Tim Wallach
Encyclopedia
Timothy Charles Wallach (born September 14, 1957 in Huntington Park, California
), nicknamed "Eli" in reference to actor Eli Wallach, is a former third baseman
in Major League Baseball
who played from to for the Montreal Expos
, Los Angeles Dodgers
, and California Angels
. He won three Gold Glove awards for defensive excellence and 2 Silver Slugger awards for offensive excellence. He was named to 5 All-star teams. Wallach spent the majority of his career with the Expos, forming a potent lineup with teammates Tim Raines
, Gary Carter
, and Andre Dawson
. Bill James
has referred to Wallach as a "poor man's Brooks Robinson
," largely because of his defensive skills.
In 1979, while playing at Cal State Fullerton
, Wallach won the award for best college player, the Golden Spikes Award
.
On September 6th, 1980 Wallach, with the Expos, hit a home run in his first major league at bat. He was the first player from Cal State Fullerton to do this. On September 6th, 2011, Brett Pill, with the SF Giants, became the 2nd player from Cal State Fullerton to also hit a home run in his first at bat in the major league.Baseball Almanac.
In 8099 career at-bats, Wallach had 2085 hits
. He batted
.257 with 260 home run
s and 1125 RBI
. Wallach had 908 career runs scored
.
In and , Wallach was the hitting coach of the Los Angeles Dodgers. When Grady Little
became the manager
and replaced Jim Tracy in December, 2005, Wallach remained hitting coach until he was replaced by Eddie Murray
. On January 12, , he was named the manager for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
in the Dodgers organization. He led the Isotopes into the playoffs with a franchise record 80 wins and was named as Pacific Coast League
Manager of the Year.
On November 22, 2010 he was named the new third base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers
.
Huntington Park, California
Huntington Park is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 58,114, down from 61,348 at the 2000 census.- History :...
), nicknamed "Eli" in reference to actor Eli Wallach, is a former 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...
in 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...
who played from to for the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
, Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, and California 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...
. He won three Gold Glove awards for defensive excellence and 2 Silver Slugger awards for offensive excellence. He was named to 5 All-star teams. Wallach spent the majority of his career with the Expos, forming a potent lineup with teammates Tim Raines
Tim Raines
Timothy Raines , nicknamed "Rock", is a former American professional baseball player. He played as a left fielder in Major League Baseball for six teams from 1979 to 2002 and was best known for his 13 seasons with the Montreal Expos...
, Gary Carter
Gary Carter
Gary Edmund Carter , nicknamed "Kid" and "Kid Carter", is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 19-year baseball career, mostly with the Montreal Expos and the New York Mets, Carter established himself as one of the premier catchers in the National League, winning three Gold...
, and Andre Dawson
Andre Dawson
Andre Nolan Dawson , nicknamed "The Hawk", is an American former center fielder and right fielder. During a 21-year baseball career, he played for four different teams, spending most of his career with the Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs .An 8-time National League All-Star, he was named the...
. Bill James
Bill James
George William “Bill” James is a baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books devoted to baseball history and statistics...
has referred to Wallach as a "poor man's Brooks Robinson
Brooks Robinson
Brooks Calbert Robinson, Jr. is a former American professional baseball player. He played his entire 23-year major league career for the Baltimore Orioles . Nicknamed "The Human Vacuum Cleaner", he is generally acclaimed as the greatest defensive third-basemen in major league history...
," largely because of his defensive skills.
In 1979, while playing at Cal State Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton is a public university located in Fullerton, California. It is the largest institution in the CSU System by enrollment, it offers long-distance education and adult-degree programs...
, Wallach won the award for best college player, the Golden Spikes Award
Golden Spikes Award
The Golden Spikes Award is awarded annually to the best amateur baseball player. It is awarded by USA Baseball and sponsored by the Major League Baseball Players Association. Though the award can be presented to any amateur player, it has always been given to a college baseball player.-Past...
.
On September 6th, 1980 Wallach, with the Expos, hit a home run in his first major league at bat. He was the first player from Cal State Fullerton to do this. On September 6th, 2011, Brett Pill, with the SF Giants, became the 2nd player from Cal State Fullerton to also hit a home run in his first at bat in the major league.Baseball Almanac.
In 8099 career at-bats, Wallach had 2085 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....
. He batted
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 :...
.257 with 260 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 and 1125 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
. Wallach had 908 career runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
.
In and , Wallach was the hitting coach of the Los Angeles Dodgers. When Grady Little
Grady Little
William Grady Little is a former manager in Major League Baseball. He managed the Boston Red Sox from 2002 to 2003 and the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2006 to 2007...
became the manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
and replaced Jim Tracy in December, 2005, Wallach remained hitting coach until he was replaced by Eddie Murray
Eddie Murray
Eddie Clarence Murray , nicknamed "Steady Eddie", is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and designated hitter. He was known as one of the most reliable and productive hitters of his era. Murray is regarded as one of the best switch hitters ever to play the game...
. On January 12, , he was named the manager for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
in the Dodgers organization. He led the Isotopes into the playoffs with a franchise record 80 wins and was named as Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
Manager of the Year.
On November 22, 2010 he was named the new third base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
.
See also
- List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
- List of major league players with 2,000 hits
- List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI
- List of Major League Baseball doubles champions