Always an Angel: Playing the Game with Fire and Faith

by Tim Salmon, Rob Goldman, Joe Maddon (Foreword)

Professional baseball player Tim Salmon opens up about his hardships growing up and how a grandmother's faith set the stage for his remarkable career with the Angels, a team with an ingrained culture of losing that became one of baseball's elite teams by the time he retired. Salmon recalls the exploits of teammates Garret Anderson, Chili Davis, Chuck Finley, and Jim Abbott, who symbolized the grit and spirit of a team struggling for an identity, and he discusses the players who provided comic relief, including Rex Hudler diving through the post game spread with nothing on but his cleats. As eyewitness to some of baseball's all-time greatest moments, Salmon poignantly recalls Cal Ripken Jr.'s legendary streak of 2,132 consecutive games from a fresh perspective. Also included are accounts of his classic confrontations with fearsome pitchers Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, and Roger Clemens.

240 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2010

Reviews

[Tom Gase · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty enjoyable book on Tim Salmon, a former Angel one of my favorite players ever. I was scared by the subhead this book might go a little too religious but it mostly stays away from that and focuses on his baseball career. Salmon talks about a ton of his former teammates such as Edmonds, Eckstein, Garrett Anderson, Chad Curtis, Jim Abbott, Darin Erstad, Chuck Finley, etc. Salmon also discusses a bunch of his seasons including 1995 and the epic 2002 World Championship year. Good stuff and Angel fans will love.

[Chrissy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, I really did. I could not for the life of me follow the baseball jargon. I would reccomend this book for ultimate baseball fans, specifically people who followed Fish's career.

[Jeff Saltzmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fun reading stories about my favorite baseball team written by my favorite player from the 90s. It was also a cool glimpse into the 2002 World Series run.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased an autographed copy of Tim Salmon's book, Always an Angel. If you haven’t read it, it’s a fun read. It’s great to look back at a man’s journey of a successful career and family life. But there something else very special about this book. It is a discovery of why Tim does what he does and why Laurel House with its mission to provide a home for teen girls in crisis, to transform lives and to strengthen families is so important to Tim as well as other charities he and The Tim Salmon Foundation support!

Tim, like most of our teen girls knows what it means to come from a divorced family, where life is broken. Of course, with Tim, broken also meant a jaw, teeth, a finger and a nose (on the ball field)!

Part of what resonated with Tim about Laurel House parallels his baseball career and personal philosophy: perseverance, structure, love and support, family modeling to grow and succeed. This is exactly what troubled teens receive when at Laurel House; this, plus counseling with a goal to reunify girls to a healed family.

Something Tim writes in his book is that Marci Salmon, “is more than a wife, she is a partner in life". I cannot underscore the beauty of this partnership as it has played out in their support of Laurel House as Marci serves on the board!

They are a model couple and family for our teens and an inspiration to our Board and Staff. Tim & Marci may have moved out of the neighborhood where they first began supporting their local charity, but knowing that there is a special place for girls in need of love, support and stability and having seen the lives of young girls turn around one family at a time after having been given a chance at Laurel House, they remain firm in their support.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not necessarily a thinking man's book, but, then, you don't expect that from sports books. Salmon gives great insight into the clubhouse and baseball-lifestyle during his time in the minors and majors, and a bit of his life afterward. The book ends a bit abruptly after his recap of the 2002 World Series season, but that's expected to be the high point. Still, it would have been nice had Salmon talked a little bit more about his experiences on the 2006 club, specifically about the views he had of the younger players and what role, if any, he took in mentoring the young players--and maybe even his thoughts on the Angels' current line-up, though it's clear that Salmon would rightly not start talking about individuals if he didn't think they were doing well.

Overall, a pretty good read, but even better if you're a fan of the Angels and Tim Salmon.

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read for Angels fans. Probably a pass if you're looking for a good overall baseball biography.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book for any Angels fan. I love Tim Salmon and enjoyed reading about his life and career.