Darin Erstad
Born: 6/4/1974 in Jamestown, ND, USA
MLB Debut: 1996-06-14 | Final Game: 2009-10-04
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 195 lbs
Full name: Darin Charles Erstad
Biography
Darin Erstad was a prominent American professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1996 to 2009. Born in 1974, Erstad established himself as a versatile position player, known for his tenacity and all-around skill on the field. Over the course of his career, he played in 1,654 games, accumulating 1,697 hits and achieving a batting average of .282. His offensive prowess was highlighted by 124 home runs and 699 RBIs, complemented by his speed on the bases, which resulted in 179 stolen bases. Erstad's contributions to the game were recognized with two All-Star selections during his time in Major League Baseball.
Erstad's career unfolded during a transformative era in baseball, characterized by a shift in offensive strategies and the increasing importance of power hitting. However, he stood out not only for his offensive abilities but also for his defensive skills, earning a reputation as a reliable outfielder and first baseman. He was a key player for the Anaheim Angels, where he played a significant role in their 2002 World Series championship, showcasing his ability to perform in high-pressure situations. Throughout his career, Erstad's work ethic and commitment to the game left a lasting impact, making him a respected figure among peers and fans alike.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1654 | 6024 | 913 | 1697 | 316 | 33 | 124 | 699 | 179 | 475 | 939 | 0.282 | 0.336 | 0.407 | 0.743 | -2758.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | LAA | AL | 57 | 208 | 34 | 59 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20 | 3 | 17 | 29 | 0.284 | -294.7 |
| 1997 | LAA | AL | 139 | 539 | 99 | 161 | 34 | 4 | 16 | 77 | 23 | 51 | 86 | 0.299 | 1000.6 |
| 1998 | LAA | AL | 133 | 537 | 84 | 159 | 39 | 3 | 19 | 82 | 20 | 43 | 77 | 0.296 | 1164.7 |
| 1999 | LAA | AL | 142 | 585 | 84 | 148 | 22 | 5 | 13 | 53 | 13 | 47 | 101 | 0.253 | -1602.9 |
| 2000 | LAA | AL | 157 | 676 | 121 | 240 | 39 | 6 | 25 | 100 | 28 | 64 | 82 | 0.355 | 3262.7 |
| 2001 | LAA | AL | 157 | 631 | 89 | 163 | 35 | 1 | 9 | 63 | 24 | 62 | 113 | 0.258 | -1100.8 |
| 2002 | LAA | AL | 150 | 625 | 99 | 177 | 28 | 4 | 10 | 73 | 23 | 27 | 67 | 0.283 | -903.5 |
| 2003 | LAA | AL | 67 | 258 | 35 | 65 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 9 | 18 | 40 | 0.252 | -689.6 |
| 2004 | LAA | AL | 125 | 495 | 79 | 146 | 29 | 1 | 7 | 69 | 16 | 37 | 74 | 0.295 | -186.3 |
| 2005 | LAA | AL | 153 | 609 | 86 | 166 | 33 | 3 | 7 | 66 | 10 | 47 | 109 | 0.273 | -879.1 |
| 2006 | LAA | AL | 40 | 95 | 8 | 21 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 18 | 0.221 | -383.6 |
| 2007 | CHW | AL | 87 | 310 | 33 | 77 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 32 | 7 | 28 | 44 | 0.248 | -860.5 |
| 2008 | HOU | NL | 140 | 322 | 49 | 89 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 31 | 2 | 14 | 68 | 0.276 | -707.7 |
| 2009 | HOU | NL | 107 | 134 | 13 | 26 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 14 | 31 | 0.194 | -577.5 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 118 | 18 | 40 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 5 | 17 | 0.339 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | ALCS | LAA | 5 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.235 |
| 2005 | ALDS2 | LAA | 5 | 20 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0.300 |
| 2004 | ALDS1 | ANA | 3 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0.500 |
| 2002 | ALDS1 | ANA | 4 | 19 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0.421 |
| 2002 | ALCS | ANA | 5 | 22 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0.364 |
| 2002 | WS | ANA | 7 | 30 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0.300 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 627 | 559 | 4784 | 320 | 23 | 435 |
| OF | 887 | 822 | 2179 | 50 | 10 | 13 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | CAL | OF | 48 | 47 | 121 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 1997 | ANA | 1B | 126 | 120 | 999 | 64 | 11 | 92 |
| 1997 | ANA | OF | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | ANA | 1B | 70 | 57 | 464 | 39 | 2 | 46 |
| 1998 | ANA | OF | 72 | 70 | 116 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 1999 | ANA | 1B | 78 | 72 | 669 | 41 | 1 | 59 |
| 1999 | ANA | OF | 69 | 68 | 185 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 2000 | ANA | 1B | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | ANA | OF | 136 | 136 | 350 | 9 | 3 | 2 |
| 2001 | ANA | 1B | 12 | 7 | 64 | 7 | 0 | 8 |
| 2001 | ANA | OF | 146 | 146 | 398 | 10 | 1 | 3 |
| 2002 | ANA | 1B | 5 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2002 | ANA | OF | 143 | 142 | 452 | 11 | 1 | 3 |
| 2003 | ANA | OF | 66 | 66 | 190 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 2004 | ANA | 1B | 124 | 124 | 986 | 66 | 4 | 83 |
| 2005 | LAA | 1B | 147 | 144 | 1218 | 79 | 4 | 109 |
| 2006 | LAA | 1B | 13 | 0 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2006 | LAA | OF | 27 | 25 | 71 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | CHA | 1B | 22 | 19 | 174 | 14 | 1 | 18 |
| 2007 | CHA | OF | 63 | 55 | 132 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 | HOU | 1B | 12 | 6 | 71 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 2008 | HOU | OF | 88 | 58 | 146 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 | HOU | 1B | 15 | 10 | 94 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
| 2009 | HOU | OF | 28 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 627 |
| Left Field | 352 |
| Center Field | 540 |
| Right Field | 20 |
| Designated Hitter | 49 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 2002 | Gold Glove | OF |
| 2000 | Gold Glove | OF |
| 2000 | Player of the Week | Week of 2000-07-08 |
| 2000 | Player of the Week | Week of 2000-05-27 |
| 2000 | Silver Slugger | OF |
| 2000 | TSN All-Star | OF |
| 1998 | Player of the Week | Week of 1998-06-13 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | HOU | NL | $1,750,000 |
| 2008 | HOU | NL | $1,000,000 |
| 2007 | CHA | AL | $750,000 |
| 2006 | LAA | AL | $8,750,000 |
| 2005 | LAA | AL | $8,250,000 |
| 2004 | ANA | AL | $7,750,000 |
| 2003 | ANA | AL | $7,250,000 |
| 2002 | ANA | AL | $6,250,000 |
| 2001 | ANA | AL | $3,450,000 |
| 2000 | ANA | AL | $2,500,000 |
| 1999 | ANA | AL | $800,000 |
| 1998 | ANA | AL | $550,000 |
| 1997 | ANA | AL | $175,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $49,225,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Nebraska at Lincoln | Lincoln | NE | 1993, 1994, 1995 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 8th | 94.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1998 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 14th | 7.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1996 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 6th | 3.0 | 140 | 0 |