Vladimir Guerrero facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vladimir Guerrero |
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Guerrero with the Los Angeles Angels in 2007
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| Right fielder / Designated hitter | |||
| Born: February 9, 1975 Nizao, Dominican Republic |
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| debut | |||
| September 19, 1996, for the Montreal Expos | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 28, 2011, for the Baltimore Orioles | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .318 | ||
| Hits | 2,590 | ||
| Home runs | 449 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,496 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2018 | ||
| Vote | 92.9% (second ballot) | ||
Vladimir Guerrero Alvino (born February 9, 1975) is a famous former professional baseball player from the Dominican Republic. He was known as "Vlad the Impaler" because of his powerful hitting. Vladimir played for 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a right fielder and designated hitter.
He played for teams like the Montreal Expos (1996–2003), Anaheim Angels / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2004–2009), Texas Rangers (2010), and Baltimore Orioles (2011). Vladimir was chosen for the All-Star team nine times. He was famous for hitting the ball very hard and for his strong throwing arm in the outfield. In 2004, he was named the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Vladimir helped the Angels win five AL West championships between 2004 and 2009. Many baseball managers thought he was one of the most feared hitters in the game. He was known for hitting pitches that were outside the strike zone, even pitches that bounced! He hit more than 30 home runs in eight different seasons and had over 100 runs batted in (RBI) ten times.
In 2018, Vladimir Guerrero was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. His son, Vladimir Jr., also became a successful MLB player. In 2021, they became only the second father-son duo in MLB history to each hit 40 home runs in a season. Vladimir Guerrero's career batting average of .318 is the highest for any player who played mostly in the 21st century.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Vladimir Guerrero grew up in Don Gregorio, Dominican Republic, in a simple house made of mud and brick with a palm-leaf roof. His mother, Altagracia, sold food to earn money. After a big storm called Hurricane David hit in 1979, his mother traveled to find work, and Vladimir and his siblings were cared for by their great aunt.
Vladimir was one of nine children. His older brother, Wilton Guerrero, also played in the major leagues for the Montreal Expos. Vladimir and his brothers played baseball using homemade gloves from milk cartons and socks filled with plastic bags as baseballs. He didn't get a real baseball glove until he was 15 years old, when his older brother, who was playing in the minor leagues, gave him one.
As a teenager, Vladimir tried out for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Dominican Republic. But after eight months, he didn't get a contract. In 1993, a scout named Arturo DeFreites convinced the Montreal Expos to sign Vladimir for $2,100. When he signed, he said he was born in 1976, but later it was found out he was actually born in 1975.
Professional Baseball Career
Montreal Expos Years
The Montreal Expos signed Vladimir Guerrero on March 1, 1993. He quickly moved up through their Minor League Baseball (MiLB) teams. He made his MLB debut on September 19, 1996. In that first game, he got his first big league hit, a single, against Atlanta Braves pitcher Steve Avery. A few days later, he hit his first career home run against Mark Wohlers.
In his first full season in 1997, Vladimir was sometimes criticized for swinging at too many pitches. But he still had great numbers for a rookie, batting .302 with 11 home runs. He was known for his amazing ability to hit pitches that were far outside the strike zone. He had incredible hand-eye coordination and strength. Even with his aggressive style, he rarely struck out many times in a season.
In 1998, Vladimir batted .324 with 38 home runs and 109 runs batted in (RBI). He signed a big contract for $28 million. He played in the 1999 All-Star Game and had a 31-game hitting streak that year. In 1999, he had a career-high 131 RBI, and in 2000, he hit a career-high 44 home runs.
On July 7, 2001, Vladimir made one of the best throws in MLB history. He caught a ball hit deep into right field and threw it all the way to home plate to get a runner out. The throw was about 300 feet long!
In 2001, Vladimir also showed off his speed by stealing 37 bases. He hit 34 home runs, becoming part of the 30–30 club (30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in one season). In 2002, he led the National League with 206 hits and stole a career-high 40 bases. He almost joined the 40–40 club, hitting 39 home runs that year. He was the first player in MLB history to hit 30 home runs, steal 40 bases, and bat over .330 in one season.
His 2003 season was shorter because of a back injury. Even though he was hurt, he still batted .330 with 25 home runs. On September 14, 2003, he achieved a rare feat by hitting for the cycle (a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game). He was the last Expos player to hit for the cycle before the team moved to Washington.
Vladimir holds many Montreal Expos team records, including the highest career batting average (.323), most home runs (234), and best slugging percentage (.588). He was named the Montreal Expos Player of the Year four times.
Anaheim Angels / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
After the 2003 season, Vladimir became a free agent and signed a five-year, $70 million contract with the Anaheim Angels on January 14, 2004. He chose the Angels partly because their owner, Arte Moreno, was the first Hispanic and Latino American owner of an MLB team.
In his first year with the Angels in 2004, Vladimir was amazing. He led the team and the American League in many hitting categories, including 124 runs scored and 366 total bases. He was only the second player in Angels history to have a .300 batting average, 30 home runs, and 100 RBI in a season. He was voted the team's MVP by his teammates.
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Vladimir was especially good in September 2004, helping the Angels win their division. The Angels were behind by three games, but Vladimir's great hitting helped them catch up and win the AL West title. This amazing performance led to him winning the AL MVP award, making him only the second Angel player to do so.
In the 2005 season, the Angels won their division again. Vladimir batted .317 with 32 home runs and 108 RBI. He also hit his 300th career home run before turning 30, a rare achievement.
In 2007, Vladimir won his first Home Run Derby, hitting a home run that traveled an incredible 503 feet! He was chosen for the All-Star Game in each of his first four seasons with the Angels (2004–2007).
As he got older, Vladimir's fielding wasn't as strong due to injuries. So, in 2009, he became a designated hitter instead of playing in the outfield. On August 10, 2009, he hit his 400th career home run. Later that month, he got his 1,000th hit as an Angel. This made him one of only four players to have 1,000 hits in both the National League and the American League.
In the 2009 playoffs, Vladimir had a key hit against the Boston Red Sox, helping the Angels win and advance to the ALCS. The 2009 season was the first time his batting average dropped below .300.
Texas Rangers
On January 11, 2010, Vladimir Guerrero signed with the Texas Rangers. He continued to hit well, batting .300 with 29 home runs and 115 RBI. He won a Silver Slugger Award that year. He also helped the Rangers win their division and their first-ever American League pennant. In the 2010 World Series, the Rangers lost to the San Francisco Giants.
Baltimore Orioles
Vladimir signed with the Baltimore Orioles on February 18, 2011. On September 26, 2011, he became the all-time MLB hits leader among players born in the Dominican Republic. In 2011, he batted .290 with 13 home runs.
Later Career and Retirement
Vladimir did not sign with any team for the start of the 2012 season. He later signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays and played a few games in their minor league system before asking for his release. He also played briefly in the Dominican Professional Baseball League.
On March 31, 2014, Vladimir Guerrero signed a one-day contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and officially retired from baseball.
Hall of Fame Induction
Vladimir Guerrero became eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017. In 2018, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, receiving 92.9% of the votes. He was inducted alongside other great players like Chipper Jones and Jim Thome. Vladimir is the first player in the Hall of Fame to have an Angels cap on his plaque, even though he played more games and seasons for the Montreal Expos.
Batting Style
Vladimir Guerrero was unique because he batted without wearing batting gloves. He said this was because he helped his grandfather pull cows barehanded when he was a boy in the Dominican Republic. To get a better grip on his bat, he would put pine tar on his helmet and rub his bat on it. His helmet would get covered in pine tar by the end of the season!
Vladimir batted over .300 for 12 straight seasons, from 1997 to 2008. He also drove in over 100 runs in almost every season between 1998 and 2007. He was known for swinging at pitches far outside the strike zone, but he was so good that he could still hit them hard. Baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. once called him "the best bad-ball hitter I've ever seen."
Personal Life
Vladimir Guerrero has several children. His son, Vladimir Jr., was born in Montreal in 1999 and is now a star player for the Toronto Blue Jays. Another son, Pablo Guerrero, signed with the Texas Rangers in 2023.
Vladimir has also helped create jobs in his hometown in the Dominican Republic through his businesses, which include a concrete-block factory, a propane company, a supermarket, a farm, and a clothing store.
Awards and Honors
- Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame (2018)
- Inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame (2017)
- American League Most Valuable Player (2004)
- Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award (2010)
- 9× MLB All-Star (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010)
- 8× Silver Slugger Award winner (1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010)
- 4× Los Angeles Angels Player of the Year (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
- Eastern League MVP (1996)
Images for kids
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Guerrero in 2010 spring training.
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Guerrero in 2011
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Vladimir Guerrero in 2014
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See also
In Spanish: Vladimir Guerrero para niños
