Baseball players rising from poverty?

Question

I am working with troubled youth, who have expressed an interest in sports. I was hoping that someone could tell me about any current baseball stars who had overcome poverty or legal issues in thier youth. Thank you so much for the help.

Answer 1

Jose Reyes, the shortstop on the New York Mets. He came from a dirt poor farming family in the Domincan Republic. He took his signing bonus the Mets gave him a few years ago and gave the whole thing to his father to open a mini-mart in the Domincan Republic instead of going out and buying a car like most people do. After he was called up to the big leagues for good, him, his girlfriend, his 18 month old daughter and both his mom and dad moved into a 2 bedroom apartment in Queens, New York City.

They all lived there up until a few weeks ago when Jose Reyes signed a $48 million dollar contract with the Mets and bought a house.

Jose is now arguably the most exciting player in baseball and arguably the best leadoff hitter and defensive shortstop.
You can get more information on Jose Reyes at the link below.

Answer 2

The best cases are those of Latin American players.
Bobby Abreu was born on a poor suburb of Maracay, in Venezuela and lived in a very simple house made of wood and with a tin roof. His mother I believe was a maid. He's now earning 13.6 million dollars.
Livan Hernandez (or is it Orlando?), from Cuba, almost died when he tried to get to the Florida coast on a wooden raft. A week later he was signing a multimillion dollar contract.
I could go on and on.
Jose Contreras, also Cuban, was living in a small and very poor House in Havana. He then left his Cuban National Team during a tour (Mexico or US) and a week later was signing a four year 32 million dollar contract with the Yankees.
Dave Concepcion from Venezuela, back in the sixties was signed by the Reds. He was 17 years old and very skinny. His teeth were a mess. Back in those days they didn't pay big bonuses and the salaries were not that high. He wound up playing for 19 seasons for the Reds and now is a very respectable business man in Venezuela. He owns large farmlands and a trucking company, besides many businesses in Cincinnati.
That's the best story I know.

Answer 3

I second the previous poster.

Latin players tend to be the best examples. As I imagine your youth are American, and you may want to have them better relate, you can either choose a Latin player that has been in the MLB and been successful (and is well-spoken from an english perspective), or try to find an American player, of which there are some, in the same situation.

Carlos Delgado strikes me as a good choice for the latter. He grew up in poverty.

As for the American player, well, I don't know offhand. Of course, there are plenty out there.

Answer 4

Well we lost Kirby Puckett earlier this year but had he not come down with glaucoma he would have been just retired or near retirement now. Kirby rose up from some of the toughest neighborhoods in Chicago, raised in the projects he overcame the temptation to get involved with gangs & street thugs to become one of baseballs elites with 2 world championships and election to the hall of fame, we will miss that smile for a long, long time.

Answer 5

Orlando Hernandez is a good example. After he became rich from signing with the Yankees, someone had to tell him to cut back on the McDonald's food because he was gaining weight. He could never afford fast food, let alone any special gifts for himself or his family!

Answer 6

He's not exactly a star, but Shane Youman of the Pirates would fit that category.

Answer 7

Marino Rivera,He said life was really hard growing up in Panama,
he said he used to make his catchers mit out of paper!!!!

Answer 8

most of them didnt have money, look up any player online and it will explain what there childhood was like. Baseball players are way overpayed