Darin Erstad #17

He and his wife, Jessica, make their home in Newport Beach, CA, with their two children, daughter Jordan Elizabeth and son Zack...was the Angels recipient of the 2005 Roberto Clemente Award for his efforts in the Southern California community...he and his wife donated $1 million to Nebraska's Memorial Stadium Improvement Project in 2004...is involved with several children's groups...has served as a spokesman for Big Brothers of Orange County...conducted a youth clinic at Riverside Community College for the nine seasons (1998-2006)...has been a frequent speaker at the Cal Poly Pomona Baseball Camp...donated funds to refurbish Little League fields in East Whittier (dedicated as Darin Erstad Field in 2000), Long Beach (2001) and Garden Grove (2000)...supports local Boys & Girls Clubs...also has supported the Tim Salmon Golf Classic, which benefits Family Solutions and Laurel House... was active in the Angels' Wives annual hospital visits to the UC-Irvine Medical Center...attended the University of Nebraska, where he played baseball and football (punter and kicker)...hit .356 (261x733) with 46 doubles, 41 home runs, 182 RBI and a .608 slugging percentage in 176 career games...was named First-Team All-America by Collegiate Baseball, National Player of the Year by College Sports Magazine and Big Eight co-Player of the Year as a junior in 1995...was a member of the Cornhuskers' 1994 National Championship football team...was Academic All-Big Eight in football in 1992 and baseball in 1993...was honored at the Nebraska-Texas football game on 11/2/02 for his involvement with the Angels 2002 World Championship team...set six Nebraska baseball records in 1994: most hits (six), runs scored (six) and RBI (six) in a game; most hits (103) and total bases (194) in a season and most career hits (261)...also in 1994 was named Cape Cod Summer League MVP and First-Team All-Big Eight...graduated in 1992 from Jamestown (N.D.) High School...played football (school-record 50-yard field goal), hockey (36 goals and 24 assists in 26 games) and track and field teams (state champion in 110 and 300-meter hurdles)...participated in American League baseball in lieu of not having a high school baseball team... hit .492 with 18 home runs and 86 RBI for the Jamestown Eagles in 1992...also was 10-2 with a 2.18 ERA as a pitcher...was named AP North Dakota Athlete of the Year in 1992.

2008

Hit .276 (89x322) with four homers and 31 RBI in his first full season in the National League...signed to a one-year contract extension through the 2009 season on Aug. 29...hit .343 (23x67) with runners in scoring position, ranking sixth in the NL among hitters with at least 65 at-bats with runners in scoring position...played in 140 of the club's 161 games... started six games at first base and 59 in the outfield (35 in CF, 18 in LF, 7 in RF)...Houston went 23-12 during his 35 starts in center field...had 11 hits as a pinch-hitter (11x49), which tied for 10th in the Majors...hit his third-career walk-off home run and scored his 900th run on Sept. 26 vs. ATL...posted a .327 (33x101) batting average in August, ranking second on the club (Wigginton, .379)...ended a game on May 24 vs. PHI by recording a putout and an assist on the final play of the game... threw out Predro Feliz trying to score on a cuaught fly ball to left field...recorded his 1,600th career hit and 300th career double on May 16 at TEX...keyed a four-run comeback victory on May 15 at SF by hitting a three-run pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning...the homer tied the game 7-7, which later turned into an 8-7 Astros win.

2007

Appeared in only 87 games in his first season with the White Sox, hitting .248 (77x310) with four home runs and 32 RBI...had spent the previous 12 years in the Angels organization...the 87 games were up from 40 in 2006...was on the Disabled List with a sprained left ankle on two occasions...appeared in 45 games in center field (43 starts), 22 games at first base (19), 12 in left (four) and nine in right (eight)...compiled a .995 fielding percentage (1 E/189 TC) at first base and a .993 mark (1 E/135 TC) in the outfield...is one of five Sox players since 1990 to have played in at least 20 games at each first base and the outfield in a single season... averaged a team-best one strikeout every 7.9 plate appearances (min. 300 PA)... three of four homers came vs. right-handers...produced 20 multi-hit efforts...had at least one at-bat in every spot in the lineup...led off 27 times (Sox went 19-18), hitting .284 (42x148)... set a career high with six sacrifice hits...hit .440 (11-25) vs. the Angels...hit his first-ever Opening Day home run on April 2 vs. Cleveland, the sixth player to homer in his first White Sox at-bat since 1991 (also Josh Fields in 2006, Miguel Olivo in 2002, Carlos Lee in 1999, Wil Cordero in 1998 and Nelson Santovenia in 1992)...the home run was his first since Sept. 23, 2005 vs. Tampa Bay...reached base safely in all five plate appearances on April 4 vs. Cleveland, while matching his career high with two stolen bases (10th time)...recorded a hit in 13 consecutive starts from April 22-May 9...hit safely in 13 consecutive games from May 12-29, going 17-51 (.333) with seven RBI...was on the 15-day Disabled List from June 1-22 with a sprained left ankle (the White Sox went 5-14 in his absence)...aggravated the injury after making a diving catch in the first inning on June 22 and returned to the Disabled List on June 23...played in 12 rehabilitation games with Triple A Charlotte...returned from his rehab assignment and was reinstated from the Disabled List on July 31...homered on Sept. 2 at Cleveland for the first time since April 29...scored the winning run on Sept. 16 vs. Kansas City on Jim Thome's 500th home run.

2006

Was limited to a career-low 40 games with the Angels due to irritation in his right ankle from a bone spur ... made his 10th consecutive Opening Day start, the third-longest streak in franchise history ... collected his 1,500th career hit on 4/21 at Oakland ... was on the disabled list from 5/1-6/11 and again from 6/18-8/31, including two rehabilitation assignments ... was reinstated from the disabled list on 9/1 ... was a late-inning defensive replacement in all 12 of his September appearances ... underwent arthroscopic surgery on the ankle on 10/6.

2005

Spent his 10th season with the Angels ... ranked second among AL first basemen with a .997 fielding percentage ... compiled a career-best, 21-game hitting streak from 5/28-6/22, the fifth-longest streak in franchise history ... hit .385 (35-91) during the streak ... scored his 800th career run on 8/18 vs. Boston, joining Garrett Anderson, Tim Salmon and Brian Downing as the only players in Angels history to reach that milestone ... received five catchers interference calls, becoming one of two players in major-league history to reach base four or more times via catcher interference in two separate seasons (also five in 2001) ... made his ninth consecutive Opening Day start.

2004

Moved from outfield to first base and posted a .996 (4 E/1,056 TC) fielding percentage to claim his third career Rawlings Gold Glove Award and first as an infielder ... became the first player in major-league history to be honored with the Gold Glove as an infielder and outfielder and first to win the award at three different positions (also in left field in 2000 and center in 2002) ...hit a game-tying, two-run double and scored the winning run in the eighth inning on 10/2 at Oakland as the Angels clinched the AL West ... was on the disabled list from 5/9-6/14 with a strained right hamstring ... hit .306 (112-366) following his return from the disabled list, up from .264 before ... Angels were 48-15 when he scored a run ... reached base safely in 110 of 125 games ... compiled a 14-game hitting streak from 4/22-5/7 ... was successful on 16 of 17 stolen-base attempts.

2003

Was limited to 67 games with two stints on the disabled list due to right hamstring tendinitis ... was first disabled from 4/20-6/9 ... hit his 100th career home run on 7/23 at Texas ... played in his 1,000th career game on 8/2 ... re-aggravated the hamstring on 8/6 at Boston ... was placed on the disabled list a second time on 8/7 and missed the rest of the season ... hit just .219 (42-192) after initially injuring the hamstring ... did not commit an error.

2002

Won his second career Rawlings Gold Glove Award as an outfielder ... fell one run scored shy of reaching 100 for the second time in three years ... led the Angels with 23 stolen bases ... Angels were 54-18 when he scored a run ... was injured on 4/16 vs. Texas when he hit the outfield wall head first running down a fly ball ... reaggravated the injury on 4/19 at Oakland attempting a diving catch in center field ... was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome (missed seven games) ... collected his 1,000th career hit on 6/15 at the Dodgers, the sixth player in franchise history to reach that milestone ... agreed to a four-year contract extension through the 2006 season on 8/3 ... tied his career high with five hits on 8/27 vs. Tampa Bay (second time) ... his error on 9/24 at Texas was his first as an outfielder since 5/30/01 vs. Minnesota, a span of 238 games and 723 total chances ... underwent surgery to remove the hook of the hamate bone in his right hand on 12/5.

2001

Completed his fifth full season with the Angels ... hit .279 in the first half and .233 after the break ... team was 45-23 when he scored a run ... compiled a team-high, 15-game hitting streak from 5/19-6/5 ... recorded his sixth career multihomer game on 7/8 at Colorado ... hit the second of three straight home runs by the Angels on 7/26 vs. Tampa Bay ... scored his 500th career run on 9/6 vs. Kansas City ... recorded 10 outfield assists and three double plays ... reached base four times on catcher's interference.

2000

Enjoyed the best season of his career, hitting .355 (240-676) with 121 runs scored, 39 doubles, six triples, 25 home runs, 100 RBI, 64 walks and 28 stolen bases ... set personal bests in every offensive category, except doubles (tied 1998), and finished eighth in the AL MVP voting ... his .355 average was .102 higher than 1999, the sixth-largest increase from the previous season in major-league history (based on 400 at-bats) ... became the first player in major-league history to record 100 RBI as a leadoff hitter, breaking the record of 1998 set by Nomar Garciaparra in 1997 ... was named to his second AL All-Star Team (also 1998) ... also became the first player in Angels history to collect 200 hits, 100 runs scored and 100 RBI in one season and the first to lead the league in hits ... also was named to The Sporting News All-Star Team and was a recipient of the Silver Slugger Award ... earned his first Rawlings Gold Glove Award as an outfielder ... his 240 hits were the 12th-highest total in majorleague history and most since Wade Boggs also collected 240 in 1985 ... led the AL in hits and multihit games (77) and ranked second in average and total bases (366) and tied for third in runs scored ... batted .384 (144-375) in the first half and .319 (96-301) after the break ... recorded 100 hits in the Angels first 61 games, the fastest player to reach that plateau since Washington's Heinie Manush in 1934 (60 games) ... set franchise records for average, runs scored, hits and singles (170) ... hits record had stood for 30 years (Alex Johnson, 202 in 1970) ... reached 200 hits in 132 games, becoming the fastest player to hit that mark since the Cardinals Joe Medwick needed only 131 games in 1935 and the fastest AL player since Philadelphia's Al Simmons needed just 125 games in 1925 ... his 144 hits at the All-Star Break were the most since Atlanta's Ralph Garr had 149 in 1974 ... his 48 hits in April broke the major league record set by Colorado's Dante Bichette in 1998 (47) ... hit two home runs on 6/7 vs. San Francisco, 6/25 vs. Minnesota and 9/3 at the White Sox ... hit leadoff home runs on 4/5 vs. the Yankees, 6/25 vs. Minnesota, 7/8 vs. Colorado and 9/3 at the White Sox ... hit leadoff and game-ending home runs on 6/25 vs. Minnesota ... of his 157 games played, collected a hit in 128 and reached base safely in 143 ... led off a game with a hit 53 times ... hit .388 vs. right-handed pitchers and also at home ... was 8-14 (.571) with the bases loaded ... started as the designated hitter 10 straight games from 8/25-9/4 due to muscle spasms in his left rib cage ... was named AL Player of the Week for 5/22-28 and co-Player of the Week for 7/3-9 ... tied a major-league record with 12 putouts by an outfielder on 7/24 at Texas.

1999

Led the Angels with five triples and 13 stolen bases ... collected his 500th career hit on 9/7 vs. the White Sox ... hit leadoff home runs on 5/30 vs. Kansas City, 6/23 at Seattle, 7/20 vs. San Diego and 9/20 vs. Tampa Bay ... hit his first game-ending home run on 4/26 vs. Toronto ... compiled a .999 fielding percentage in 78 games at first base and a 1.000 mark (192 TC) in 69 games in the outfield ... was on the 15-day disabled list from 8/11-26 with a strained lateral collateral ligament in his right knee ... sustained the injury on 8/10 vs. Cleveland on a swing in his third at-bat ... missed the final three games of the season with the same injury.

1998

Hit .296 with 84 runs scored, 39 doubles, 19 home runs, 82 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 133 games ... was named to his first AL All-Star Team ... was named AL Player of the Week for 6/8-14 ... opened the season with a 15-game hitting streak (4/1-18) ... compiled a franchise-record streak of nine straight games with an extra-base hit from 4/7-18 (11 total), two short of the major-league record set by Jesse Barfield in 1985 ... hit leadoff home runs on 4/11 at Cleveland, 6/20 vs. Texas and 7/2 vs. San Francisco ... recorded his second career multihomer game on 4/11 at Cleveland ... hit his first career grand slam on 5/1 vs. the White Sox off Tony Castillo ... collected five hits 6/9 at Arizona ... was on the disabled list for the first time in his career from 8/4-19 with a strained left hamstring ... also missed 10 games from 9/3-15 with the same injury ... made 55 starts at first base and 70 in the outfield.

1997

Completed first full major league season as Angels' first baseman ... Batted .299 (161/539) with 99 runs scored, 34 doubles, four triples, 16 home runs, 77 RBI and 23 stolen bases in 139 games ... Appeared only as pinch-runner in two of Angels' final 13 games due to sore right shoulder ... Underwent MRI Sept. 15 which showed irregularities of labrum ... Appeared in leadoff position Opening Day, the fourth different player to appear in spot in last four season openers ... Led club in stolen bases, ranking tied for ninth among A.L. leaders ... Collected career best two stolen bases in game, May 21 vs. Seattle, July 25 at Boston (1st game) and Aug. 23 vs. Boston ... Among A.L. leaders, ranked fifth in hardest to double up, 107.8 at-bats per GDP (5 GDP total) ... 34 doubles ranked tied for seventh best in club history ... Recorded first career multiple-HR game and career-best five RBI, Sept. 8 at Toronto ... Homered in consecutive games, July 3-4, for first time in career ... Scored four runs, May 28 at Oakland, tying then-club record ... Collected inside-the-park home run, May 24 at Toronto ... Marked second of career (Sept. 6, 1996 at Minnesota) ... Became sixth Angel to collect two such home runs (Jim Fregosi, Jose Cardenal, Rick Reichardt, Gary Pettis and Luis Polonia) ... Registered first career leadoff home run, May 9 at Milwaukee (Cal Eldred) ... Collected two hits in inning, Aug. 19 vs. New York (1st inn.) ... Hit .328 (41/125) with five home runs and 50 RBI with runners in scoring position, including .408 (29/71) mark with less than two outs ... Posted .990 (11/1075) fielding percentage at first base in 126 games (120 starts), ranking ninth in A.L ... .11 errors tied for third most by first basemen in circuit ... Made one start and appearance in center field, June 1 vs. Minnesota ... Underwent arthroscopic surgery on right shoulder, Dec. 5.

1996

Played in 57 games with California, batting .284 with 34 runs scored, four home runs and 20 RBI ... his contract was purchased by the Angels from Class AAA Vancouver on 6/14 ... made his major-league debut as the starting center fielder on 6/14 vs. Toronto, going 0-4 with a walk and run scored ... opened his career 0-10 before collecting his first major-league hit on 6/16 vs. Toronto, a single off Paul Quantrill ... hit his first major-league home run (off Alex Fernandez), RBI, mutlihit game and stolen base on 6/17 vs. the White Sox ... was optioned to Vancouver on 8/2 and recalled on 9/3 ... hit an inside-the-park homer off Brad Radke on 9/6 at Minnesota.