As of 2016, California has produced 2,177 Major League Baseball players.
Along with teammates Jeff Bagwell and Lance Berkman, Craig Biggio formed the core of the "Killer B's" who led the Houston Astros to six playoff appearances from 1997 to 2005, culminating in the franchise's only World Series appearance in 2005.
Late in his career, Dave Stieb developed his breaking ball repertoire and became very effective with a "dead fish" curveball that would break into the dirt as the batter swung.
Touted by some as a future Hall of Famer, Dickie Thon's career was permanently altered on April 8, 1984, when he was hit in the face by Mike Torrez's fastball. The pitch broke the orbital bone around his left eye and ended his 1984 season. He returned in 1985, but suffered from problems with depth perception that permanently hampered his potential.
The Opening Day starter in 2005, Livan Hernandez will forever hold the distinction of being the first player to throw a pitch as a National.
Roy Halladay's nickname, coined by Toronto Blue Jays announcer Tom Cheek, is a reference to Wild West gunslinger "Doc" Holliday.
Al Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers, mainly as a right fielder where he won ten Gold Gloves.
On September 29, 2004, MLB announced that the Montreal Expos would move to Washington, D.C. where they would become the Nationals.
Carlos Delgado is one of only six players in Major League history to hit 30 home runs in ten consecutive seasons.
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