Post-career Baseball Players Are A Fascinating Species, Indeed
Many youngsters in America harbor aspirations of playing Major League Baseball when they are older, but few can say they achieve their dreams. And even for those that do have long and successful careers in baseball, those dreams of grandeur and success in the sport never leave. The attributes needed to win World Series titles and make All-Star squads stay with you forever, even during life outside of the sport. These are successful people to their core. So, what have some of the world’s most successful baseball pros achieved since hanging up their spikes?
Alex Rodriguez: From Home Runs to Property Development
A-Rod is one of the most extraordinary baseball players in the history of the sport. Rodriguez smashed 696 home runs, more than any other player in the game. He joined a select club of 29 stars to have achieved over 3,000 hits and was named in the All-Star squad 14 times throughout his career. He also won the World Series with the New York Yankees back in 2009. It’s safe to say that Rodriguez was used to winning in baseball and now, he’s winning in business, too. Since the creation of A-Rod Corp, Rodriguez has become a leading name in real estate investment and property development. The success of this arm of the business has also enabled Rodriguez to nurture a string of assets in sports and well-being as well as the entertainment business. Today, A-Rod Corp employs over 500 staff throughout the U.S.
John Burkett and Orel Hershiser: From the Mound to the Felt
After 15 years at the top of Major League Baseball with the Giants, Marlins, Blue Jays and Red Sox to name but a few, John Burkett was fascinated by the game of poker after Chris Moneymaker’s life-changing success at the 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. Burkett said that poker games were rife between teammates in between baseball games and that the mental toolkit required to become a top poker player is quite similar to the components that make up a successful Major League starting pitcher.
Former three-time All-Star Major League pitcher Orel Hershiser saw similarities between baseball and poker too, opting to become a professional cards player in 2006. In September 2008, Hershiser bagged over $54,000 after finishing ninth in the $10,000 World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) Event 5. Throughout his appearances at major live poker tournaments, Hershiser has provided signed baseball caps to the opponent that eliminates him from the event.
Todd Stottlemyre: Leaning on His World Series Successes to Inspire Others
Stottlemyre played in Major League Baseball for an impressive 15 seasons, being a part of World Series-winning sides on three occasions. The first to admit that he made mistakes along the way in his Major League career, Stottlemyre sought to use the lessons learned in his baseball career to become an inspirational business mentor. Today, after several years dabbling in the shark-infested waters of Wall Street, Stottlemyre decided to launch a global marketing company, traveling across the States to provide motivational talks on goal setting and meeting aspirations as well as hosting workshops to design strategic roadmaps to business success.
Cal Ripken Jr: An Orioles Icon Looking to Give Back to Baseball
Cal Ripken Jr. is one of the most celebrated players in the history of the Baltimore Orioles. So much so that his number eight shirt was retired by the team in 2001. And Ripken Jr. is viewed by many experts as one of the finest third basemen and shortstops in the history of the sport. He scooped two Gold Glove Awards for his outstanding defense and was named in the All-Star squad a whopping 19 times. Ripken Jr.’s love for baseball has seen him attempt to give back to the sport that made him who he is. He established the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation with his brother Billy in 2001, designed to provide children from underprivileged backgrounds an opportunity to play baseball. Ripken Jr. is also the owner of many Minor League Baseball teams. He currently owns the likes of Aberdeen Ironbirds, Augusta GreenJackets and Charlotte Stone Crabs.
Major League Baseball has been very kind to these men. It has brought them untold riches and molded them into the successful entrepreneurs that they are today. And equally important, the grind of many long baseball seasons provided the ideal foundations for the world of business.
