AirDate: 4/7/2002 |
Overview: Gary Sheffield grew up in the Belmont Heights projects in Tampa, Florida. It was a tough, neglected neighborhood where violence was common and opportunities were scarce. Though it was apparent that Sheffield was capable of being a special kind of ballplayer, his infamous temper was becoming a threat to others as well as himself. It was his grandfather Dan Gooden who instilled in Gary a love for the game of baseball, and it was his uncle Dwight Gooden who taught Sheffield how to play the game. But each stop among the way for Sheffield produced mixed results for both he and his teams. In this episode, we chronicle his life including his temper, his penchant for women, the time he was shot, the death threat on his mother's life and his frustrations with the teams he played his 14-year career. Currently a member of the Atlanta Braves after a trade in the offseason, Sheffield has donned jerseys of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins (where he won a World Series ring), San Diego Padres |