- Craig Monroe
-
Craig Monroe 
Outfielder Born: February 27, 1977
Texarkana, TexasBatted: Right Threw: Right MLB debut July 28, 2001 for the Texas Rangers Last MLB appearance June 16, 2009 for the Pittsburgh Pirates Career statistics Batting average .252 Home runs 115 Runs batted in 433 Teams 
Monroe (left) talks to teammate Fernando Rodney in 2006.
Craig Keystone Monroe (born February 27, 1977, in Texarkana, Texas), nicknamed "C-Mo," is a Major League Baseball outfielder who most recently played for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Contents
Professional career
Monroe joined the Detroit Tigers organization on February 1, 2002, when he was selected off waivers from the Texas Rangers. He played his first full season in 2003, hitting 23 home runs.
On July 19, 2006, Monroe hit a grand slam home run off Javier Vázquez of the Chicago White Sox that was decisive in the Tigers' 5–2 win. At the time, both teams were locked in a tense struggle for the lead of the American League Central division. Monroe called it "by far the biggest home run I've ever hit."[citation needed]
On August 17, 2007, the Tigers designated Monroe for assignment. On August 23, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later.[1] Monroe played with the Cubs for the remainder of the 2007 season. The Tigers received Clay Rapada to complete the trade. On November 13, he was traded to the Minnesota Twins for a player to be named later.[1] On August 1, 2008, Monroe was designated for assignment by the Twins and released on August 8.
Monroe signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates on January 13, 2009.[2] Monroe was added to the major league roster at the end of spring training.[3] Monroe was designated for assignment on June 20 to make room on the roster for Steve Pearce.[4] Monroe was released on July 1.
Personal
Monroe's mother's name is Marilyn Monroe, the same as that of the late actress. She was on hand to watch her son hit a home run against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 30, 2006. After the game, he told the media, "Marilyn Monroe is here in New York, and I'm thrilled."[5]
In December 2004, he was arrested trying to steal a belt from a Florida department store. Police arrested Monroe on December 3 after he wrapped a $29.99 belt around his waist and tried to leave without paying for it.[6] He was released on bond the same day. Monroe agreed to enter a diversion program in order to have the petty theft charge against him dropped.
Monroe is a cousin of defensive back Nathan Vasher of the Detroit Lions.[7] Both attended Texas High School in Texarkana, Texas.
References
- ^ "Monroe traded to Cubs to join Trammell; Tigers might get left-hander back". Archived from the original on 2007-08-31. http://web.archive.org/web/20070831051651/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070824/SPORTS02/708240406/1048&&imw=Y. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
- ^ Dejan Kovacevic (2009-01-13). "Pirates sign outfielder, catcher to minor league contracts". post-gazette.com. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09013/941450-100.stm. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
- ^ Cruz, Monroe earn final two spots
- ^ Monroe is designated for assignment to make room for touted prospect
- ^ "Monroe's clutch homer is for Mom". http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20060830&content_id=1637156&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=det. Retrieved 2007-09-09.
- ^ "Tigers' Monroe facing theft charge in Florida". USA Today. December 8, 2004. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/tigers/2004-12-07-monroe-arrest_x.htm. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
- ^ "Harris has Rivers in his sights". Chicago Tribune. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cs-070903haugh,1,3911202.column. Retrieved 2007-09-09.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
Categories:- 1977 births
- Living people
- People from Texarkana, Texas
- African American baseball players
- Major League Baseball left fielders
- Texas Rangers players
- Detroit Tigers players
- Chicago Cubs players
- Minnesota Twins players
- Pittsburgh Pirates players
- Baseball players from Texas
- Charleston RiverDogs players
- Hudson Valley Renegades players
- Oklahoma RedHawks players
- Tulsa Drillers players
- Toledo Mud Hens players
- People from Arlington, Texas
- People from Dallas, Texas
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
