Anthony Nomar Garciaparra graduated as a three sport all-star from St. John Bosco High School in his home of Bellflower, CA in 1991. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers that summer, but elected to attend college instead of trying his hand at pro baseball. Nomar began attending Georgia Tech the following fall, majoring in business management, and played Shortstop for Tech for three years before being drafted by the Red Sox. In 1992, Nomar was elected to the Summer Olympic Team, and voted ACC rookie of the year and made All-America first team with his .363 batting average. He also represented the U.S. in the World All-Star game in Tokyo. Two years later, In his Junior season, hit .427 for Tech, hitting 16 homeruns and becoming only the first player in school history to reach 100 hits in one season. He also helped lead Tech to their first ever appearance in the college world series. Honors that year included: 1st Team All-ACC, All-ACC Tourney Team, Oustanding Player at Midwest II Regional, All-College WS Team, 1st Team All-American (By ABCA, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, and NCWBA). Red Sox General Manager and all-around visionary Dan Duquette made the impressive junior his first Red Sox draft pick (12th overall) in the 1994 June Draft.
In 1996,in the middle of only 3rd season in the Red Sox minor league system, Nomar was called up from the Sox' AAA affiliate, Pawtucket. Early in the year, while still playing for the Paw Sox, Nomar's start was delayed by an ankle injury, but began to pay off instantly as soon as he was in the lineup. In his first game back from the injury (April 15), Nomar went 3-5, with a stolen base, 2 homeruns, 3 runs scored, and 5 runs batted in. But again, Nomar was placed on the disabled list with a knee injury just four days later. Even though Nomar was on the DL until July, 11, he still managed to hit .343 with 16 homers for Pawtucket in limited action.
Nomar's impressive performance in 1996 earned him an August 31st call up to the Boston Red Sox. Nomar made his major league debut that night, and hit his first major league homerun the following day off of Oakland starter, and future teammate, John Wasdin. In Nomar's starts, the Sox were 14-7, and Nomar ended the '96 season with a .241 average, 4 homers, and 16 RBI in 24 games.
Nomar began the 1997 season with the Red Sox, and was part of a spring controversy involving incumbant Shortstop, John Valentin. The team heirarchy wanted Val to move to second, to make room for Nomar, and keep both of their bats in the lineup. (not to mention fill a team weak spot that has existed since Jody Reed's departure to San Diego several years ago) Val wasn't too keen on the idea of moving to second, he had been a Shortstop all his life, and caused quite a pre-season melo-drama. Eventually, Valentin moved to second (still amidst trade rumors), and to everyone's delight, both have excelled. Nomar started the 1997 regular season strong. He busted out of the gate with a .349 average, with 3 HR's, 12 RBI, and 5 stolen bases in just 18 games. In those 18 games, he had 9 multiple hit efforts. He was phenomonal. (Projections are often foolish and sometimes annoying, but Nomar, at that pace, would have hit .349, with 27 homeruns, 108 RBI, and scored 126 runs, and stolen 45 bases. Can you say MVP, nevermind Rookie oi the Year) Nomar's tear continued until mid May, when another bout with the injury bug brought him down, and took his average with him. Garciaparra has rebounded frow his injury and the resulting slump. (See below Statistics) Nomar has little or no competition for American League Rookie of the Year. And was recently named a reserve on the 1997 AL All-Star team. Nomar is the first Red Sox Shortstop to make the All-Star Team since Rick Burrelson in 1979, and the first Sox rookie since Fred Lynn in 1975. Nomar is also the lone Red Sox representative. At the aformentioned All-Star Game, Nomar participated in the Rookie Homerun Derby. Nomar was the last to hit, and won the derby with 3 homeruns.The last one a 436 foot blast. (Note: he had 3 outs left, but decided to stop there, since he had already won.) Because of his success in the Rookie Division, Nomar earned a place in the regular homerun derby. Nomar competed with Homerun legends such as Mark McGwire and Ken Griffey Jr, and, as one might expect from a rookie in his first all-star game, nevermind homerun derby, Nomar hit no homeruns. Still, Nomar's performance in the Rookie Homerun Derby will undoubtedly open more eyes to the talented shortstop. Also, it may sway more votes in Nomar's direction as far as Rookie of the Year is concerned (as if he needs it) Nomar began another impressive streak near the end of July. Nomar raised his batting average far above .300, and assumed the league lead in Hits, Runs, and Triples. He also entered the top 10 in Doubles and Stolen Bases. In an even more surprising statistic, Nomar has been battling with Team powerhouse, Mo Vaughn, for the team lead in Runs Batted In. As of August 25th, Nomar had hit in 27 straight games, breaking the record of Guy Curtright, of the 1943 Chicago White Sox, for AL rookie hitting streak. The streak ended at 30, just 4 short of the Red Sox team record, and the Major League Baseball rookie Record (set by Benito Santiago in 1987)
The future for Nomar Garciaparra is, hopefully, certain. He will remain as the
team's starting SS for many years to come. Nomar has the ability and the potential
to become the greatest shortstop the American League has seen since Cal Ripken in
his glory days. Unlike in years past, the Shortstop position is very deep in the
American League. With rising stars like Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, and, of
course, Nomar, the competition each year for AL All-Star shortstop will be
interesting. Many believe, including several people who have mailed me as a result
of this page, that Nomar is the cornerstone which The Boston Red Sox will build
around. Nomar has all the tools, the hitting knack, speed, power, glovework, and
baseball savy, to be a premier leadoff hitter in the major leagues well into the 21st
century. Any baseball expert will tell you that a skilled leadoff hitter is one of the
most imortant components to building a championship ballclub. With the supurb
infield the Red Sox posses (Vaughn, Valentin, Garciaparra, and Naehring) and the
tools to put together a strong outfield and pitching staff (Cordero, Bragg, O'Leary,
Jefferson, Sele, Suppan, Rose, and the #2 minor league system in all of baseball)
The Red Sox, behind Nomar Garciaparra could easily be pennant contenders in a
matter of 3 or 4 years.