Josh Hamilton
Five-time All-Star and 2010 AL MVP who hit four home runs in a single game.
Joshua Holt Hamilton (born May 21, 1981) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder from 2007 to 2015, most prominently as a member of the Texas Rangers teams that won consecutive American League pennants in 2010 and 2011. A five-time All-Star, Hamilton won three Silver Slugger Awards and was named the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2010. He also won an AL batting championship along with an AL RBI title. During his major league tenure, he also played for the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
- Role
- Outfielder
- Affiliation
- Texas Rangers (2008–2012, 2015), Cincinnati Reds (2007), Los Angeles Angels (2013–2014)
- Status
- Retired from MLB; Inducted into Texas Rangers Hall of Fame in 2019
- Major Honors
- AL MVP (2010), 5x All-Star, 3x Silver Slugger, AL Batting Champion, AL RBI Leader
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Hamilton was chosen by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays with the first overall pick in the 1999 MLB draft. He was considered a blue chip prospect until injuries sustained in a 2001 car accident and a drug addiction derailed his career. Prior to the 2007 season, Hamilton was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the Rule 5 draft; the Cubs traded him to the Cincinnati Reds, where he made his MLB debut in 2007. Before the 2008 season, he was traded to the Texas Rangers, where he had a breakout season in 2008 and helped the team reach the World Series in 2010 and 2011. In 2012, Hamilton received more fan votes than any other player in the history of the All-Star Game. On May 8, 2012, Hamilton became the 16th player in MLB history to hit four home runs in a game; on that date, he also set an AL record for total bases in a game with 18. Hamilton was inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame in 2019.
In Their Own Story
On May 8, 2012, Hamilton etched his name in history at Angel Stadium. He became only the 16th player in MLB history to hit four home runs in a single game. That same day, he set an American League record for total bases in a game with 18. His connection with fans was equally historic; in 2012, he received more fan votes than any other player in the history of the All-Star Game. However, his time in Anaheim was turbulent, marred by injuries and a drug relapse after signing with the Angels in 2012. The team traded him back to the Rangers before the 2015 season, where he played one final year before injuries forced his retirement. His journey from a top prospect derailed by addiction to a record-setting star remains one of baseball's most notable arcs.
Reader's Guide
Hamilton signed with the Los Angeles Angels in 2012, but his tenure with the team was marred by injuries, performance issues, and a drug relapse. The Angels traded Hamilton back to the Rangers in 2015, and he played one more season for the Rangers before injuries ended his career. In 2019, Hamilton was charged with a felony for allegedly abusing his daughter. On February 22, 2022, Hamilton pleaded guilty to unlawful restraint.
Did You Know?
- Hamilton set an AL record for total bases in a game with 18 on May 8, 2012, when he hit four home runs.
- Hamilton was selected first overall in the 2006 Rule 5 draft by the Chicago Cubs, who immediately traded him to the Cincinnati Reds.
- Hamilton won the AL MVP in 2010.
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