Tim Salmon

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Salmon's journey began in Long Beach, California, where he was raised in the Belmont Shore neighborhood. His childhood included a dramatic moment at age three when he wandered out of his house and was found watching games at a local park baseball field, prompting a two-hour search. Following his parents' divorce, he split time between Texas with his mother and brother and Arizona with his father, citing his older brother and grandmother as sources of stability. A three-sport varsity athlete at Greenway High School in Phoenix, he played football primarily as a punter and wide receiver while also competing in basketball. Despite receiving college scouting interest for football, Salmon chose baseball, joining Grand Canyon University's team after being drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1986 but not signing.

In Their Own Story

Drafted by the California Angels in the third round of the 1989 MLB draft as the 69th overall pick, Salmon faced a major setback during his minor league career. On May 26, 1990, while playing for the Palm Springs Angels against the San Bernardino Spirit, he was hit in the face by Kerry Woodson's fastball, fracturing his jaw. One doctor likened the injury to "breaking glass in a sock," yet Salmon reported feeling no pain. After missing much of the season with his jaw wired shut, he returned to Double-A Midland later that year. He skyrocketed through the system in 1992 with Triple-A Edmonton, batting .347 with 29 home runs and 105 RBIs to win Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year Award. Called up on August 20, 1992, he made his MLB debut the next day against the New York Yankees. In 1993, he won the American League Rookie of the Year award as a unanimous selection, batting .283 with 31 home runs and 95 RBIs.

Reader's Guide

Salmon's career was defined by specific milestones and consistent excellence. In 1994, after a slow start, hitting instructor Rod Carew advised him to be more aggressive; Salmon responded with a three-game stretch from May 10–13 featuring 13 hits, including a 5-for-5 performance on May 13 against the Seattle Mariners, earning his first AL Player of the Week Award. His 1995 season was a career peak where he set highs in batting average (.330), OPS (1.024), hits (177), runs (111), and total bases (319), earning a Silver Slugger Award and placing 7th in MVP voting. In 1997, moved to the cleanup spot, he set career highs with 695 plate appearances, 582 at-bats, and 129 RBIs. On August 18, 2000, he hit his 223rd home run off Roger Clemens to surpass Brian Downing for the most in Angels history. He was a key member of the 2002 World Series winning team.

Did You Know?

• Salmon fractured his jaw in a minor league game on May 26, 1990, after being hit by a pitch from Kerry Woodson, but claimed he felt no pain.
• In a three-game stretch from May 10–13, 1994, Salmon recorded 13 hits, falling one short of the American League record of 14 at that time.
• Salmon was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 18th round of the 1986 draft but did not sign, choosing instead to play college baseball.
• On August 18, 2000, Salmon hit his 223rd career home run off Roger Clemens, passing Brian Downing for the most home runs in Angels history.
• Salmon was one of only four American League players ever to receive a unanimous vote for Rookie of the Year when he won the award in 1993.