Jay Gibbons

Jay Gibbons (born March 2 1977, Rochester, Michigan) is a left fielder for the Baltimore Orioles. He also plays first base and has spent all of his career in the major leagues with the Orioles. Gibbons was a graduate of Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California. He played college ball at California State University, Los Angeles. He wore #25 until Rafael Palmeiro signed a contract with the Orioles in 2004. Out of respect for the older and more established Palmeiro, Jay switched to #31, which he still wears, although Palmeiro is no longer on the Orioles.

Professional career

Gibbons was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 14th round of the 1998 amateur draft and that season captured the Pioneer League Triple Crown with the Medicine Hat Blue Jays, hitting .397 with 19 homers and 98 RBI. After the 2000 season, he was picked up by the Baltimore Orioles in the Rule 5 draft. As a rookie the following season, he hit 15 home runs before a hand injury cut short his season. The next year, he hit a career-best 28 homers. In 2003, Gibbons had another excellent season. Playing in a career-high 160 games, he established personal bests in batting average and RBI and was voted Team MVP. In 2004, Gibbons suffered multiple injuries and only played in 97 games. Because of his hobbling injuries, his numbers plummeted: his batting average was a mere .246, and he hit only 10 homers. After the 2004 season, he had LASIK eye surgery to improve his declining eyesight, which went from 20-10 to 20-35 in only a few months. He bounced back with a solid 2005 season as he hit .277 with 26 HR's and 79 RBI's in 139 games.

Steroid allegations

On September 30 2006, the Los Angeles Times reported that former relief pitcher Jason Grimsley, during a June 6 2006 federal raid, told federal agents investigating steroids in baseball named Gibbons as a user of "anabolic steroids." The Times reported that Gibbons was one of five names blacked out in an affidavit filed in federal court.^[1] However, on October 3, 2006, the Washington Post reported that San Francisco United States attorney Kevin Ryan said that the Los Angeles Times report contained "significant inaccuracies."^[2] Gibbons, along with the other four players named, has denounced the story. ^[2] However, on September 9, 2007, Sports Illustrated reported that a source close to an Orlando-based compound pharmacy alleged that Gibbons had received multiple shipments of performance-enhancing steroids and human growth hormone (HGH) between October 2003 to July 2005. ^[3]He was suspended for the first 15 games of the 2008 season on December 6th, 2007. On December 13, 2007, he was cited in the Mitchell Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of an Independent Investigation Into the Illegal Use of Steroids and Other Performance Enhancing Substances by Players in Major League Baseball^[4].

See also

• List of Baltimore Orioles Opening Day Starting Lineups

References

1. ^ Pugmire, Lance. "Clemens Is Named in Drug Affidavit", Los Angeles Times, 2006-10-01. Retrieved on 2006-10-01. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "U.S. Attorney Says Report Alleging Drug Use Contains 'Inaccuracies'", Washington Post, 2006-10-03, p. E02. Retrieved on 2006-10-04. 
3. ^ Llosa, Luis Fernando; L. Jon Wertheim. "Gibbons received banned drugs", SI.com, 2007-09-09. Retrieved on 2007-09-10. 
4. ^ Mitchell, George. "Mitchell Report on Steroid Use in Baseball", 2007-12-13. Retrieved on 2007-12-13. 

External links

• Career Statistics at Baseball-Reference.com