Always an Angel: Playing the Game With Fire and Faith

Tim Salmon almost didn t make it to the major leagues. Two devastating beanings in the minors left him with injuries serious enough to daunt the most determined of hearts. What got him through it wasn t steroids or supplements, but fire and faith two characteristics Salmon acquired early in his life. Now, for the first time, he opens up about his hardships growing up and how his grandmother s spirituality set the stage for his remarkable career.

When Salmon became an Angel in 1992, the team was a small-market club still trying to find its legs; by the time he retired, it was one of baseball s elite teams. He recalls the exploits of teammates Garret Anderson, Chili Davis, Chuck Finley, and Jim Abbott, who symbolized the grit and spirit of a team struggling for an identity. Along the way, he also shares tales of the players and coaches who provided comic relief, including the wild antics of Rex Wonder Dog Hudler and the hilarious pranks of jokester Rod Carew and current manager Mike Scioscia.

As eyewitness to some of baseball s all-time greatest moments, Salmon poignantly recalls Cal Ripken Jr. s legendary streak of 2,132 consecutive games from a fresh perspective. He also recalls classic confrontations with some of baseball s most fearsome pitchers Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, and Roger Clemens among them.

Salmon s recollections culminate in the team s improbable World Series run, and the series of incredible plays that propelled them to glory. What results is a story not only of personal achievement, but a testament to a team who through determination, cooperation, and inspiration reached baseball s greatest heights.