Tim Salmon

Timothy James Salmon (born August 24, 1968), nicknamed "King Fish", is an American former professional baseball player and current sportcaster. He played his entire career in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1992 to 2006 with the Anaheim Angels as an outfielder and designated hitter. Salmon was an integral member of the Anaheim Angels team that won the 2002 World Series.

Tim Salmon
Salmon at the Bagram Air Base in May 2008
Right fielder
Born: (1968-08-24) August 24, 1968
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
MLB statistics
Batting average.282
Home runs299
Runs batted in1,016
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Salmon is considered one of the most prolific and beloved players in Angels history.[1] At the time of his retirement, Salmon had the most home runs in Angels history with 299, since surpassed by Mike Trout in 2020.[2] He was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame in 2015 and no Angels player has worn his No. 15 since his retirement.[3]

Early life

Salmon was born on August 24, 1968, in Long Beach, California and was raised in the Belmont Shore neighborhood of the city. When he was three years old, Salmon provoked a two-hour search after he wandered out of the house and was found watching games at the baseball field in a local park. Salmon's parents divorced when he was young, causing him to initially move to Texas with his mother and brother before splitting time between there and his father's house in Arizona under joint custody. Salmon cites his older brother and grandmother as sources of stability in his childhood.[4]

Salmon attended Greenway High School in Phoenix, Arizona. He was a three-sport varsity athlete, primarily playing baseball and football while also playing basketball. As a member of the school's football team, Salmon played various positions, mostly punter and wide receiver, and received scouting interest from various college football programs. As a senior in 1986, Salmon was a member of a state championship-winning Babe Ruth League team. In high school, Salmon was undecided about which sport to pursue, but he ultimately chose to join Grand Canyon University's baseball team. In 1988, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[5] He was selected by the Angels in the third round of the 1989 MLB Draft.

Professional career

Salmon made his MLB 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 closer for the New York Yankees, Mariano Rivera.[6] 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.[7]

World Series and comebacks

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.[8] Salmon's career home run total is the highest for any player since the first All-Star Game in 1933 to have never been selected to appear in the game.[8]

Retirement

On September 28, 2006, Salmon announced he would retire at the end of the 2006 season.[9] 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[10] and receiving the game's MVP award.[11]

Salmon's jersey number, 15, has not been officially retired by the Angels, but it has not been worn by any other Angels player since Salmon's 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.

Since 2014, Salmon has been a pre-game and post-game analyst for Angels games on Bally Sports West.

Salmon is currently the head baseball coach at Scottsdale Christian Academy.[12]

Career accomplishments

As of 2022, Salmon is the Angels' all-time leader in walks (965). He is second in franchise history with 299 home runs, 1,016 RBIs and 986 runs scored. He is one of only three Angels players to have won the Rookie of the Year award,[13] the others being Mike Trout in 2012 and Shohei Ohtani in 2018.

During his time with the Angels, Salmon used to lead weekly chapel services in the team's clubhouse.[14]

Personal life

Salmon, his wife Marci, and their four children reside in Scottsdale, Arizona.[15] While Salmon was with the Angels, the family lived in Newport Beach, California.[16]

See also

References
  1. Mitchell, Houston (31 May 2013). "The 10 greatest Angels of all time: No. 2 -- Tim Salmon". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  2. Williams, James (5 September 2020). "Photos: Mike Trout breaks Angels' HR record with No. 300". Orange County Register. Southern California News Group. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  3. "California Angels Hall of Fame at". mlb.com. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  4. "Ex Angels star Tim Salmon holds onto Long Beach roots". Orange County Register. Southern California News Group. 15 December 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  5. "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  6. Since 1996, Yankee's Rivera Has Made It Look As Easy As 1-2-3 NY Times
  7. "The 100 Greatest Angels: # 1 Tim Salmon". halosheaven.com. 2 March 2006.
  8. DiGiovanna, Mike (2010-07-05). "Dodgers' Eric Karros and Angels' Tim Salmon were stars . . . just not All-Stars". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  9. Scarr, Mike (September 28, 2006). "Salmon officially announces retirement". losangeles.angels.mlb.com. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  10. "Tim Salmon is a hit at Angel Stadium". Los Angeles Times. July 11, 2010.
  11. Wolke, Dan (12 July 2010). "Salmon stars in celebrity softball game". Orange County Register. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  12. "For Tim Salmon, being a high school coach is about 'more than just baseball'". Los Angeles Times. March 2021.
  13. Nightengale, Bob (29 October 1993). "Salmon Makes It Unanimous : Baseball: Outfielder is the runaway choice as Angels' first rookie of the year, giving local teams a sweep of the award". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  14. Shaikin, Bill (December 14, 1997). "Hit By A Bombshell". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  15. "About Tim Salmon - Tim Salmon Foundation".
  16. "At Home with Tim Salmon". April 2016.
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