Tim Lincecum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tim Lincecum
Lincecum with the Giants in 2009
Pitcher
Born: (1984-06-15) June 15, 1984 (age 41) Bellevue, Washington, U.S.
Batted: Left Threw: Right
debut
May 6, 2007, for the San Francisco Giants
Last appearance
August 5, 2016, for the Los Angeles Angels
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	110–89
Earned run average	3.74
Strikeouts	1,736
Teams
San Francisco Giants (2007–2015) Los Angeles Angels (2016)
Career highlights and awards
4× All-Star (2008–2011) 3× World Series champion (2010, 2012, 2014) 2× NL Cy Young Award (2008, 2009) 3× NL strikeout leader (2008–2010) Golden Spikes Award (2006) Pitched two no-hitters (2013, 2014)

Timothy Leroy Lincecum (/ˈlɪnsəkʌm/ lin-SƏ-kum; born June 15, 1984), known as "the Freak", is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played ten seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He spent most of his career with the San Francisco Giants. Tim Lincecum won the Cy Young Award twice. He helped the Giants win three World Series championships from 2010 to 2014.

Lincecum went to Liberty Senior High School in Renton, Washington. He played college baseball at the University of Washington. In 2006, he won the Golden Spikes Award. That year, he was the first player from the Washington Huskies chosen in the first round of the MLB Draft. The San Francisco Giants picked him tenth overall.

He earned the nickname "The Freak" because he could throw very fast pitches. This was surprising for his size (5 feet 11 inches, 170 pounds). His pitching style was also unusual. He led the National League in strikeouts for three years in a row (2008–2010). He also led the league in shutouts in 2009. In 2010, he won the Babe Ruth Award as the best player in the MLB postseason. Lincecum won two Cy Young Awards in 2008 and 2009. He was the first MLB pitcher to win this award in his first two full seasons. He also played in four All-Star Games from 2008 to 2011. He pitched two no-hitters in 2013 and 2014. Lincecum won World Series titles with the Giants in 2010, 2012, and 2014. After injuries in 2015, he played for the Los Angeles Angels in 2016. He tried to return to baseball in 2018 with the Texas Rangers. But injuries kept him from playing in the major leagues.

Early Life and College Baseball

Tim Lincecum's mother, Rebecca Asis, has Filipino parents. His father, Chris, worked at Boeing. When Tim was drafted, he waited for a bigger signing bonus. This was so his father could retire. From age four, Chris helped Tim improve his pitching. He filmed practices and games to analyze them.

Lincecum went to Liberty Senior High School. He played varsity baseball for two seasons. As a senior, he was named the state's Player of the Year. He led his school to the 2003 3A Kingco Athletic Conference title. The Chicago Cubs drafted Lincecum in 2003. But he chose to go to the University of Washington instead.

He was named Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year in 2004 and 2006. This was for the Washington Huskies. The Cleveland Indians drafted him in 2005. Again, he did not sign. He turned down an offer that included a $700,000 signing bonus. He wanted a larger bonus so his father could retire.

In 2006, he finished with a 12–4 win–loss record. His earned run average (ERA) was 1.94. He had 199 strikeouts and three saves. He won the 2006 Golden Spikes Award. This award goes to the best amateur baseball player.

In 2005, Lincecum played collegiate summer baseball. He played for the Harwich Mariners in the Cape Cod Baseball League. He was an all-star for Harwich. He had a 2–2 record with a league-best 0.69 ERA. He struck out 68 batters in 39 innings.

Professional Baseball Career

Starting in the Minor Leagues

The Chicago Cubs drafted Lincecum in 2003. But he chose to go to college instead. In 2006, the San Francisco Giants drafted him tenth overall. He was the first player from the University of Washington picked in the first round. His $2.025 million signing bonus was the most the Giants had ever paid an amateur player.

Lincecum started his professional career in 2006. He played for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. In 2007, he was ranked the #11 prospect in baseball. He was the #1 prospect for the San Francisco Giants. He spent the first month of 2007 with the Fresno Grizzlies. This is the Giants' Triple-A team. He allowed only one run in 31 innings. He struck out 46 batters and went 4–0.

San Francisco Giants (2007–2015)

Rookie Season in 2007

The Giants called Lincecum up to the major leagues on May 6, 2007. He made his first start against the Philadelphia Phillies. He struck out three batters in his first inning. Lincecum got his first major league win five days later. This was against the Rockies.

In July, Lincecum went 4–0 with a 1.62 ERA. On July 1, he struck out 12 batters against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He allowed only three hits in a 13–0 win. On August 21, he pitched into the ninth inning for the first time. He held a 1–0 lead against the Cubs. He had allowed only two hits and one walk. The Giants rested Lincecum in September. This was to protect him from pitching too many innings. He pitched a total of 177+1⁄3 innings in 2007.

Winning Cy Young Awards (2008–2009)

The Giants were careful with Lincecum in 2008. They wanted to prevent injuries. From April 2 to April 24, Lincecum won his first four games. On May 15, he struck out 10 Astros. Houston first baseman Lance Berkman said Lincecum had "three almost unhittable pitches."

Lincecum was on the cover of Sports Illustrated in July 2008. He was chosen for his first All-Star Game. But he could not play due to flu-like symptoms. On September 13, Lincecum pitched his first major league shutout. This was against the San Diego Padres. He threw 138 pitches and struck out 12 batters.

On September 23, he broke Jason Schmidt's single-season strikeout record. Lincecum finished 2008 with 265 strikeouts. He was the first Giants pitcher to win the National League (NL) strikeout title since 1944. He won 18 games and lost only five. On November 11, 2008, Lincecum won the NL Cy Young Award.

In 2009, Lincecum won six games in a row. On June 2, he reached 500 strikeouts faster than any other Giants pitcher. In June, he went 4–1 with a 1.38 ERA. He pitched three complete games. He was named NL Pitcher of the Month for June. He and Matt Cain were chosen for the NL All-Star Team. Lincecum started the game for the NL.

Through 20 starts in 2009, Lincecum had an 11–3 record. His ERA was 2.30 with 183 strikeouts. He also had a 29-inning scoreless streak. On July 27, he struck out a career-high 15 batters. This was the second most in San Francisco history. Lincecum missed his first start on September 8 due to back spasms. He finished 2009 with a 15–7 record, 2.48 ERA, and 261 strikeouts. He won his second Cy Young Award. He was the first pitcher in MLB history to win the award in his first two full seasons.

Winning the World Series in 2010

Lincecum started the 2010 season with a 5–0 record. He had 10 or more strikeouts in three of his first six games. He was selected for the NL All-Star Team for the third year. At the All-Star break, Lincecum was 9–4 with a 3.16 ERA.

After a tough August, Lincecum had a strong September. He won five games that month. For the third year in a row, Lincecum won the NL strikeout title. He set a record for most strikeouts by an MLB pitcher in his first four seasons. Lincecum finished 2010 with a 16–10 record, a 3.43 ERA, and 231 strikeouts.

On October 7, Lincecum pitched a complete-game two-hit shutout. This was in Game 1 of the NL Division Series. In his next start, Lincecum won against Roy Halladay in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series. In Game 6, Lincecum pitched from the bullpen. The Giants won, moving to the World Series.

In Game 1 of the World Series, Lincecum earned the win. The Giants defeated the Texas Rangers 11–7. On November 1, Lincecum started Game 5. He struck out 10 batters in eight innings. He gave up only three hits in a 3–1 victory. This win ended the Giants' 56-year wait for a World Series championship. It was San Francisco's first baseball world championship.

Lincecum's strikeout milestones

More Records and Another World Series (2011–2012)

On May 4, 2011, Lincecum struck out 12 New York Mets. He became the Giants' record holder for most games with 10 or more strikeouts. He passed Christy Mathewson. On May 21, he threw a three-hit shutout against the Oakland Athletics. On June 6, he got his 1,000th career strikeout.

Lincecum finished 2011 with a 13-14 record. His ERA was 2.74, which was very good. But the Giants scored very few runs when he pitched. This led to his losing record. Lincecum signed a two-year, $40.5 million deal with the Giants in 2012.

Lincecum's performance changed in 2012. He lost six games in a row. At the All-Star break, he had a 3–10 record and a 6.42 ERA. However, he improved in the second half. He won seven of his last 12 games. He finished the season with a 10–15 record and 190 strikeouts. His 5.18 ERA was higher than before.

The Giants used Lincecum as a relief pitcher in the playoffs. In Game 4 of the NLDS, he pitched 4+1⁄3 innings of relief. He allowed only one run. The Giants won, forcing a Game 5, which they also won. In the World Series, Lincecum pitched in relief in Game 1 and Game 3. He threw scoreless innings in both games. The Giants swept the Series, winning their second title in three years.

No-Hitters and Third World Series (2013–2015)

Lincecum worked on his coordination in the 2012 offseason. His spring training in 2013 was not great. On July 13, Lincecum no-hit the Padres 9–0 at Petco Park. This was the first no-hitter in that stadium. He struck out 13 batters and walked four. He threw a career-high 148 pitches.

Lincecum finished 2013 with a 10–14 record and a 4.37 ERA. He struck out 193 batters. By the end of the year, he had 1,510 strikeouts. This was the third-highest total for a pitcher in their first seven years. On October 22, Lincecum signed a two-year, $35 million contract.

In 2014, Lincecum was the fourth pitcher in the Giants' rotation. On June 25, Lincecum pitched his second career no-hitter. It was his second against the Padres. He became the second player in MLB history to throw two no-hitters against the same team. He was the first to do it in back-to-back seasons. On July 22, Lincecum earned a save. He became the fifth pitcher since 1976 to pitch a no-hitter and record a save in the same season.

Lincecum was moved to the bullpen later in 2014. On September 25, he won his 100th career game. He finished the season with a 12–9 record and a 4.74 ERA. Lincecum did not pitch in the 2014 NLDS or NLCS. He appeared in Game 2 of the 2014 World Series. He left the game with lower back tightness. The Giants won the World Series, giving Lincecum his third championship.

In 2015, Lincecum started strong. He threw eight shutout innings on May 3. On May 20, he passed Carl Hubbell for fourth place on the Giants' all-time strikeouts list. On June 27, Lincecum was hit by a line drive. He was diagnosed with a hip condition in July. He had hip surgery on September 3. For the season, he was 7–4 with a 4.13 ERA. He became a free agent after the season.

Los Angeles Angels (2016)

Lincecum with the Los Angeles Angels in 2016

On May 20, 2016, Lincecum signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He started his first game for the Angels on June 18. He gave up one run in six innings and earned a victory. However, he won only one more game for the Angels that season. On August 5, he allowed nine hits and six runs. The Angels removed him from the team the next day. He finished his major league season with a 2–6 record and a 9.16 ERA. He became a free agent after the season.

Texas Rangers (2018)

After not playing in 2017, Lincecum signed with the Texas Rangers on March 7, 2018. The Rangers planned to use him as a relief pitcher. Lincecum started the season on the disabled list due to a blister. He made 10 appearances for the Round Rock Express, a minor league team. He was released by the Rangers on June 5, 2018.

Life After Playing Baseball

In September 2019, Lincecum attended a ceremony for Giants manager Bruce Bochy. Lincecum said he had not officially retired from baseball. He was "trying to transition" to life after playing. He added that it was hard to figure out who he was after baseball.

Tim Lincecum's Pitching Style

When Lincecum pitched, he started with his back slightly to the plate. His left leg was raised, and his glove was over his head. He would then take a big step forward. He moved his hips over his front foot as he threw the ball. This helped him throw with high speed, even though he wasn't very big. The power came from his long stride and hip muscles.

Lincecum threw a four-seam fastball and a two-seam fastball. The two-seam fastball had more sinking movement. This helped him get more ground balls. He also had a curveball that moved away from right-handed hitters. These were his main pitches early in his career.

Later, he added a changeup. This pitch looked like his fastball at first. But then it dropped sharply and moved away from left-handed batters. He liked to use his changeup when he had two strikes on a batter. He also started using a slider again in 2008. He used the slider more often by 2011. He preferred the slider when he was ahead in the count. His fastball speed was around 94.1 miles per hour (151.4 km/h) in 2008. By 2014, it was less than 90 miles per hour (140 km/h). His other pitches also slowed down a bit over time.

Career Highlights and Awards

The Giants have not given Lincecum's number 55 to another player.

Awards and Honors

Lincecum was on the ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022.

Baseball Records

• Pitched a no-hitter against the same team (San Diego Padres) in back-to-back seasons (2013–2014).
• Tied with Addie Joss for pitching two no-hitters against the same team.
• One of only a few pitchers with multiple no-hitters, multiple Cy Young Awards, and multiple All-Star selections. (Shared with Sandy Koufax, Randy Johnson, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and Roy Halladay).
• One of only a few pitchers with multiple no-hitters, multiple Cy Young Awards, multiple All-Star selections, and multiple World Series championship titles. (Shared with Sandy Koufax, Justin Verlander, and Max Scherzer).

Personal Life

While playing for the Giants, Lincecum lived in San Francisco. During the off-season, he lived in Seattle. He also owned property in Paradise Valley, Arizona. As of 2010, Lincecum had a pet French bulldog named Cy.

In 2014, the Sacramento Bee said Lincecum was one of San Francisco's most loved sports figures. His "small size and unusual pitching delivery" made him a unique success in baseball. Fox Sports called him a "local legend and crowd favorite." His University of Washington teammates nicknamed him "The Freak." This was because of his athletic skills and how he could throw powerful pitches despite his size. Giants fans continued to use this nickname.

Lincecum appeared in a 2010 This is SportsCenter commercial. In it, he tried to record a voicemail greeting. He tried different nicknames like "The Freak" and "Big Time Timmy Jim."

Community Involvement

Helping Others

In 2011, Lincecum gave $25,000 to the Bryan Stow Fund. This was to honor firefighters, police, and paramedics. Bryan Stow was a Giants fan who was hurt by fans outside Dodger Stadium.

On January 22, 2016, Lincecum supported J.T. Snow's foundation, The Snow Foundation. This foundation helped Snow's niece.

Public Actions

On January 25, 2017, Lincecum joined over 100,000 people at a Women's March Rally in San Francisco. This was the day after President Donald Trump's inauguration.

Images for kids

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  Lincecum pitching on August 1, 2008, in San Diego

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  Lincecum in 2009

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  Lincecum in September 2010

See also

• List of World Series champions
• List of World Series starting pitchers
• List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders
• List of Major League Baseball annual shutout leaders
• List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
• List of San Francisco Giants Opening Day starting pitchers
• List of San Francisco Giants no-hitters
• List of San Francisco Giants seasons
• List of San Francisco Giants team records