All MLB Team

Ok so I've been very busy lately. Its taken a while but finally finished it. Heres the All MLB Team, with current players. Like the All Time MLB Team, steroids will not play a factor on my decisions and choices. Same thing as the All Time MLB Team, I am selecting 8 position players, 1 DH, 5 starting pitchers, and 1 closing pitcher. Once again feel free to comment

	C Joe Patrick Mauer 6'4" 215lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Left Joe Mauer plays for the Minnesota Twins. Mauer is considered by many to be the best catcher in the sport and has been said by some, including Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., to have the best swing in baseball. In his breakout 2006 season, Mauer became the first catcher in major league history to lead both leagues in batting average and the first American League catcher to win the batting title, finishing with an average of .347. In 2008, he became the first American League catcher to win the batting title twice when he led the AL with an average of .328, and in 2009, he became the first catcher to lead in average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage in a single year. He also won his third batting title in 2009, leading all of Major League Baseball with a .365 average, which is the highest among catchers in MLB history.
	1B Albert Jose Pujols 6'3" 230lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Albert Pujols plays for the St. Louis Cardinals. Pujols is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in modern Major League Baseball; this is due in part to his impressive accrual of statistics and records before the age of 30. Nearing the end of the 2009 season, Pujols currently ranks within the top 15 players in major league history in four statistical categories: on-base percentage (twelfth), slugging percentage (fourth), on-base plus slugging (OPS; fourth), and adjusted OPS (tied for sixth). He also ranks in the top 500 players in major league history in a variety of statistical categories, and is a two-time MVP. From 2001 to 2005, Pujols hit 201 home runs, second all-time for the most hit in a player's first five seasons. By 2009, he had reached the 350-homer plateau at the age of 29—the third-youngest to do so—and surpassed Ralph Kiner's record for most home runs in his first nine seasons. In so doing, Pujols became the first player to hit 30 or more home runs in the first nine seasons of his career, as well the second player to have 100 or more RBIs in the same timespan. Pujols holds the Cardinals' franchise record for most career grand slams; he broke the record of nine previously held by Stan Musial.Musial and Pujols are also two of only four players in history to have a career batting average above .330 and less than 500 strikeouts at the time of their 300th home runs. In his first 5,000 career at bats, Pujols had amassed 372 doubles, 358 home runs, and 14 triples for a total of 744 extra-base hits, the most in NL history,and is the second player in Major League Baseball to post nine consecutive seasons with 30 doubles, a .300 batting average, 30 home runs, and 100 runs batted in or better. He has scored 100 or more runs in eight of his nine seasons. He currently has eight career walk-off home runs. With his 129th RBI in 2009, he passed "Sunny Jim" Bottomley for third place in Cardinals' history in a career with 1,106. In the field, Pujols has set the Cardinals' franchise for the most assists by a first baseman in a single game (seven). He also set the all-time Cardinals' and National League record for assists by a first baseman in a season (182) in 2009, then in the last game of the 2009 season, broke Bill Buckner's 1985 major league mark of 184 with his 185th. Keith Hernandez held the previous Cardinals' record with 146 assists in 1979, and Mark Grace in 1990 held the old NL record with 181.
	2B Chase Cameron Utley 6'1" 185lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Left Chase Utley plays for the Philadelphia Phillies. Utley has demonstrated versatility as a player and as an athlete, spending some time at first base as well. As his fielding has improved over his career, Utley is seen in combination with Jimmy Rollins as one of the best middle-infield combinations in the NL. Utley is considered by fans to be a team leader, alongside Rollins and Ryan Howard. He received the Silver Slugger Award in 2006 for being the best hitting second baseman in the National League. He also batted .309 in 2006.Utley finished the 2007 season with a .332 batting average, 22 home runs, 103 RBIs and 48 doubles (second in the National League). He helped propel the Phillies to their first playoff appearance in fourteen seasons as the team capped a dramatic comeback by clinching the National League East division title on the final day of the regular season. Utley's offensive performance also earned him a Silver Slugger Award for the second consecutive season. At the end of the 2008 regular season, with 33 home runs, 104 RBI, and a team high 177 hits, Utley helped the Phillies get into the 2008 playoffs, and win their first National League pennant since 1993 and first World Series title since 1980 (the second ever World Series title for the team). Utley batted 3 for 18 (.167) in the World Series, but hit two home runs and walked five times as well. Overall, he batted .220 in the postseason (11 for 50). In 2009 he was named # 6 on the Sporting News' list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball. A panel of 100 baseball people, many of them members of the Baseball Hall of Fame and winners of major baseball awards, was polled to arrive at the list.
	3B Alex Emmanuel Rodriguez 6'3" 225lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right A-Rod currently plays third base for the New York Yankees. He previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers. Rodriguez is considered one of the best all–around baseball players of all time. He is the youngest player ever to hit 500 home runs, breaking the record Jimmie Foxx set in 1939. He is a 12-time AL All-Star, and a 3-time AL MVP (2003, 2005, 2007). He won 10 AL Silver Slugger Awards, 4 AL Hank Aaron Awards (2001–03, 2007), 2 AL Gold Gloves, and Award (SS) (2002, 2003). He is a 5-time AL Runs Leader (1996, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007), a 4-time AL Total Bases Leader (1996, 2001, 2002, 2007), a 5-time AL Home Run Title winner (2001-2003, 2005, 2007), a 2-time AL RBI Title winner (2002, 2007), a 2-time AL OPS Leader (2005, 2007), and a 4-time AL Slugging Percentage Leader (2003, 2005, 2007, 2008). He was linked to steroids in 2009.
	SS Derek Sanderson Jeter 6'3" 195lbs. Throw: Right Bats: Right Derek Jetter plays for and has played his entire career for the New York Yankees. He has served as the Yankees' team captain since 2003. Jeter's presence in the Yankees' lineup, highlighted by his hitting prowess, played an instrumental role in the team's late 1990s dynasty. Jeter debuted in the Major Leagues in 1995, and the following year, he won the Rookie of the Year Award and helped the Yankees win the 1996 World Series. Jeter was also a member of championship-winning teams in 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2009. In 2000, Jeter became the only player to win both the All-Star Game MVP Award and the World Series MVP Award in the same year. He has been selected as an All-Star ten times, and he has won the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards on three occasions. He is regarded as a consummate professional, by teammates and opponents alike, and has a reputation as a reliable contributor in the postseason. Jeter is considered to be one of the best players of his generation. He is the all-time hits leader among shortstops and his .317 career batting average through the 2009 season ranks as the fifth-highest among active players. He has been among the American League (AL) leaders in hits and runs scored for the past ten years. He is the all-time Yankees hit leader, passing Hall of Fame member Lou Gehrig in 2009. Jeter has been noted as an exceptional postseason performer. He has a career .309 postseason batting average with 18 home runs and 50 RBIs. Except for 2008, the Yankees have been to the playoffs every year since Jeter joined the team. He has a Major League Baseball record 153 career postseason hits, and also holds records for most postseason singles (111), at-bats (495), runs scored (85) and strikeouts (96).
	OF Ryan Joseph Braun 6'1" 200lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Ryan Braun plays for the Milwaukee Brewers. He won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 2007, and led the NL in slugging percentage. He also won the Sporting News NL Rookie of the Year, the Baseball America Rookie of the Year, the Baseball Prospectus Internet Baseball NL Rookie of the Year, and the Players Choice NL Most Outstanding Rookie Awards. Over the previous decade, the only other NL hitter to win all five awards was Albert Pujols, in 2001. Braun won the 2008 NL Outfielder Silver Slugger Award, was the starting left fielder for the US team at the 2009 World Baseball Classic, and was a starting NL All Star outfielder in both 2008 and 2009. In 2009 he was named to the Sporting News' list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball, ranking No. 32 on the list, and led the NL in hits for the season. Braun has the ability to hit for average and significant power. His swing is compact, with tremendous bat speed and a protracted follow-through. Braun waits well on offspeed pitches and uses the entire field.He drives the ball no matter where it is in the strike zone. In addition, his speed garnered him comparisons to New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. Braun has been timed at 4.2 seconds to first base from the right side of the plate. During Scout Day at the University of Miami in 2004, Braun ran the 60-yard dash in 6.2 seconds. In spring training in 2007, he was second only to Corey Hart in the Brewers' 60-yard dash.
	OF Ichiro Suzuki 5'11" 172lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Left Ichiro plays for the Seattle Mariners. Ichiro has established a number of batting records, including the sport's single-season record for base hits with 262. He has had nine consecutive 200-hit seasons, the longest streak by any player, surpassing Wee Willie Keeler. Pete Rose, who had ten non-consecutive 200-hit seasons, is the only player with more in his career than Ichiro. Ichiro moved to the United States in 2001 after playing nine years for the Orix Blue Wave in Japan's Pacific League. Posted by Orix after the 2000 season, Ichiro became Seattle's right fielder. The second Japanese-born everyday position player in the major leagues, Ichiro led the AL in batting average and stolen bases en route to being named Rookie of the Year and MVP. Ichiro is the first MLB player to enter the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame (The Golden Players Club). He has been voted onto nine All-Star teams by the fans, winning the 2007 All-Star MVP Award for a three-hit performance that included the event's first-ever inside-the-park home run. Ichiro has won a Gold Glove award in each of his first eight years in the major leagues, and has had six hitting streaks of 20 or more games, with a high of 27. He exists strictly within his own world, playing a game 100 percent unfamiliar to everyone else. The game has known plenty of 'slap' hitters, but none who sacrifice so much natural ability for the sake of the art... Ichiro, a man of wondrous strength, puts on impressive power-hitting displays almost nightly in batting practice. And he'll go deep occasionally in games, looking very much like someone who could do it again, often but the man lives for hits, little tiny ones, and the glory of standing atop the world in that category. Every spring, scouts or media types write him off, swearing that opposing pitchers have found the key, and they are embarrassingly wrong.
	OF Vladimir Alvino Guerrero 6'3" 235lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Vladimir Guerrero plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In 2004, he was voted the American League MVP. He helped lead the Angels to five American League West championships (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009), and was voted as one of the most feared hitters in baseball in a 2008 poll of all 30 major league managers. An eight-time All Star, he is widely recognized as one of the best all-around players in the game because of his impressive offensive production (regularly hitting for power and average), and stellar defense (which is highlighted by one of the strongest throwing arms in baseball). He is also regarded as the game's premier "bad ball hitter," for his ability to consistently hit balls thrown well outside of the strike zone, a skill made evident in a game a number of years ago when Guerrero hit a pitch which bounced in front of home plate. Guerrero bats without wearing batting gloves, a custom rarely seen in modern baseball. To improve his grip on the bat, he coats his helmet with pine tar and simply rubs his helmet before going into the on-deck circle. As the season progresses, his batting helmet becomes covered in the substance. This is particularly noticeable with the bright red helmet of the Angels. Guerrero batted over .300 from 1997-2008. He has driven in over 100 runs in every season but 2003 and 2008. Along with his 2004 MVP season, he has finished 6th (2000), 4th (2002), 3rd (2005), 9th (2006), and 3rd (2007) in MVP voting. In 2008, Guerrero tied Lou Gehrig's mark for most consecutive seasons with at least 25 home runs and a batting average of .300 or better with 11. He also swung at a higher percentage of pitches outside the strike zone, 45.5%, than any other hitter in major league baseball. He had a 44-game hitting streak exclusively against the Texas Rangers from 2004-06, the longest such player-vs.-team streak in MLB history since 1969. The streak occurred over his first 44 appearances against the Rangers. Guerrero has decimated Ranger pitching over his career, putting up a career batting line of .395/.466/.681 with 22 HR, 29 Doubles and 63 RBI in 87 games.
	DH Ryan James Howard 6'4" 255lbs. Throws: Left Bats: Left Ryan Howard plays for the Philadelphia Phillies. Howard was the 2006 National League MVP. Howard is the fastest player to reach both the 100 and 200 home run milestones in Major League Baseball history, passing the marks in 2007 and 2009, respectively. Due to Howard's reputation as an extreme pull hitter, opposing managers often utilize an unusual infield shift with him at the plate, with the third baseman playing shortstop, the shortstop playing second base, and the second baseman playing in shallow right field. Howard is known for his power, however he stikes out extremely often. He also is just a decent defensive 1st baseman, and has very low speed. His totals in the 2007 season totals were a .268 average, with 47 home runs and 136 RBIs, helping the Phillies win the National League East title on the final day of the season to earn their first postseason berth since the 1993 World Series. He finished the season 2008 with 146 RBI and a .251 batting average. Historically speaking, this was a statistical aberration, and is by far the lowest batting average ever for any season in major league history in which a player topped 130 runs batted in. His contributions again helped lead the Phillies to the division title and the post-season. The Phillies eventually won the series in 5 games to bring the Phillies their first World Series championship since 1980, and Philadelphia their first major sports championship since 1983; Howard finished second in the voting for the 2008 NL MVP award, behind Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals.
	P Tim Leroy Lincecum 5'11" 172lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Left Tim Lincecum plays for the San Francisco Giants. Lincecum is known for his long stride, unorthodox mechanics, and ability to generate high velocity despite his slight build of 5'11", 172 lbs. Lincecum won the 2008 NL Cy Young Award, becoming the first second-year player to win the Cy Young since Dwight Gooden and Bret Saberhagen both won in 1985. His repertoire includes a two-seam fastball that reaches well into the mid-nineties, a changeup he grips like a splitter, a curveball notable for its sharp breaking action, and a slider. He also has a four-seam fastball, but rarely uses it. Lincecum throws a fastball in the mid-90s that can sometimes reach 98-99 MPH. This pitch has little lateral movement, due to his overhand delivery and the speed at which the pitch is thrown. He also has a big breaking curveball that is thrown at about 80 MPH. Lincecum uses a changeup that he grips similar to a splitter to offset his top two pitches and keep batters off-balance. His changeup appears similar to his fastball for the first 30 feet, but then breaks down and in toward a right-handed batter as it approaches the plate, with a good 10+ MPH velocity difference from his fastball. He has recently added a cut fastball which breaks down and in against left-handers. With his power fastball and plus secondary pitches, he has quickly established himself as one of the top pitchers in the game.
	P C.C. Sabathia 6'7" 290lbs. Throws: Left Bats: Left CC Sabathia plays for the New York Yankees. His contract with the Yankees is the richest contract for a pitcher in the history of baseball. Sabathia played the first seven plus seasons of his career with the Cleveland Indians where he won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award, and played the second half of the 2008 MLB season with the Milwaukee Brewers, leading them to the NL Wild Card. Sabathia has four plus pitches: fastball, slider, cutter, and changeup. He also exhibits good command of his pitches, posting a 5.65 K/BB ratio in 2007. Sabathia holds a lifetime postseason record of 5 wins and 4 losses in 10 games. He has pitched a total of 61.1 postseason innings, giving up 61 hits, 25 walks and 30 earned runs resulting in a 4.40 ERA. He also struck out 56 batters. In the 2007 ALCS he beaned 3 batters. In interleague play as a player in the American League, Sabathia had a career batting average of .300 with three home runs and seven RBIs in 40 ABs, including a 440-foot home run on June 21, 2008. On July 13, 2008, in his second game with the Brewers, Sabathia hit his second home run of the season off Cincinnati Reds pitcher Homer Bailey, becoming the third pitcher in history to homer in both leagues in the same season and the first since Earl Wilson did it in 1970 with Detroit and San Diego.
	P Roy Harry Halladay 6'6" 225lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Roy Halladay plays for the Toronto Blue Jays. Halladay is a 6 time All-Star selection (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009), the 2003 AL Cy Young Award, and the 2003 AL TSN Pitcher of the Year. He led AL in WHIP (1.05), Complete Games (9), and Innings Pitched (246.0) in 2008. He led MLB in complete games (9), shut outs (4), and finished 2nd in Innings Pitched (239.0)in 2009. In 2009 he was named #7 on the Sporting News' list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball. A panel of 100 baseball people, many of them members of the Baseball Hall of Fame and winners of major baseball awards, was polled to arrive at the list.
	P Johan Alexander Santana 6'0" 208lbs. Throws: Left Bats: Left Johan Santana plays for the New York Mets. He is a two-time Cy Young award winner. His repertoire includes a 91-94 mph fastball, along with a circle changeup, and slider, considered by many to be one of the best pitch combinations in baseball. He played for the Minnesota Twins from 2000-2007. He was traded to the Mets in 2008. He is a 4 time All-Star (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009), a 2 time Cy Young Award winner (2004, 2006), a 2 time TSN Pitcher of the Year (2004, 2006), a 2 time Player's Choice Outstanding Pitcher (2004, 2006), a 2 time Warren Spahn Award winner (2004, 2006), a Gold Glove Award winner (2007),a Pitching Triple Crown winner(2006). He has led AL in wins (2006), in strikeouts (2004, 2005, 2006), in ERA (2004, 2006), and led NL in ERA (2008)
	P Zack Donald Greinke 6'2" 200lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Zack Greinke plays for the Kansas City Royals. Greinke made his major-league debut on May 22, 2004 against the Oakland Athletics, starting the game in which Reggie Jackson's number was retired by the A's. He ended the 2004 season with a record of 8 wins and 11 losses (second most wins on the team, after Jimmy Gobble) and a 3.97 ERA. Greinke's 2005 season, however, was not as successful, as he went 5–17 with a 5.80 ERA. He messed the entire 2006 season. In 2007, he returned to the Royals rotation at the start of the season, but was sent to the bullpen in early May after alternating good starts with bad ones and compiling a 1–4 record with a 5.71 ERA. As a reliever, he was very effective, going 4–1 with a 3.54 ERA. Greinke's 2008 saw him return to the rotation and put up a good year, starting in 32 games with a record of 13 wins and 10. His 3.47 ERA was the best by a full-time Royals starter in 11 years. His record for the 2009 season was 16-8, and he posted an ERA of 2.16, the lowest in MLB. On October 21st, 2009 Greinke was named American League Pitcher of the Year from The Sporting News, his first award for overall regular season performance. On October 28, 2009 Zack was awarded the MLBPA Players Choice AL Pitcher of the Year winner which was announced during Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio. This award was based on vote by major league baseball players.
	CP Mariano Rivera 6'2" 190lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Mariano Rivera plays for and has spent his entire career with the New York Yankees. His presence in the late innings of games to record the final outs has played an instrumental role in the Yankees' success, particularly the team's late 1990s dynasty. He has won five World Series championships as a Yankee. Rivera was signed by the Yankees organization in 1990 and debuted in the Major Leagues in 1995 as a starting pitcher. He found success after being converted to a relief pitcher in the bullpen. After a breakthrough year in 1996 as a setup man, he became the Yankees' closer in 1997 and has maintained that role for the team ever since. Rivera has become one of the best closers in baseball history, and he has done so by primarily throwing one pitch, a sharp-breaking, mid-90s mile per hour cut fastball that has been called an all-time great pitch. Rivera is a ten-time All-Star, a five-time American League (AL) Rolaids Relief Man Award winner, and a three-time saves leader. He has recorded the second-most saves in Major League history, and in 2009, he surpassed 500 career saves. Recognized as an exceptional postseason performer, he holds Major League postseason records for saves and earned run average (ERA), among other records. Baseball writers expect Rivera will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame upon retirement. Rivera's signature pitch is his cut fastball or "cutter". The pitch breaks sharply towards left-handed hitters, exhibiting late movement similar to a slider, but with the velocity of a fastball. He mixes the cutter with both a four-seam and two-seam fastball. He throws all three fastballs in the low-to-mid 90s MPH, usually at 92–95 MPH. Rivera varies the movement on his cutter by adjusting the pressure he puts on the ball with his middle finger. Rivera is considered by many baseball experts to be the greatest closer in baseball history, despite many of them unfavorably comparing modern closers to those who pitched between the 1960s and 1980s. The role of the modern closer has received criticism for becoming too specialized and easy; closers in past decades often entered games in the middle of innings with runners on base and had to pitch multiple innings, while modern closers are usually called upon to only pitch the ninth inning from the start. Despite being utilized much like a modern closer, Rivera has achieved a reputation as an all-time great reliever. Rivera is well-known for his composure and calm, placid demeanor, which contrasts with the rough-edged, emotional, and demonstrative nature of many other closers. Derek Jeter called Rivera the "most mentally tough teammate [he's] ever played with". In a 2009 ESPN.com poll, Rivera was voted as one of the top five postseason players in MLB history.

All Time MLB Team

Finally done. It took a while because of the UC Personal Statement. Now its time for the All Time MLB Team. I saved this one for last because it is the most difficult. I am including the steroid era! I repeat, I am including the steroid era! The subject of steroids is not going to play a factor in my selections for this team. All that matters is what the player did on the field, whether or not perfomance enhancing drugs were used. I am selecting 9 position players, 5 starting pitchers, 1 closing pitcher, and 1 DH. Feel free to comment.

	C Johnny Lee Bench 6'1" 208lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Johnny Bench played for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Bench, a 14-time All-Star selection and the National League's Most Valuable Player in the 1970 and 1972 seasons, was a key member of the "The Big Red Machine", the Reds teams of the 1970s which won six division titles and World Series championships in 1975 and 1976. Although baseball history is filled with many outstanding catchers, such as Yogi Berra, Bill Dickey, Gabby Hartnett and Mickey Cochrane, arguably, no player revolutionized the position like Johnny Bench. The catcher's equipment was traditionally called "the tools of ignorance" as many catchers lacked the fielding skills or quickness to play elsewhere. But Bench, who was big (6'1" and 210 pounds) and athletic, inspired many young ballplayers to become catchers and teams began seeking and developing more athletic ballplayers for the position. Although not the first to use it, Bench popularized the hinged catcher's mitt. Randy Hundley of the San Francisco Giants is credited as actually being the first player to use it in a game, but the success Bench had in his career after adopting it in after a stint on the disabled list in 1966 for a thumb injury on his throwing hand allowed Bench to tuck his throwing arm safely to the side when receiving the pitch. By the turn of the decade, the hinged mitt became standard catchers' equipment.Having huge hands, Bench also tended to block breaking balls in the dirt by scooping them with one hand instead of the more common and fundamentally proper way: dropping to both knees and blocking the ball using the chest protector to keep the ball in front. Bench was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York in 1989 alongside Carl Yastrzemski. He was elected in his first year eligible and appeared on 96% of the ballots, the third-highest percentage to that time. Three years earlier, Bench had been inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1986 and his uniform #5 was retired by the team. In 1999, Bench ranked Number 16 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Player. He was the highest-ranking catcher. Bench was also elected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team as the top vote-receiving catcher. Bench was a 14-time All Star. He won 10 Gold Gloves , 2 NL MVPs, and 2 Word Series Championships.
	1B Henry "Lou" Gehrig 6'0" 200lbs. Throws: Left Bats: Left Lou Gehrig played in the 1920s and 1930s, chiefly remembered for his prowess as a hitter, his consecutive games-played record and its subsequent longevity, and the pathos of his farewell from baseball at age 36, when he was stricken with a fatal disease. Popularly called "The Iron Horse" for his durability, Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams (23). Gehrig accumulated 1,995 RBI in seventeen seasons, with a career batting average of .340, on-base percentage of .447, and slugging percentage of .632. Three of the top six RBI seasons in baseball history belong to Gehrig. He was selected to each of the first seven All-Star games (though he did not play in the 1939 game, as he retired one week before it was held) and he won the American League's Most Valuable Player award in 1927 and 1936. He was also a Triple Crown winner in 1934, leading the American League in batting average, home runs, and RBIs. Gehrig was a 7-time All Star. He won 6 World Series Championships, and 2 AL MVPs.
	2B Jackie Roosevelt Robinson 5'11" 204lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Jackie Robinson had an exceptional baseball career. Over ten seasons, he played in six World Series and contributed to the Dodgers' 1955 World Championship. He was selected for six consecutive All-Star Games from 1949 to 1954, was the recipient of the inaugural MLB Rookie of the Year Award in 1947, and won the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1949 – the first black player so honored. Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. In 1997, Major League Baseball retired his uniform number, 42, across all major league teams. He is most famous for being the first African American MLB player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. As the first black man to openly play in the major leagues since the 1880s, he was instrumental in bringing an end to racial segregation in professional baseball, which had relegated African-Americans to the Negro leagues for six decades. The example of his character and unquestionable talent challenged the traditional basis of segregation, which then marked many other aspects of American life, and contributed significantly to the Civil Rights Movement. Robinson won one World Series Championship. He was a 6-time All Star, and a one time NL MVP.
	3B Mike Jake Schmidt 6'2" 203lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Mike Schmidt played his entire career for the Philadelphia Phillies(1972-1989). Schmidt is considered among the greatest third basemen in the history of major league baseball. Schmidt was voted National League MVP three times, an All-Star 12 times, and received more votes than any other third baseman in 1999's Major League Baseball All-Century Team. In 1995, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Over his career Schmidt set a vast array of hitting and fielding records. In addition to his MVP Awards, Schmidt won ten Gold Gloves, led the league in home runs eight times, in RBI four times, OPS five times, and walks four times. He was named to twelve All-Star teams. Schmidt finished his career with 548 home runs and 1,595 RBI, two of the many Phillies career records he holds. Over his career Schmidt set a vast array of hitting and fielding records. In addition to his MVP Awards, Schmidt won ten Gold Gloves, led the league in home runs eight times, in RBI four times, OPS five times, and walks four times. He was named to twelve All-Star teams. Schmidt finished his career with 548 home runs and 1,595 RBI, two of the many Phillies career records he holds.
	Cal Edwin Ripken Jr. 6'4" 225lbs. Throw: Right Bats: Right Cal Ripken Jr. played his entire career (1981-2001) for the Baltimore Orioles. During his baseball career, he earned the nickname The Iron Man for doggedly remaining in the lineup despite numerous minor injuries and for his reliability to "show up" to work everyday. He is perhaps best known for breaking New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games played, a record many deemed unbreakable. Ripken played in an additional 502 straight games over the next three years, and his streak ended at 2,632 games when he voluntarily removed his name from the lineup for the final Orioles home game of the 1998 season. His record 2,632 straight games spanned over seventeen seasons, from May 30, 1982 to September 20, 1998.A 19-time All-Star and member of the 3000 hit club, Ripken is considered one of the best shortstops and third basemen to ever play the game. At 6' 4" (1.93 m), 225 lbs. (102.27 kg), he pioneered the way for taller, larger shortstops to be successful in that position. When inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007, he was a first ballot inductee with the third highest voting percentage (98.53%) in Hall of Fame history. Ripken demonstrated the ability to play excellent defense at shortstop, and as a result remained a fixture there for well over a decade, leading the league in assists several times, winning the Gold Glove twice, and, in 1990, setting the MLB record for best fielding percentage in a season at his position. Though not a flashy fielder, Ripken displayed excellent fundamentals, and studied batters and even his own pitching staff so he could position himself to compensate for his lack of physical speed, even calling pitches at times. Ripken's legacy as a fielder is reflected by his place near the top of almost every defensive statistical category—he holds at least one all-time record (for either season, career, or most seasons leading the league) in assists, putouts, fielding percentage, double plays, and fewest errors. Ripken's career range factor was 4.73 (and as high as 5.50 for a single season), a mark few shortstops have reached. Ripken's power, which led to records like the most home runs by shortstop and 13th for career doubles, had consequences. His propensity to drive the ball often led to his grounders getting to fielders quickly for tailor-made double-play balls. In 1999, Ripken passed Hank Aaron as the player who had grounded into the most double plays in his career. Ripken is second on the fielding side for double plays by a shortstop. Ripken was a 19-time All Star. He won 2 AL MVPs, 2 Gold Gloves, and one World Series.
	OF Barry Lamar Bonds 6'2" 236lbs. Throws: Left Bats: Left Barry Bonds debuted in the Major Leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1986 and joined the San Francisco Giants in 1993, where he stayed through 2007. Bonds' accomplishments during his baseball career place him among the greatest baseball players of all-time. He has a record-setting seven Most Valuable Player awards, including a record-setting four consecutive MVPs. He is a fourteen-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove-winner. He holds numerous Major League Baseball records, including the all-time Major League Baseball home run record with 762 and the single-season Major League record for home runs with 73 (set in 2001), and is also the all-time career leader in both walks (2,558) and intentional walks (688). Bonds is linked to steriods, and most of his records are considered to be false. However even before the steroid allgations, he was still racking up the awards and accolades.
	OF Willie Howard Mays 5'11" 180lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Willie Mays played the majority of his career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his first year of eligibility. Many consider him to be the greatest all-around player of all time. Mays won two MVP awards and tied a record with twenty-four appearances in the All-Star Game. He ended his career with 660 career home runs, third at the time of his retirement, and currently fourth all-time. In 1999, Mays placed second on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, making him the highest-ranking living player. Later that year, he was also elected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Mays is the only Major League player to have hit a home run in every inning from the 1st through the 16th. He finished his career with a record 22 extra-inning home runs. Mays is one of four NL players to have eight consecutive 100-RBI seasons, along with Mel Ott, Sammy Sosa and Albert Pujols. Mays hit 50 or more home runs in both 1955 and 1965. This time span represents the longest stretch between 50 plus home run seasons for any player in Major League Baseball history.
	OF Hank Louis Aaron 6'0" 180lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Hank Aaron's career spanned the years 1954 through 1976. Aaron is widely considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. In 1999, The Sporting News ranked Hank Aaron fifth on their list of "Greatest Baseball Players." After playing with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League and in the minor leagues, Aaron started his major league career in 1954. He played 21 seasons with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves in the National League, and his last two years (1975–76) with the Milwaukee Brewers in the American League. His most notable achievement was setting the MLB record for most career home runs with 755, which he held for 33 years until being surpassed by Barry Bonds on August 7, 2007. During his professional career, Aaron performed at a consistently high level for an extended period of time. He hit 24 or more home runs every year from 1955 through 1973, and is the only player to hit 30 or more home runs in a season at least fifteen times. He is one of only four players to have at least seventeen seasons with 150 or more hits. Aaron made the All-Star team every year from 1955 until 1975 and won three Rawlings Gold Glove Awards. In 1957, he won the National League Most Valuable Player Award, while that same year, the Braves won the World Series, his one World Series victory during his career. Aaron's consistency helped him to establish a number of important hitting records during his 23-year career. Aaron holds the MLB records for the most career runs batted in (2,297), the most career extra base hits (1,477), and the most career total bases (6,856); he is also in the top five for career hits with 3,771 (third) and runs with 2,174, which is tied for fourth with Babe Ruth). He also is in second place in at-bats (12,364), and in third place in games played (3,298). Aaron's nicknames include "Hammer," "Hammerin' Hank,” and "Bad Henry”.
	DH George Herman "Babe" Ruth Jr. 6'2" 215lbs. Throws: Left Bats: Left Popularly known as " Babe" Ruth, "The Bambino", and "The Sultan of Swat", Ruth played from 1914–1935. Ruth originally broke into the major leagues with the Boston Red Sox as a starting pitcher, but after he was sold to the New York Yankees in 1919 (Curse of the Bambino), he converted to a full-time right fielder and subsequently became one of the league's most prolific hitters. Ruth was a mainstay in the Yankees' lineup that won seven pennants and four World Series titles during his tenure with the team. After a short stint with the Boston Braves in 1935, Ruth retired. In 1936, Ruth became one of the first five players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Ruth has since become regarded as one of the greatest sports heroes in American culture. He has been named the greatest baseball player in history in various surveys and rankings, and his home run hitting prowess and charismatic personality made him a larger than life figure in the "Roaring Twenties". Off the field he was famous for his charity, but also was noted for his often reckless lifestyle. Ruth is credited with changing baseball itself. The popularity of the game exploded in the 1920s, largely due to his influence. Ruth ushered in the "live-ball era," as his big swing led to escalating home run totals that not only excited fans, but helped baseball evolve from a low-scoring, speed-dominated game to a high-scoring power game. In 1998, The Sporting News ranked Ruth number one on the list of "Baseball's 100 Greatest Players." In 1999, baseball fans named Ruth to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. In 1969, he was named baseball's Greatest Player Ever in a ballot commemorating the 100th anniversary of professional baseball. In 1993, the Associated Press reported that Ruth was tied with Muhammad Ali as the most recognized athletes, out of 1000, in America. According to ESPN, he was the first true American sports celebrity superstar whose fame transcended baseball. In a 1999 ESPN poll, he was ranked as the third-greatest US athlete of the century, behind Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali. Ruth was the first player to hit 60 home runs in one season (1927), setting the season record which stood until broken by Roger Maris in 1961. Ruth's lifetime total of 714 home runs at his retirement in 1935 was a record, until first surpassed by Hank Aaron in 1974. Unlike many power hitters, Ruth also hit for average: his .342 lifetime batting is tenth highest in baseball history, and in one season (1923) he hit .393, a Yankee record. His .690 career slugging percentage and 1.164 career on-base plus slugging (OPS) remain the major league records. Ruth dominated in the era in which he played. He led the league in home runs during a season twelve times, slugging percentage and OPS thirteen times each, runs scored eight times, and RBIs six times. Each of those totals represents a modern record (as well as the all-time record, except for RBIs).
	P Nolan Lynn Ryan Jr. 6'2" 195lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Nolan Ryan played in a major league record 27 seasons for the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers, from 1966 to 1993. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999. Ryan, a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher, threw pitches that were regularly recorded above 100 mph (160 km/h), even past the age of 40. The media tagged him, or more specifically his pitching, as "The Ryan Express". Ryan ranks first all-time in strikeouts (5,714), fewest hits allowed per nine innings (6.56), and no-hitters (7). He is also fifth in innings pitched (5,386), second in games started (773), seventh in shutouts (61) and is tied for 14th in wins (324). Opposing hitters hit only .204 against Ryan during his career, though they had a .309 on base percentage against him. He also limited hitters to a .298 slugging percentage. Ryan had 15 or more strikeouts in a game 27 times, second only to Randy Johnson, who has 29. His lengthy career spanned generations, as he struck out seven pairs of fathers and sons during his career. Ryan also ranks high on the list for four "negative" records; he ranks first all-time in walks allowed (2,795), first in wild pitches (277), third in losses (292—most in the post-1920 live-ball era), and ninth in hit batters (158). Ryan is also one of two pitchers in MLB history to give up ten grand slam home runs, including one to Dann Howitt, the next-to-last batter Ryan faced in his career. Ryan is the all-time leader in no-hitters with seven, three more than any other pitcher. He is tied with Bob Feller for most one-hitters, with 12. Ryan also pitched 18 two-hitters. Perhaps interesting to note, despite the seven no-hitters he has not thrown any of baseball's perfect games.
	P Sandy Koufax 6'2" 210lbs. Throws: Left Bats: Right Sandy Koufax played his entire career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, from 1955 to 1966. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. Koufax's career peaked with a run of six outstanding seasons from 1961 to 1966, before arthritis ended his career at age 30. He was named the National League's Most Valuable Player in 1963. He also won the 1963, 1965, and 1966 Cy Young Awards by unanimous votes, all during the period when only one pitcher was chosen per season, making him the first 3-time Cy Young winner in baseball history. In each of his Cy Young seasons, Koufax won the pitcher's triple crown by leading the NL in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average. Koufax's totals would also have led the American League in those seasons. Koufax was the first major leaguer to pitch four no-hitters (including a perfect game). Despite his comparatively short career, Koufax's 2,396 career strikeouts ranked 7th in history as of his retirement, trailing only Warren Spahn (2,583) among left-handers. Retiring at the peak of his career, he became, at age 36 and 20 days, the youngest player ever elected to the Hall of Fame. In his 12-season career, Koufax had a 165–87 record with a 2.76 ERA, 2,396 strikeouts, 137 complete games, and 40 shutouts. He was the first pitcher to average fewer than seven hits allowed per nine innings pitched in his career (6.79) and to strike out more than nine batters (9.28) per nine innings pitched in his career.He also became the 2nd pitcher in baseball history to have two games with 18 or more strikeouts, and the first to have eight games with 15 or more strikeouts. In his last ten seasons, from 1957 to 1966, batters hit .203 against Koufax, with a .271 on base percentage and a .315 slugging average. Koufax's postseason record is impressive: a 4-3 won-lost record with a 0.95 earned run average, in four World Series. He is on the very short list of pitchers who retired with more career strikeouts than innings pitched. Koufax was selected for seven consecutive All-Star games (twice in 1961 (the last season with two All-Star Games), then 1962 to 1966). Koufax was the first pitcher to win multiple Cy Young Awards, as well as the first pitcher to win a Cy Young Award by a unanimous vote. Each of Koufax's three Cy Young Awards were by unanimous vote. Koufax and Juan Marichal are the only two pitchers in the post-war era (1946-date) to have more than one 25-win season, with each pitcher recording three. Among NL pitchers with at least 2,000 innings pitched who have debuted since 1913, he has the highest career winning percentage (.655) and had the lowest career ERA (2.76) until surpassed by Tom Seaver, whose NL career mark is 2.73. Whereas many left-handed pitchers throw with a three-quarter or sidearm motion, Koufax threw with a pronounced over-the-top arm action. This may have increased his velocity, but reduced the lateral movement on his pitches, especially movement away from left-handed hitters. Most of his velocity came from his strong legs and back, combined with a high kicking wind-up and long forward stretch toward the plate. Throughout his career, Koufax relied mostly on two pitches: his four-seam fastball had a "rising" motion due to underspin, and not only appeared to move very late but also might move two or three distinct times; his overhand curveball, spun with the middle finger, dropped vertically 12 to 24 inches due to his arm action. He also occasionally threw a changeup and a forkball. At the beginning of his career, Koufax worked with coaches to eliminate his tendency to "tip" pitches (i.e. reveal which pitch was coming due to variations in his wind-up). Late in his career, and especially as his arm problems continued, this variation—usually in the position he held his hands at the top of the wind-up—became even more pronounced. Good hitters could often predict what pitch was coming, but were still unable to hit it.
	Roger William Clemens 6'4" 238lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Roger Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, two more than any other pitcher. He played for 13 consecutive seasons in Boston, more than half of his career. In 1997, he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. In each of his two seasons with the Blue Jays Clemens won the pitching triple crown (leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts) and a Cy Young Award. Clemens was traded to the New York Yankees for the 1999 season, where he had his first World Series success. In 2003, he reached his 300th win and 4,000th strikeout in the same game. Clemens is one of only four pitchers to have more than 4,000 strikeouts in their career (the others are pitchers Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, and Steve Carlton). Clemens played three seasons with the Houston Astros, where he won his seventh Cy Young Award. He rejoined the New York Yankees during the 2007 season. While he has two championship rings with the 1999–2000 Yankees, Clemens has also been on the losing end of four World Series (1986 Red Sox, 2001 and 2003 Yankees, and 2005 Astros), which is tied with Tom Glavine and John Smoltz (who were both on the Braves when they lost the '91, '92, '96 and '99 World Series) for the most among active players. In 1999, while many of his performances and milestones were yet to come, he ranked number 53 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was elected by the fans to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. In 2005, the updated Sporting News list moved Clemens up to #15. By the end of the 2005 season, Clemens had won seven Cy Young Awards (he won the AL award in 1986, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998, and 2001, and the NL award in 2004), an MVP and two pitching triple crowns. With his 2004 win, he joined Gaylord Perry, Randy Johnson and Pedro Martínez as the only pitchers to win it in both leagues and became the oldest pitcher to ever win the Cy Young. He has also won The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award five times, was named an All-Star 11 times, and won the All-Star MVP in 1986. In October 2006, Clemens was named to Sports Illustrated's "all-time" team. He is only the ninth player in major league history to record 1,000 or more strikeouts with two different teams. Clemens has recorded a total of 2,590 strikeouts as a member of the Red Sox and 1,014 strikeouts as a Yankee. Of his nearly quarter century in the Major Leagues, 13 years have been spent with the Red Sox and 6 with the New York Yankees. Clemens has been the focal point of several controversies. His reputation has always been that of a pitcher unafraid to throw close to batters. He has also been linked to steroids.
	Cy Deton Young 6'2" 190lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Cy Young pitched for five different major league teams from 1890 to 1911. Young was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937, and in honor of his many contributions to Major League Baseball, the Cy Young Award, given each year to the pitcher voted the most effective in each of the two leagues, was created in 1956. During his 22-year career, Young established numerous professional pitching records in the majors, some of which have stood for a century. Young retired with a record 511 career wins, 94 wins ahead of Walter Johnson. In addition to wins, Young currently holds the Major League records for most career innings pitched (7,355), most career games started (815), and most complete games (749). He also retired with 316 losses, the most in MLB history. Young had 76 career shutouts, the fourth most in history. He also won at least 30 games in a season five times, with ten other seasons of 20 or more wins. In addition, Young pitched three no-hitters, including the first perfect game of baseball's "modern era". In 1999, 88 years after his final Major League appearance and 44 years after his death, editors at The Sporting News ranked Cy Young 14th on their list of "Baseball's 100 Greatest Players". That same year, baseball fans named him to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Young led his league in wins five times (1892, 1895, and 1901–1903), finishing second twice. His career high was 36 in 1892. He had fifteen seasons with twenty or more wins, two more than the runners-up, Christy Mathewson and Warren Spahn. Young won two ERA titles during his career, in 1892 (1.93) and in 1901 (1.62), and was three times the runner-up. Young's earned run average was below 2.00 six times, but this was not uncommon during the dead-ball era. Although Young threw over 400 innings in each of his first four full seasons, he did not lead his league until 1902. He had 40 or more complete games nine times. Young also led his league in strikeouts twice (with 140 in 1896, and 158 in 1901), and in shutouts seven times. Young led his league in fewest walks per nine innings thirteen times and finished second one season. Only twice in his 22-year career did Young finish lower than 5th in the category. Although the WHIP ratio was not calculated until well after Young's death, Young was the retroactive league leader in this category seven times and was second or third another seven times.
	P Randy David Johnson 6'10" 225lbs. Throws: Left Bats: Right Over a 21-year career, Randy Johnson has played for 6 different teams, and currently pitches for the San Francisco Giants. The 6-foot-10 Johnson has been celebrated for having one of the most dominant fastballs in the game. He regularly approached, and occasionally exceeded, 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) during his prime. However, his signature pitch is a hard, biting slider. Johnson has won the Cy Young Award five times, second only to Roger Clemens' seven. For all active pitchers through the 2008 season, Johnson is first in strikeouts per nine innings pitched (10.67 – which is also first for all starting pitchers in history) and hit batsmen (188 – third all-time), first in strikeouts (4,875 – second all-time), fourth in hits allowed per nine innings pitched (7.24 – 10th all-time), first in shutouts (37 – 57th all-time), third in wins (303 – 22nd all-time), eighth in ERA (3.27), third in wild pitches(104), and seventh in won-lost percentage (.648). His 4,875 strikeouts are also first all-time among left-handed pitchers. In addition, he pitched one of the 18 perfect games. Johnson was once the tallest player in MLB history, hence the nickname "The Big Unit". He is currently the second-tallest along with Chris Young and Andrew Sisco. The tallest is 6'11" pitcher, and Johnson's former Diamondback teammate, Jon Rauch. In the prime of his career, Johnson's fastball had been consistently clocked over 100 mph (160 km/h), even as high as 102 mph (164 km/h). His signature pitch is a slider that breaks down and away from left-handed hitters and down and in to right-handed hitters. The effectiveness of the pitch is marked by its velocity being in the low 90s along with tight late break; hitters often believe they were thrown a fastball until the ball breaks just before it crosses home plate. Right-handed hitters have swung through and missed sliders that nearly hit their back feet. Johnson dubbed his slider "Mr. Snappy". In later years, his fastball declined to the 96 mph (154 km/h) range. Johnson also throws a split-finger fastball that behaves like a change-up, as well as sinker to induce ground-ball outs. His slider clocks at around 87 mph (140 km/h). Due to his height, long arms, and side-arm pitching, Johnson's pitches appear as if they are coming from the first base side of the mound, easily deceiving left-handed hitters. This deceives the hitter into thinking that Johnson is pitching from closer than he actually is. However, with the decline in his fast ball's velocity, right-handed batters have had greater success in noticing his release point and hitting his pitches.
	CP Dennis Lee Eckersley 6'2" 190lbs. Throws: Right Bats: Right Dennis Eckersley had success as a starter, but gained his greatest fame as a closer, becoming the first of only two pitchers in Major League history to have both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in a career. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004, his first year of eligibility. He is also noted as the pitcher who gave up a dramatic, walk-off home run to the injured Kirk Gibson in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. In 1999, he ranked Number 98 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players and was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball "All-Century Team." The role of the closer had been around since the late 1950s and early 1960s, and there had always been feared relievers and closers with Hall of Fame-caliber careers, such as Rollie Fingers, Bruce Sutter, and Rich "Goose" Gossage. However, even in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a closer was considered a weaker and less valuable pitcher than a top starter. Pitchers started games and if they were real men, they finished them. Relievers were either "firemen" (pitchers who only came into pressure-packed situations, with runners on and few out late in a game, and thus "put out the fire"), or pitchers not good enough to start; the vast majority of relievers were considered to be the latter. The A's used Eckersley almost exclusively for the ninth inning and inserted him regardless of the pressure or game situation. Instead of being a fireman or a mop-up man, Eckersley became a one-inning pitcher. Starters were no longer expected to finish games; there was another pitcher who was coming into the game in the ninth inning, no matter what. Eckersley's incredible short-term dominance of the position was perhaps the most influential aspect of this popularization. He was seen to shut down a game after the eighth inning; he was fresh, cocky, and usually hit his spots. He pointed his finger at an opposing batter after a whiff or a ground out (something Eck was known for because of his great sinker, a pitch he primarily developed after becoming a closer) or at the opposing dugout, and his glare became well-known after he and Boston's Dwight Evans famously battled during the 1988 and 1990 playoffs. After Eckersley, every team wanted a pitcher who would end a game after eight innings, save their starters from overextending themselves, and give their fans something exciting to look forward to late in the game. Although the value of a closer is still debatable, Eckersley's influence is indisputable; by 2006, the notion of a team without a dedicated closer seemed as ridiculous as a pre-Eckersley team with one. In fact, a complete game by a starter is now rarer than a save by a relief pitcher was 40 or 50 years ago. Eckersley's 390 career saves ranks fifth on the all-time list.

UC Personal Statement Version 3.0 (4th draft)

After some advice from family and friends, and after round 2 with my English teacher, Mr. Scull, I think I edited it pretty well. Hopefully it can stand its own and make a comeback in Round 3. (lol sorry for the stupid boxing metaphor). HERE'S UC PERSONAL STATEMENT VERSION 3.0!

Version Updates

• 2.0- Improved wording and grammar mistakes. Took out parts about grandma, added more about me.
• 2.5- Same as Version 2.0, but shortened
• 3.0- Reworked Prompt #1, added more about Key Club in my life. Changed intro to Prompt #2. More spelling and grammar mistakes fixed. Also reworkings made it shorter.

Prompt #1

I always felt like I had a fine grasp on who I am. My family constantly attempted to treat me like an adult. My dad brought me to along when he would go with his friends, who are all college graduates. Just listening to the discussions really helped me build the manner in which I carry myself today. My mom was still a typical mom; spoiling me, hugging me, kissing me, but she at all times made sure I knew the rules and most of the time I followed them. My entire family tried to treat me like an adult, within reason of course. Despite growing up with all this wisdom and maturity around me, I still had a lot of difficulty deciding what career I wanted to pursue. And sure everyone says that, but I don’t mean you wanted to be a firefighter when you were 5 and now you want to be a lawyer. I mean that I honestly had on clue until my sophomore year of high school.

I enjoy meeting and working with people. I also love to help people and the community; that’s what made me join and become an officer for Key Club once I got to high school. Key Club provided me with a way to make a difference. I’ve gained so much leadership experience, made so many friends. I’ve done everything from attempting to help a child play a game to putting on a huge benefit event. Key Club made me realize that I needed a job where I could interact with and, most of all, help people. That’s how I eventually got to the idea of the medical field.

Prompt #2

Over the past few years, I’ve been around a lot of medical facilities. I’ve seen a lot of death, and learned to come to terms with the idea. But that wasn’t always the case. Needless to say, going into the medical field was not my first intention.

Early in 2006, my grandfather was in the hospital, and eventually moved to a rehabilitation center. Due to this, I had to take care of my grandmother. Although it was difficult at times, it felt rewarding being able to help her, after she helped me become the person I am today. It never felt like a chore or tedious task, but more of an enjoyable responsibility. My grandmother was then admitted into the hospital, and eventually moved into the same rehabilitation center as my grandfather. I saw as the center was understaffed and overworked. I spent a lot of time at the center and I often talked to the various doctors and nurses; I saw the difficultly in their job and watched as they took all the punches and went on with their work. I finally started to ask why they were in the medical field, and they all responded the same way. The ideal of changing lives came up time and time again. The more I thought of this principle, the more I realized how well it fit with who I am and what I want to accomplish in life. Within weeks, my grandmother went back into the hospital in severe condition. When I went to see her in the ICU at the hospital, she couldn’t talk or move; she wasn’t alert. Our family decided to just make her comfortable and let her pass away. When I went to say good-bye, I couldn’t handle it. I broke down and cried. She didn’t pass away for about a week after we took all the machines off. My relatives that went to see her said that she wanted to see me, but I never went back to the hospital; I couldn’t handle it.

Once she was gone, and the funeral was done, I had a lot of guilt in not going to see her. That summer, a friend and I decided to volunteer at a hospital. We ended up at the same hospital where my grandmother passed away. For a while, I never wanted to go up to the ICU; it brought back the guilt that I felt. Then I realized this was a great opportunity to face my regret. I asked to be stationed in the ICU. It was hard at first; a lot of memories came up every time I was there. Eventually, I started to enjoy thinking about my grandmother, and I felt that I could make up for not being strong enough for my grandmother, by giving strength to these people who need it the most. I enjoyed giving my all to help save lives, and it made me realize that I had a passion for the medical field. It’s a passion that has pushed me to keep volunteering in various hospitals, to do an internship and work at Kaiser Permanente, and to compete and excel at both State and National Conferences for H.O.S.A. (Health Occupations Students of America). The internship and the trips of H.O.S.A gave me so many great memories that I’m never going to forget and gave me so much experience, not for medicine but anything in my life. It’s a cliché statement I know, but true.

It’s funny how something so negative and devastating can help focus things. The medical field was an option, but it was always towards the back of my mind, never something I considered. I feel that the medical field provides me with the most direct way to help people and the community. Sure I could plant a tree or clean a park, that would help people, but if I can save lives, then those people can go plant a tree or clean a park. After being around so many medical facilities; meeting doctors, nurses, patients, families, etc.; and after seeing so much pain and suffering, it makes me want to learn as much as I can and work to the best of my ability to go into the medical field as prepared as possible, so I can make a difference and help better lives.

UC Personal Statement Version 2.5 (3rd Draft)

Ok, I know I just posted the 2nd Draft, but it was way too long(1,150 words). The more I thought about it, 150 words over the limit was way too much. I shortened it up. This new version is about 1,050 words. Still over, but it should be fine, and its definitely better than 1,150. Also more grammar and spelling mistakes fixed. HERE WE GO!!! UC PERSONAL STATEMENT....2.5? haha Once again feel free to comment.

Version Updates

• 2.0- Improved wording and grammar mistakes. Took out parts about grandma, added more about me.
• 2.5- Same as Version 2.0, but shortened

Prompt #1

I always felt like I had a fine grasp on who I am. My family constantly attempted to treat me like an adult. My dad brought me to along when he would go with his friends, who are all college graduates. Just listening to the discussions really helped me build the manner in which I carry myself today. My mom was still a typical mom; spoiling me, hugging me, kissing me, but she at all times made sure I knew the rules and most of the time I followed them. My grandparents lived right down the street so I saw them everyday, and they were the same way. My entire family tried to treat me like an adult, within reason of course. Despite growing up with all this around me, I still had a lot of difficulty deciding what career I wanted to pursue. And sure everyone says that, but I don’t mean you wanted to be a firefighter when you were 5 and now you want to be a lawyer. I mean that I honestly had on clue until my sophomore year of high school.

One of my huge interests was, and to an extend still is, technology, so for a while I was considering a career in computers. Although, I enjoy meeting and working with people, which I felt a job in computers wouldn’t permit me to do. I also love to help people and the community; that’s what made me join and become an officer for Key Club once I got to high school. I needed a job where I could interact and talk to people. That’s how I eventually got to the idea of the medical field.

Prompt #2

Going into the medical profession was not my first intention. Up until I was about 12, there were few deaths in my family, but everyone was getting older, and they started to pass away. Over the past 3-4 years, I’ve attended about 8 funerals for my family. It was a shock to me; it helped me accept death. It made me realize how life can suddenly end and how much of an impact one person’s life can have.

The biggest loss for me was the death of my grandmother. Earlier that year, my grandfather was in the hospital, and eventually moved to a rehabilitation center. Due to this, I had to take care of my grandmother. Although it was difficult at times, it felt rewarding being able to help her, after she helped me become the person I am today. It never felt like a chore or tedious task, but more of an enjoyable responsibility. My grandmother was then admitted into the hospital, and eventually moved into the same rehabilitation center as my grandfather. I saw as the center was understaffed and overworked. I spent a lot of time at the center and I often talked to the various doctors and nurses; I saw the difficultly in their job and watched as they took all the punches and went on with their work. I finally started to ask why they wanted to be in the medical field, and they all responded the same way. The ideal of changing lives came up time and time again. The more I thought of this principle, the more I realized how well it fits with who I am and what I want to accomplish in life. Within weeks, my grandmother went back into the hospital in severe condition. When I went to see her in the ICU at the hospital, she couldn’t talk or move; she wasn’t alert. Our family decided to just make her comfortable and let her pass away. When I went to say good-bye, I couldn’t handle it. I broke down and cried. She didn’t pass away for about a week after we took all the machines off. My relatives that went to see her said that she wanted to see me, but I never went back to the hospital; I couldn’t handle it.

Once she was gone, and the funeral was done, I had a lot of guilt in not going to see her. That summer, a friend and I decided to volunteer at a hospital. We ended up at the same hospital where my grandmother passed away. For a while, I never wanted to go up to the ICU; it brought back the guilt that I felt. Then I realized this is a great opportunity to face my regret. I asked to be stationed in the ICU. It was hard at first; a lot of memories came up every time I was in there. Eventually, I started to enjoy thinking about my grandmother, and I felt that I could make up for not being strong enough for my grandmother, by giving strength to these people who need it the most. I enjoyed giving my all to help save lives, and it made me realize that I had a passion for the medical field. It’s a passion that has pushed me to keep volunteering in various hospitals, to do an internship and work at Kaiser Permanente, and to compete and excel at both State and National Conferences for H.O.S.A. (Health Occupations Students of America). The internship and the trips of H.O.S.A gave me so many great memories that I’m never going to forget and gave me so much experience, not for medicine but anything in my life. It’s a cliché statement I know, but true.

It’s funny how something so negative and devastating can help focus things. The medical field was an option, but it was always towards the back of my mind, never something I considered. I feel that the medical field provides me with the most direct way to help people and the community. Sure I could plant a tree or clean a park, that would help people, but if I can save lives, then those people can go plant a tree or clean a park. After being around so many medical facilities; meeting doctors, nurses, patients, families, etc.; and after seeing so much pain and suffering, it makes me want to learn as much as I can and work to the best of my ability to go into the medical field as prepared as possible, so I can make a difference and help better lives.

UC Personal Statement Version 2.0 (2nd draft)

Heres the new one. My English Teacher, Mr.Scull, said that I talk about my grandmother too much, and not enough about me. I agree so here's a new and improved version. There were also alot of mistakes on the 1st one. The changes were made to Prompt #2 TIME FOR....USC PERSONAL STATEMENT VERSION 2.0!!! Same Prompts, still 1,000 words(Although this is slightly longer). Feel free to comment.

Version Updates

• 2.0- Improved wording and grammar mistakes. Took out parts about grandma, added more about me.

Prompt #1

I always felt like I had a fine grasp on who I am. My family constantly attempted to treat me like an adult. My dad would bring me to along when he would hang out with his friends, who are all college graduates. Just listening to those conversations and ideas really helped me build the manner in which I carry myself today. My mom was still a typical mom; spoiling me, hugging me, kissing me, etc, but she at all times made sure I knew the rules and most of the time I followed them. My grandparents lived right down the street so they would baby-sit me a lot, and they were the same way. Basically my entire family tried to treat me like an adult, within reason of course. Despite growing up with all this around me, I still had a lot of difficulty on deciding what career I wanted to pursue. And sure everyone says that, but I don’t mean you wanted to be a firefighter when you were 5 and now you want to be a lawyer. I mean that I honestly had on clue until my sophomore year of high school.

One of my huge interests was, and to an extend still is, technology, so for a while I was considering a career in computers. Although, I enjoy meeting new people and working with people, which I felt a job in computers wouldn’t permit me to do. I also love to help people and the community; that’s what made me join and become an officer for Key Club once I got to high school. I needed a job where I could interact and talk to people. That’s how I eventually got to the idea of the medical field.

Prompt #2

Going into the medical profession was not my first intention. Up until I was about 12, there were basically no deaths in my family, but everyone was getting older, and they eventually started to pass away one by one. Over the past 3-4 years, I’ve attended about 8 funerals, all of which were for my family, whether it be my aunts, uncles, etc. It was a huge shock to me. It helped me accept death and made me realize how life can suddenly end, and how much of an impact one person’s life can have.

The biggest loss for me was the death of my grandmother. Earlier that year, my grandfather was in the hospital, and eventually moved to a rehabilitation center. For a while it looked like he didn’t have much time left. Due to this, I had to take care of my grandmother. It was fine at first, but over time she became more dependent and difficult to deal with. Although it was difficult at times, it felt rewarding being able to help her, after she helped me become the person I am today. It never felt like a chore or tedious task, but more of an enjoyable responsibility. My grandmother was then admitted into the hospital, and eventually moved into the same rehabilitation center as my grandfather. I saw as the center was understaffed and overworked. I spent a lot of time at the center and I often talked to the various doctors and nurses; I saw the difficultly in their job and watched as they took all the punches and went on with their work. I finally started to ask why they wanted to be in the medical field, and they all responded the same way. The ideal of changing lives came up time and time again. The more I thought of this principle, the more I realized how well it fits with who I am and what I want to accomplish in life. Within weeks, my grandmother went back into the hospital in severe condition. When I went to see her in the ICU at the hospital, she couldn’t talk or move; she wasn’t alert. Our family decided to just make her comfortable and let her pass away. When I went to say good-bye, I couldn’t handle it. I broke down and cried. She didn’t pass away for a week or so after we took all the machines off, and my relatives that went to see her said that she wanted to see me, but I need went back to the hospital; I couldn’t handle it.

Once she was gone, and the funeral was done, I had a lot of guilt in not going to see her. That summer, a friend and I decided to volunteer at a hospital for community service. We ended up at the same hospital where my grandmother passed away. For a while, I never wanted to go up to the ICU; it brought back the guilt that I felt. Then I realized that I needed to face it sometime, and this is a great opportunity. I asked to be stationed in the ICU. It was hard at first; a lot of memories came up every time I was in there. Eventually, I started to enjoy thinking about my grandmother, and I felt that by helping these patients, I could help make up for not being strong enough for my grandmother by giving strength to these people who need it the most. I enjoyed giving my all to help save lives, and it made me realize that I had a passion for the medical field. It’s a passion that has pushed me to keep volunteering in various hospitals, to do a paid internship at Kaiser Permanente, and to compete and excel at both State and Nation Conferences for the high school organization H.O.S.A. (Health Occupations Students of America). The internship and the trips of H.O.S.A gave me so many great memories that I know I’m never going to forget and gave me so much experience, not only for going into medicine but anything in my life. It’s a cliché statement I know, but true.

Its funny how something so negative and devastating can help focus and clear things up. The medical field was always an option, but it was always toward the back of my mind, never something I really considered. In my mind, I feel that the medical field provides me with the most direct way to help people and the community. Sure I could plant a tree or clean a park, that would help people, but if I can save lives, then those people can go plant a tree or clean a park. After being around so many medical facilities; meeting doctors, nurses, patients, families, etc.; and after seeing so much pain and suffering, it makes me want to learn as much as I can and work to the best of my ability to go into the medical field as prepared as possible, so I can make a difference and help better lives.