Mo Vaughn was a professional baseball player who played for three different teams during his career. He was born on December 15, 1967, in Norwalk, Connecticut, and attended Seton Hall University, where he played college baseball.
Vaughn was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the 1989 MLB draft and made his major league debut in 1991. He quickly established himself as a power hitter, hitting 29 home runs and driving in 101 runs in his first full season. He continued to put up impressive numbers over the next few years, earning three All-Star selections and finishing in the top 10 in MVP voting twice.
In 1996, Vaughn had his best season, hitting .326 with 44 home runs and 143 RBIs. He won the American League MVP award that year and led the Red Sox to the playoffs. However, the team was swept in the first round by the Cleveland Indians.
After the 1998 season, Vaughn signed a six-year, $80 million contract with the Anaheim Angels. He had a solid first season with the team, hitting 33 home runs and driving in 108 runs. However, injuries began to take a toll on him over the next few years, and his production declined. He was traded to the New York Mets in 2002 but struggled in his one season with the team, hitting just .259 with 26 home runs.
Vaughn retired after the 2003 season with a career batting average of .293, 328 home runs, and 1,064 RBIs. He was a three-time All-Star and won the AL MVP award in 1995.
Off the field, Vaughn has been involved in various business ventures, including owning a trucking company and a car dealership. He also founded the Mo Vaughn Youth Development Program, which provides educational and athletic opportunities for underprivileged children in urban areas.
In recent years, Vaughn has been critical of the current state of baseball, particularly the emphasis on analytics and the decline in the number of African American players. He has also been involved in efforts to bring a Major League Baseball team to Portland, Oregon.
⚾