Matt Holliday
Encyclopedia
Matthew Thomas Holliday (born January 15, 1980), nicknamed "Big Daddy", is an American
Major League Baseball
left fielder
for the St. Louis Cardinals
. Holliday was originally drafted by the Colorado Rockies
in the seventh round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
.
Holliday is a five-time All-Star
and Silver Slugger winner. He was the runner-up in the National League
MVP voting for the 2007 Major League Baseball season
. He won the 2007 National League Championship Series MVP
as he helped guide the Rockies to their first-ever National League pennant and World Series
appearance.
to play quarterback
at Oklahoma State, but he chose to sign with the Colorado Rockies
and was signed by scout Pat Daugherty. As a senior, Holiday earned All-American honors in football and baseball and also earned his region's Gatorade Player of the Year award in both sports. He also competed for the 1997 USA Junior National Team.
On December 14, 2007, Holliday had his #24 high school jersey retired in a ceremony at Stillwater High School. Businesses in Stillwater were also asked to honor Holiday that day by posting a "Welcome Home Matt Holiday" message on a marquee
or window.
with Colorado Rockies
' Triple-A
affiliate Colorado Springs Sky Sox
. However, due to injuries to Rockies outfielders Preston Wilson
and Larry Walker
, he soon became a mainstay in the Rockies lineup. Holliday made his major league
debut on April 16, 2004, in an away game against the St. Louis Cardinals
. He had three at-bats, but did not record a hit.http://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=200404160SLN Holliday played a total of 121 games during his rookie season and finished with a .290 batting average
, 14 home run
s, 31 doubles
and 57 RBIs. He hit his first career home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers
on April 22, 2004.
Holliday was named to Baseball America
's All-Rookie team and Topps All-Star Rookie team
for the 2004 season. He finished fifth in the voting for the 2004 National League
Rookie of the Year.
and improved in nearly all of his offensive categories from the previous season. He hit .307 with 147 hits, 19 home runs, 87 RBIs, 68 runs, 14 stolen bases and 242 total bases. He also had a better slugging percentage (.505) and on base percentage
(.361). After the All-Star break, Holliday hit 14 home runs, which were the most on the Colorado Rockies
during the second half of the season. He also drove in 64 runs after the All-Star break, second in the National League
to Chase Utley
(65).
Holliday spent time on the disabled list
from June 9 to July 18, due to a fractured right pinky finger. In September, Holliday hit a National League
-high 32 RBI, which was also a Rockies record for the month of September. On September 20, he tied a Colorado Rockies record by hitting eight RBIs in one game. He also hit two home runs in that game, which turned out to be a 20–1 blowout against the San Diego Padres
. Holliday's eight RBIs was the second-highest single-game total in the 2005 Major League Baseball season
, second only to the 10 RBI by New York Yankees
' third baseman Alex Rodriguez
on April 26 against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
.
. He hit .326 with 196 hits, 34 home runs, 114 RBIs, 119 runs, 10 stolen bases and 353 total bases. His slugging percentage was .586 while his on base percentage
was .387. Holliday finished in the top five of the National League
in batting average, hits, runs, extra base hits, total bases and slugging percentage. He finished first on the Colorado Rockies
in home runs, extra base hits, runs, total bases and multi-hit games. Holliday also had the luxury of being only one of 11 MLB players during the 2006 season to steal home. He stole home as part of a double steal in an August 9, game against the Los Angeles Dodgers
.
Holliday was voted in by players and coaches as a reserve in the 2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
, which was his first career All-Star
selection. Holliday also received his first Silver Slugger Award for his outstanding hitting during the 2006 season.
was the best of his career, thus far. He played in 158 games and had career highs in batting average (.340; leading the NL), hits (216; leading the NL), runs (120; 3rd in the NL, behind Jimmy Rollins
and Hanley Ramirez
), doubles (50; leading the NL), home runs (36), RBIs (137; leading the NL), walks (63), slugging percentage (.607; 3rd in the NL, behind Ryan Braun
and Prince Fielder
), OPS (1.012; 3rd in the NL, behind Chipper Jones
and Fielder), extra base hits (92; leading the NL) and total bases (386; leading the NL). Holliday finished in at least the top six of the National League in each of those categories except walks. He batted .376 with a .722 slugging percentage and 25 home runs at mile-high Coors Field
, and hit .301 with a .485 slugging percentage and 11 home runs in away games. He became only the fifth National League player in the last 59 years to lead the NL in both batting average and RBIs. He also became only the 13th major league player in the last 45 years to finish a season with at least 200 hits and 50 doubles. Furthermore, there was a stretch during the season in which Holliday reached base safely in 36 consecutive games. That broke a Rockies record held by Todd Helton
and Larry Walker
, as each of them had a streak of 35 consecutive games. Along with his impressive offensive numbers, Holliday established himself as a legitimate defender, as he had the second highest fielding percentage out of all MLB left fielder
s (.990). He committed only three errors, on an MLB-high 306 total chances for left fielders.
Holliday's accomplishments during the season led to a second All-Star
appearance, as he was once again voted in by players and coaches of the National League. He received the most votes (725) from them than any other player in MLB. Holliday also participated in the 2007 Home Run Derby, but did not win. He was named NL Player of the Month for September. His season garnered strong MVP talk, as he, Philadelphia Phillies
shortstop
Jimmy Rollins
and Milwaukee Brewers
first baseman
Prince Fielder
were considered the prime National League MVP candidates following the conclusion of the 2007 regular season. Holliday ended up coming in second in the vote, with 336 points, compared to 363 points for Rollins. It was the closest voting for NL MVP since Atlanta Braves
third baseman
Terry Pendleton
beat out Pittsburgh Pirates
left fielder Barry Bonds
by 15 points in 1991
.
Holliday made the playoffs for the first time in his career during the 2007 season. The Rockies entered the playoffs as a wild card
team. In the first game of the National League Division Series
against the Phillies
in Philadelphia, Holliday hit a solo homer to left-center in the eighth inning to give the Rockies a 4–2 lead, which proved to be the final score. In the second game of the series, Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki
and Holliday hit back-to-back first-pitch homers in the first inning. Holliday also singled in Colorado second baseman
Kazuo Matsui
in the sixth inning to bring the score to 10–3, on the way to a 10–5 win. The Rockies won game three in Denver, 2–1, to complete a three-game sweep of the Phillies. Colorado then advanced to the National League Championship Series
to face the Arizona Diamondbacks
. Colorado swept Arizona in four games, and Holliday was named the 2007 National League Championship Series MVP
, as he hit .333 with two home runs and four RBIs during the series. The NLCS sweep earned the Rockies their first-ever trip to the World Series
.
Despite the struggles of the Colorado Rockies in the first two games of the 2007 World Series
, Holliday remained strong offensively, collecting 4 hits in game two alone. However, he also committed a crucial blunder that was arguably the biggest play of that game. After his fourth hit, in the eighth inning off of Boston Red Sox
closer
Jonathan Papelbon
, Holliday was immediately picked off first base by Papelbon for the third out, leaving Helton at the plate with Colorado trailing 2–1. The Red Sox were able to hold on by that same score for the victory. During game three, Holliday came through in the clutch in the bottom of the seventh inning with a three-run home run. Rather aptly, the home run came just as Fox Sports commentators Joe Buck
and Tim McCarver
were describing Holliday as a possible MVP candidate during the regular season.
, Holliday signed a two-year, $23 million contract with the Rockies, covering his final two years of arbitration.
On May 25, 2008, the Rockies placed Holliday on the 15-day disabled list, due to a strained left hamstring that he suffered in a 9–2 home loss against the New York Mets
the previous day. Colorado activated him off the disabled list on June 10, 2008.
On July 6, 2008, Holliday was named an All-Star reserve for the third consecutive year. However, due to an injury to Chicago Cubs
outfielder Alfonso Soriano
, who was voted in by fans as a starter, Holliday replaced Soriano as one of the starters in the outfield. During the All-Star Game
, he played in right field
and hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning, which was the first run of the game.
Holliday played in fewer games (139) in 2008 than in his previous two seasons (partly due to spending time on the disabled list). Consequently, his numbers also dropped off, as he finished the season batting .321 with 173 hits, 25 home runs, 88 RBIs, 107 runs, and 290 total bases. He did, however, end up winning his third consecutive Silver Slugger Award and had career highs in stolen bases (28) and on-base percentage (.409). His 28 stolen bases were the third-most among all MLB left fielders. His .409 on-base percentage was the second-highest for MLB left fielders.
Defensively, Holliday was first in zone rating (.900), fourth in fielding percentage
(.991), fifth in total chances (252) and fifth in putouts (240) among all MLB left fielders. His total chances and putouts came in about 100 fewer innings than those players ahead of him.
On November 12, 2008, Holliday was traded to the Oakland Athletics
for pitchers Huston Street
and Greg Smith
, and outfielder Carlos González
. He began working with Mark McGwire
as his hitting coach during the 2008-2009 offseason.
Holliday played in 93 games for the Oakland Athletics
, where he hit .286 with 11 HR and 54 RBI; although he hit .390, with a .422 On-base percentage, and a .756 slugging percentage during his final two weeks with the club.
for prospects Brett Wallace
, Clayton Mortensen
, and Shane Peterson.
Upon Holliday's arrival in St. Louis he was not granted his customary number 5 jersey due to it being worn by All-Star first baseman Albert Pujols
. Instead, he was given the number 15 (last worn by Jim Edmonds
) to wear with the Cardinals.
Holliday's debut with the Cardinals included a four-hit game with an RBI and a stolen base, despite having to borrow a glove, batting gloves, bats and shoes from teammates since his equipment had not yet arrived in St. Louis.
Holliday played in 63 games for St. Louis during 2009; hitting .313, with 14 HR and 109 RBI on a team that won the National League Central
and made the playoffs for the first time in three years. After Holliday's arrival in late July, the Cardinals went on a torrid streak. They went 20-6 in August and stretched their National League Central Division lead from one-half game on August 1 to ten games on September 1.
Holliday and the Cardinals did not fare well in the 2009 postseason. He was 2 for 12 overall, and he dropped a fly-ball which would have tied the divisional playoff series 1-1. Instead, he and the Cardinals went on to be swept 0-3 by the Los Angeles Dodgers
.
Holliday filed for free agency on November 5, 2009.
is given if the option for 2017 is not picked up. When he appeared 10 days later at the St. Louis Cardinals' annual Winter Warm Up, he was bestowed with a new nickname - "The Stillwater Stinger".
On July 4, Holliday was selected to the 2010 All-Star Game
as a reserve player, his fourth All Star Game. Holliday participated in the 2010 Home Run Derby
.
the day before on Opening Day
, Holliday had an emergency appendectomy. He was expected to miss 4–6 weeks, but returned only 9 days after the procedure was performed.
Matt Holliday appeared in his fifth all star game, starting in Left Field.
at AT&T Park
in San Francisco.
Matt has a great following among the fans on the St. Louis Cardinals' message board. Whenever he hits a home run, fans post the following message: "IT'S A DINGER FOR THE STILLWATER STINGER!!!!"
Holliday currently lives in St. Louis, Missouri
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
for 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...
. Holliday was originally drafted by the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
in the seventh round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
1998 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1998 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, 1998...
.
Holliday is a five-time All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
and Silver Slugger winner. He was the runner-up in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
MVP voting for the 2007 Major League Baseball season
2007 Major League Baseball season
The 2007 Major League Baseball season, began on April 1 with a rematch of the 2006 National League Championship Series; the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets played the first game of the season at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, which was won by the Mets, 6–1...
. He won the 2007 National League Championship Series MVP
2007 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Thursday, October 11, 2007 at Chase Field in Phoenix, ArizonaThe Rockies took a 1–0 series lead behind a strong innings from starter Jeff Francis. Arizona scored first on a first-inning RBI double by Eric Byrnes, but lost the lead two innings later when Colorado right fielder Brad Hawpe...
as he helped guide the Rockies to their first-ever National League pennant and World Series
2007 World Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at Fenway Park in Boston, MassachusettsThe Red Sox cruised to a blowout win in Game 1 behind ALCS MVP Josh Beckett, who struck out nine batters, including the first four he faced, en route to his fourth win of the 2007 postseason...
appearance.
Early career
Holiday was recruited out of Stillwater High School, in OklahomaOklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
to play quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
at Oklahoma State, but he chose to sign with the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
and was signed by scout Pat Daugherty. As a senior, Holiday earned All-American honors in football and baseball and also earned his region's Gatorade Player of the Year award in both sports. He also competed for the 1997 USA Junior National Team.
On December 14, 2007, Holliday had his #24 high school jersey retired in a ceremony at Stillwater High School. Businesses in Stillwater were also asked to honor Holiday that day by posting a "Welcome Home Matt Holiday" message on a marquee
Marquee (sign)
A marquee is most commonly a structure placed over the entrance to a hotel or theatre. It has signage stating either the name of the establishment or, in the case of theatres, the play or movie and the artist appearing at that venue...
or window.
2004
Holliday was originally scheduled to spend much of 20042004 Colorado Rockies season
The Colorado Rockies' 2004 season was the 12th for the Rockies. They tried to win the National League West. Clint Hurdle was the manager. They played home games at Coors Field...
with Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
' Triple-A
AAA (baseball)
Triple-A refers to the highest level of play in minor league baseball in the United States and Mexico.-Purpose:Triple-A teams' main purpose is to prepare players for the Major Leagues:...
affiliate Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
. However, due to injuries to Rockies outfielders Preston Wilson
Preston Wilson
Preston James Richard Wilson is a retired professional baseball outfielder. He played in the major leagues from 1998-2007. He is both the nephew and stepson of former New York Mets star Mookie Wilson...
and Larry Walker
Larry Walker
Larry Kenneth Robert Walker is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1989 through 2005, Walker played for the Montreal Expos , Colorado Rockies , and St. Louis Cardinals...
, he soon became a mainstay in the Rockies lineup. Holliday made his major league
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...
debut on April 16, 2004, in an away game against the St. Louis Cardinals
2004 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals 2004 season was the team's 123rd season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 113th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 105-57 during the season and won the National League Central division by 13 games over the NL Wild-Card Champion Houston Astros...
. He had three at-bats, but did not record a hit.http://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=200404160SLN Holliday played a total of 121 games during his rookie season and finished with a .290 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, 14 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 31 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and 57 RBIs. He hit his first career home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers
2004 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 2004 season brought change to the Dodgers as the sale of the franchise to developer Frank McCourt was finalized during spring training. McCourt promptly dismissed General Manager Dan Evans and hired Paul DePodesta to take over the team...
on April 22, 2004.
Holliday was named to Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
's All-Rookie team and Topps All-Star Rookie team
Topps All-Star Rookie Teams
The Topps All-Star Rookie Team, also known as the Topps ASR, is a set of baseball cards issued by Topps Company, Inc., every year to commemorate notable Major League Baseball rookie players.-History:...
for the 2004 season. He finished fifth in the voting for the 2004 National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
Rookie of the Year.
2005
Holliday played in 125 games during the 2005 season2005 Colorado Rockies season
The Colorado Rockies' 2005 season was the 13th for the Rockies. They tried to win the National League West. Clint Hurdle was the manager. They played home games at Coors Field...
and improved in nearly all of his offensive categories from the previous season. He hit .307 with 147 hits, 19 home runs, 87 RBIs, 68 runs, 14 stolen bases and 242 total bases. He also had a better slugging percentage (.505) and on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
(.361). After the All-Star break, Holliday hit 14 home runs, which were the most on the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
during the second half of the season. He also drove in 64 runs after the All-Star break, second in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
to Chase Utley
Chase Utley
Chase Cameron Utley is a second baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. A native of the Greater Los Angeles area, he was raised in the city of Long Beach. He was a star baseball player at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, before moving on to UCLA...
(65).
Holliday spent time 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:...
from June 9 to July 18, due to a fractured right pinky finger. In September, Holliday hit a National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
-high 32 RBI, which was also a Rockies record for the month of September. On September 20, he tied a Colorado Rockies record by hitting eight RBIs in one game. He also hit two home runs in that game, which turned out to be a 20–1 blowout against the San Diego Padres
2005 San Diego Padres season
-Opening Day starters:Played at Coors Field on April 4, 2005. The Colorado Rockies defeated the Padres 12-10.-Notable transactions:*June 7, 2005: Josh Geer was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 3rd round of the 2005 amateur draft. Player signed July 1, 2005.-Roster:-Starters by position:Note:...
. Holliday's eight RBIs was the second-highest single-game total in the 2005 Major League Baseball season
2005 Major League Baseball season
Click on any series score to link to that series' page.Higher seed had home field advantage during Division Series and League Championship Series.The American League champion had home field advantage during the World Series as a result of the AL victory in the 2005 All-Star...
, second only to the 10 RBI by New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
' third baseman Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez is an American professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Known popularly by his nickname A-Rod, he previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.Rodriguez is considered one of the best...
on April 26 against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
2005 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim season
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 2005 season was the franchise's 45th since its inception. The regular season ended with a record of 95-67, resulting in the Angels winning the American League West division title for the second consecutive season, its fifth in franchise history.In the postseason,...
.
2006
Holliday played in 155 games during the 2006 season2006 Colorado Rockies season
The Colorado Rockies' 2006 season was the 14th for the Rockies. They competed in the National League West finishing with a record of 76-86 and tied for 4th place in the division. Clint Hurdle was the manager...
. He hit .326 with 196 hits, 34 home runs, 114 RBIs, 119 runs, 10 stolen bases and 353 total bases. His slugging percentage was .586 while his on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
was .387. Holliday finished in the top five of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in batting average, hits, runs, extra base hits, total bases and slugging percentage. He finished first on the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
in home runs, extra base hits, runs, total bases and multi-hit games. Holliday also had the luxury of being only one of 11 MLB players during the 2006 season to steal home. He stole home as part of a double steal in an August 9, game against the Los Angeles Dodgers
2006 Los Angeles Dodgers season
In 2006, the Los Angeles Dodgers looked to improve their record from 2005. The team switched General Managers from Paul DePodesta to Ned Colletti, and hired Grady Little as the new manager. The Dodgers were able to win 88 games...
.
Holliday was voted in by players and coaches as a reserve in the 2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 77th playing of the midseason exhibition baseball game between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 11, 2006 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh,...
, which was his first career All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
selection. Holliday also received his first Silver Slugger Award for his outstanding hitting during the 2006 season.
2007
Holliday's 2007 season2007 Colorado Rockies season
The Colorado Rockies' 2007 season started off with the team trying to improve on their 2006 record . They finished with a franchise record of 90 wins in 163 games and earned a playoff berth as the National League Wild Card team. The Rockies swept their first seven playoff games en route to winning...
was the best of his career, thus far. He played in 158 games and had career highs in batting average (.340; leading the NL), hits (216; leading the NL), runs (120; 3rd in the NL, behind Jimmy Rollins
Jimmy Rollins
James Calvin "Jimmy" Rollins , nicknamed "J-Roll", is an All-Star and former MVP shortstop, who most recently played for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball's National League....
and Hanley Ramirez
Hanley Ramirez
Hanley Ramirez is a shortstop in Major League Baseball for the Miami Marlins. Ramírez was named 2006 NL Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America. In 2009, Ramírez won the NL batting title and is a three-time All-Star starter...
), doubles (50; leading the NL), home runs (36), RBIs (137; leading the NL), walks (63), slugging percentage (.607; 3rd in the NL, behind Ryan Braun
Ryan Braun
Ryan Joseph Braun is an American right-handed Major League Baseball left fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers. A perennial standout, he was ranked No...
and Prince Fielder
Prince Fielder
Prince Semien Fielder is a Major League Baseball free agent who plays first base. He is currently listed at 5' 11" and . He was selected by the Brewers in the first round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft out of Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, Florida.He is the son of former Detroit...
), OPS (1.012; 3rd in the NL, behind Chipper Jones
Chipper Jones
Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones, Jr. is a Major League baseball player for the National League's Atlanta Braves. Although initially a shortstop, he has spent most of his career as the starting third baseman for the Braves...
and Fielder), extra base hits (92; leading the NL) and total bases (386; leading the NL). Holliday finished in at least the top six of the National League in each of those categories except walks. He batted .376 with a .722 slugging percentage and 25 home runs at mile-high Coors Field
Coors Field
Coors Field, located in Denver, Colorado, is the home field of Major League Baseball's Colorado Rockies. It is named for the Coors Brewing Company of Golden, Colorado, which purchased the naming rights to the park prior to its completion in 1995...
, and hit .301 with a .485 slugging percentage and 11 home runs in away games. He became only the fifth National League player in the last 59 years to lead the NL in both batting average and RBIs. He also became only the 13th major league player in the last 45 years to finish a season with at least 200 hits and 50 doubles. Furthermore, there was a stretch during the season in which Holliday reached base safely in 36 consecutive games. That broke a Rockies record held by Todd Helton
Todd Helton
Todd Lynn Helton is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Colorado Rockies. He is a five-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, four-time National League Player of the Month, and three-time Gold Glove winner....
and Larry Walker
Larry Walker
Larry Kenneth Robert Walker is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1989 through 2005, Walker played for the Montreal Expos , Colorado Rockies , and St. Louis Cardinals...
, as each of them had a streak of 35 consecutive games. Along with his impressive offensive numbers, Holliday established himself as a legitimate defender, as he had the second highest fielding percentage out of all MLB left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
s (.990). He committed only three errors, on an MLB-high 306 total chances for left fielders.
Holliday's accomplishments during the season led to a second All-Star
2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 78th 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 10, 2007, at AT&T Park, the home of the NL's San Francisco Giants...
appearance, as he was once again voted in by players and coaches of the National League. He received the most votes (725) from them than any other player in MLB. Holliday also participated in the 2007 Home Run Derby, but did not win. He was named NL Player of the Month for September. His season garnered strong MVP talk, as he, Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
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...
Jimmy Rollins
Jimmy Rollins
James Calvin "Jimmy" Rollins , nicknamed "J-Roll", is an All-Star and former MVP shortstop, who most recently played for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball's National League....
and Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
Prince Fielder
Prince Fielder
Prince Semien Fielder is a Major League Baseball free agent who plays first base. He is currently listed at 5' 11" and . He was selected by the Brewers in the first round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft out of Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, Florida.He is the son of former Detroit...
were considered the prime National League MVP candidates following the conclusion of the 2007 regular season. Holliday ended up coming in second in the vote, with 336 points, compared to 363 points for Rollins. It was the closest voting for NL MVP since Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
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...
Terry Pendleton
Terry Pendleton
Terry Lee Pendleton is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball, and a former hitting coach and current first base coach of the Atlanta Braves. He played primarily for the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves, but he also spent time with the Florida Marlins, Cincinnati Reds, and Kansas...
beat out Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
left fielder Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...
by 15 points in 1991
1991 Major League Baseball season
-Awards and honors:*Most Valuable Player**Cal Ripken, Jr., Baltimore Orioles, SS **Terry Pendleton, Atlanta Braves, 3B *Cy Young Award**Roger Clemens, Boston Red Sox **Tom Glavine, Atlanta Braves *Rookie of the Year...
.
Holliday made the playoffs for the first time in his career during the 2007 season. The Rockies entered the playoffs as a wild card
Wild card (sports)
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
team. In the first game of the National League Division Series
2007 National League Division Series
-Philadelphia Phillies vs. Colorado Rockies:-Game 1, October 3:Chase Field in Phoenix, ArizonaEighteen-game winners Carlos Zambrano and Brandon Webb matched each other pitch for pitch in the opening game of the series. Stephen Drew's fourth-inning home run stood as the game's only run until Ryan...
against the Phillies
2007 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies' 2007 season began with the Phillies approaching an historic mark. The Phillies started the year with an MLB-record 9,955 losses in franchise history. On July 15, they lost their 10,000th game to the St. Louis Cardinals...
in Philadelphia, Holliday hit a solo homer to left-center in the eighth inning to give the Rockies a 4–2 lead, which proved to be the final score. In the second game of the series, Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki
Troy Tulowitzki
Troy Trevor Tulowitzki , nicknamed Tulo, is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Colorado Rockies.Tulowitzki's arm, range and instincts at shortstop are highly regarded...
and Holliday hit back-to-back first-pitch homers in the first inning. Holliday also singled in Colorado second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
Kazuo Matsui
Kazuo Matsui
is a Japanese second baseman for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball. Matsui is a switch-hitter...
in the sixth inning to bring the score to 10–3, on the way to a 10–5 win. The Rockies won game three in Denver, 2–1, to complete a three-game sweep of the Phillies. Colorado then advanced to the National League Championship Series
2007 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Thursday, October 11, 2007 at Chase Field in Phoenix, ArizonaThe Rockies took a 1–0 series lead behind a strong innings from starter Jeff Francis. Arizona scored first on a first-inning RBI double by Eric Byrnes, but lost the lead two innings later when Colorado right fielder Brad Hawpe...
to face the Arizona Diamondbacks
2007 Arizona Diamondbacks season
The Arizona Diamondbacks' 2007 season started with the Diamondbacks attempting to win the NL West Division. The Arizona Diamondbacks' biggest move in the offseason was when, on January 9, 2007, they got their 2001 World Series co-MVP back, pitcher Randy Johnson after making a blockbuster deal with...
. Colorado swept Arizona in four games, and Holliday was named the 2007 National League Championship Series MVP
2007 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Thursday, October 11, 2007 at Chase Field in Phoenix, ArizonaThe Rockies took a 1–0 series lead behind a strong innings from starter Jeff Francis. Arizona scored first on a first-inning RBI double by Eric Byrnes, but lost the lead two innings later when Colorado right fielder Brad Hawpe...
, as he hit .333 with two home runs and four RBIs during the series. The NLCS sweep earned the Rockies their first-ever trip to the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
.
Despite the struggles of the Colorado Rockies in the first two games of the 2007 World Series
2007 World Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at Fenway Park in Boston, MassachusettsThe Red Sox cruised to a blowout win in Game 1 behind ALCS MVP Josh Beckett, who struck out nine batters, including the first four he faced, en route to his fourth win of the 2007 postseason...
, Holliday remained strong offensively, collecting 4 hits in game two alone. However, he also committed a crucial blunder that was arguably the biggest play of that game. After his fourth hit, in the eighth inning off of Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
Jonathan Papelbon
Jonathan Papelbon
Jonathan Robert Papelbon is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. Before joining the Phillies, Papelbon played with the Boston Red Sox from 2005-2011....
, Holliday was immediately picked off first base by Papelbon for the third out, leaving Helton at the plate with Colorado trailing 2–1. The Red Sox were able to hold on by that same score for the victory. During game three, Holliday came through in the clutch in the bottom of the seventh inning with a three-run home run. Rather aptly, the home run came just as Fox Sports commentators Joe Buck
Joe Buck
Joseph Francis "Joe" Buck is an American sportscaster and the son of legendary sportscaster Jack Buck. He has won numerous Sports Emmy Awards for his play-by-play work with Fox Sports.-Education:...
and Tim McCarver
Tim McCarver
James Timothy "Tim" McCarver is an American former Major League Baseball catcher, and a current sportscaster in residence for Fox Sports.-Playing career:...
were describing Holliday as a possible MVP candidate during the regular season.
2008
On January 18, 20082008 Colorado Rockies season
The Colorado Rockies' 2008 season was the team's 16th season overall. The Rockies attempted to repeat their previous season's success after making it to the World Series; however, they ended up finishing third place in the National League West with a record of 74-88. The Rockies drew 2,650,218...
, Holliday signed a two-year, $23 million contract with the Rockies, covering his final two years of arbitration.
On May 25, 2008, the Rockies placed Holliday on the 15-day disabled list, due to a strained left hamstring that he suffered in a 9–2 home loss against the New York Mets
2008 New York Mets season
The 2008 New York Mets season was the franchise's 47th season. The Mets finished the season with an 89–73 record, second place in the National League East, three games behind the Philadelphia Phillies, and one game worse than the wild card winners, the Milwaukee Brewers...
the previous day. Colorado activated him off the disabled list on June 10, 2008.
On July 6, 2008, Holliday was named an All-Star reserve for the third consecutive year. However, due to an injury to Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
outfielder Alfonso Soriano
Alfonso Soriano
Alfonso Guilleard Soriano is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Chicago Cubs....
, who was voted in by fans as a starter, Holliday replaced Soriano as one of the starters in the outfield. During the All-Star Game
2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 79th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York, home of the New York Yankees, on...
, he played in right field
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
and hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning, which was the first run of the game.
Holliday played in fewer games (139) in 2008 than in his previous two seasons (partly due to spending time on the disabled list). Consequently, his numbers also dropped off, as he finished the season batting .321 with 173 hits, 25 home runs, 88 RBIs, 107 runs, and 290 total bases. He did, however, end up winning his third consecutive Silver Slugger Award and had career highs in stolen bases (28) and on-base percentage (.409). His 28 stolen bases were the third-most among all MLB left fielders. His .409 on-base percentage was the second-highest for MLB left fielders.
Defensively, Holliday was first in zone rating (.900), fourth in fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
(.991), fifth in total chances (252) and fifth in putouts (240) among all MLB left fielders. His total chances and putouts came in about 100 fewer innings than those players ahead of him.
On November 12, 2008, Holliday was traded to the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for pitchers Huston Street
Huston Street
Huston Lowell Street is an American baseball relief pitcher for the Colorado Rockies. His father is former University of Texas quarterback James Street, and his brother Juston Street is currently a pitcher for the minor league Vancouver Canadians....
and Greg Smith
Greg Smith (pitcher)
Gregory Thomas Smith is an American professional baseball pitcher.-Baseball career:Smith attended Louisiana State University, where he played for the LSU Tigers baseball team...
, and outfielder Carlos González
Carlos González (baseball)
Carlos Eduardo González is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Colorado Rockies.-Minor leagues:...
. He began working with Mark McGwire
Mark McGwire
Mark David McGwire , nicknamed "Big Mac", is an American former professional baseball player who played his major league career with the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals. He is currently the hitting coach for the St...
as his hitting coach during the 2008-2009 offseason.
2009
After spending most of the off-season on the trading block with the Rockies, Holliday found himself back in the rumor mill during most of his Spring with the Athletics. After the Athletics failed to get off to a strong start, Holliday's name became the topic of trade rumors with several teams, as it was unlikely the Athletics would have been able to resign him as a free agent after the 2009 season.Holliday played in 93 games for the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, where he hit .286 with 11 HR and 54 RBI; although he hit .390, with a .422 On-base percentage, and a .756 slugging percentage during his final two weeks with the club.
2009 (cont.)
On July 24, 2009, Holliday was traded to the St. Louis CardinalsSt. 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...
for prospects Brett Wallace
Brett Wallace
Brett Alexander Wallace is an American professional baseball first baseman with the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball.-High school:...
, Clayton Mortensen
Clayton Mortensen
Clayton Grant Mortensen is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Colorado Rockies. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals 36th overall in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. After graduating from Madison High School, Mortensen went on to play at Treasure Valley Community College, then...
, and Shane Peterson.
Upon Holliday's arrival in St. Louis he was not granted his customary number 5 jersey due to it being worn by All-Star first baseman Albert Pujols
Albert Pujols
José Alberto Pujols Alcántara , better known as Albert Pujols , is a Dominican-American professional baseball player, who is currently a free agent...
. Instead, he was given the number 15 (last worn by Jim Edmonds
Jim Edmonds
James Patrick "Jim" Edmonds is a former American Major League Baseball center fielder. He played for the California/Anaheim Angels, the St. Louis Cardinals, the San Diego Padres, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Chicago Cubs, and the Cincinnati Reds...
) to wear with the Cardinals.
Holliday's debut with the Cardinals included a four-hit game with an RBI and a stolen base, despite having to borrow a glove, batting gloves, bats and shoes from teammates since his equipment had not yet arrived in St. Louis.
Holliday played in 63 games for St. Louis during 2009; hitting .313, with 14 HR and 109 RBI on a team that won the National League Central
National League Central
The National League Central Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. This division was created in 1994, by moving two teams from the Western Division and three teams from the Eastern Division of the National League...
and made the playoffs for the first time in three years. After Holliday's arrival in late July, the Cardinals went on a torrid streak. They went 20-6 in August and stretched their National League Central Division lead from one-half game on August 1 to ten games on September 1.
Holliday and the Cardinals did not fare well in the 2009 postseason. He was 2 for 12 overall, and he dropped a fly-ball which would have tied the divisional playoff series 1-1. Instead, he and the Cardinals went on to be swept 0-3 by the Los Angeles Dodgers
2009 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 2009 Los Angeles Dodgers season sees the team defend their National League West title while earning the best record in the National League, and marks the fiftieth anniversary of their 1959 World Series Championship...
.
Holliday filed for free agency on November 5, 2009.
2010
On January 7, the St. Louis Cardinals signed Holliday to a seven-year, $120 million deal. In honor of fellow Oklahoman, Mickey Mantle, he switched his number from 15 to 7. His contract, which runs through 2016 with an option for an eighth year (provided he places 10th or better in MVP balloting in 2016) features a full no-trade clause, A $1M buyoutBuyout
A buyout, in finance, is an investment transaction by which the ownership equity of a company, or a majority share of the stock of the company is acquired. The acquiror thereby "buys out" control of the target company....
is given if the option for 2017 is not picked up. When he appeared 10 days later at the St. Louis Cardinals' annual Winter Warm Up, he was bestowed with a new nickname - "The Stillwater Stinger".
On July 4, Holliday was selected to the 2010 All-Star Game
2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 81st midseason exhibition between the All-Stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball...
as a reserve player, his fourth All Star Game. Holliday participated in the 2010 Home Run Derby
Home Run Derby
The Home Run Derby is an event played prior to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It is a contest among the top home run hitters in Major League Baseball to determine who can hit the most home runs. The event is currently sponsored by State Farm Insurance...
.
2011
On April 1, after hitting a homerunHOMERUN
HOMERUN was a secret US aerial reconnaissance operation against the USSR in 1956.Project HOMERUN was conducted between March and May 1956. During that time RB-47E and RB-47H reconnaissance aircraft flew almost daily flights over the North Pole to photograph and gather electronic intelligence over...
the day before on Opening Day
Opening Day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball and most of the minor leagues, this day falls during the first week of April. For baseball fans, Opening Day serves as a symbol of rebirth; writer Thomas Boswell once penned a book...
, Holliday had an emergency appendectomy. He was expected to miss 4–6 weeks, but returned only 9 days after the procedure was performed.
Matt Holliday appeared in his fifth all star game, starting in Left Field.
Personal
Holliday and his wife, Leslee, have two sons, Jackson (born December 4, 2003) and Ethan (born February 23, 2007), and a daughter, Gracyn (born November 7, 2009). He is the son of former Oklahoma State University (and current North Carolina State associate head coach) Tom Holliday and the nephew of Rockies scout Dave Holliday. Holliday's brother, Josh, is currently an assistant coach for the Vanderbilt University Commodores baseball team, having previously been an assistant at Arizona State, Georgia Tech and North Carolina State. Holliday's brother also pitched to him during the 2007 Home Run DerbyHome Run Derby
The Home Run Derby is an event played prior to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It is a contest among the top home run hitters in Major League Baseball to determine who can hit the most home runs. The event is currently sponsored by State Farm Insurance...
at AT&T Park
AT&T Park
AT&T Park is a ballpark located in the South Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Located at 24 Willie Mays Plaza, at the corner of Third and King Streets, it has served as the home of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball since 2000....
in San Francisco.
Matt has a great following among the fans on the St. Louis Cardinals' message board. Whenever he hits a home run, fans post the following message: "IT'S A DINGER FOR THE STILLWATER STINGER!!!!"
Holliday currently lives in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
.
Achievements
- 5-time All-StarMajor League Baseball All-Star GameThe Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
(2006–2008, 2010–2011) - 4-time Silver Slugger (2006–2008, 2010)
- 2011 World Series2011 World SeriesThe 2011 World Series was the 107th edition of Major League Baseball's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff was played between the American League champion Texas Rangers and the National League champion St...
Champion with St. Louis - 2007 National League Championship Series MVP2007 National League Championship Series-Game 1:Thursday, October 11, 2007 at Chase Field in Phoenix, ArizonaThe Rockies took a 1–0 series lead behind a strong innings from starter Jeff Francis. Arizona scored first on a first-inning RBI double by Eric Byrnes, but lost the lead two innings later when Colorado right fielder Brad Hawpe...
- National LeagueNational LeagueThe National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
Player of the Month (September 2007) - National League Batting Champion (2007)
- National League RBI leader (2007)
- National League Doubles leader (2007)
- National League Hits leader (2007)
- National League Total Bases leader (2007)
- National League Extra Base Hits leader (2007)
- The Sporting NewsThe Sporting NewsSporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
All-Star team (2007) - 5-time National League Player of the Week (July 25-21, 2005; September 18–24, 2006; July 23–29 & September 10–16, 2007; April 7–13, 2008)
- Baseball AmericaBaseball AmericaBaseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
All-Rookie team (2004) - Topps All-Star Rookie teamTopps All-Star Rookie TeamsThe Topps All-Star Rookie Team, also known as the Topps ASR, is a set of baseball cards issued by Topps Company, Inc., every year to commemorate notable Major League Baseball rookie players.-History:...
(2004)
See also
- List of Major League Baseball batting champions
- List of Major League Baseball RBI champions
- List of Major League Baseball doubles champions
- List of top 500 Major League Baseball home run hitters