"He's such a professional and such a great guy to play with," Lackey told The AP after the July 2004 game. "I have no idea how many of my games he's closed out, but most of the time when he comes in, it's pretty much over."
Percival reached that milestone save in his ninth-straight season of at least 27 saves, four all-star seasons and one world championship. He went on to notch a total of 358 saves. In his last big year, 2008, he saved 28 for the eventual American League champion Tampa Bay Rays.
Percival achieved all that having started on the other end of the battery. He played his first professional season as a catcher.
Percival's career began in 1990, taken by the Angels in the sixth round of the draft out of the University of California Riverside.
Percival played his first pro games at short-season Boise and he played them behind the plate. He got into 29 games and hit .203. In an early September game, a errant pick-off throw from the catcher allowed the winning run to score.
Then came Percival's switch to the mound. Percival later recalled getting pitching inquiries in college, but he wanted to catch.
"So in hindsight, I might have cost myself a higher spot in the draft, but I did what I wanted to do," Percival told USA Today in 2001. "I gave it a chance, and once I saw all the other players, I realized I was generic behind the plate."
He wasn't generic on the mound. Starting in the role that he would excel, as a reliever, he returned to Boise for 1991, then began his move up. He hit AA Midland in 1992, then AAA Vancouver in 1993. In 1995, he debuted in Anaheim.
Percival played all of 1995 in the majors, serving mostly in middle relief. He saved three games. He then moved to the closer's role for 1996, saving 36 games, posting a 2.31 ERA and earning his first all-star selection.
Leading up to the 1996 All-Star Game, Percival explained his approach to The AP.
"I believe some guys go out there and think too much, try to be too fine," Percival told The AP. "I'm not a nitpicker. I go out there aggressive and throw."
Percival saved 27 games in 1997, then another 42 in 1998 and 31 in 1999. He made his second and third mid-summer classics in 1998 and 1999.
In 2002, he helped his Angels to the playoffs and to the world championship by saving 40 games, with a 1.92 ERA. He saved three Anaheim's World Series wins, including both Game 6 and Game 7.
Percival stayed the Angels through 2004. He then played 2005 with the Tigers and 2007 with the Cardinals. His 2007 season came after he announced his retirement due to a forearm injury. He'd missed the entire 2006 season.
But he came back. In 2008, the 37-year-old signed with the Rays and saved 28 games, though he missed the playoffs. His final big league time came back with the Rays in 2009.
After his first retirement in 2007, Angels manager Mike Scioscia recalled Percival as his reliable closer.
Percival "always wanted the ball with the game on the line," Scioscia told MLB.com. "Saving Game 6 and Game 7 of the World Series ... that's quite an accomplishment."
In 2014, Percival became head coach at his old college, UC-Riverside. He continues in that role in 2016. He made the 2015 Hall of Fame ballot, garnering four votes for induction, dropping off the ballot.
- Eugene Register-Guard, July 9, 1996: Philly becomes Belle of the Ball
- USAToday.com, Aug. 28, 2001: Percival finds change is indeed good
- USAToday.com, Associated Press, July 29, 2004: Percival earns 300th save, Angels blank Rangers
- MLB.com, April 2, 2007: Percival officially retires as an Angel
Players/Coaches Featured: 2,354
Made the Majors: 972-41.3%-X
Never Made Majors:1,382-58.7%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 407-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors:244
No comments:
Post a Comment