Jason Giambi
Stringy-haired Jason Giambi bashed his way to the 2000 American League Most Valuable Player Award, clubbing 43 homers, hitting .333, and driving in 137 runs. A few years later he cleaned up his act, at least outwardly, signing with the New York Yankees for more than $100 million. After a solid debut in the Bronx, Giambi suffered injuries normally associated with steroid use, and ultimately, after the 2004 season, he admitted that he had used the banned substance. His reputation and accomplishments besmirched, Giambi figured to be one of the marquee casualties of baseball's latest drug scandal.
Quotes From Giambi
"That stuff didn't help me hit home runs. I don't care what people say, nothing is going to give you that gift of hitting a baseball." — Jason Giambi, May 2007
"I was wrong for doing that stuff. What we should have done a long time ago was stand up: players, ownership, everybody, and said: 'We made a mistake.' " — Jason Giambi, in a May 2007 story in USA Today on steroids in baseball.
Played For
Oakland Athletics (1995-2001)
New York Yankees (2002-2005)
All-Time Rankings
Jason Giambi ranks #48 among the Top 50 all-time at 1B. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 2001
This season was statistically better than his 2000 season, when he won the MVP Award. In 2001, he slugged .660 with a .447 OBP, both league highs. He also belted 38 homers, 47 doubles, and drove in 120 runs. His .342 batting average was 50 points above his career norm.
Where He Played
First base/DH
Born
Jason Gilbert Giambi was born on January 8, 1971, in West Covina, CA.
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
Primary Position: 1B
Primary Team: OAK
College: Cal St. Long Beach
Major League Debut
May 8, 1995
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1995
Ray Durham
Johnny Damon
Edgardo Alfonzo
Derek Jeter
Bobby Higginson
Jason Giambi
Billy Wagner
Mariano Rivera
Troy Percival
Uniform Numbers
#16 (1995-2001), #25 (2002-)
Similar Players
Ryan Klesko, Carlos Delgado
Related Players
Jeremy Giambi, Ichiro Suzuki (who beat out Giambi for the 2001 AL MVP Award), Gary Sheffield, Barry Bonds
Post-Season Appearances
2000 American League Divisional Series
2001 American League Divisional Series
2002 American League Divisional Series
2003 American League Championship Series
2003 American League Divisional Series
2003 World Series
2005 American League Divisional Series
Post-Season Notes
Giambi belted two homers off Pedro Martinez in Game Seven of the 2003 American League Championship Series, in Yankee Stadium.
Awards and Honors
2000 AL MVP
Notes
Like many pull-hitting power hitters of his generation, Giambi was often confronted with an extreme defensive shift. But unlike other power hitters, Giambi would occasionally try to foil the strategy by dropping down a bunt. In 2005, for example, he bunted at least four times against the shift, twice beating out the bunt for a hit.
Injuries and Explanation for Missed Playing Time
Giambi was one of three players whose testimony to a grand jury was leaked in 2004. The others were Gary Sheffield and Barry Bonds. Because he was the first player to have admitted to taking steroids while active in the majors, Giambi was vilified in the press and took most of the brunt of the firestorm that ensued over steroid use in the game. Though the scandal, which threatens to erode public trust in baseball, is far from over, Giambi seems destined to live in the dark shadows of baseball history, and it's questionable that he'll ever be able to play regularly in New York, where the media has piled on him. In 2003 and 2004, Giambi suffered injuries that are symptomatic of steroid use, which kept him out of the lineup during the post-season in '03 and for much of the '04 season. Visibly smaller in spring training in 2004, Giambi claimed he had "stopped eating double-cheese burgers."
Hitting Streaks
25 games (1997)
19 games (1996)
Transactions
June 1, 1992: Drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 2nd round of the 1992 amateur draft; November 5, 2001: Granted Free Agency; December 13, 2001: Signed as a Free Agent with the New York Yankees.
All-Star Selections
2000 AL
2001 AL
2002 AL
2003 AL
2004 AL
Replaced
Mark McGwire
Replaced By
To be determined. If Giambi is healthy, it will be hard for the Yankees to sit his fat contract on the bench in 2005 and beyond. It's unlikely any other team would take a chance on him either, so the Bombers probably can't trade Giambi. In 2004, Tony Clark and John Olerud replaced Giambi at first base, rather uneffectively. As of September 1, 2005, Giambi was having a very good, though streaky, season for the Yanks.
Best Strength as a Player
Roids
Largest Weakness as a Player
Integrity
Learn More about Jason Giambi
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