Troy Glaus Angels' slugger came through in the clutch; Anaheim third baseman hit .385 with ten hits, seven runs and eight RBI in World Series triumph over San Francisco

Baseball Digest, Feb, 2003 by Chris Shuttlesworth

IF THE GIANTS HAD HELD ON TO WIN Game 6 and the 2002 World Series, Barry Bonds very likely would have been named the Series Most Valuable Player.

Instead, Troy Glaus, the man who paced Bonds every step of the way, earned the accolade.

"I don't know about Troy ever being overlooked," said manager Mike Scioscia about his third baseman, who batted .385 with three homers and eight RBI in the Series. "Troy Glaus stepped up and did what big-game players do in a series like this.

"Although it is a team effort, I think Troy absolutely brought his A-game to the Series."

Glaus twice tied the record for the most homers in one postseason before Bonds took over that title for good with a Game 6 blast. Like Bonds, Glaus recorded six extra-base hits in the World Series, one shy of Willie Stargell's 1979 record.

Called "Big Dog" by winning pitcher John Lackey atone point during the post-game press conference, Glaus also tallied 22 total bases in the World Series, three shy of the record held by Stargell (1979) and Reggie Jackson (1978). His seven runs scored were one below the all-time record for a seven-game Series as well, and before being held hitless in Game 7 with a pair of walks and two strikeouts, he had recorded a hit in every other game of the World Series.

Although none of Glaus' three World Series homers came in Angels victories, his Game 6 two-run double gave Anaheim a stunning and crucial comeback win that set the stage for a final showdown in Game 7.

Still, with any number of Anaheim players a candidate for MVP honors, the 26-year-old Glaus was a bit stunned to receive the award.

"I was so excited just about being world champion," he said. "This is just icing on the cake at this point. I didn't even really know what to think. They told me to go stand on the stage, so I went and stood on the stage."

It was there that he was handed the trophy that looks like a fancy piece of aluminum twisted into a graceful swirl.

"It's a great honor, obviously," he said. "But we play for the big trophy with the pennants on it, hot for this one. No one guy on this team has gotten us to this point or carried us through this point."

Originally drafted by the Padres in 1994, Glaus instead enrolled at UCLA, where he starred for three seasons and broke Mark McGwire's single-season Pac-10 home run record. The third overall pick in the 1997 first-year player draft, he rocketed through the Angels organization and earned a callup to Anaheim in 1998, his first pro season.

Now the Southern California native has helped Anaheim win its first world title in its 42-year history.

"I think the feeling would be tremendous no matter where we were, but for me to be at home, my friends and family got to be here," said Glaus. "They've all been a part of it. For them to be here watching and the fan support and everything--unbelievable."

Glaus belted 117 homers in his first three full years in the big leagues, including a league-leading and club record 47 in 2000 and 41 in 2001. He clubbed 30 last season, capped by his second career grand slam on the last day of the season. A two-time All-Star and a Silver Slugger winner, Glaus is now a world champion and World Series MVP.

"This is why we play," said Glaus. "This is why we put all the time and effort in. You know, this is what all the swings against the garage door were about when you were a kid, that's what it brings you up to, this point here. At this point, I don't even really know how I'm feeling, except ecstatic."

MVP

Third Basemen Who Have Won World Series MVP Honors

Year   Player            Team

1970   Brooks Robinson   BALTIMORE ORIOLES
1975   Pete Rose         CINCINNATI REDS
1980   Mike Schmidt      PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
1981   Ron Cey ( )       LOS ANGELES DODGERS
1986   Ray Knight        NEW YORK METS
1998   Scott Brosius     NEW YORK YANKEES
2002   Troy Glaus        ANAHEIM ANGELS

( ) Tied for MVP award with Pedro
Guerrero and Steve Yeager

Troy Glaus Information File

Name: Troy Edward Glaus

Born: August 3, 1976

Bats: Right

Height: 6-5

High School: Carlsbad (California)

Place of Birth: Tarzana, California

Throws: Right

Weight: 229

College: UCLA

Transactions: Selected by Sand Diego Padres in the second round of the June 1994 free-agent draft; did not sign. Selected by the Anaheim Angels in the first round with the third pick overall of the June 1997 free-agent draft.

Honors: Member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic baseball team; American League Silver Slugger Team (2000, 2001); American League All-Star team (2000, 2001)

STATISTICS:

Year   Team     AB     H    2B   3B   HR    R    RBI    BA    BB    SO

1998   Angels   165    36    9    0    1    19    23   .218    15    51
1999   Angels   551   132   29    0   29    85    79   .240    71   143
2000   Angels   563   160   37    1   47   120   102   .284   112   163
2001   Angels   588   147   38    2   41   100   108   .250   107   158
2002   Angels   569   142   24    1   30    99   111   .250    88   144

Boldface type indicates league leader

WORDS ABOUT GLAUS:

"He's been outstanding all year. Some people might say he might not have had the best year, but when you have clutch hits like he did, it's an outstanding year. If you get that many clutch RBI, it's just huge for a team. That's the most important thing."--Teammate Scott Spiezio