Troy Percival

Lore & Background

Percival started playing baseball at Moreno Valley Youth Federation (MVYF). He played on the Moreno Valley High School baseball team, before attending the University of California, Riverside, where he played college baseball for the Highlanders from 1987–1990. He was drafted by the California Angels in the 6th round, with the 175th overall selection, of the 1990 Major League Baseball draft as a catcher. He batted .203 in his only season as a catcher with the Boise Hawks and was converted to a pitcher when coaches noticed that his return throws to the mound were actually faster than the pitches he caught. He made his major league debut as a reliever, and was mostly used as a setup man for Lee Smith. He was coached by his father Richard Percival for all of his childhood years. He became the regular closer for the Angels and had 36 saves with 100 strikeouts in 74 innings. He is one of only six pitchers in the Angels' 44-year history to strike out at least 100 batters in a season without starting a game. He had a career-high 42 saves, and enjoyed his best season with a 4–1 record, 40 saves, 68 strikeouts, and a 1.92 ERA. That year en route to winning the World Series, he was 7 for 7 in save opportunities, tying John Wetteland for most saves in one postseason. A four-time All-Star, Percival compiled a 29–38 record with a 2.99 ERA in 586.2 innings for the Angels. His 355 saves grant him inclusion in the 300 save club. His fastball, once clocked consistently at 96–100 MPH, was down to about 92–93 MPH in 2004, due to a degenerative hip condition that first appeared in 2003. Percival's contract with the Angels expired in 2004 and he became a free agent. He signed with the Detroit Tigers as a free agent, but after a mediocre start and a serious injury to his right forearm in early July, his season ended. After attempting to recuperate, he reported to spring training for the Tigers but again suffered significant pain and left the team. After spending the entire 2006 season on the Tigers' disabled list and working as an advance scout, his contract expired. Though he didn't pitch during the Tigers' run to the American League Championship, the team voted him a ring and a full playoff share. He used the money to buy a suite at Comerica Park for his teammates' wives. In November and December 2006, he funded and personally built a new clubhouse at the Riverside Sports Comple

In Their Own Story

Ninth inning. Two outs. One on. The Angels lead by one. The stadium is a roar of 40,000 voices and Percival jogs out of the bullpen, already grinning, already doing that little shoulder shimmy. He steps onto the rubber and the crowd *knows* what's coming. He leans. He leans further. His chest is almost parallel to the ground, his glove hovering inches from the dirt, and the batter in the box just stares, confused, like he's watching a man trip over his own feet. Then — snap. The ball is gone. A strike. The crowd erupts in a mix of laughter and terror. He leans again. And again. Three pitches, three near-falls, and the batter is done. Percival doesn't celebrate. He just tips his cap, still slightly bent forward, as if the game is the only position he's ever fully comfortable in.

Reader's Guide

Troy Percival is a former MLB closer known for his time with the California/Anaheim Angels, where he was a four-time All-Star and a key member of the 2002 World Series championship team. He accumulated 355 career saves, placing him in the 300 save club. He later became a coach and manager, currently leading the Long Beach Coast of the Pioneer League.

Did You Know?

• Percival was originally drafted as a catcher and converted to pitcher after his return throws to the mound were faster than the pitches he caught.
• He is one of only six pitchers in Angels history to strike out at least 100 batters in a season without starting a game.
• In the 2002 postseason, he was 7 for 7 in save opportunities, tying the record for most saves in one postseason.
• He used his playoff share from the Detroit Tigers to buy a suite at Comerica Park for his teammates' wives.
• He personally funded and built a new clubhouse at the Riverside Sports Complex for UC Riverside in 2006.