Josh Hamilton

Josh Hamilton is a Major League Baseball left fielder for the Texas Rangers. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/players/6679/index.html Born Joshua Holt Hamilton May 21, 1981, in Raleigh, NC, Hamilton showed promise in baseball during his high school years at Athens Drive High School in Raleigh where he graduated in 1999. During his high school career, he received the Gatorade High School Player of the Year Award two times. He was also named the Amateur Player of the Year by USA Baseball and the High School Player of the Year by Baseball America.http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4652 http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=285078

During his career, Hamilton has struggled with substance abuse problems and has suffered medical problems and injuries, as well.http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2926447 In 2009, he underwent surgery for a tear in his abdominal muscle.http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/11834646 In September 2010, Hamilton crashed into a wall during a game and was said to have suffered two bruised ribs. He later learned both ribs were broken.http://bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/other_mlb/view/20101015josh_hamilton_salutes_ellsburys_support/ Despite his fractured ribs, Hamilton continued to play for the Rangers.http://fantasysports.usatoday.com/content/player.asp?sport=mlb&id=3223

Hamilton is married and is the father of three children.http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=285078

During the 2010 playoffs, Hamilton helped the Rangers advance to their first World Series in franchise history. During the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees, Hamilton hit for a .350 batting average, slugged four home runs and registered seven RBIs. Hamilton also reached base in over half of his plate appearances. His efforts earned him the ALCS Most Valuable Player award for the series.http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2010/10/23/2010-10-23_mvp_hamilton_soaks_it_all_in.html

Hamilton was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in 1999 and began playing in the minor leagues. After suffering season ending injuries in a motorcycle accident in 2003, his drug and alcohol problem began. He was banned indefinitely from Major League Baseball in 2004 for violating MLB's substance abuse policy.http://bleacherreport.com/articles/26169-to-hell-and-back-the-josh-hamilton-story

Separated from his wife and her daughter, he reached his low point in 2005 and went to his grandmother's home for help. That moment proved to be a turning point for Hamilton, and he began treatment with the support of both his grandmother and wife, eventually returning to live with her.http://bleacherreport.com/articles/26169-to-hell-and-back-the-josh-hamilton-story

Hamilton was allowed to return to the field in 2006, where he worked his way up through the minor leagues again. Hamilton signed with the Cincinnati Reds in 2007 and made the opening day roster. He ended the season with 19 home runs. At the end of 2007, he was traded to the Texas Rangers. To support his continued sobriety, the Rangers celebrate victories with ginger ale instead of champagne or beer.http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/10/13/rangers-use-ginger-ale-in-celebration-as-way-to-include-josh-ham/?synd=1