TEMPE, Ariz. — Way down the list of vote-getters for the 2004 American League most-valuable-player award, far behind superstars Vladimir Guerrero, Gary Sheffield, Manny Ramirez, Miguel Tejada and Alex Rodriguez, in 29th place to be exact, was Chone Figgins.
The Angel utility player's total of two points, for the two 10th-place votes he received, seemed minuscule compared to the triple-digit figures at the top of the charts. But to Figgins, those votes represent "one of the greatest accomplishments I've ever had," he said. "To even be mentioned as an MVP candidate was a great honor."
Figgins wouldn't have been any more thrilled if the list had been turned upside down because his receiving votes showed how far he'd come in three years, from a pinch-runner as a September call-up in 2002, to a part-time player in 2003, to an impact everyday big leaguer in 2004.
Guerrero and Jose Guillen provided most of the power to a lineup that missed Garret Anderson and Troy Glaus for months at a time in 2004, but it was Figgins whom Angel Manager Mike Scioscia constantly touted as the team's MVP.
The versatile, speedy Figgins started at five positions -- shortstop, center field, third base, second base and right field -- fielding each proficiently, and hit in six lineup spots, first, second, third, seventh, eighth and ninth.
He batted .296 with five home runs, 17 triples, 22 doubles, 60 runs batted in, 83 runs and a team-high 34 stolen bases, and with the exception of August, when his average dipped to .269, he hit .283 or better in each month.
When Anderson went down with a back injury in early April, Figgins took over in center field, with an occasional start at third and shortstop. When Glaus was sidelined by a shoulder injury in mid-May, Figgins moved to third, with an occasional start in center and a short stint filling in for injured shortstop David Eckstein in June.
When Robb Quinlan's bat caught fire in mid-July, Figgins moved back to center to make room for Quinlan at third. But when Quinlan tore a chest muscle in mid-August, it was back to third for Figgins.
Then Adam Kennedy suffered a season-ending knee injury Sept. 20, and Figgins took over at second, but only after having played second, center field and third that same night. "I can say with some certainty that we probably wouldn't have played three [playoff] games in October without him," first baseman Darin Erstad said of Figgins. "He was pretty valuable, and he was so versatile. It's rare to find guys who keep their mouths shut and keep doing the job."
