Gary Sheffield wants it all in Atlanta; Braves outfielder would like to play until he's 40, win another World Series and add Hall of Fame credentials to his major league career - American Baseball League - Statistical Data Included

Baseball Digest, July, 2002 by Thomas Stinson

"And he really opened his heart and it freed him up of a lot of things. You could see a different man."

Sheffield subsequently met and married gospel artist DeLeon Richards. Despite what happened in Los Angeles, the right fielder insists his life has been a far calmer place.

"You still have to live life," he said. "A lot of things aren't fair in life, but I just understand a lot better. I don't get all uptight about certain things or what people do to me or whatever. Just brush it off."

His first weeks with the Braves could not have gone smoother. Cox called him in to ask him where he would prefer to hit. Sheffield deferred to Chipper Jones--the two became friends during the 1997 NLCS--and agreed to hit fourth, instead of his customary third, so Jones would not have to shift.

Although his contract has two years to run, he says he wants to end his career with the Braves. And he wants more shots at the World Series, where the Braves have a history of wrecking the bus.

"I don't think they've been missing anything," Sheffield said. "I think they just run up against the wrong people at the wrong time."

He now pledges to be with the right people at the right time. And if he isn't, well, he may never be again.

DID YOU KNOW ... that through April 29, 2002 Gary Sheffield had 318 career home runs and 48 percent of them came with runners on base? Among Sheffield's 318 homers, 166 were solo shots, 110 were two-run blasts, 35 were three-run homers and he had seven grand slams through April of 2002.

40 HR With Different Teams

Player             Year    Team        HR

Jimmie Foxx        1932    Phi. A's    58
                   1933    Phi. A's    48
                   1934    Phi. A's    44
                   1936    Red Sox     41
                   1938    Red Sox     50
Johnny Mize        1940    Cardinals   43
                   1947    Giants      51
                   1948    Giants      40
Rocky Colavito     1958    Indians     41
                   1959    Indians     42
                   1961    Tigers      45
Reggie Jackson     1969    Oak. A's    47
                   1980    Yankees     41
Darrell Evans      1973    Braves      41
                   1985    Tigers      40
Mark McGwire       1987    Oak. A's    49
                   1992    Oak. A's    42
                   1996    Oak. A's    52
                   1998    Cardinals   70
                   1999    Cardinals   65
Jose Canseco       1988    Oak. A's    42
                   1991    Oak. A's    44
                   1998    Blue Jays   46
Albert Belle       1995    Indians     50
                   1996    Indians     48
                   1998    White Sox   49
Andres Galarraga   1996    Rockies     47
                   1997    Rockies     41
                   1998    Braves      44
Greg Vaughn        1998    Padres      50
                   1999    Reds        45
Mike Piazza        1997    Dodgers     40
                   1999    Mets        40
Rafael Palmeiro    1998    Orioles     43
                   1999    Rangers     47
                   2001    Rangers     47
Ken Griffey, Jr.   1993    Mariners    45
                   1994    Mariners    40
                   1996    Mariners    49
                   1997    Mariners    56
                   1998    Mariners    56
                   1999    Mariners    48
                   2000    Reds        40
Gary Sheffield     1996    Marlins     42
                   2000    Dodgers     43
Shawn Green        1999    Blue Jays   42
                   2001    Dodgers     49
Manny Ramirez      1998    Indians     45
                   1999    Indians     44
                   2001    Red Sox     41
Alex Rodriguez     1998    Mariners    42
                   1999    Mariners    42
                   2000    Mariners    41
                   2001    Rangers     52