Andres Galarraga
After a fine career in obscurity in Montreal, Andres Galarraga blossomed in the thin air of Colorado in the 1990s. He batted .370 in his first season in a Rockies' uniform, and slugged 47 homers and drove in 150 runs in 1996. More than just a slugger, "The Big Cat" won a pair of Gold Gloves for his nimble play at first base, and with his bright smile, he won the hearts of fans in every city he played in. He rebounded from cancer and won the Comeback Player of the Year Award, and retired with 399 home runs.
Played For
Montreal Expos (1985-1991)
St. Louis Cardinals (1992)
Colorado Rockies (1993-1997)
Atlanta Braves (1998-2000)
Texas Rangers (2001)
San Francisco Giants (2001)
Montreal Expos (2002)
San Francisco Giants (2003)
Anaheim Angels (2004)
Best Season: 1996
47 homers, 150 RBI. Those are all the numbers you really need to know. Yes, he played in Coors Field, where he slugged an amazing .738 (32 homers in 79 games) and drove in 103 runs, but he also slugged 15 homers on the road.
The Thin Air Effect
Galarraga hit .348 with 102 homers in 364 games in Denver. He slugged .633. So, yes he benefitted from his years in the thin air, but that's not his fault. He was a good hitter in Montreal, where he hit .300 twice, and in Atlanta, wher ehe hit .300 twice. At the age of 42, he hit .300 in a platoon role for the Giants. He had power everywhere. He hit 20 homers three times for the Expos, and slugged 44 in Atlanta and 28 again the next season. His numbers are inflated a bit due to the Rockies, but so are those of Larry Walker, Todd Helton, and several others.
Born
Andres Jose Galarraga was born on June 18, 1961, in Caracas
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: 1B
Primary Team: MON
Major League Debut
August 23, 1985
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1985
Andres Galarraga
Paul O'Neill
Ozzie Guillen
Devon White
Jose Canseco
Cecil Fielder
Teddy Higuera
Shawon Dunston
Todd Worrell
Nicknames
Big Cat
Post-Season Appearances
1995 National League Divisional Series
1998 National League Championship Series
1998 National League Divisional Series
2000 National League Divisional Series
2003 National League Divisional Series
Awards and Honors
1989 NL Gold Glove
1990 NL Gold Glove
Batting Feats
All-Star Selections
1988 NL
1993 NL
1997 NL
1998 NL
2000 NL
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