Tim Salmon

Tim Salmon
Right fielder
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
August 21, 1992, for the California Angels
Last 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 (1992–2004, 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 Salmon (born August 24, 1968 in Long Beach, California) is a former Major League Baseball right fielder/designated hitter who played his entire career with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim franchise. Known affectionately among Angels fans as the King Fish, he is considered one of the greatest players in the Angels' franchise history.

Baseball career

1992-2000

After making his major league debut in 1992, Salmon was named the American League's Rookie of the Year in 1993 and quickly became a favorite of the Angels organization and a household name among the team's fans. He finished seventh in MVP voting totals for the first time in 1995, when he won a Silver Slugger Award and posted an OPS above 1.000, and again in 1997 when he hit 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 Diamondbacksbut instead signed a four-year $40 extension with the Angels.

2001-2006

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 after 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.

Salmon had 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. On September 27, 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.

Career Accomplishments

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 1012 RBI, behind only Garret Anderson. He remains the franchise's only player to have won the Rookie of the Year award.

Interestingly, despite his above average career numbers and impressive single season accomplishments, Salmon was never selected as an All-Star during his career. In fact, he has the greatest number of career home runs (299) for a player never selected to an all-star team among players whose entire career was played after the first All-Star Game in 1933. Rogers Hornsby hit 301 career home runs and also never played in an All-Star Game, but most of Hornsby's career pre-dated the first All-Star Game.

Personal

• Salmon's cousin is actress Holly Hunter.

See also

• Top 500 home run hitters of all time
• List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI

External links

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

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