Fox In The Mix

Jose Canseco


Back to baseball

Jose Canseco 1988 A.L. MVP. Author/s: Rick Sorci
Issue: June, 2002


FULL NAME: Jose Canseco

AGE, HT., WT.: 37, 6-4, 240

Born: July 2, 1964

HOME: Miami, Florida

STATUS/FAMILY: Single with one daughter

LIFE OUTSIDE BASEBALL: Spending time with my daughter and playing golf.

SPORTS HERO WHEN I WAS YOUNG: Reggie Jackson

PEOPLE WHO INFLUENCED ME THE MOST/WHY: Probably my biggest influence was my parents.

PLAYERS, PAST AND PRESENT, I'D PAY TO WATCH PLAY: Today, it would be guys like Edgar Martinez, Alex Rodriguez and Sammy Sosa. Old-timers would definitely be Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron.

HOBBIES: Computers

FAVORITE ACTOR: I like action, so it would be someone like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sylvester Stallone.

FAVORITE MOVIE: Actually when it first came out, Jaws

FAVORITE TV SHOW: In Living Color

FAVORITE FOOD: Pasta

FAVORITE BALLPARK: The Ballpark in Arlington

FAVORITE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM OUTSIDE OF BASEBALL: Miami Dolphins

TRUEST SIGN OF SUCCESS: Being consistent every year.

BEST TIME OF MY LIFE/WHY? When my daughter was born and spending time with her.

PLAYER I LEARNED THE MOST FROM: Probably Mark McGwire. I enjoyed watching how technically sound he was as a hitter.

IF I COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT BASEBALL IT WOULD BE: I would make the strike zone smaller.

IF NOT A BASEBALL PLAYER I WOULD HAVE BEEN: I love animals, so I'd probably would have been a veterinarian.

BEHIND MY BACK THEY SAY: I have no idea.

TOUGHEST PITCHER I'VE FACED: That would be Pedro Martinez. When I go into the batter's box against him, I just try to make contact.

LIFE AFTER BASEBALL: I have a financial company. So I'll be more hands-on with it when I'm done playing baseball.

MY BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Not being able to stay healthy my whole career. If I had, I'd have hit over 500 home runs by now--very easily.

THE MOST IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTE A BASEBALL PLAYER NEEDS: For myself, it has to be health. Also, determination.

MY MOST MEMORABLE GAME: It would probably be the game September 23, 1988, against the Milwaukee Brewers when I accomplished the 40 home runs/40 stolen bases achievement. I stole second and picked up the base.

MY MOST EMBARRASSING BASEBALL EXPERIENCE: It had to be the time the ball bounced off my head against Cleveland and went for a home run. I was playing with the Rangers and the batter hit a deep line-drive to right. I ran back to the wall and when I turned around the ball was already there and hit me on top of the head and went over the wall for a home run. I really didn't feel it. I was just embarrassed.


Article from "Baseball Digest"