Aaron Rowand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aaron Rowand |
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Rowand with the San Francisco Giants
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| Center fielder | |||
| Born: August 29, 1977 Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 16, 2001, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 30, 2011, for the San Francisco Giants | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .273 | ||
| Home runs | 136 | ||
| Runs batted in | 536 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Aaron Ryan Rowand (born August 29, 1977) is a former American professional baseball player. He was a center fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Francisco Giants. Rowand was known for his energetic and fearless style of play. He won two World Series championships during his career.
Born in Portland, Oregon, Rowand grew up in Glendora, California. He played college baseball at California State University, Fullerton, where he was named an All-American player in 1998. The White Sox drafted him that same year, and he made his MLB debut in 2001.
Rowand became a fan favorite in Chicago for his all-out effort on the field. In 2005, he helped the White Sox win the World Series, their first championship in 88 years. After that season, he was traded to the Phillies. In 2007, he had his best season, making the All-Star team and winning a Gold Glove Award for his excellent fielding.
He later signed with the Giants and won another championship with them in the 2010 World Series. After retiring as a player, Rowand worked as a coach and broadcaster for the White Sox organization.
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Early Life and College
Aaron Ryan Rowand was born on August 29, 1977, in Portland, Oregon. He grew up in Glendora, California. When he was about 10 years old, he often played softball in an adult league with his father. He graduated from Glendora High School in 1995, where his baseball jersey number was later retired.
Instead of signing with the New York Mets who drafted him out of high school, Rowand chose to go to college. He attended California State University, Fullerton, and played for their baseball team, the Titans, from 1996 to 1998. In his final year, he earned All-America honors.
Professional Career
Minor Leagues and Chicago White Sox (2001–2005)
In 1998, the Chicago White Sox selected Rowand in the first round of the MLB draft. He played in the minor leagues for a few years, improving his skills. By 2001, he was ready for the major leagues. He was called up to the White Sox in June 2001 and got his first major league hit on June 19.
Rowand spent his first few seasons as a backup outfielder. By 2004, he became the team's starting center fielder and had a great season. He hit .310 with 24 home runs and 17 stolen bases.
2005 World Series Champions
In 2005, Rowand continued to play well, hitting .270 with 13 home runs. He was known for his amazing defensive plays. He would often dive for balls or run into the outfield wall to make a catch. His hustle made him very popular with the fans.
The White Sox won their division and made it to the playoffs. Rowand played well in the postseason. The White Sox defeated the Houston Astros in the World Series, winning their first championship since 1917.
Philadelphia Phillies (2006–2007)
After the 2005 season, Rowand was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. In Philadelphia, he became famous for one of the most incredible catches in baseball history.
The Famous Catch
On May 11, 2006, against the New York Mets, Rowand made a spectacular catch. With the bases loaded, he ran at full speed and crashed face-first into the center field fence to catch a deep fly ball. The catch saved three runs from scoring, and the Phillies won the game. Rowand broke his nose and needed surgery, but he returned to the field just 15 days later.
Best Season and All-Star Game
Rowand had his best season in 2007. He was selected for the All-Star Game for the only time in his career. He finished the year with a .309 batting average, 27 home runs, and 89 runs batted in (RBIs).
For his amazing defense, he won his first Gold Glove Award. He helped the Phillies win the NL East division title. In the playoffs, he hit a home run, but the Phillies were eliminated by the Colorado Rockies.
San Francisco Giants (2008–2011)
After his great 2007 season, Rowand signed a five-year, $60 million contract with the San Francisco Giants.
In his first season with the Giants in 2008, he batted .271 with 13 home runs. On July 10, 2009, he made another amazing catch, leaping at the wall to save a no-hitter for his pitcher, Jonathan Sánchez.
2010 World Series Champions
By 2010, Rowand was no longer the starting center fielder every day. He shared playing time with Andrés Torres. He played in 105 games and hit .230.
The Giants won their division and made it to the playoffs. In the World Series against the Texas Rangers, Rowand played an important role. In Game 2, he hit a key two-run triple that helped the Giants win 9-0. The Giants won the series, giving Rowand his second World Series ring.
Rowand played one more season with the Giants in 2011. He was released by the team in September. He signed a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins in 2012 but was released before the season began.
Life After Baseball
Rowand and his ex-wife Marianne have two children. His cousin, James Shields, was also a pitcher in MLB.
Since retiring, Rowand has worked as a TV and radio broadcaster for the White Sox. He has also served as a guest coach for the Phillies and White Sox during spring training. In 2015, the White Sox hired him as an outfield and base running coach for their minor league players.
In 2012, a custom motorcycle called "The Aaron Rowand Bike" was built for him on the TV show American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior.
