Tim Salmon
Right fielder
Born: (1968-08-24) August 24, 1968 (age 43) Long Beach, California
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 21, 1992 for the California Angels
Last MLB appearance
October 1, 2006 for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Career statistics
Batting average	.282
Home runs	299
Runs batted in	1,016
Teams
California / Anaheim / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (1992–2006)
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion (2002) Silver Slugger Award winner (1995) 1993 AL Rookie of the Year 2002 AL Comeback Player of the Year 2002 Hutch Award

Timothy James "Tim" Salmon (born August 24, 1968 in Long Beach, California) is a former Major League Baseball right fielder and designated hitter who played his entire career with the California/Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels (appearing with the team under all three of its recent names). Known affectionately among Angels fans as the King Fish, he is considered one of the greatest players in the Angels' franchise history.

Baseball career[link]

Career prime[link]

Salmon who had been selected in the third round of the Major League Baseball Draft in 1989 out of Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, made his major league debut in 1992, the same year that he won the Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year Award.

In his first full season the next year, when he hit 31 home runs with a .918 OPS, Salmon was named the American League's Rookie of the Year for 1993 and quickly became a favorite of the Angels' organization and a household name among the team's fans. He maintained his status as one of the league's elite power-hitting outfielders throughout the decade. He finished seventh in MVP voting totals for the first time in 1995, when he won a Silver Slugger Award, finished third in the league with a .330 batting average, and posted an OPS above 1.000. That year, he was the first major league player to get a hit off future closer for the New York Yankees, Mariano Rivera.^[1] He finished seventh again in 1997 when he had a career high 129 RBIs. After playing in fewer than 100 games in 1999, he tied a career high 34 home runs in 2000. From 1993 to 2000 he only had two OPS lines below .900 and he never finished below .860.

Before the 2001 season, Salmon, who was about to finish a four-year contract signed before the 1997 season, briefly considered signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks, but instead signed a four-year, $40 million extension with the Angels.^[2]

World Series and comebacks[link]

Salmon's 2001 season was largely disappointing as he finished with career lows for full seasons in a number of categories. Nevertheless he followed it up with what may have been his most meaningful season. After a resurgent regular season for which he was named the AL Comeback Player of the Year, Salmon was a crucial part of the Angels' playoff and World Series run in 2002, hitting two key home runs in Game 2 of the World Series against the San Francisco Giants and batting .346 with a 1.067 OPS in the series overall.

Following a solid 2003 season, Salmon appeared in only 60 games for the Angels in 2004. After being sidelined for the entire 2005 season to recover from left knee and right rotator cuff surgery, a return was doubtful. Deciding against ending his career on those terms, however, Salmon dedicated himself to becoming healthy enough to play one final season in 2006. On December 2, 2005, the Angels announced that they had agreed to terms on a minor league contract with Salmon, making him a non-roster invitee to the team's 2006 spring training. Though he preferred to return to the Angels, Salmon was aware that he was considered unlikely to make the team's roster, but he saw the opportunity to play with the team during the exhibition season as a chance to potentially audition for other teams.

However, Salmon turned in a surprisingly strong performance during Spring Training and secured a role for himself with the Angels. At the end of the exhibition, the team announced that Salmon had made their roster, meaning he would earn a $400,000 salary for the 2006 season. Salmon spent the season as a designated hitter and reserve outfielder. He indicated that making it through the season successfully would mean that he accomplished his goal of being able to end his career on his own terms. In any respect, Salmon's 2006 season was a significant improvement over his meager 2004 campaign. He finished the season with an .811 OPS over 76 games, having passed 1000 career RBIs and boosted his career home run total to 299.

Despite setting the Angels' franchise record for home runs and finishing his career with over 1,000 RBIs, Salmon was never selected as an All-Star during his 14 year career.^[3] Salmon's career home run total is the highest for any player in MLB history who played most of his career after the first All-Star game in 1933 to have never been selected to appear in an All-Star Game.^[3]

Retirement[link]

On September 28, 2006, Salmon announced he would retire at the end of the 2006 season. He played his final Major League game on October 1, 2006, against the Oakland Athletics. His name and jersey number were cut into the infield and outfield grass of the playing field at Angel Stadium.

He returned to Angel Stadium as a player in the 2010 All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game where he received a standing ovation before hitting two home runs for the American League^[4] and receiving the game's MVP award.^[5]

Salmon's number (15) with the Angels has not been retired yet, but it has not been used by an Angel since his retirement. When Dan Haren was traded to the Angels from the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 25, 2010, he requested number 24 instead of his usual 15 out of respect for Salmon.

Career accomplishments[link]

As of the end of the 2006 season, Salmon is the Angels' all-time leader in home runs (299), runs scored (983), walks (965) and slugging percentage (.499). He is second in franchise history with 1016 RBIs, behind Garret Anderson. He remains the franchise's only player to have won the Rookie of the Year award.

Personal[link]

• Salmon's cousin is actress Holly Hunter.
• Salmon is the founder of the Tim Salmon Foundation which supports children in need.
• He now lives in Scottsdale Arizona with his wife and 4 kids: Callie, Jacob, Katelyn, and Ryan.

See also[link]

• List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
• List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI

References[link]

External links[link]

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tim Salmon

David Eckstein
Shortstop
Born: (1975-01-20) January 20, 1975 (age 37) Sanford, Florida
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 3, 2001 for the Anaheim Angels
Last MLB appearance
October 3, 2010 for the San Diego Padres
Career statistics
Batting average	.280
Home runs	35
Runs batted in	392
Teams
Anaheim Angels (2001–2004) St. Louis Cardinals (2005–2007) Toronto Blue Jays (2008) Arizona Diamondbacks (2008) San Diego Padres (2009–2010)
Career highlights and awards
2× All-Star (2005, 2006) 2× World Series champion (2002, 2006) World Series MVP (2006)

David Mark Eckstein (pronounced /ˈɛkʃtaɪn/; born January 20, 1975) is a former American professional baseball player who was an infielder in Major League Baseball for ten seasons. He played college baseball for the University of Florida, and has played professionally for the Anaheim Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres. Eckstein was recognized as the most valuable player of the 2006 World Series.

Amateur career[link]

High school[link]

Eckstein played baseball all four years at Seminole High School in Sanford, Florida. He was a two-time all-state selection, and a prominent member of a state championship team.

He was also a member of the National Honor Society and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Eckstein was voted "Most Helpful" in the Class of 1993.

Eckstein was commemorated on the 2006–2007 Seminole High baseball squad's T-shirt with the recognition at the bottom of the shirt as follows: "22.DE.WS.MVP.06." Eckstein's number with the St. Louis Cardinals was 22, DE are his initials, and he was the 2006 World Series MVP.

College[link]

At the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, Eckstein was a walk-on player for coach Joe Arnold's Florida Gators baseball team in the fall of 1994; he later earned an athletic scholarship. A standout in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), he was a first-team All-SEC selection in 1995 and 1996, a first-team All-American in 1996, a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection (1995–1997), and the first two-time Academic All-American in Gators baseball history. Eckstein was a member of the 1996 Gators squad that finished third in the College World Series. He was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 2007.^[1][2]

Eckstein also played for the Harrisonburg Turks of the Valley Baseball League in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Professional career[link]

Anaheim Angels[link]

Eckstein was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 19th round of the 1997 amateur draft, and selected off waivers by the Anaheim Angels on August 16, 2000. During the 2002 championship year, he led the major leagues with three grand slams, including grand slams in back-to-back games against the Toronto Blue Jays, one of which was a walk-off grand slam leading the Angels to complete the sweep over Toronto, at a time when the Angels were 7–14. After the sweep of the Jays, the Angels went on to win 20 of their next 23 games.^[3]

St. Louis Cardinals[link]

At the end of the 2004 season, Eckstein was part of a "shortstop merry-go-round," in which three free agent shortstops swapped teams: Edgar Rentería went from the Cardinals to the Boston Red Sox, Orlando Cabrera went from the Red Sox to the Angels, and Eckstein went from the Angels to the Cardinals.^[4]

In his first seven seasons, he amassed 1,079 hits while batting .286. He was voted to the National League All-Star team in 2005, along with teammates Chris Carpenter, Albert Pujols, Jason Isringhausen and Jim Edmonds. He was a late addition to the 2006 All-Star team. In 3,772 regular season at-bats, Eckstein struck out only 305 times, with a total of 22 in 2007.

Eckstein signing autographs before a May 30th game against the Astros in 2006 as a member of the Cardinals.

Eckstein was a fan favorite in St. Louis, who considered him to be a "pesky" hitter^[5] (he chokes up on the bat about 2 inches^[6]). On Mother's Day, May 14, 2006, Eckstein was one of more than 50 hitters who brandished a pink bat to benefit the Breast Cancer Foundation.

As a member of the 2006 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals, Eckstein was named the World Series MVP. Following a 1–11 start in the first 2 games of the World Series, Eckstein went 8 for 22 with 4 RBI and scored 3 runs in the series, including going 4-for-5 with three doubles in game 4. The World Series victory with the Cardinals placed Eckstein in elite company as one of few starting shortstops who have won a World Series in both the American and National Leagues.

Eckstein was brought back in front of over 47,000 fans to throw out the first pitch of Game 6 of the World Series in Saint Louis on October 27, 2011.

Toronto Blue Jays[link]

On November 5, 2007, Eckstein became a free agent along with Kip Wells, Troy Percival, and Miguel Cairo. On December 13, 2007, he signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Arizona Diamondbacks[link]

On August 31, 2008, Eckstein was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for minor league pitcher Chad Beck.^[7]

San Diego Padres[link]

On January 15, 2009 he signed a discounted one-year contract with the San Diego Padres on the condition that he would play primarily second base.^[8] On August 22, 2009 the San Diego Padres extended Eckstein's contract through the 2010 season.

Eckstein did not join a team for the 2011 season. In June, it was reported that he received offers from the Padres and other teams, but has opted to not play baseball. He is working for his wife, actress Ashley Eckstein.^[9] He officially retired on January 22, 2012.^[10]

Personal life[link]

Eckstein was born in Sanford, Florida. He married actress Ashley Drane on November 26, 2005, at his family church in Sanford, Florida, followed by a reception at Walt Disney World.^[11] He is a fan of professional wrestling, having made public appearances with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling during the 2006 World Series and on February 11, 2007, he co-managed (along with Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Johnny Damon) TNA wrestler Lance Hoyt for his match with current White Sox conditioning coach Dale Torborg, managed by Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski at TNA's Against All Odds pay-per-view.

His older brother, Rick, is the hitting coach for the Washington Nationals.^[9]

Career highlights[link]

• Holiday Inn Look Again Player of the Year (2006)
• 2-time World Series Champion (2002 Anaheim Angels, 2006 St. Louis Cardinals)
• World Series MVP (2006)
• 2-time All-Star (2005, 2006)
• Babe Ruth Award winner (2006)
• Inaugural winner of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association's Heart & Hustle Award (2005)

See also[link]

	Baseball portal
	Biography portal

• Florida Gators
• List of Florida Gators baseball players
• List of University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame members

References[link]

Bibliography[link]

• Eckstein, David, with Greg Brown, Have Heart, Builder's Stone Publishing, Lake Mary, Florida (2006). ISBN 0-9791504-0-X.

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: David Eckstein

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• David Eckstein page at Scout.com
• Article mentioning his winning of the MLBPAA Heart & Hustle Award