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Biography[]
Darin Charles Erstad (born June 4, 1974 in Jamestown, North Dakota) is a first baseman/center fielder in Major League Baseball who has played for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Chicago White Sox. He bats and throws left-handed.
Career[]
In a ten-season career, Erstad has compiled a .287 batting average with 114 home runs and 620 RBI in 1280 games. He has also collected 1484 hits. Notably, he is the only player in MLB history to have won Gold Gloves both as an infielder and outfielder.
In the final year of his current contract, media speculation has begun that 2006 will be Erstad's final season with the Angels.[1] Although he has spent his entire career with the team, many feel that his offensive numbers of recent seasons do not justify his current $8.5 million USD per year salary. The recent free agent departures of such players as Troy Percival, Troy Glaus, Bengie Molina, and Jarrod Washburn from the Angels seem to indicate that the team will not hestitate to let go a free agent player—even one of long tenure and/or a fan favorite—if the team feels it can find similar production from a lower-salaried player.
Team officials acknowledge that they do not plan to attempt to negotiate a contract extension with Erstad during the 2006 season. But they stress that they are leaving open the possibility of re-signing Erstad as a free agent once the season is over.
In the 2000 season, Erstad led the American League in hits (240), singles (170) and at-bats (676); was second in total bases (366), third in runs (121), and hit .355, finishing second in the batting race behind Nomar Garciaparra (.372).
Scouting Report[]
Statistics[]
Batting Stats[]
| Year | Team | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLG | 2B | 3B | BB | SO | HBP | SH | SB | IBB | GDP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | CAL | A | 57 | 208 | 34 | 59 | 4 | 20 | .284 | .333 | .375 | 5 | 1 | 17 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| 1997 | ANA | A | 139 | 539 | 99 | 161 | 16 | 77 | .299 | .360 | .466 | 34 | 4 | 51 | 86 | 4 | 5 | 23 | 4 | 5 |
| 1998 | ANA | A | 133 | 537 | 84 | 159 | 19 | 82 | .296 | .353 | .486 | 39 | 3 | 43 | 77 | 6 | 1 | 20 | 7 | 2 |
| 1999 | ANA | A | 142 | 585 | 84 | 148 | 13 | 53 | .253 | .308 | .374 | 22 | 5 | 47 | 101 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 3 | 16 |
| 2000 | ANA | A | 157 | 676 | 121 | 240 | 25 | 100 | .355 | .409 | .541 | 39 | 6 | 64 | 82 | 1 | 2 | 28 | 9 | 8 |
| 2001 | ANA | A | 157 | 631 | 89 | 163 | 9 | 63 | .258 | .331 | .360 | 35 | 1 | 62 | 113 | 10 | 1 | 24 | 7 | 8 |
| 2002 | ANA | A | 150 | 625 | 99 | 177 | 10 | 73 | .283 | .313 | .389 | 28 | 4 | 27 | 67 | 2 | 5 | 23 | 4 | 9 |
| 2003 | ANA | A | 67 | 258 | 35 | 65 | 4 | 17 | .252 | .309 | .333 | 7 | 1 | 18 | 40 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 8 |
| 2004 | ANA | A | 125 | 495 | 79 | 146 | 7 | 69 | .295 | .346 | .400 | 29 | 1 | 37 | 74 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 1 | 9 |
| 2005 | ANA | A | 153 | 609 | 86 | 166 | 7 | 66 | .273 | .325 | .371 | 33 | 3 | 47 | 109 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 8 |
| 2006 | ANA | A | 40 | 95 | 8 | 21 | 0 | 5 | .221 | .279 | .326 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2007 | CHW | A | 87 | 310 | 33 | 77 | 4 | 32 | .248 | .310 | .335 | 13 | 1 | 28 | 44 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| Total | 1407 | 5568 | 851 | 1582 | 118 | 657 | .284 | .339 | .411 | 292 | 31 | 447 | 840 | 35 | 33 | 177 | 40 | 82 |
Fielding Stats[]
| Year | Team | POS | G | GS | INN | PO | A | ERR | DP | TP | PB | SB | CS | PkO | AVG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | CAL | A | CF | 36 | 35 | 309.1 | 101 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .981 |
| 1996 | CAL | A | LF | 11 | 11 | 96.2 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .950 |
| 1996 | CAL | A | OF | 48 | 47 | 414 | 121 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .976 |
| 1996 | CAL | A | RF | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1997 | ANA | A | 1B | 126 | 120 | 1083 | 999 | 64 | 11 | 92 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .990 |
| 1997 | ANA | A | CF | 1 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1997 | ANA | A | DH | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 1997 | ANA | A | OF | 1 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1998 | ANA | A | DH | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 1998 | ANA | A | 1B | 70 | 55 | 503.2 | 464 | 39 | 2 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .996 |
| 1998 | ANA | A | OF | 72 | 70 | 599.1 | 116 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .992 |
| 1998 | ANA | A | CF | 3 | 3 | 26 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1998 | ANA | A | LF | 70 | 67 | 573.1 | 112 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .991 |
| 1999 | ANA | A | LF | 67 | 66 | 569 | 177 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1999 | ANA | A | 1B | 78 | 72 | 640.1 | 669 | 41 | 1 | 59 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .999 |
| 1999 | ANA | A | CF | 2 | 2 | 18 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1999 | ANA | A | OF | 69 | 68 | 587 | 185 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1999 | ANA | A | DH | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2000 | ANA | A | OF | 136 | 136 | 1187.1 | 352 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .992 |
| 2000 | ANA | A | DH | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2000 | ANA | A | LF | 112 | 111 | 968.2 | 275 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .990 |
| 2000 | ANA | A | 1B | 3 | 0 | 3.1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2000 | ANA | A | CF | 30 | 25 | 218.2 | 77 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2001 | ANA | A | CF | 146 | 146 | 1269.1 | 398 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .998 |
| 2001 | ANA | A | 1B | 12 | 7 | 71.1 | 64 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2001 | ANA | A | OF | 146 | 146 | 1269.1 | 399 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .998 |
| 2001 | ANA | A | DH | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2002 | ANA | A | OF | 143 | 142 | 1229 | 452 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .998 |
| 2002 | ANA | A | DH | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2002 | ANA | A | CF | 143 | 142 | 1229 | 452 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .998 |
| 2002 | ANA | A | 1B | 5 | 0 | 8.1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2003 | ANA | A | OF | 66 | 66 | 559.1 | 190 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2003 | ANA | A | CF | 66 | 66 | 559.1 | 190 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2004 | ANA | A | 1B | 124 | 124 | 1065.1 | 986 | 66 | 4 | 83 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .996 |
| 2005 | ANA | A | 1B | 147 | 144 | 1279.1 | 1218 | 79 | 4 | 109 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .997 |
| 2005 | ANA | A | DH | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2006 | ANA | A | OF | 27 | 25 | 219.2 | 71 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2006 | ANA | A | CF | 27 | 25 | 219.2 | 71 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2006 | ANA | A | 1B | 13 | 0 | 28 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2007 | CHW | A | OF | 63 | 55 | 491.1 | 132 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .993 |
| 2007 | CHW | A | CF | 45 | 43 | 371.1 | 105 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .991 |
| 2007 | CHW | A | 1B | 22 | 19 | 173.2 | 174 | 14 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .995 |
| 2007 | CHW | A | LF | 12 | 4 | 43.2 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2007 | CHW | A | RF | 9 | 8 | 76.1 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2007 | CHW | A | DH | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Total | RF | 10 | 9 | 84.1 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | ||
| Total | 1B | 600 | 541 | 4856.1 | 4619 | 311 | 23 | 418 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .995 | ||
| Total | LF | 272 | 259 | 2251.1 | 596 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .992 | ||
| Total | CF | 499 | 488 | 4229.2 | 1412 | 25 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .997 | ||
| Total | OF | 771 | 756 | 6565.1 | 2021 | 48 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .995 | ||
| Total | DH | 49 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Transactions[]
- Selected by New York Mets in the 13th round of the free-agent draft - did not sign (June 1, 1992).
- Selected by California Angels in the 1st round (1st pick overall) of the free-agent draft (June 1, 1995 - signed July 26, 1995).
- Granted free agency (November 12, 2006).
- Signed by Chicago White Sox (January 24, 2007).
Trivia[]
- On June 10, 2000, Erstad hit a double in the Angels' 10-3 win over Arizona. With a major league-leading 100 hits in 61 games, he became the fastest to reach the 100-hit mark since Heinie Manush did it in 60 games for the 1934 Washington Senators.
- Erstad was the first pick overall in the 1995 MLB draft from the University of Nebraska.
- In addition to being a baseball star at Nebraska, he was also a punter on the Cornhuskers' football team, which won the 1994 national championship in his senior season.
- Mentioned in the California Court of Appeal, Schauer v. Mandarin Gems of Cal., 125 Cal. App. 4th 949, 23 Cal. Rptr. 3d 233 (2005), which ruled that his ex-wife Sarah Jane Schauer had legal standing to sue the jeweler who sold Erstad her engagement ring and allegedly defrauded Erstad by misrepresenting the value of the ring.
- Erstad has a billboard in his honor off of Interstate 94 in his hometown of Jamestown, ND.
- His hometown carries all Angels games over the radio. Most North Dakota stations only carry Minnesota Twins games.
- Has been selected twice to the American League All-Star team (1998, 2000)
- 3-time Gold Glove Award winner (2000 outfielder, 2002 outfielder, 2004 first baseman)
- Won the Silver Slugger Award (2000)
- Member of 2002 World Series Champion Anaheim Angels. Erstad batted .300 in the seven game series vs. the San Francisco Giants. He hit a key home run in Game 6 of the series with the Angels losing 5-0 in the seventh inning and facing elimination. He also caught the final out of Game 7.
- He was the punter for the College Football National Champion Nebraska Cornhuskers.