Background and career
Michael Terrance Cameron (born January 8, 1973) is an American former professional Major League Baseball outfielder. He played for the Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, and Florida Marlins over a 17-year career and is currently the special assignment coach for the Seattle Mariners. In 2002, Cameron became the 13th player to hit four home runs in one game. He was also an All-Star in 2001 and won Gold Gloves in 2001, 2003, and 2006. Cameron has distinguished himself by being only one of 25 players in the history of baseball to have at least 250 home runs and 250 stolen bases and became the 20th member of this exclusive 250/250 club. Cameron is also the only MLB player to hit two home runs in the same game with eight different teams.
Cameron was born in LaGrange, Georgia, and raised on Render Street by his grandmother; he moved into her house when he was seven years old to keep her company after her husband died. Cameron attended LaGrange High School. His grandmother kept him from playing baseball as a high school junior because he failed a chemistry class. As a result, he drew less attention from scouts. He played football in high school with future National Football League player Walt Harris.
Cameron was drafted out of high school in the 18th round by the Chicago White Sox in 1991. In 1994, he set a Carolina League record with 17 triples. His major league debut took place on August 27, 1995, and he collected his first hit on August 30, off C. J. Nitkowski. He hit his first home run off Jason Jacome of the Kansas City Royals on September 27. Cameron returned to the minors to start the 1996 season. He led the Southern League in runs, stolen bases, and slugging percentage and was a mid-season and postseason All-Star. League managers named him the most exciting player. He returned to the majors for one game in August, then played in 10 games as a September call-up. Over his first two partial seasons in the majors, he had a .163 batting average in 39 games. In 1997, Cameron won the starting center fielder job. On June 27, he robbed Roberto Kelly of the Minnesota Twins of what would have been a go-ahead home run. Cameron finished sixth in American League (AL) Rookie of the Year Award voting, leading league rookies in walks and steals. He hit .259 with 14 home runs in his first full season in the majors, striking out 105 times. Cameron's offense dipped in 1999, batting .210 with eight home runs.
The White Sox traded Cameron to the Cincinnati Reds for Paul Konerko on November 11, 1998. In his sole season with Cincinnati, Cameron batted .256 with 25 home runs with career highs of 38 steals and 80 walks.
The Reds traded Cameron, Brett Tomko, Antonio Pérez, and Jake Meyer to the Seattle Mariners for Ken Griffey Jr. on February 10, 2000. Replacing Griffey in center field, Cameron robbed Derek Jeter of a home run in his first week with the new team, which Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus called "Griffey-esque", then "Cameron-esque". Cameron hit .267 with a career-high .365 on-base percentage in his first season with Seattle, making his first postseason appearance. In 2001, he was selected to his only MLB All-Star Game, won his first Gold Glove Award, and returned to the postseason as the Mariners tied an MLB record with 116 wins. Cameron tied a major league record on May 2, 2002, when he hit four home runs in one game, becoming the 13th player in MLB history to do so. His first two home runs both came in the game's first inning, each following a home run by Bret Boone, making them the first teammates in MLB history to hit back-to-back home runs twice in the same inning. his fifth at bat, Cameron hit a line drive to the warning track, just missing what would have been a record-setting fifth home run. During the game, he also robbed Magglio Ordóñez of the Chicago White Sox of what would have been a grand slam. In 2002, Cameron led the AL with 176 strikeouts, the most of his career. In April 22, 2003, Cameron hit a walk-off grand slam off Danys Báez of the Cleveland Indians. In his final season with the Mariners, Cameron won his second Gold Glove and led MLB center fielders in range factor (3.42).
On December 23, 2003, Cameron signed a three-year, $19.5 million contract with the New York Mets. In his first season with the Mets, Cameron hit a career-high 30 home runs. With the acquisition by the Mets of Carlos Beltrán before the 2005 season, Cameron ceded his position to the future Hall of Famer and played mostly in right field during the 2005 season. On August 11 in San Diego, Cameron collided with Beltrán in the outfield as both made diving attempts to catch a fly ball. Cameron suffered a concussion and multiple fractures of his nose and cheekbones and was removed from the field on a stretcher. Beltrán also suffered a concussion but was able to walk off the field with help.
Sources
Net-worth figure: Celebrity Net Worth (October 2026), in USD. Biography and career facts: the person's Wikipedia article and linked reporting. Snapshot date for all StarWorth figures: 28 October 2026.
