Erstad catches a piece of history
November 2, 2004
Doug Miller
MLB.com
Darin Erstad said all year long that he didn't care if he won a Gold Glove for his play at first base because winning games is all he cares about.
So the Angels won 92 games and the American League West title. And then, about a month later, Erstad won the Gold Glove and made some history in the process.
Erstad, who won a Gold Glove for his play in center field in 2000 and 2002, became the first player to win a Gold Glove in the outfield and infield when the 2004 AL winners were announced on Tuesday.
Erstad, 30, becomes the fourth Angel to win three or more Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, joining pitcher Mark Langston (five, 1991-95), catcher Bob Boone (four, 1982, 1986-88) and second baseman Bobby Knoop (three, 1966-68).
Erstad also becomes the fourth first baseman in Angels history to be honored, joining Vic Power (1964), Jim Spencer (1970) and J.T. Snow (1995-96).
"Darin is an incredible athlete," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "So it was no surprise to us that he could adapt to first base and play it at a very high level. We've seen him do it before, and we know the type of player he is. He loves the challenge."
Sports recap shows have highlighted Erstad's hard-nosed, dive-happy play in center field for years, and in 2004, he readjusted quickly to the first base position he grew comfortable with in 1997.
Erstad was asked to play first after the Angels signed right fielders Vladimir Guerrero and Jose Guillen in the 2003-2004 offseason. The Angels' plan was to keep Guerrero in right, move left fielder Garret Anderson to center, and move Guillen to left.
Erstad accepted his new position, got reacquainted with the first baseman's glove in Spring Training, and went out and put up some remarkable statistics in the field in 2004.
Erstad ranked third among AL first baseman with a .996 fielding percentage, committing four errors in 1,056 total chances in 124 starts at the position.
He totaled 66 assists and was involved in 83 double plays in his first full season as a first baseman.
"I've never claimed to be smooth doing anything," Erstad said when he won the Gold Glove in 2002.
"That's just the way it goes. I was born with an instinct to catch the ball. I just go out and catch the stinkin' thing. That's one of the fun things about playing."
2004 AL GOLD GLOVE AWARDS
Pitcher: Kenny Rogers, Texas Rangers
Catcher: Ivan Rodriguez, Detroit Tigers
First base: Darin Erstad, Anaheim Angels
Second base: Bret Boone, Seattle Mariners
Third base: Eric Chavez, Oakland Athletics
Shortstop: Derek Jeter, New York Yankees
Outfield: Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners
Outfield: Torii Hunter, Minnesota Twins
Outfield: Vernon Wells, Toronto Blue Jays
|
|
|
|
|