Todd Linden
Encyclopedia
Todd Anthony "Moose" Linden (born June 30, 1980 in Edmonds, Washington
) is an outfielder
in the North American League
for the Edmonton Capitals
organization.
, he attended Central Kitsap High School
in Silverdale, Washington
and played collegiate baseball at the University of Washington
. After a tumultuous two years at Washington, Linden transferred to Louisiana State University
, where he played Center Field. At LSU, Linden distinguished himself as a switch hitter by setting a Southeastern Conference record for games in a season with home runs hit from both sides of the plate. Nicknamed "Moose" by his Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees teammates after a horrible offensive showing in Charlotte, where he was visibly frustrated by a Charlotte Knights fan in the front row who berated him with moose references.
came on September 22, , off Los Angeles Dodgers
pitcher
Kazuhisa Ishii
. Linden, in only his 24th major league at-bat, became just the 12th player to hit a home run into the second deck at Dodger Stadium
, which opened in . On May 10, , he was designated for assignment.
on May 18, 2007. The Marlins released him following the 2007 season.
to a minor league contract (Sacramento River Cats
) with an invitation to spring training
, but did not make the A's roster. On May 20, 2008, Linden was released by the Oakland A's.
) with the Cleveland Indians and was assigned to their Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons
. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
of the Japanese Pacific League.
Edmonds, Washington
Edmonds is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Edmonds has a view of Puget Sound and both the Olympic Mountains and Cascade Range. The third most populous city in Snohomish County after Everett and Marysville, the population was 39,709 according to the 2010 census...
) is an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in the North American League
North American League
The North American League is an independent baseball league that began play in the 2011 season...
for the Edmonton Capitals
Edmonton Capitals
The Edmonton Capitals are a professional baseball team based in Edmonton, Alberta. Known originally as the Edmonton Cracker-Cats, they began play in the Northern League in 2005 before switching to the Golden Baseball League in 2008. The team was sold to Daryl Katz in 2009, after which the team was...
organization.
Early life
Before being drafted by the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, he attended Central Kitsap High School
Central Kitsap High School
Central Kitsap High School is a secondary school located in Silverdale, Washington. It is one of six secondary schools in the Central Kitsap School District. CKHS educates grades 10-12. It is a closed campus...
in Silverdale, Washington
Silverdale, Washington
Silverdale is a census-designated place in Kitsap County, Washington, in the United States. The population was 19,204 at the 2010 census.Despite many attempts at incorporation, Silverdale remains an unincorporated community....
and played collegiate baseball at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
. After a tumultuous two years at Washington, Linden transferred to Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
, where he played Center Field. At LSU, Linden distinguished himself as a switch hitter by setting a Southeastern Conference record for games in a season with home runs hit from both sides of the plate. Nicknamed "Moose" by his Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees teammates after a horrible offensive showing in Charlotte, where he was visibly frustrated by a Charlotte Knights fan in the front row who berated him with moose references.
San Francisco Giants
His first major league home runHome 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...
came on September 22, , off 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...
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...
Kazuhisa Ishii
Kazuhisa Ishii
Kazuhisa Ishii is a Japanese former Major League Baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Saitama Seibu Lions....
. Linden, in only his 24th major league at-bat, became just the 12th player to hit a home run into the second deck at Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium, also sometimes called Chavez Ravine, is a stadium in Los Angeles. Located adjacent to Downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium has been the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers team since 1962...
, which opened in . On May 10, , he was designated for assignment.
Florida Marlins
He was claimed off waivers by the Florida MarlinsFlorida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
on May 18, 2007. The Marlins released him following the 2007 season.
Oakland Athletics
On November 21, 2007, he was signed by the Oakland AthleticsOakland 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....
to a minor league contract (Sacramento River Cats
Sacramento River Cats
The Sacramento River Cats is a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics....
) with an invitation to 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...
, but did not make the A's roster. On May 20, 2008, Linden was released by the Oakland A's.
Cleveland Indians
On May 27, 2008, Linden signed a minor league contract (Buffalo BisonsBuffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
) with the Cleveland Indians and was assigned to their Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
New York Yankees
In January Linden signed a minor league contract (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees) with an invitation to spring training with the New York Yankees.Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
On June 12, 2009, the Yankees sold Linden's contract to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden EaglesTohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
The is a baseball team founded in 2004; it played its first season in the Japanese Pacific League in 2005. It is simply called Rakuten . The team was created to fill the void left by the merger of the Orix Blue Wave and the Kintetsu Buffaloes, after the 2004 season due to financial difficulties,...
of the Japanese Pacific League.