Black Baseball Players Reveal How They Stay On Top Of Their Game

Jet, May 14, 2001 by Melody K. Hoffman

Every season, Major League Baseball players have to maintain the motivation and hunger to win for 162 games played in six months, not including preseason and postseason play.

JET talked to some of baseball's most prolific Black stars who revealed what keeps them on top of their game.

The San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds is in his 16th major league season and he is still hitting the balls out of the park. With his high-powered swing, the outfielder recently became the 17th major leaguer to hit 500 career home runs.

Bonds says his motivation is simple. "Going to a World Series and winning. I never won. That's what is pushing me," Bonds told JET.

The 36-year-old slugger said he came into the league with an aggressive attitude; something you need to succeed.

"If you want to be the best, you're going to do the little things to get there. The best players go out of their way. They work extra hours; they train harder."

San Diego Padres right-fielder Tony Gwynn has been setting major league records for nearly half his life. Playing his 20th season with grace and style, Gwynn turns 41 on May 9.

Gwynn holds a wealth of National League career records and most of the Padres all-time records, such as highest batting average, RBIs and stolen bases. So after decades of enduring the conditions of professional baseball, what keeps Gwynn geared up for the game? "Loving what I do," he said.

"This causes you to put more effort into it. You don't play 20 years without loving the game. All the batting titles and all-star games are nice, but the thing that keeps you wanting to play is that you love what you do."

Contradicting what doubters think, Gwynn admits, is another major factor that keeps him hungry for more. "Nobody expects me after having knee surgery last year to be close to the same player I've always been. And so, my whole mission this year is to prove people wrong."

Cleveland Indians' Kenny Loffon is in his 10th major league season. What motivates this left-hand outfielder is his desire to be in elite company. "I don't want to be just average. I want to be the guy on the higher level."

With Lofton's impeccable speed, he remains the Indians' franchise leader in stolen bases. Lofton, who enjoys golfing during the off-season, says a change in his training regimen helped him be the all-around player he is now.

"Before, I didn't know what I could or could not do and how much I had to work to get to a certain point," said Lofton, who is three weeks shy of his 34th birthday. "[Now] I don't have to work as long because I'm pretty much set in knowing what I can do, so I just build from that."

Frank Thomas, the Chicago White Sox's designated hitter, made his major league debut in 1990. Last season his remarkable play led his team to the postseason for the first time since 1993. Thomas, whose resume is highlighted with MVP honors, Silver Slugger Awards and White Sox franchise records for home runs and RBIs, says his drive to be a key performer comes from within.

"If you don't do well, it messes with your ego," said Thomas, who will turn 33 this month. "It's just one of those things ... This is the profession you chose; you might as well be good at it."

Nicknamed the "Big Hurt," Thomas said with experience he has learned to be "more calm at times." After playing with a bone spur during his 1999 season, Thomas understands that a player has his share of ups and downs.

"Now I'm able to not beat myself up as much. When I was younger, I would always beat myself up just trying to do too much all the time."

The Los Angeles Dodgers' Gary Sheffield says in his 14 years of playing Major League Baseball, he owes his heightened success to God. "I think my faith in the Lord has kept me focused. I had doubts about playing the game for a long period of time. I said I was going to play for 10 years then get out. I just felt like God blessed me and let me know there's a message I can get across to my team."

Sheffield is in his third year of his six-year contract with the Dodgers and already the outfielder has put together one of the best offensive seasons in franchise history. Last season, Sheffield became the first Dodger ever to record a .300 batting average, 30 home runs, 100 RBIs, 100 runs and 100 walks in two seasons.

Sheffield says a variety of things continue to push him. One special aspect is his impact as a Black player-he can be a spokesman for others. "You see so many Black players who should play baseball and are not. That's what motivates me. You can make a difference in trying to help one of them make it to the big leagues."

The 32-year-old adds his competitiveness also makes him a distinguished player, though he says sometimes it gets him into trouble. However, Sheffield is proud of the ability he has to rise above criticism.

"I think a lot of players don't deal with adversity. That's to my credit. No matter how bad it can get, you can't stop what I can do on the baseball field. You can say what you want before or after the game, but once I jump on that field for two and a half hours, you can't touch me."