Chone Figgins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chone Figgins |
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Figgins with the Seattle Mariners
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| Third baseman / Outfielder / Second baseman | |||
| Born: January 22, 1978 Leary, Georgia, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| August 25, 2002, for the Anaheim Angels | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 13, 2014, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .276 | ||
| Home runs | 35 | ||
| Runs batted in | 403 | ||
| Stolen bases | 341 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Chone Figgins (born January 22, 1978) is a former American professional baseball player. People often called him "Figgy." He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for three teams: the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Seattle Mariners, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Chone was known as a "utility player." This means he could play many different positions on the field. He played everywhere except catcher, pitcher, and first base.
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Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Chone Figgins was born in Leary, Georgia. His parents, Charles Figgins and Eva Callins, both loved baseball. They even played competitive slow-pitch softball. When Chone was one year old, his family moved to Brandon, Florida. He went to Brandon High School. There, he played only shortstop, which is a key infield position.
Chone's Professional Baseball Journey
Starting with the Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies picked Chone Figgins in the 1997 MLB Draft. They wanted him to play second base instead of shortstop. In 2001, the Rockies traded him to the Anaheim Angels.
Playing for the Angels
Chone Figgins made his first big league appearance on August 25, 2002. He came into the game as a pinch runner. This is a player who runs the bases for another player. His first hit in MLB was an RBI single. An RBI single means he hit the ball and brought a run home. This happened on September 15, 2002.
His first full season in the major leagues was in 2004. On May 14, 2004, he had a great game. He got 5 hits in 6 tries against the Baltimore Orioles. He also hit his first home run in that game.
A Breakout Year: 2005
The year 2005 was very special for Chone. He became the leadoff hitter for the Angels. This means he was the first batter in the lineup. He used his amazing speed to steal 62 bases. This was the most in the American League that year. It was also the second-highest number of stolen bases in Angels history. In 2005, he played two different positions in the same game 24 times! He was even named a co-MVP for the Angels that season.
Making History and Records
On September 16, 2006, Chone Figgins made history. He became the fifth Angel to hit for the cycle. Hitting for the cycle means getting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run all in one game. It's very rare!
A few days later, on September 29, 2006, he hit his first inside-the-park home run. This is when a player hits the ball and runs all the way around the bases to score. He did this without the ball leaving the field. Besides third base, Figgins also played shortstop, second base, and all three outfield positions.
In March 2007, Chone broke two fingers during a spring training game. He had to miss the start of the season. But he came back strong! In June 2007, he set an Angels team record. He got 53 hits in one month. On June 18, 2007, he got six hits in one game. This included a "walk-off triple." A walk-off hit is one that ends the game by scoring the winning run. This tied an American League record for most hits in a nine-inning game.
On July 15, 2007, Figgins stole his 187th base as an Angel. This broke the club record that had stood for 20 years!
All-Star Season: 2009
In 2009, Chone Figgins was chosen for his first All-Star Game. This is a big honor for a baseball player. He also led the American League with 101 walks. A walk means the pitcher throws four pitches outside the strike zone. Even though he stole 42 bases, he was caught stealing 17 times. This was tied for the most in the major leagues that year.
Time with the Seattle Mariners
In December 2009, Chone Figgins signed a four-year contract with the Seattle Mariners. He started playing second base for them. In 2010, he had a tougher year, batting .259. However, he still stole 42 bases. The next year, he moved back to third base. In 2011, he played only 81 games and batted .188.
In 2012, the Mariners tried him as the leadoff hitter again. They hoped it would help him play better. But on May 4, his manager said he would no longer play every day. He finished the 2012 season batting .181. The Mariners decided to let him go in November 2012.
Brief Stays and Retirement
In 2013, Chone Figgins signed a small contract with the Miami Marlins. But he didn't make their team and was released.
After not playing in 2013, Figgins signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2014. He played 38 games as a utility player and pinch hitter. He batted .217, but he got on base often because he drew many walks. He had a hip injury in June and spent time recovering. The Dodgers later decided to let him go in August 2014. No other team signed him after that.
On March 20, 2016, Chone Figgins announced he was retiring from baseball. He signed a special one-day contract with the Angels. This allowed him to officially retire as an Angel player.
Chone's Life Off the Field
In 2005, his closest friend in baseball was Juan Pierre. Chone also has a brother named Demetrius. Demetrius worked as a scout for the Angels. A scout finds new talented players. Chone and his wife, Claudia, had a son named Desmond, Jr., in 2015.
See also
In Spanish: Chone Figgins para niños
- List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
- List of Major League Baseball single-game hits leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual stolen base leaders
