David Mark Eckstein...Married to actress
Ashley Drane whom stars in the WB's "Blue Collar TV"
show...Attended the University of Florida and was a
"walk-on" to the Gators baseball team in the fall of
1994...Was a two-time All-SEC first team All American in
1996 and a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection
('95-'97)...Was the first two-time GTE Academic All-American
in Gator history...Was a member of the 1996 College
World Series team that finished third in the nation...Graduated
from Seminole High School (Sanford, FL) in 1993,
where he was a two-time All-State baseball selection and
member of State Championship team...David wrote his autobiography
entitled "Have Heart" in conjunction with Positively
For Kids, Inc., a children's book that tells his story of
overcoming adversity in his life and held a book signing at
the Richard Nixon Library, Sept. 15, 2003...Was invited to
dinner at the White House with President George W. Bush
as guest of columnist George Will (along with Charles Johnson,
Curt Schilling, Todd Helton and Red Sox executive
Larry Lucchino), November 25, 2002...Participated in the
second annual Halo Winners Charity Day, November 1,
2003, to help raise awareness for various Orange County
children's charities...Served as Kidney Association Walk
Chairman in 2003...Made acting debut in episode of "She
Spies" along with Adam Kennedy and Scott
Spiezio...Spoke at The Nixon Library's Sept. 11 Tragedy
Memorial Service and took part in KABC Disaster Relief
Drive at Edison Field...Appeared on the Tonight Show with
Jay Leno & TNA Wrestling following his World Series MVP
season in 2006.
2007
Batted .300 (.309) for the first time in his
ML career and finished 2nd on the team to A. Pujols in both
batting and hits (134) despite missing time to back ailments...
WHERE HE RANKED: Was 2nd on team with 42
multi-hit games & had 13 three-hit contests to lead the
team...Ranked 3rd among NL shortstops (min. 200 AB's) in
BA following the All-Star break (.306; 74-242) and 6th in the
Majors...He finished 5th among NL batters in Sept. (.391;
34-87)...Led the team in both HBP (12) and steals
(10)...Had hits in 61 of his last 82 games started & was
33-for-his last 78 (.423)...Improved his season batting average
by 100 points from May 12-June 12 (.207 to .307) by
batting .449 (35-78) in 20 games...He raised his BA from
.288 to .309 in season's final month...IN THE FIELD: Made
a career-high 20 errors (7-throwing, 13-fielding)...They
were most by a STL shortstop since E. Renteria had 24 in
2001...START ME UP: Each of his three HR's were leadoff
shots, the most by a Cardinal since Tony Womack hit three
in 2004...Now has seven career leadoff homers...Had three
hits and drove in Cards' lone run in season opener on Apr. 1
vs. NYM, extended his Opening Day hitting streak to seven
games...MILESTONES: Scored his 500th career run on
Apr. 9...Collected his 1,000th career hit on June 10 vs. LAA
& enjoyed a three-hit game...ON THE SHELF: Left game in
4th inning on June 13 with lower back tightness & was
placed on the DL June 14...Missed 23 games before coming
off DL on July 13...Doubled in his first AB back on July
14 at PHI.
Was voted MVP of the 2006 World Series,
just the 4th shortstop to win such honor and the first
N.L. shortstop to ever do so...Became the third Cardinal to
win World Series MVP honors (Bob Gibson, 1964 & 1967;
Darrell Porter, 1982)... He's the only starting shortstop to
win a World Series with teams in both the A.L. and N.L.
(2006 Cardinals & 2002 Angels)...Is one of only five M.L.
shortstops to hit three grand slams in a season (2002) and
was the first player in Major League history whose first two
career grand slams came in consecutive games (Apr. 27
and Apr. 28, 2002)...His .293 batting average in 2002 tied
Angels' record for highest average by shortstop (at least
100 games).
2006
The All-Star shortstop appeared in his 2nd All-Star
game after a late selection by N.L. Manager Phil Garner (for
the injured Jose Reyes, NYM)...Missed 24 games (Aug.
19-Sept. 15) while on the DL with a strained left oblique
muscle...Was removed from game on Sept. 24 at HOU with
left hamstring strain..Was 2nd in N.L. in making contact,
missing just 64 of 898 swings (7.1%)...Ranked in N.L. top 5
with 15 HBP...Returned to active roster on Sept. 15 for first
time since suffering left oblique strain on Aug. 18 & made
his first start since the injury Sept. 22 at HOU, going 3-4 with
4th career leadoff homer...Left game Aug. 18 at CHI in 3rd
inning with left oblique strain suffered in a slide at
home...Returned to lineup June 20 after missing three
games with a mild concussion.
2006 POSTSEASON: Garnered World Series MVP honors
with a .364 BA that included a team-leading 8 hits and 4
RBI...Started the Series 0-for-11 but had eight hits in final
three games after the Series shifted to St. Louis...Went
4-for-5 with three doubles in Game 4 and drove in the
game-winning run...Became the third player in the past 50
years to get three doubles in a World Series game...Trot
Nixon did it for the Red Sox in Game 4 of the 2004 Series,
and Bret Boone did it for the Braves in Game 3 in 1999...He
was the 8th Cardinal to have four hits in aWorld Series game
and first since Larry Walker in Game 1 of the 2004 World Series...
His eight hits were 2nd most by a Cardinals shortstop
in a single World Series...Shortstop Tommy Thevenow had
10 hits in the 1926 World Series...Was only Cardinal to record
two hits in WS Game 3 win when he had two singles
and scored on a walk...Scored the go-ahead run in the 5th
of Game 5 after a single led off the inning...Had two hits and
SB in the game...Hit a solo HR to lead off the 5th in NLCS
Game 4 vs. Mets, his 2nd career postseason homer...Had
squeeze bunt in the 6th inning of Game 4, his 2nd career
postseason squeeze bunt (Game 2 of 2005 NLDS vs.
SD)...No other player since 1930 has had more than one
RBI sacrifice bunt in postseason play.
2005
Received a 6th-place vote, two 7th-place and two
10th place votes to finish with 15 points in N.L. MVP balloting...
Became just the fourth Opening Day shortstop for St.
Louis in the last 24 seasons (O. Smith - 1982-95; Clayton -
1996-98; Renteria - 1999-2004)...Was third-hardest to
strikeout in the Majors, averaging one K per 16.2 plate appearances
and trailing only J. Kendall-OAK (17.2) and L.
Castillo-FLA (16.7)...Led all of Major League Baseball in
making contact, missing on just 4.9 pct. of his swings...Led
the Majors with a .373 batting average with runners in scoring
position...Matched career high with eight homers...Finished
T-1st in the N.L. with 57 multi-hit games...Ranked 6th
in the N.L. in batting after the 6th inning (.329, 57-for-173)
and ranked 12th in late and close situations with a .341 batting
average (29-for-85)...Was hit by pitch a team-leading
13 times and had a team-high seven triples...Hit safely in 30
of his final 34 games (.382, 52-for-136) and his 79 hits since
Aug. 1 were 2nd-highest in Majors behind R. Winn-SEA
(83)...Reached safely all five PA's Apr. 8 vs. PHI, extending
his streak to eight-straight plate apps. dating back to Apr.
6...Made a career-high three errors May 22 at KC...Broke a
1-1 tie July 6 at ARI in 9th with suicide squeeze bunt that
scored the winning run...Started in his first career All-Star
game July 12 at DET and went 0-for-2 while batting 8th...Delivered
game winning run in 11th on July 22 vs. CHI with his
one-out squeeze bunt single & had game-tying two-out
single in the 9th on July 24 vs. Cubs.
2005 POSTSEASON: Batted .385 (5-for-13) in the Division
Series vs. SD with one home run and four RBI...The five hits
matched the team high (Pujols) and four RBI were
2nd-most...The homer came off W. Williams in the 2nd inning
of Game 3 at SD...Went 4-for-20 (.200) in six games of
the NLCS vs. HOU, scoring a team-high five runs...The four
hits came in a pair of two-hit, two-run games inGame 2 & 5.
2004
Made his fourth consecutive Opening Day start with
Angels...He and Adam Kennedy became the first second
base-shortstop tandem to start three consecutive Opening
Days for Angels since Bobby Knoop and Jim Fregosi
started six straight (1964-1969)...His .988 fielding pct. led
all Major League shortstops...Was the second hardest to
fan in the American League (1/13 AB) and was 4th in the
A.L. with 14 sacrifice bunts...Posted career-best 18-game
hit streak (5th longest in A.L.), May 14-June 3...Missed 18
games during the season with multiple injuries but did not
go on DL (strained right groin and right hamstring and
bruised left knee)...Went 5-for-5, June 2 vs. BOS, setting career-
best in hits...Became the first player to go 4-for-4 off
Pedro Martinez since Rick Wilkins with San Francisco in
1996.
2004 POSTSEASON: Hit safely in all three games of the
American League Division Series vs. Boston and started
each game at shortstop...Combined to hit .333 (4-for-12)
with two runs scored in the series.
2003
2003: Multiple injuries limited him to 120 games, batting
.252 (114-for-452) with 59 runs scored, 22 doubles, one triple,
three home runs, 31 RBI and 16 stolen bases...His .984
fielding pct. ranked second in A.L. among shortstops (A.
Rodriguez)...Ranked among top 10 in A.L. in sacrifice bunts
(10-T4th) and hit by pitch (15-T6th) for third consecutive
season...Struck out just once every 11.5 at-bats, 5th best
ratio in A.L...Placed on 15-day disabled list Aug. 19 (retroactive
to Aug. 18) due to nerve irritation in right hamstring...
Marked first career stint on DL...Had MRI on lower
back (inflamed nerve) on Aug. 18...Activated on Sept.
9...Missed six games due to a deep bruise and strain in his
right shoulder as a result of collision with Garret Anderson in
7th inning, July 6 at OAK.
2002
His .293 average tied Angels' record for highest clip
by shortstop (at least 100 games)...Angels were 59-17
(.773) when he scored a run (24-2 when he scored
two-or-more) and 8-19 (.296) when he did not reach
base...Finished 11th in 2002 AL MVP voting, ahead of
Nomar Garciaparra and Barry Zito...Led A.L. with 14 sac
bunts...Was hit-by-pitch 27 times (led majors) and
hit-by-pitch for 22nd time Aug. 9 at TOR, breaking club record
(21) he set in 2001...His 63 RBI ranked 3rd most in majors
among leadoff hitters (Soriano - NYY, Jones -MIN)..Led
majors with three grand slams, connecting for third grand slam of season, June 9 vs. CIN in 2nd inning, joining Joe
Rudi (1978 & 1979) as only second Angel to post three
grand slams in one season...Joined Kirby Puckett (1992) as
only players 5' 8" or under in last 20 years to post three
grand slams-or-more in one season...Connected for
walk-off grand slam Apr. 28 vs. TOR (second grand slam in
as many games), the 21st player and first shortstop in M.L.
history to post a grand slam in consecutive games...Became
first player since Albert Belle (June 14-15, 2000) to
post grand slams in consecutive games and only the second
Angel to accomplish the feat (Willie Aikens, June 13-14,
1979 vs. TOR)...Eckstein is first player in M.L. history whose
first two career grand slams came in consecutive
games...His first career grand slam came in the 5th inning
Apr. 27 vs. TOR...Participated in2002 MLB All-Star Series
team that toured Japan in off-season and ranked second on
club in batting .429 (6-for-14)...Named among best hit and
run batters in Baseball America's "Best Tools" edition.
2002 POSTSEASON: Hit safely in 13 of Anaheim's 16 post
season games (six multi-hit efforts)...Limited to three runs
through first two rounds of playoffs before scoring six runs
during seven games of the Fall Classic...Started three-run
rally with lead-off single in third inning of Game 7 of World
Series...Went 3-for-5 with three runs in Game 2 ofWorld Series
in Anaheim's 11-10 comeback win...All told, hit .294
(20-for-68) with nine runs and six RBI in '02 post season.
2001
Began fifth professional season and first on Angels'
major league roster, qualifying as a rookie...Named recipient
of Fred Haney Award (outstanding rookie in spring training)...
Finished rookie season batting .285 (166-for-582)
with 82 runs scored, 26 doubles, two triples, four home runs,
41 RBI, 43 walks and 29 stolen bases in 153 games
played...His .285 clip ranked second best among Angel
rookies (Wally Joyner-.290)...Led club in sacrifice hits (16),
hit by pitch and stolen bases...Sac-hit total led league and
set Angels' rookie mark...Hit by pitch total also led league,
set club record (on 9/28 vs. TEX) and established major
league rookie mark, previously held by Frank Robinson
(20-CIN in 1956)...Ranked 2nd in AL in hardest to strikeout
(11.1)...Among AL rookie leaders, ranked 2nd in average,
2nd in multiple-hit games (45), 2nd in runs scored, 2nd in
hits, 3rd in total bases (208), 3rd in doubles, 4th in stolen
bases, 1st in walks and 2nd in on-base percentage
(.355)...Made major league debut, Apr. 3 at TEX, as starting
second baseman...Finished 1-for-3, collecting first M.L.
hit (single to left) off Kenny Rogers in 8th inning...Hit safely in
first nine games of major league career (.406, 13-for-32)...A
then career best four-hit games came July 18 at TB and July
21 at BAL...126 games at shortstop marked most by Angels'
rookie since Gary DiSarcina in 1992 (157 games).
2000
Spent majority of season at Pawtucket (Boston) of International
League, batting .246 (104-for-422) with one
home run, 31 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 119 games...Led
Paw Sox in at-bats (422), runs (77), hit by pitch (20) and
walks (60)...Ranked 2nd on club in hits (104)...Claimed off
waivers by Angels, Aug. 16 and sent to triple-A Edmonton.
1999
Posted career-best .313 mark (151-for-483) and 109
runs with six HR, 52 RBI and 32 stolen bases in 131 games
at double-A Trenton...His .313 average marked third consecutive
season above 300 plateau and 151 hits ranked 4th
in Eastern League...109 runs was third best in double-A
ranks...Also led Trenton with 89 walks, 32 stolen bases and
.440 on-base pct (2nd in league and third consecutive season
with OBP over .400)...Hit by pitch 25 times, 4th most in
all of minor leagues...Named Red Sox Minor League Player
of Week, May 3-9 and Red Sox Minor League Player of
Month for May hitting .441 (45-for-102) with 27 runs, two HR
and 27 RBI...Named starting second baseman on Eastern
League All-Star team and batted .353 in double-A playoffs
for Trenton...Rated as best defensive second baseman in
Eastern League by Baseball America...Committed just nine
errors in 600 total chances (.985 pct.)...Participated in
Arizona Fall League.
1998
Spent season at single-A Sarasota of Florida State
League, establishing career bests in games (135), at-bats
(503), hits (154), doubles (29), RBI (58) and stolen bases
(45)...Among FSL leaders, ranked 2nd in walks (87), 3rd in
runs, 3rd in on-base percentage (.428), tied for 4th in
games (135) and 10th in average (.306)...Named Player of
Year for Sarasota...Named to FSL final All-Star team as utility
infielder...Played in 29 games (.281, 20 runs, 11 RBI) for
Delmarva in Maryland Fall League.
1997
Opened professional career at rookie level Lowell of
New York Penn League...Led Spinners with 249 at-bats, 43
runs, 75 hits, 106 total bases, four triples, 39 RBI, 33 walks
and 21 stolen bases...Led all league second baseman with
.971 fielding pct. (314 total chances, nine errors) and tied
for first in league with eight sac hits.
