Gary Matthews #14

Gary Nathaniel Matthews, Jr. graduated from Granada Hills High School in Granada Hills, CA in 1992...Played baseball for two years at Mission College in Sylmar, CA and earned All-Conference honors both years...Named All-State and a Junior College All-American following his sophomore year...Son of Gary Matthews Sr., a 16-year major league veteran...The elder Matthews hit .281 with 234 home runs for the Giants, Braves, Phillies, Cubs and Mariners.

2009

Hit .289 (28-97) and compiled a .410 on-base percentage over his final 37 games...Made a combined 80 starts in the three outfield spots, with 46 starts coming in centerfield...Batted .395 (17-43) with runners in scoring position and two outs which was sixth best in the majors...Compiled a .358 mark (29-81) with runners in scoring position, tops on the Angels...Collected his 1,000th career hit on July 10th vs. the Yankees to team with his father, Gary Matthews Sr., as the 15th father-son combination in major league history to reach that plateau...Had 18 multi-hit games... Finished with a season-high three hits, three times: May 1st at the Yankees, July 18th at Oakland, and August 1st at Minnesota.

2008

In second season with Angels hit .242 (103/426) with 19 doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 46 RBI in 127 games... Battled through lingering effects of a tear in patella tendon in his left knee (had surgery to repair in 2008 off-season)... Committed a career-high eight errors...Closed out season with best monthly performance in September batting .318 (21/66) to raise season average from .228 to .242...Tied season-high with four hits Sept. 3 at Detroit...Made starts at all three outfield positions (LF - 36; RF - 36; CF - 23)...Made 15 starts in leadoff spot...Logged seventh career leadoff HR (3rd as Angel), May 4 vs. Baltimore...Collected GW RBI-single with two outs in 9th inning May 27 vs. Detroit...Collected two home runs, April 23 at Boston, marking fourth career multi-HR game and first time both HRs came batting right-handed... Second home run April 23 was No. 100 of career...Four of his eight home runs came in April.

2007

In first season with Angels, batted .252 with 79 runs, 26 doubles, three triples, 18 home runs and 72 RBI in 140 games...Missed 14 games in September with a sprained left ankle and irritation in right knee...Ended season in a 5-for-42 skid...Hit .279 before All-Star break - hit .211 (43/204) after...Batted .275 (109/396) from the left side as opposed to .175 (21/120) hitting right-handed...Batted .289 at home compared to .217 on road...Connected for second leadoff HR of season Sept. 3 vs. Oakland (also 4/28 at CWS) and sixth of his career...Angels were 52-9 when he scored a run (30-49 when he didn't score)...Posted 12 total bases, July 31 at Seattle, collecting two doubles and two HRs...Marked second multiple HR game of season and third of career...Became fifth Angel with four extra-base hits in a game and first since Dave Winfield, April 13, 1991 at Minnesota...Angels were 26-10 when he hit cleanup...Hit leadoff first 29 games of season...Enjoyed career night, June 4 vs. Minnesota with four hits, a grand slam and career-best five RBI...Homered from each side of the plate in May 13 game at Texas - marked second time in career (also July 27, 2005 at Bal.)...Collected first career inside-the-park home run June 17 at LAD...Stole career-high three bases April 21 vs. Seattle...Signed five-year contract with Angels, Nov. 22, 2006...Was fifth different Opening Day starting centerfielder for Angels in as many seasons.

2006

He finished 14th in the American League with a .313 batting average, tied for 12th with 102 runs scored and was seventh with 44 doubles. The 102 runs broke the club record by a leadoff hitter. He recorded 30-or-more hits in 5 consecutive months (May - 35, June - 41, July - 31, August - 31, September - 38). He did not have a 30-hit month prior to 2006. He was named the American League Player of the Week (Sept. 11-17) after batting .522 (12-23) with 2 homers, 2 doubles one triple and 7 RBI. He set career highs in hits (194), RBI (79), HR (19) and runs scored (102). He went 4-4 with 3 runs and 3 RBI 9/13 at Detroit and became only the third player in club history to hit for the cycle. He was only the 19th switch-hitter in major league history and the 14th player in history to record the cycle in natural order (1B, 2B, 3B, HR). He led AL leadoff batters with 79 RBI, 4th-most of any leadoff hitter in the majors. He was second among AL leadoff hitters in hits (194) and doubles (44), third in home runs (19) and triples (6); 4th in runs scored (102); and 5th in slugging (.496); and batting average (.313). He led the Majors batting .316 (190-602) as a center fielder.

2005

Established career-highs in at-bats (475), runs (72), hits (121), triples (5), home runs (17) and RBI (55) in his second season with Texas...started 122 games; club-leading 95 in center field, 21 in right field, 5 in left field and one as designated hitter...started each of last 84 games and 89 of 91 to end the season.

Batting: Batted .208 (16-77) with 4 RBI over first 22 games...hit safely in 7 straight from May 2-10 at .444 (12-27) to raise average to .269...batted .211 (24-114) in 35 games from May 11-July 22 to drop to .239...hit .407 (33-81) with 7 HR and 21 RBI over 20 games from July 23-August 12, raising season average from .239 to .284...recorded a .205 (36-176) average in last 47 contests to finish the season at .255...had season-high 8-game hit streak from July 23-30...recorded 3 extra base hits on 3 occasions this season, including back-to-back games on July 26-27 at Baltimore...matched career-high with 3 runs scored on September 5 at Minnesota...posted 3 or more hits on 10 occasions, including season-high 4 hits on May 8 vs. Cleveland...was voted the Rangers' July Player of the Month, batting .289 (28-97) with 8 doubles, 8 HR, 18 RBI and 17 runs scored during the month...was Matthews' first monthly award and the first for an outfielder since Carl Everett in April 2003...switch-hitter batted .260 (88-339) with 7 HR and 35 RBI from the left side and .243 (33-136) with 10 HR and 20 RBI from the right side...went 1-3 with HR and 3 RBI on July 5 vs. Boston, batting from the right side against Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield...hit .219 (52-237) with 8 HR and 32 RBI in 65 home games and .290 (69-238) with 9 HR and 23 RBI in 66 road contests.

Home Runs/RBI: Hit career-high 17 HR, surpassing previous high of 14 HR set in 2001 with Chicago (NL) and Pittsburgh...posted first career multi-HR game with 2 homers on July 27 at Baltimore, including game-winning 3-run blast in the 11th...hit 5 HR in a 9- game span from June 29-July 9 and 6 HR in 8 games from July 26-August 3...homered in consecutive games on 4 occasions: July 2-3 at Seattle, July 26-27 at Baltimore, August 2-3 vs. Tampa Bay and August 20-21 at Tampa Bay...hit first 2 career leadoff HR, on July 3 at Seattle and July 29 at Toronto...recorded career-high with 55 RBI...matched career-high with 4 RBI on July 27 at Baltimore...totaled 18 RBI in 14 games from July 24-August 7.

2005 Notes: Made Opening Day roster for 4th time in his career, first with Texas...started season opener for 2nd time (also 2003 with Baltimore) and went 2-4 to raise Opening Day roster to .357 (5-14)...recorded a .982 (6 E/330 TC) fielding percentage in 123 games in the outfield...ranked 2nd on the club with 7 outfield assists...on the disabled list from May 15-June 8 with a strained left hamstring.

2004

Signed by Texas after the season began, Matthews made 77 starts in the outfield; 51 in right field, 25 in center field and one in left field...led Rangers outfielders with 8 assists and posted 2nd-highest home run total of his career (11)...ranked 5th on club in stolen bases (5) and recorded highest slugging percentage of his career at .461.

Texas: Purchased from Oklahoma on May 25 along with Chad Allen when Kevin Mench and Brian Jordan were placed on the disabled list...made Texas debut with start in right on May 25 at Chicago, going 0-4...batted .286 (20-70) with 3 homers and 12 RBI through first 23 games...rest of year, average hovered between low of .260 and high of .295...matched season high with 7-game hit streaks from June 29-July 5 and Aug. 1-8...became regular after All-Star break, starting first 23 and 46 of first 49 games in the second half...was slowed by a right calf injury in early Sept. and played just one of club's final 27 contests...only appearance in that stretch came with pinch RBI single on Sept. 18 at Anaheim, giving Rangers decisive margin in a 2-0 victory...was removed for a pinch runner immediately after the hit...hit safely in final 5 games of the year at 7-13 (.538), raising final average from .262 to .275...hit .289 (55-190) while batting left-handed and .244 (22-90) from the right side...posted a .293 average (36-123) with 7 home runs in 36 games at Ameriquest Field.

Oklahoma: Joined RedHawks for doubleheader on April 10 at Omaha...went 4-11 with 7 RBI in first 3 games as each of first 4 hits went for extra bases (2 doubles, triple, homer)...had 5-game hit streak from April 15-19 at .556 (10-18) to raise season average from .200 to .368...went 6-8 with 3 homers, 2 triples and 7 RBI over 2 games April 18-19 vs. Omaha...hit 2 homers in April 18 contest...finished Oklahoma stint with 10-game hit streak at 15-40 (.375) with 13 runs scored...homered 5 times in last 12 games at Triple-A...was successful in 4 of 5 steal attempts...had 36 RBI and 33 runs scored in 38 games for Oklahoma...batted .359 (23-64) in home games...hit .245 against lefties and .365 vs. right-handers...played 21 games in center field, 13 in left and 4 in right.

2004 Notes: Signed by Texas to a minor league contract on April 7 after being released by Atlanta on March 31...first home run with Rangers was tie-breaking shot to lead off 9th on June 2 at Cleveland, a 5-3 Texas victory...had 3 RBI in that contest...had seasonhigh 4 hits in Rangers' 18-inning win on June 24 vs. Seattle, matching 2nd-highest total in his career...recorded season-high 4 RBI on Aug. 17 vs. Cleveland and had 3 RBI on 4 occasions...homered in consecutive games July 19-20 vs. Chicago...of his 11 home runs, 4 were 3-run shots...recorded career and team-high 8 outfield assists, including assists in consecutive games Sept. 1-2 at Minnesota...threw out Ken Griffey Jr. at plate in 10th inning on June 15 at Cincinnati, extending an eventual Texas loss...drew season- high 3 walks on Aug. 31 at Minnesota...had 5 intentional walks, 3rd-highest among Rangers...was 5-6 on stolen base attempts...batted .306 (22-72) in June, best average for a full month all season...batted .348 (23-66) in 20 games against AL West pitching...hit .303 (10-33) with 3 homers and 10 RBI in 9 games against Cleveland.

2003

Split the year between Baltimore and San Diego...Claimed off waivers by San Diego on May 23rd...Hit his first National League home run, June 8th vs. Minnesota off Joe Mays.

2002

Was acquired from the New York Mets in exchange for John Bale on April 3 and appeared in 109 games for the Orioles, establishing career-highs in average (.275), doubles (25) and slugging percentage (.427).

Improved his average 48 points over his .227 average in 2001 with the Pirates and Cubs, the 9th biggest improvement among major league hitters.

Pinch-hit in his first 3 games with the Orioles and was hitless in his first 11 at-bats...Had two multi-hit games in April but batted just .194 over the first month.

Had 5 multi-hit games in May and batted .333 (18-54) for the month...Had a 7-game hitting streak, May 30-June 5, going 10-for-27 (.370).

Went 5-for-5 with a double, home run and 2 RBI on June 29 against Philadelphia... Also had 4 hits on July 20 vs. Chicago and August 2 at Toronto...Had never had more than 3 hits in a major league game before 2002.

Hit a game-winning, 3-run home run off Kelvim Escobar in the 9th inning on August 2 at Toronto as the Orioles rallied from an 8-1 deficit to defeat the Blue Jays, 9-8...Hit a game-winning, 3-run home run in the bottom of the 9th inning on August 20 vs. Tampa Bay...Broke an 8th inning tie with a game-winning 2-run single on June 23 at San Francisco.

Batted .310 (85-274) in 81 games between May 3 and August 10, when his average reached .299...Went 4-for-40 (.100) over his final 11 games with an at-bat.

Was placed on the disabled list on August 25, retro to August 24, with tendinitis in his right wrist...Suffered the injury on August 22 vs. Tampa Bay and left the game the next night after one at-bat.

Was activated from the DL on September 11 and appeared in just two games the remainder of the sea- son, both without an at-bat...Entered one game as a defensive replacement, the other as a pinch runner.

Did not start the final 36 games of the season after suffering the injury and the Orioles went 4-32 in that time...On the season, the Orioles went 45-43 in games which Matthews started and 22-52 in games he did not start.

Prior to the injury, had started all but one game since June 18 (58 games)...Had played in all but that one game starting May 30 (75 games).

Had a career-high 8-game hitting streak, July 28-August 4, batting .419 (13-31) with 3 doubles, a home run and 5 RBI.

Was hit by a pitch on July 28 at Boston before being ejected for his part in a bench-clearing brawl.

Hit a solo home run onto Eutaw Street on July 19 vs. Chicago...Was one of 29 homers to reach Eutaw Street in Camden Yards history and one of 3 on the season.

Ranked 4th on the team with 15 stolen bases, two more than his career total entering 2002...Was suc- cessful in 9 consecutive stolen base attempts in June and July.

Started at all 3 outfield positions, playing 76 games in right field and 16 each in center field and left field...Was tied for 2nd on the team with 6 outfield assists.

2001

Matthews Jr. started the 2001 campaign with the Chicago Cubs. He batted .217 (56-258) with 41 runs, nine doubles, one triple, nine home runs and 30 RBIs in 106 games. He was claimed off waivers by the Pirates on August 10th. With Pittsburgh, in 46 games he was 36-147 (.245) with 22 runs, six doubles, a triple, five home runs and 14 RBIs. He also had a combined on-base percentage of .328. Last season he established career-highs in batting average (.227), hits (92), at-bats (405), runs (63), doubles (15), home runs (14), RBIs (44) and games played (152).

Gary split the 2000 season between the Cubs and Iowa (AAA) ... was on the Cubs' roster June 2-June 24 and July 14 through the end of the season.

... the switch-hitter batted .190 in 80 games with the Cubs with 4 homers and 14 RBI.
... when he made his Cubs debut June 2 vs. Detroit, he became the sixth son of a former Cub to also play for the club; Gary Matthews was a member of the Cubs during the 1984-1987 campaigns.
... went 6-for-25 as a pinch hitter with 2 homers and 3 RBI.
... hit his first major league homer June 20, a pinch-hit solo shot off Atlanta's Bruce Chen; his second roundtripper also was a pinch-hit shot (August 25 off Los Angeles' Carlos Perez).
... hit his first M.L. homer as a left-handed batter August 27 off Los Angeles' Ismael Valdes.
... made 3 errors in the outfield, appearing in 46 games in leftfield (16 starts), 21 in center (14 starts) and 1 game in right.
... in 60 Triple-A games, he hit .242 with 11 doubles, 5 homers and 22 RBI.
... had a 2-homer affair April 22 vs. Colorado Springs -- homering from both sides of the plate.
... went deep as a right-handed batter in the 4th inning off Ed Vosberg and from the left side in the 6th inning off Mike Saipe.
... had a 12-game hitting streak May 16-May 27 in which he was 22-for-48 (.458) with 7 multi-hit efforts, 9 runs scored and 9 RBI.

2000

Traded to the Cubs on March 23rd...Began the season with Iowa (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League...Recalled on June 2nd...Hit his first major league home run on June 20th at Atlanta, a pinch-hit solo shot off Bruce Chen.

1999

Made his major league debut on June 4th vs. Seattle, starting in rightfield...Scored the first run of his career in that game when he stole home in the fourth inning...Registered his first major league hit, June 6th against Seattle's Freddy Garcia.

1996

Ranked second in the California League with 11 triples.