Ranking Vladimir Guerrero and the best Angels’ hitters of all-time
By Jason Reed
2. RF Tim Salmon
- .282 BA, 299 HR, 1016 RBI, 986 R, 262.7 Off
Tim Salmon was, by all means, the face of the Los Angeles Angels before another fish-named superstar game around (we will get to him later). Salmon was an implemental part in the Angels’ lone 2002 World Series win and defined what it was to be an Angel. Salmon’s entire 14-year career was spent in the Big A and will forever go down as one of the best Angels, ever.
Salmon won the 2002 World Series MVP after leading his team past Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants. 2002 was his only postseason appearance, he made the most of it. In the World Series, Salmon hit .346 with two home runs and five RBIs. Of course, his two home runs in game two kept the Angels from falling two games to none.
Overall, Salmon had a great stretch of an otherwise solid career that propelled him to be the face of the Angels. Although his off average was 18.8 (above average), he had some phenomenal seasons. From 1995 to 1997 he slugged 30 or more home runs, driving in a combined 332 RBIs. In 2000 he repeated that production with a 34 home run, 97 RBI performance.
Still, Salmon only won a single Silver Slugger award and the 1993 Rookie of the Year. Salmon’s career was otherwise overlooked, however, with the Angels he ranks:
- First in home runs
- Second in RBIs
- Second in runs
Salmon will forever be immortalized among the greatest of Angeles of all-time due to his role in the franchise’s first World Series victory.