MLB Central: Gary Sheffield Talks Hitting Style

[@KTF0]

Man, that tells you the thinking of back then. Dude rakes 44 HRs in the minors and the Brewers staff was like, "let's make him a contact leadoff type hitter"

[@jonathanrecinos5894]

And that's why the Brewers are a big joke and haven't won a chip lol

[@Tommasini9]

@@jonathanrecinos5894 Exactly!!!

[@EclecticBuddha]

Who cares about a hunk of metal anyway.

[@ZDiddy7777]

It was '89, the Bash Bros. A's offense was only just starting to supplant small ball, plus Sheff was a shortstop. Shortstops not named Cal Ripken Jr. were supposed to get on base and get moved around, or turn the order over. Really, Robin Yount was about the only other SS who hit for power.... and he was moved to CF, so there ya go.

[@baileysmith4744]

the most he had in a minor league season was 28 in 134 games, where he also hit .327 with a .395 OBP. that tells the big league coaches (back then) that he has leadoff potential of 20ish homers and high on base rates with speed. it wasnt until 1992 (5th big league season) where he hit for homers, and still won a batting title

[@dougmcgill0365]

"When I get here, then I'm turnin it on-FINNA GET VIOLENT" lmao Sheff is the man 10:55

[@MoneyOverFame]

7:52 - “Dubba digits homeruns”.

[@cashvulovic1332]

I speak fluent Finna!!!

[@OhItsPrimetime]

One of the greatest batting stances of all time lol. Had a pretty swing too, hit for average AND power. Loved seeing him play.

[@grantly_2712]

Agreed.

[@thickerconstrictor9037]

As a kid he was my favorite player and to this day I can mimic his batting stance pretty much perfect. It is so fucking hard to hit with that waggle. The timing that you have to have the hand and wrist and forearm strength, the fact that he could have the bat pointing at the pitcher when the ball was coming out of their hand and then turn around a 95 + mile per hour fastball to leftfield field is unimaginable. He was a freak of nature and I would give anything to go back to being a kid watching him play again. I will never care about baseball the way I did as a kid watching him

[@dre_707]

@@thickerconstrictor9037 same here i own lots of his game used bats and other stuff

[@SFK360]

It really was. I used to mimic the way he would move the bat around in little league all the time. The guy was an absolute powerhouse at the plate.

[@yourgameisstupid]

And he rarely struck out, which is apparently something no one gives a damn about anymore.

[@suckinme2744]

this man is a genius when it comes to hitting and you can tell he loves it

[@maxwellbuhler8493]

he's so good that his advice is utter trash. you can see it on their faces. it's like God explaining how to make a star.

[@suckinme2744]

Maxwell Buhler what makes you so qualified to think you know more about hitting

[@maxwellbuhler1165]

L Rob the 2k god maybe try rereading. im agreeing with you

[@suckinme2744]

Maxwell Buhler I should probably stay off the phone when I drive lmao all I read was trash

[@gem--atria9574]

@@maxwellbuhler8493 his advice is far from trash kid

[@brettfavreify]

Good to see Gary Sheffield looking happy and smiling. A great player.

[@northeastpac-man7652]

Gary you are amazing,, I watched you play as a brewer in Yankees stadium when I was a kid,, during one inning you caught the 3rd out of the inning and as you ran by the sideline I yelled your name and you tipped your hat smiled and threw me the ball!! I’ll never forget that and I still have that ball to this day!! After that I was a fan for life

[@eugenekost5962]

He’s still that dude, I have friendship with him. He’s still the man. Absolutely amazing personality!

[@Mr._Moderate]

Wow 😮 that's an awesome story 👍

[@tavoruiz324]

Great memory. He was one of the best hitters very clutch and lots of power plus hit for average

[@thegame89145]

Sheff and Bonds were the two most intimidating players to see at the plate. Scary stances and scary good talent. Sheffield’s Bat wave was hypnotizing

[@deedeemerry1295]

yea when Sheff was at bat, i remember the 3rd base coaches backing up a lot. they wanted no part of Sheff's foul balls. one of the hardest hitters Ive ever seen..

[@bkstrength6830]

Manny Ramirez as well.

[@thegame89145]

Neumberto Mejia Manny was great and his swing was smooth as silk, but Sheff’s swing just looked flat out violent.

[@Its_just_zell]

Add Griffey Jr to that mix

[@kh7955]

Vlad Guerrero also

[@h1989w7373]

I can listen to sheffield all day! That was awesome!

[@PrometheusForever]

Yea and all mlb players should be watching this video to learn how to HIT and STOP STRIKING OUT SO DAMN MUCH!

[@philw5709]

him talking about adjusting to different stadiums just blew me away, what a hitting genius.

[@fahimp]

Gary Sheffield and Ken Griffey Jr were the first two athletes I grew up admiring. As much as i loved the smoothness of Jr's swing, I would always try to imitate Sheff's swing as a kid growing up in south florida in the mid to late 90s. His swing was akin to watching a cobra attack its prey. The way he was able to whip his bat thru the zone with that insane bat speed was hypnotic. God I miss watching him play.

[@stevenygabbyperez695]

He should be in the Hall of fame.

[@jbonillaguitar]

even after the steroids?

[@Jaime16921]

@@jbonillaguitar yes

[@jbonillaguitar]

@@Jaime16921 I agree, and so should Barry and Roger

[@bioniccop40]

He used "The Cream" for very little amount of time (2 to 3 months) and that is what is keeping him out of The Hall-Fame. To me it's bullshit he didn't shoot up steroids in his ass like Bonds and Clemens!

[@willm3027]

He wasn't a good player

[@AreWhyAyeInn]

No matter what sport I love when ppl just sit & listen in awe when a legend explains his mind sight going into different situations

[@jonmolina948]

Sheff had insane bat speed. I didn't know he showed out in mink. A true player in every sense of the word.

[@seanmccloskey7873]

Growing up in the 90's and a lifelong Yankee fan, Shef was always the man. My favorite: Griffey, Shef, and Jeter.

[@jessealexander886]

I'm a Dodgers fan. Griff and Shef were my favorite.

[@seanmccloskey7873]

@@jessealexander886 Shef was a Dodger at least.

[@jamesjackson2434]

Hard to beat those days!

[@leban86]

Loved watching Gary Sheffield hit. Even more awesome to hear him talk it out.

[@etelot]

That is a professional hitter speaking man.

[@kidcudi908]

This is why steroids are irrelevant imo, not everyone can do what sheff did . Steroids or not

[@robertgowerjr.1403]

One of my favorite sluggers of all time!! His bat speed was so fast and violent!! Just awesome! Sheffield, Ruben Sierra and Canseco had such awesome swings. They never got cheated!!!

[@fockinausty]

Loved when he’s playing at Bronx. I wished him to play few more seasons.

[@johndim11]

That bat waggle loaded the bat like no other waggle that i've ever seen! Incredible power from that move!

[@geraldga9362]

Sheffield was my favorite player during his run with my Braves. I had his Jersey and even mimicked that back and forth thing he does with the bat when at the plate.

[@knucleballfreedom]

We all did, we all did. Seems happy to be on TV as much as we are happy to see him!

[@jigga1215]

That brought a smile to my face. "Shef" was always one of my favorite players.

[@KULCAT79]

My two favorite players were Rickey Henderson and Gary Sheffield

[@bioniccop40]

~~ Right On ~~ Love Rickey and Gary (and his uncle Dwight Gooden)..

[@EE-bg1de]

Rickey Gary and JR

[@d.a.b2374]

The most mean stance in history....the great pedro Martinez said it

[@emptyhearted9981]

Yea but Ken Griffey jr had the best swing , and I liked the high elbow of Edgar , that's what my stance though I I wildly waved the bat around out of nerves and my coaches were always 5elling me to stop my elbow despite me being the only player that hit line drives consistently on the teams, And the fundamentally soundest fielder on the teams

[@emptyhearted9981]

@@joeinreallife6293 well both are better then sheff objectively

[@captmorgan2063]

mean stance for sure but albert belle had a mean stance too.

[@8kigana]

@@captmorgan2063 Albert was just mean all the time

[@mathewarellano7044]

Favorite player growing up with. As a kid I'd mimic his stance in little league. Haha, He was the best.

[@Tony__Tone]

Exactly, I hated when the Padres traded him.

[@thickerconstrictor9037]

Same here. I've never met anyone that could mimic his stance as good as I could. I'm sure you can but no one that I've ever met in person. Most kids growing up in my most kids growing up in my area, Tampa Bay, were fans of Griffey or bonds or Sosa or McGuire, I was the only Sheffield fan. He retired on my birthday and that was the worst birthday ever haha. I always say and still agree with this statement that I will never love baseball the way I did when I was a Sheffield fan. When he retired a huge chunk of my love for the game died with him. As a kid you can love a player as your favorite and look up to them as an adult I find that you can follow certain people but you don't care as much as you used to. I Will Never care about baseball as much as I did and it sucks but I really miss watching him play

[@TrailingSkies27]

I'll never forget how nice of a guy Sheffield was to me when I was spring training bat boy for the Brewers. Paul Molitor was the nicest pro I met. Sheffield and a close second. Opponent Andre Dawson seemed like a really good guy, though I only met him for a minute.

[@HueyPPLong]

Who was an a**hole? Lol

[@blacksheepsoftball]

@@HueyPPLong barry bonds lol

[@e2go]

@TrailingSkies27 That's so cool. He was such an intense competitor, and I don't think I ever saw him smile on the field which I loved. Always like knowing big time players treat people kindly even when the cameras aren't on them.

[@jessealexander886]

One of my favorite! Ken Jr, Sheff, Frank Thomas, Pujols, Sosa

[@wilfredocepeda5479]

Sheffield had the fastest bat speed in MLB. Very kool analysis. I wished I would have seen these tips when I was younger⚾️⚾️.

[@ihatemodemgangstas]

You n me both man

[@ArturoIAlvarez]

By far Gary was one of my favorite to watch swing the bat

[@thickerconstrictor9037]

When I first saw the movie The Sandlot it got me into baseball. And Benny the jet Rodriguez was a Dodgers fan so I decided to start watching the Dodgers and they would be my favorite team and I remember turning the All-Star Game On in 98 and seeing Gary Sheffield and writing down his name. Sometime in the next week or two I rode up the street on my bike to a card shop and pulled out a Dodgers card pack and he was the top card. I remember the first game besides the All-Star game that I ever watched him in and it was against the Giants and he hit a homerun but they lost. When I first started playing I got the number 10 and was put into left field and that was not my choice that's just how it happened and he was a left fielder and number 10 at the time. I saw him hit 2 homeruns in a spring training game against the Braves in Orlando I saw him hit two home runs at the Del Rey Stadium I watched every game that I could especially when he was on the Braves. I remember the day he was traded I woke up to go to the bathroom and ESPN happens to be on and they happen to be talking about him getting traded. Doesn't sound really that crazy, but I never woke up to go to the bathroom. Ever ever ever ever ever so me happening to wake up at that time was crazy. He retired on my birthday as well. I've talked about this already in comments on here but it can't be stressed enough how much my love for baseball died When he retired. I still love baseball and I still watch it a little bit but I will never care about a player or a team or baseball in general as much as I did Growing Up watching Gary Sheffield. He had an attitude at times but his playing ability was amazing. The bat speed that he generated, the sound does a ball made off his Bat, the sheer strength he had and watching him just annihilate the baseball was a thing of beauty. And I will forever miss the days of being able to watch him play

[@DStabs720]

Awesome story man!

[@iblizzard7573]

Love hearing true legends break it down. Nice inside perspective.

[@ElrohirGuitar]

I love hearing my favorite hitters talking about how they approach hitting. People see Willie Mays, Jimmy Wynn, or Gary Sheffield and think "he is such a gifted athlete". They are gifted, but what made them so much better is that their mental approach was as important to them as the physical part.

[@tommyjessup2947]

I love how loose Gary played. Really loved the swag he brought to baseball

[@elegant_equalizer112]

To me, Sheffield was like the marvin hagler of baseball..loved watchin him hit

[@fwc9500]

Great analogy.

[@acjordangaming52]

One of the main reason I fell in love with Baseball a true legend for sure

[@snootch2nootch]

Always love and appreciate the times Sheff spent in the pinstripes. Was fun to watch, wish we could of seen him win a ring with the Yanks.

[@thickerconstrictor9037]

I was a humongous Sheffield fan growing up. Started watching him when he was on the Dodgers and was so upset when he got traded to the Braves but then quickly realize I would get to watch him play almost every day because there's games are on TBS but I was so mad when he went to the Yankees haha. I couldn't stand the Yankees. As an adult I respect what they've accomplished but that was my least favorite time watching him haha but he played really well for them

[@SleepyGrapes]

Man this channel is so dope all these guys just teaching us about the game if I was a young baseball player I would literally watch every video that comes out

[@TylerBlack863]

That was awesome. I love these type of videos.

[@buddylopez5391]

Man i wish i could talk hitting with him this was awsome.

[@rockofloveusa]

my favorite batting stances of all time. one of my favorite player of all time MLB Central. a+ on this one . next albert bell or more gary sheffield

[@ihavesoul4real]

Sheffield just hit ya'll wit that " go in the batters box sideways" pro tip. The .400 club is about to get bigger.

[@gregoryforte8876]

One of the best right handed hitters I have ever seen. Gary Sheffield is definitely Hall of Fame worthy.

[@TommyBuettner]

As a child, I met outside of a stadium in San Antonio, Tx when he was playing for the El Paso Diablos in Double AA... He shook my hand and autographed my ticket stub. He was a gracious 19 year old... I will never forget.

[@izzymyguitars22]

Thank you for having him on the show! Gary Sheffield was my favorite player all time growing up! still to this day! one of the most beautiful and unique swings that you don't hardly see anymore. Maybe Miguel Andujar could be close to it

[@BlancoDasMe]

He played here in The pinstripes for only 2 seasons but he was one of my favorite yanks regardless. Dude was all business and such a fun hitter to watch. Miss ya sheff!

[@rilenixx]

My absolute favorite batting stance of all time. I mirrored it and adapted it to become my stance. It worked extremely well for me.

[@MichaelOdomwest16thAve]

The Marlins have literally had some of the greatest players ever since entering the mlb. Sheffield is considered top 3 in Marlins history

[@jss6691]

I remember when he played for the Stockton Ports in the California League back in 1987. I got his autograph back then at Billy Hebert Field where he played ball. Great player!

[@bigkatspoker]

Favorite player of all time. I loved what he stood for. And a beast! ‘93 season

[@JSmith-dj2pi]

Stuff like this is invaluable information for a kid looking to get better. The strategy and everything behind his hitting....just awesome.

[@jacobrichardson1952]

When I first saw Gary Sheffield back in '03 as a baby his batting stance was so dope and sometimes weird by the time he joined the Yankees in 2004 he got that real swing.

[@glucosaminecondroitan9135]

I just read Sheffield's autobiography. It was cool! Good video.

[@thickerconstrictor9037]

I knew no other kids growing up who's favored player was Gary Sheffield like mine. I found him in about 1998 when I was nine or 10 and he retired on my birthday. I absolutely loved watching him play. I Will Never Capture the love for watching baseball that I had when he played. You know how it is when you're a kid. But I wish every single day that he was around for statcast. Because I can't think of anyone who had a faster bat than him or hit the ball harder than him. I would love love love love love love love to have seen how fast the ball of coming off of his Bat.

[@rvboswell1]

Thank you for the lesson. Please bring him back on.

[@hreade8772]

I LOVED watching Sheff! He and Vlad Guerrero were who I modeled my approach at the plate after. Not their swing so much but their mentality. I remember watching Sheff hit a homerun off of a ball thrown at him and I just thought that was the coolest freaking thing.

[@mkhanman12345]

i modeled their swing and mentality

[@hreade8772]

@mkhanman12345 Gwynn was my guy for swing. I grew up in San Diego in the 90s. I was more aggressive at the plate than him though. 3 pitches I was either on or out. Rarely struck out.

[@michaelt.1451]

Love it! Sheff dropping knowledge.

[@NYYanks2003040506]

One of my favorite players to watch, was really happy when the Yanks signed him.

[@jontynolan5816]

gt hi

[@chrisweidner4768]

Every single AB by Gary was must watch.

[@moslikeGOD]

One of my favorite sluggers

[@VenomousStare]

Really compelling and interesting. Love the stuff about keeping his hands loose and adjusting to parks.

[@williamlobur6181]

WOW, what a pleasure listening to this, thanx Sheff

[@thr3at26]

I could hear shef talk about baseball for hours. The way he breaks down hitting is incredible.

[@sk8terboi10003]

I'm disappointed they didn't talk about Sheffield when he was with Detroit

[@TheImtoomuch]

He's such a bad ass. Loved watching his intensity.

[@peteinthedesert7082]

I'm a little surprised that no one in this clip, not even Sheff himself, ...said anything about the incredible bat speed he had. He can do all that stuff with his hands before the pitch... but if not for his incredible bat speed, none of it woulda worked. Julio Franco was similar in his day. That being said, awesome vid to watch. His connections to BALCO (one of a few to admit to taking illegal substances, but his body didn't change as drastically as Bonds, Sosa, Mac, etc)...and his attitude towards reporters (during his career) have hurt his HOF induction chances. He'll make it in a few years. He deserves it.

[@stonebone316]

Sheff is my all time fav. Used to try to emulate his stance/swing as a kid. Still use his stance on my rtts player every year in the show.

[@jhfenway3498]

Always imitated his stance growing up. Could listen to him talk hitting for ages

[@robertdelvalle5607]

That was great!!! Could hear him talk hitting all day

[@kenarthur6253]

I could watch Sheff hit all day long. Amazing strength and bat speed. Also very well spoken. You can really tell he is enjoying himself on the show!

[@senatorlainez]

One of the best hitters I’ve ever seen as a Dodger fan. 🐐 Sheff!

[@burtmacklinfbi8824]

I could listen to baseball talk all day

[@e2go]

I can't even imagine the strength and power generated during Sheffield's swing. People that never played baseball at a reasonably high level could never understand how unique and genius his entire hitting style is.

[@BostonBori92]

I ust to swing like this man for every summer camp baseball game I played as a kid

[@yanceygatlin2876]

I was in Gary's 6th grade class at Lockhart Middle school in Belmont Heights, he would hit a red kickball out of our playing field at just about every bat, our teacher wouldn't let him play much after the first week because we kept losing so many balls! He already had amazing bat speed at a young age, so gifted, so fun to watch, when he was allowed to play!

[@Steviebjj]

As a jiu jitsu athlete this is super insightful, thank you sir , from Boston .

[@bigkatspoker]

The shef- my favorite him and Kirby Puckett.

[@brianbelden2449]

My favorite swing in baseball ball by a country mile. None of that pure beautiful finess bullshit. Just PURE rage, aggression and unrelenting POWER. LOVED it!

[@Brhoward31]

I love Sheff! Fav LF of all time

[@RMUNOZ1963]

I seen Gary last week in same suit her in NYC. Very strong man.

[@trenbolognasandwich6021]

Love these. With Pete Rose and A Rod. U can learn alot from these guys.

[@scottnewman2082]

Wow, Gary actually has a smile.

[@sarahgaffney2183]

As a fan I loved Sheff. I watched him mostly when he was in Florida playing for the Marlins. seemed as though he didnt get media coverage like he should have. I wonder why he was traded around so much. he was solid

[@glst1974]

I am a Sheffield fan. This was good stuff. Unfortunately I do not know if he will ever get inducted to the Hall of Fame. Numbers suggest he should.

[@JeremyIsTheBoss]

He'll get in eventually

[@RandomGuy285]

Steroids suggest he shouldn't.

[@Wes-pq4pl]

@@RandomGuy285 They aren't magic beans. If you took steroids you wouldnt automatically play like a HOF

[@cheddarcheese7928]

@@Wes-pq4plMagic beans or not, peds did some amazing things for alot of players back then.From Bonds to Clemens to Mcgwire and on and on..So what would their numbers be without them?They did make a difference

[@fakeplastic1826]

@@Wes-pq4pl Sheffield hit 307 HRs after the age of 30. Prior to that season he only hit 30+ twice. There was a marked point in his career where he started juicing hard.

[@alabastertroy5286]

One of my favorite batting stances to mimic when I was young

[@haroldarchie3859]

That was a hell of a master class on hitting.

[@JonahLoeb]

I love that Gary Sheffield is one of the greatest hitters of all time but he still dresses like he's in the Original Kings of Comedy

[@gatormark]

I don't know what that means. He's sporting a very nice suit.

[@tmantman6896]

stop being an hater clown and go and shave that ugly ass beard

[@gatormark]

@Marvin Santana What joke?

[@b-8437]

Lol!

[@rickycamilo4488]

LMAOOOOOO

[@stdup0nt]

Sheff! It was so fun to watch him play...was said to see him go to FL...

[@YehoshuaChicagoCubs]

Legendary 509 homers respect

[@iamgodscake]

Absolutely incredible.

[@beatrenegades]

He has so much wisdom about batting

[@stevemeters3090]

i still can't believe he got such little love from the hall. seriously? my man deserves a plaque.

[@ricardorodriguez5581]

Masterclass from a Legend of the game. Get him in the Hall!

[@johnyang2]

This is good stuff. See, I'm already too old to play baseball competitively, but if I were working my way to play professional, I would safe this video and study it as many times as possible. The guy is giving away his trade secrets!

[@dustinharrison3491]

He explains hitting so well.

[@TigerDude333]

knowledge, baby. love to see a smart man shine.

[@carlososcarcomedy]

GREAT talk on hitting

[@taken4granite817]

The guy in the blue shirt is me. Baffled with GREATNESS! as a kid I liked to mimic Sheffield and Pujols batting stances.

[@Nocofella]

My favorite baseball (hitter) of all time or at least my lifetime.

[@matthewevans7151]

Definitely one of the guys I always wanted to watch hit no matter what team he played for.

[@WeBreakItAllDownRightHere]

I doubt you could find anyone who doesn't respect Gary Sheffield. What a fearsome hitter he was.

[@tonyjones4278]

I could listen too sheff talk baseball all day....