISHING IS A DIVISION OF ABDO
WWW.ABDOPUBLISHING.COM
Jameson Anderson

Checkerboard
Library
An Imprint of Abdo Pub1lishing
Jameson Anderson
www.abdopublishing.com
www.abdopublishing.com
Published by Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO, PO Box 398166, Minneapolis, Minnesota
55439. Copyright © 2015 by Abdo Consulting Group, Inc. International copyrights reserved in all
countries. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from
the publisher. Checkerboard Library™ is a trademark and logo of Abdo Publishing.
Printed in the United States of America, North Mankato, Minnesota.
052014
092014
Cover Photo: AP Images
Interior Photos: AP Images pp. 7, 9, 13, 19; Corbis pp. 23, 25, 29; Getty Images pp. 1, 5, 11, 15, 17, 20,
21, 22, 26, 27
Series Coordinator: Tamara L. Britton
Editors: Tamara L. Britton, Megan M. Gunderson
Art Direction: Neil Klinepier
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Anderson, Jameson.
Miguel Cabrera / Jameson Anderson.
pages cm. -- (Awesome athletes)
Includes index.
ISBN 978-1-62403-328-5
1. Cabrera, Miguel, 1983---Juvenile literature. 2. Baseball players--Venezuela--Biography--
Juvenile literature. I. Title.
GV865.C25A64 2015
796.357092--dc23
[B]
2013048643
2
table of contents
The Triple Crown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Highlight Reel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
All in the Family. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Uncertain Future. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
A Dream Come True . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Minor Miracle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
The Majors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
World Series Winner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
A New Beginning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
An Off Season. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Back on Top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Playing It Forward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Glossary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Websites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
3
the triple crown
On October 3, 2012, Miguel Cabrera was about to
become a baseball legend. It was the last game of the
season, a night game in Kansas City, Missouri. Cabrera was
in position to win the American League (AL) Triple Crown.
But Cabrera’s home run lead was slim. He led Texas
Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton by just one run. Cabrera
had 44 home runs. Hamilton had 43. If Hamilton hit a
home run that night, the two would end the season with a
tie. Cabrera would lose the Crown.
In the Tigers dugout, players watched the Rangers
game on laptop computers. But Hamilton did not homer in
the Rangers’ 12–5 loss to the Oakland A’s. Cabrera was the
2012 AL Triple Crown winner!
Cabrera finished the season with 44 home runs, 139 runs
batted in (RBIs), and a .330 batting average. But Cabrera
was less excited about his award than that the Tigers had
made the playoffs. Would they make it to the World Series?
Fun
Before CaBrera, The lasT Triple Crown was won By
BosTon red sox slugger Carl yasTrzemski in 1967.
4 Fact
Cabrera and his family accept the Triple Crown trophy.
5
hi g h l i g h t
re e l

The Detroit Tigers
José Miguel Cabrera Cabrera made it to the
was born in Maracay, married The Marlins traded postseason but lost
Venezuela. Rosangel Cabrera to the to the Boston Red
Polanco. Detroit Tigers. Sox in the ALCS.
1983
2007
2001 2013
1999 2012
2003
Sixteen-year-old The San Francisco
Cabrera signed a Cabrera was Giants swept the
contract with the promoted to the Detroit Tigers to win
Florida Marlins major leagues; the the World Series;
worth $1.8 million. Florida Marlins Cabrera won the
defeated the New American League
York Yankees four Triple Crown.
games to two in
the World Series.
66
hi g h l i g h t
miguel
re e l
cabrera
DOB: April 18, 1983
Ht: 6’4”
Wt: 240
Position: 1B
Number: 24
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Career STaTiSTiCS:
rHBBari:ts t:i.n .g. ..a v.. g.. : ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 .233662051
aWarDS:
all-Star: 2004–2007; 2010–2013
MVP: 2012, 2013
Silver Slugger: 2005, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2013
Triple Crown: 2012
World Series: 2003 (Win), 2012
77
all in the family
José Miguel Cabrera was born in Maracay, Venezuela,
on April 18, 1983. His parents called him Miguel. Miguel’s
family lived in the La Parera neighborhood. Their small
house had a kitchen, a bathroom, and two other rooms.
From an early age, Miguel’s life was filled with
baseball. His father, also named Miguel, played baseball
on several Venezuelan teams. Miguel’s mother, Gregoria,
spent 14 years playing shortstop for the Venezuelan
national softball team.
Miguel’s family lived next to Maracay Stadium. Miguel
watched his father and his uncle play baseball there.
Miguel and his younger sister, Ruth, quickly learned the
game. Miguel and Ruth sometimes practiced together.
They used a stick for a bat and wadded up a piece of
paper for a ball.
88