Throwback Thursday: Adam Dunn

Adam Dunn, also known as "The Big Donkey" to many baseball fans, belted 462 home runs in his 14-season major league career. The former high school quarterback was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round of the 1998 MLB draft, taking him with the 50th overall pick.
Dunn signed with the Reds but also attended the University of Texas, where he competed with future NFL quarterback Chris Simms for the role of starting QB on the football team, which eventually went to Simms. The Longhorns asked Dunn to switch positions and become a tight end, ultimately leading him to the decision to concentrate solely on a career in professional baseball - and what a great decision it was.
The 6'6, 285-pounder skyrocketed through the Reds' system, making it to Triple-A by the middle of the 2001 season. He made his Louisville, then known as the RiverBats, debut on May 17, 2001 in a road game against the Durham Bulls. Dunn wasted no time getting acclimated to International League pitching, going 1-for-2 with a solo home run, three walks, and a strikeout.
His Louisville debut foreshadowed what was to come for the Big Donkey in the majors, as he became known for possessing the triple threat of blasting towering home runs, having a keen eye to draw walks, and setting strikeout records. In his RiverBats career, Dunn batted .329 with 20 home runs, 53 RBI, and a 1.117 OPS in just 55 games.
Dunn broke into the majors later that season, making his Reds debut on July 20, 2001 in a home game against the Florida Marlins. He hit .262 with 19 home runs in 66 games as a rookie that season. Over the next few seasons, Dunn solidified himself as one of the game's most prolific power hitters.
He hit at least 40 home runs in five consecutive seasons, including exactly 40 homers in four straight from 2005-08. Dunn is just one of eight players all-time to hit 40 or more homers in five straight seasons, joined by the likes of Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey Jr., Duke Snider, Ralph Kiner, and Babe Ruth.
Dunn blasted 270 home runs in a Cincinnati Reds uniform, ranking fourth all-time behind a trio of Hall of Famers: Johnny Bench (389), Frank Robinson (324), and Tony Perez (287). Dunn played for the Reds for eight seasons (2001-08), also spending time with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2008), Washington Nationals (2009-10), Chicago White Sox (2011-14), and Oakland Athletics (2014).
The big slugger from Houston, Texas made two All-Star games and will always be remembered for his large stature from the left side of the batter's box and his superhero-like power.