Chone Figgins
Encyclopedia
Desmond DeChone "Chone" Figgins (icon; born January 22, 1978 in Leary, Georgia
) is an American Major League Baseball
third baseman
for the Seattle Mariners
. Figgins is a utility player, playing all positions except catcher
, pitcher
, and first base.
, Figgins played baseball
at North Brandon Little League in Brandon, Florida
. He attended Brandon High School where he was a third-team High School All-American as a senior. He was acquired by the Angels
in a trade in for Kimera Bartee
.
Figgins made his major league debut in for the World Series
-winning Angels, used mostly as a pinch runner
. His first full season in the majors was . His breakout year came in , when he was moved to leadoff hitter
after original leadoff hitter David Eckstein
signed with the St. Louis Cardinals
. He used his speed to steal
a major league-high 62 bases, the second-most in Angels history. That year, he played two positions in the same game 24 times. He was named team co-MVP
of the 2005 season for the Angels, along with Bartolo Colón
.
Prior to the season, the Angels signed Figgins to a three-year, $10.5-million deal. He had been eligible for salary arbitration
.
Figgins became the sixth Angel to hit for the cycle
on September 16, 2006, in Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Against the Oakland Athletics on September 29, 2006, Figgins hit his first career inside-the-park home run
at Angel Stadium.
Along with third base, Figgins also plays shortstop
, second base, and all three outfield
positions. Although he was initially considered for the center field job in 2006, the Angels decided to move Darin Erstad
back to the position. Figgins became the starter at third base. With Erstad on the disabled list
for much of the season, however, Figgins saw more time in center field.
On March 21, , in a spring training
game against the Arizona Diamondbacks
, Figgins suffered two broken fingers on his throwing hand while attempting to field a ground ball hit by Conor Jackson
. He began the season on the disabled list and was out for five to six weeks.
In June 2007, Figgins recorded an Angels team-record 53 hits
in a month, breaking the record set by Darin Erstad in April . With six hits on June 18, 2007, against the Houston Astros
, including a walk-off triple
, Figgins matched the American League
record for most hits in a nine-inning game. On July 15, 2007, Figgins stole his 187th base as an Angel, breaking the 20-year-old club record previously held by Gary Pettis
, in attendance that day as a coach for the visiting Texas Rangers
.
In 2009
, Figgins was selected to his first All-Star Game
. American League
manager Joe Maddon
, a former bench coach with the Angels, selected Figgins to fill the roster spot vacated by injured Tampa Bay Rays
third-baseman Evan Longoria
.
Although Figgins stole 42 bases in 2009, he was caught 17 times – tied for the most in the majors.
wrote "Figgins probably ranks as the third baseman most likely to be in demand, especially given his versatility."
agreed to a four-year contract worth approximately $36 million with a vesting option for 2014 that could increase the value to $45 million over five years. The deal was finalized on December 8 .
During spring training for the 2010 season, Figgins was converted to second base, moving teammate Jose Lopez to third.
Figgins had his worst year to date in 2010, batting just .259, though he did match his previous season stolen base total of 42. Following the season, Figgins converted back to third base, due to the departure of former teammate Jose Lopez. Halfway through the 2011 season, Figgins was replaced by Adam Kennedy
as the everyday 3b. In only 81 games, with only 288 at bats, Figgins finished the season batting only .188.
Leary, Georgia
Leary is a city in Calhoun County, Georgia in the United States. The population was 666 at the 2000 census. Seattle Mariners third baseman Chone Figgins was born in Leary.-Geography:Leary is located at ....
) is an American Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
for the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. Figgins is a utility player, playing all positions except catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
, pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, and first base.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
A fourth-round draft pick by the Rockies in the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft1997 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1997 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1997...
, Figgins played baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
at North Brandon Little League in Brandon, Florida
Brandon, Florida
Brandon is a census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a total population of 103,483.-Founding:...
. He attended Brandon High School where he was a third-team High School All-American as a senior. He was acquired by the Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
in a trade in for Kimera Bartee
Kimera Bartee
Kimera Anotchi Bartee is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is an alumnus of Creighton University and was also part of Creighton's NCAA College World Series appearance .Bartee was born in Omaha, Nebraska...
.
Figgins made his major league debut in for the World Series
2002 World Series
The 2002 World Series was a best-of-seven playoff series to determine the champion of Major League Baseball for the 2002 season. It was the 98th such contest between the champions of the American League and National League , and featured the AL champion Anaheim Angels against the NL champion San...
-winning Angels, used mostly as a pinch runner
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
. His first full season in the majors was . His breakout year came in , when he was moved to leadoff hitter
Batting order (baseball)
The batting order, or batting lineup, in baseball is the sequence in which the nine members of the offense take their turns in batting against the pitcher. The batting order is the main component of a team's offensive strategy. The batting order is set by the manager before the game begins...
after original leadoff hitter David Eckstein
David Eckstein
David Mark Eckstein is a former American professional baseball player who was an infielder in Major League Baseball for ten seasons. He played college baseball for the University of Florida, and has played professionally for the Anaheim Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona...
signed with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. He used his speed to steal
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
a major league-high 62 bases, the second-most in Angels history. That year, he played two positions in the same game 24 times. He was named team co-MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
of the 2005 season for the Angels, along with Bartolo Colón
Bartolo Colón
Bartolo Colón is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He played in Major League Baseball from 1997 to 2009 and again in 2011...
.
Prior to the season, the Angels signed Figgins to a three-year, $10.5-million deal. He had been eligible for salary arbitration
Arbitration
Arbitration, a form of alternative dispute resolution , is a legal technique for the resolution of disputes outside the courts, where the parties to a dispute refer it to one or more persons , by whose decision they agree to be bound...
.
Figgins became the sixth Angel to hit for the cycle
Hitting for the cycle
In baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
on September 16, 2006, in Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Against the Oakland Athletics on September 29, 2006, Figgins hit his first career inside-the-park home run
Inside-the-park home run
In baseball parlance, an inside-the-park home run, "leg home run", or "quadruple", is a play where a batter hits a home run without hitting the ball out of play.-Discussion:...
at Angel Stadium.
Along with third base, Figgins also plays shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
, second base, and all three outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
positions. Although he was initially considered for the center field job in 2006, the Angels decided to move Darin Erstad
Darin Erstad
Darin Charles Erstad is the Head Coach of the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball team and a former Major League Baseball outfielder/first baseman. Prior to , he had played with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim franchise before signing with the Chicago White Sox in 2007...
back to the position. Figgins became the starter at third base. With Erstad on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
for much of the season, however, Figgins saw more time in center field.
On March 21, , in a spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
game against the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
, Figgins suffered two broken fingers on his throwing hand while attempting to field a ground ball hit by Conor Jackson
Conor Jackson
Conor Sims Jackson is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed. He is 6'2" and roughly 225 pounds. His father is actor John M...
. He began the season on the disabled list and was out for five to six weeks.
In June 2007, Figgins recorded an Angels team-record 53 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in a month, breaking the record set by Darin Erstad in April . With six hits on June 18, 2007, against the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, including a walk-off triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, Figgins matched the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
record for most hits in a nine-inning game. On July 15, 2007, Figgins stole his 187th base as an Angel, breaking the 20-year-old club record previously held by Gary Pettis
Gary Pettis
Gary George Pettis is the current first base coach of the Texas Rangers. Prior to coaching, he spent eleven seasons as a center fielder in Major League Baseball....
, in attendance that day as a coach for the visiting Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
.
In 2009
2009 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champions – New York Yankees**American League Champions – New York Yankees**National League Champions – Philadelphia Phillies*Postseason – October 7 to November 4...
, Figgins was selected to his first All-Star Game
2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 80th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 14, 2009, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, the home of the...
. American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
manager Joe Maddon
Joe Maddon
Joseph John Maddon is the Major League Baseball manager for the Tampa Bay Rays.He previously served as interim manager of the Anaheim Angels in both 1996 and 1999. He was also a long-time bench coach for the team.-Early life and career:Maddon attended Lafayette College, where he played baseball...
, a former bench coach with the Angels, selected Figgins to fill the roster spot vacated by injured Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
third-baseman Evan Longoria
Evan Longoria
Evan Michael Longoria is a Major League Baseball third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays. Formerly, Longoria was a star infielder for the Long Beach State University baseball team, the Cape Cod League MVP, and the Big West Co-Player of the Year.He made his major league debut for the Rays in , and...
.
Although Figgins stole 42 bases in 2009, he was caught 17 times – tied for the most in the majors.
2009 free agency
Following the close of the 2009 season, Figgins became a free agent. Figgins was expected to sign a $50 million deal and was considered the most desirable third baseman on the market, drawing interest from Philadelphia, the Mets and both Chicago teams. ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
wrote "Figgins probably ranks as the third baseman most likely to be in demand, especially given his versatility."
Seattle Mariners
On December 4, 2009, it was reported that Figgins and the Seattle MarinersSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
agreed to a four-year contract worth approximately $36 million with a vesting option for 2014 that could increase the value to $45 million over five years. The deal was finalized on December 8 .
During spring training for the 2010 season, Figgins was converted to second base, moving teammate Jose Lopez to third.
Figgins had his worst year to date in 2010, batting just .259, though he did match his previous season stolen base total of 42. Following the season, Figgins converted back to third base, due to the departure of former teammate Jose Lopez. Halfway through the 2011 season, Figgins was replaced by Adam Kennedy
Adam Kennedy
Adam Thomas Kennedy is an American Major League Baseball second baseman who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He previously played for the Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Washington Nationals, Seattle Mariners and had two stints with the St. Louis Cardinals.-Early years:Kennedy...
as the everyday 3b. In only 81 games, with only 288 at bats, Figgins finished the season batting only .188.
See also
- Hitting for the cycleHitting for the cycleIn baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- List of Major League Baseball stolen base champions