Tim Salmon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tim Salmon |
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Salmon at the Bagram Air Base in May 2008
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| Right fielder | |||
| Born: August 24, 1968 Long Beach, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| August 21, 1992, for the California Angels | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 1, 2006, for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .282 | ||
| Home runs | 299 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,016 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Timothy James Salmon (born August 24, 1968), known as "King Fish", is a former American professional baseball player. He played his entire career in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1992 to 2006. He was an outfielder and designated hitter for the California / Anaheim / Los Angeles Angels. Tim Salmon was a key player when the Angels won the 2002 World Series. Today, he works as a sportscaster for Bally Sports West.
Many people think Tim Salmon is one of the best and most liked players in Angels history. When he retired, he had hit the most home runs for the Angels, with 299. Mike Trout later broke this record in 2020. In 2015, Salmon was honored by being added to the Angels Hall of Fame.
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Growing Up and Playing Baseball
Tim Salmon was born on August 24, 1968, in Long Beach, California. He grew up in the Belmont Shore area. When he was three, he once wandered off and was found watching games at a local baseball field!
His parents divorced when he was young. He lived in Texas with his mom and brother, and also spent time in Arizona with his dad. He says his older brother and grandmother helped him feel stable during his childhood.
High School Sports
Salmon went to Greenway High School in Phoenix, Arizona. He was a talented athlete, playing three different sports. He was best at baseball and football, but also played basketball. In football, he played many positions, like punter and wide receiver. Some colleges were interested in him for football.
In 1986, when he was a senior, his Babe Ruth League baseball team won a state championship. That same year, the Atlanta Braves picked him in the 18th round of the draft, but he decided not to sign with them. He wasn't sure which sport to focus on, but he chose baseball and joined the team at Grand Canyon University. In 1988, he played summer baseball for the Cotuit Kettleers in a league called the Cape Cod Baseball League.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting in the Minor Leagues
The California Angels chose Tim Salmon in the third round of the 1989 MLB Draft. He was the 69th player picked overall. He started playing for the Bend Bucks, a minor league team for the Angels. In his first year, he hit .245 with 6 home runs.
In 1990, he moved up to the A-Advanced Palm Springs Angels. During one game, he was hit in the face by a pitch, which broke his jaw. He had to be hospitalized and his jaw was wired shut. This injury kept him from playing for a long time. Even though it was a serious injury, Salmon said he didn't feel any pain. He returned to play later that year.
In 1992, Salmon played for the Triple-A Edmonton Trappers. He had an amazing season, hitting .347 with 29 home runs and 105 RBIs. These were his best numbers ever in the minor leagues. He even won the Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year Award that season.
Making it to the Major Leagues
Early Success and Rookie of the Year
On August 20, 1992, the Angels called Tim Salmon up to the big leagues. Many baseball experts were excited about him. He played his first MLB game on August 21 against the New York Yankees. The next day, he got his first hit. On August 23, he hit his first career home run. In his short first season, he played 23 games.
In 1993, Salmon became the Angels' everyday right fielder. By August, he was hitting well, and many thought he would win the Rookie of the Year award. He finished the season with a .283 batting average, 31 home runs, and 95 RBIs. He won the American League Rookie of the Year award, and every voter chose him!
Salmon started the 1994 season a bit slowly. His hitting coach, Rod Carew, told him to be more aggressive. Salmon took his advice, and it worked! In just three games in May, he got 13 hits. This tied a record for the most hits in a three-game period in American League history. He even had a game where he got 5 hits and 2 home runs. He won the AL Player of the Week Award for his great performance. The season was cut short by a strike, but Salmon still hit .287 with 23 home runs.
The year 1995 was one of Salmon's best. He set career highs in batting average (.330), hits (177), and runs (111). He won a Silver Slugger Award that year. He was also ranked 7th in voting for the AL Most Valuable Player Award.
Moving to the Cleanup Spot
By 1996, the Angels had a strong young outfield with Salmon, Garret Anderson, and Jim Edmonds. Some people thought they were the second-best outfield in the American League. Salmon continued to play well, hitting 30 home runs and 98 RBIs that season.
In 1997, Salmon moved to the cleanup spot in the batting order. This meant he had more chances to drive in runs. He finished the year hitting .296 with 33 home runs and a career-high 129 RBIs. His 129 RBIs were the 7th most in all of Major League Baseball. He also finished seventh in the AL MVP voting.
In 1998, Salmon had some injuries but still played well. He was named AL Player of the Week in August. He finished the season hitting .300 with 26 home runs and 88 RBIs. His .410 on-base percentage (OBP) was fourth best in the American League.
Salmon won his third AL Player of the Week award in April 1999. Later that season, he hurt his left wrist and missed many games. He returned in July and finished the year with 17 home runs and 69 RBIs in 98 games.
Veteran Player and World Series Win
By 2000, Tim Salmon was the longest-playing player on the Angels team. He continued to be a strong hitter. He won two more AL Player of the Week awards that season. In August, he hit his 223rd career home run, breaking the Angels' record for most home runs. He finished the year with 34 home runs and 97 RBIs. He also set a career high with 104 walks.
Before the 2001 season, Salmon had surgeries on his foot and shoulder. He also hurt his abdomen during spring training. He signed a new contract with the Angels for four years. However, he struggled to hit well during the 2001 season, which his manager said was due to his injuries and surgeries.
In 2002, Salmon's hitting improved greatly. He hit .286 with 22 home runs and 88 RBIs. He helped lead the Angels to a great season and their first trip to the playoffs since 1986. It was Salmon's first time playing in the postseason.
The Angels won their first playoff series against the New York Yankees. Then, they won the American League Championship Series against the Minnesota Twins, earning their first trip to the World Series.
In Game 2 of the 2002 World Series, Salmon had an amazing game. He hit two home runs, helping the Angels win 11–10. Overall, he hit .346 in the World Series with 2 home runs and 5 RBIs. The Angels defeated the San Francisco Giants to win their first ever World Series! Salmon was a huge reason for their victory.
Later Seasons and Retirement
In 2003, Salmon started playing as a designated hitter more often, sharing time in right field. He finished the season with 19 home runs and 72 RBIs.
In 2004, Salmon mostly played as a designated hitter or pinch hitter. In August, he announced he would need surgery for a torn rotator cuff and biceps tendon. This injury meant he would likely miss all of the 2005 season. Because his contract was ending, some people thought his career might be over. As expected, he missed the entire 2005 season while recovering.
In 2006, at 37 years old, Salmon was invited to spring training. He made the team and signed a one-year contract. On May 13, he got his 1,000th career RBI, becoming only the second Angels player to reach that milestone. On September 28, Salmon announced he would retire at the end of the 2006 season. He played his final game on October 1, 2006. His name and jersey number were even cut into the grass at Angel Stadium for his last game.
Tim Salmon finished his MLB career with a .282 batting average, 1,674 hits, 299 home runs, and 1,016 RBIs. He played 1,672 games, all for the Angels.
Tim Salmon's Legacy
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Tim Salmon holds many Angels team records. He is the Angels' all-time leader in walks (965). He is also second in team history for home runs (299), RBIs (1,016), and runs scored (986). He is one of only three Angels players to have won the Rookie of the Year award.
In 2010, Salmon returned to Angel Stadium to play in an All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game. He received a huge cheer from the crowd and hit two home runs, winning the game's MVP award.
The Angels have not officially retired his jersey number, 15. However, the number was not used by any player from his retirement until 2023. On August 22, 2015, Tim Salmon was added to the Angels Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame in 2016.
Personal Life
Tim Salmon, his wife Marci, and their four children live in Scottsdale, Arizona. When Salmon played for the Angels, his family lived in Newport Beach, California. His son played baseball, and his daughter played softball.
Salmon is a Christian. When he played for the Angels, he would lead weekly church services for the team. Since 2015, Tim Salmon has been the head baseball coach at Scottsdale Christian Academy. He coached his son on the team from 2015 to 2018.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise
