The 1994 Topps Rookie All-Star squad returns for Labor Day with a player who exemplifies hard work. Chris Gomez played both 2nd and Short for the Tigers in 1994, and makes the Topps Roster as the team's SS.
Gomez was developed as a glove first middle infielder, but it was his unexpected power surge in 1994 that convinced Sparky Anderson to continue to pencil him into the lineup for the Tigers. The team of course had Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker for the umpteenth season in the middle infield, as well as super utility man Tony Phillips to fill in, limiting Gomez to 84 games played.
The Tigers drafted Gomez in the third round of the 1992 draft out of Long Beach State. He originally attended Loyola Marymount after High School in Lakewood California. He was drafted out of high school by the Angels but opted to go to school for an education and to develop his skills. By his senior season, Gomez was an elite defender and capable with the bat, becoming an All-American selection at Short.
Gomez had the tall task of supplanting Alan Trammell as the everyday SS for the Tigers, and the early returns were promising. His defense was predictably solid, and he did hit 11 homers in 1995, but had just a .223 batting average. The Tigers had been spoiled for nearly 2 decades with a perennial All-Star at the position and would end up trading him to San Diego in 1996 in a trade including Brad Ausmus and Andujar Cedeño.
Gomez would play parts of 5 seasons with the Friars, including a big offensive year in 1998, when he hit a career best 32 doubles. He hit .364 for the 1998 World Series, including a triple. His superlative defense continued as well, leading the NL fielding pct and was second in double plays turned.
Following his Padres' run and a successful season as the Rays' shortstop, Gomez became a valuable utility player for several teams, playing all over the infield for Minnesota, Toronto, Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and almost Philadelphia.
Interesting story - in December of 2004, Baltimore scooped up Chris Gomez from the free agent class just before the Rule V draft. The Orioles didn't have room on the major league roster at the moment as they were exploring trades to possibly net Tim Hudson from the A's. The O's placed Gomez temporarily on the AA Bowie BaySox roster. The Phillies swooped in and opted to use one of their minor league Rule V selections to pick Gomez, and Baltimore nearly lost their free agent to a technicality. The Phillies wanted Gomez as insurance for possibly losing Placido Polanco, but once the Phils reunited with him, they gave the O's a chance to buy back Gomez.
Any Chris Gomez memories to share? Maybe Cleveland fans that recall the playoff push in 2007? Or Padres fans from a decade before?
No specific memories really, but he'll always have a place in my heart for being on those two late-90s Padres teams that made the playoffs. That was probably the height of my fandom.. watched nearly every game broadcast those years.
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