Geoff Blum
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Edward Blum is a Major League Baseball (MLB)
infielder
for the Arizona Diamondbacks
. During his major-league career, he has also played for the Montreal Expos
, Houston Astros
, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
, San Diego Padres
and Chicago White Sox
. As a member of the World Series Champion White Sox
in 2005
, he hit the game-deciding home run
in the longest contest in the history of the Fall Classic
.
at the University of California, Berkeley
and played for the California Golden Bears
baseball team.
. During his time with the Expos, he spent the winter of 1995 in the Australian Baseball League with the Hunter Eagles
.
After playing there for three years, he was traded to the Houston Astros
in exchange for Chris Truby
. He was then traded after the 2003 season to Tampa Bay Devil Rays
in exchange for Brandon Backe
. In 2004 he batted only .215 for the Devil Rays, with a .266 OBP. He also played for San Diego Padres
before the White Sox picked him up in mid-2005. It was at this point that Geoff earned the nickname "Random Man".
On October 25, 2005, Blum hit a home run
against the Astros at Minute Maid Park
in the top of the 14th inning
to win Game 3 of the World Series
, the longest game in the history of the Fall Classic. On April 11, 2008 a monument celebrating the 2005 World Series was unveiled at U.S. Cellular Field
in Chicago
. Blum is one of the 5 players given a bronze statue of themselves as part of the monument, for hitting his tie-breaking home run.
He returned to the Padres as a free agent in 2006. November 20, 2007, Blum signed a $1.1 million, one-year contract with the Astros. The deal also includes a club option for 2009.
Blum returned to the Astros in 2009 and played mostly 3B for Houston. He hit 10 home runs that season, drove in 49 runs and was known for playing excellent defense at all the infield positions.
On October 30, 2009, Blum re-signed with the Astros. The contract was worth $1.5 million for the 2010 season and included a mutual option for 2011, which would be worth $1.65 million that was declined, making him a free agent.
On November 15, 2010, Blum signed a two year contract worth $2.7 million with the Arizona Diamondbacks
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
. During his major-league career, he has also played for the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
, Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
, San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
and Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. As a member of the World Series Champion White Sox
2005 World Series
The 2005 World Series, the 101st Major League Baseball championship series, saw the American League champion Chicago White Sox sweep the National League champion Houston Astros four games to none in the best-of-seven-games series, winning their third championship and first since 1917.Home-field...
in 2005
2005 Chicago White Sox season
The 2005 Chicago White Sox season was the White Sox's 105th season. They finished with a 99-63 record in the regular season and won first-place the American League Central division by six games over the Cleveland Indians...
, he hit the game-deciding home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
in the longest contest in the history of the Fall Classic
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
.
Early life
Before becoming a professional baseball player, he majored in sociologySociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
and played for the California Golden Bears
California Golden Bears
The California Golden Bears is the nickname used for 29 varsity athletic programs and various club teams of the University of California, Berkeley...
baseball team.
Professional career
He began his professional career when he was selected in the seventh round of the amateur draft by the Montreal ExposMontreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. During his time with the Expos, he spent the winter of 1995 in the Australian Baseball League with the Hunter Eagles
Hunter Eagles
The Hunter Eagles were formed for the ABL 1994-95 season after purchasing the Sydney Wave's licence, who had left the league two seasons earlier. The Eagles played in the ABL until the ABL 1997-98 season, and did not have sufficient funds to remain in operation.- See also :*Sport in...
.
After playing there for three years, he was traded to the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
in exchange for Chris Truby
Chris Truby
Christopher John Truby is a third baseman who played some of his career in Major League Baseball, though most of his time was spent in various teams' minor league systems....
. He was then traded after the 2003 season to Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
in exchange for Brandon Backe
Brandon Backe
Brandon Allen Backe is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. He joined the Houston Astros in , after two seasons with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays....
. In 2004 he batted only .215 for the Devil Rays, with a .266 OBP. He also played for San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
before the White Sox picked him up in mid-2005. It was at this point that Geoff earned the nickname "Random Man".
On October 25, 2005, Blum hit a home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
against the Astros at Minute Maid Park
Minute Maid Park
Minute Maid Park is a ballpark in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States that opened in 2000 to house the Major League Baseball Houston Astros....
in the top of the 14th inning
Extra innings
Extra innings is the extension of a baseball or softball game in order to break a tie.Ordinarily, a baseball game consists of nine innings , each of which is divided into halves: the visiting team bats first, after which the home team takes its turn at bat...
to win Game 3 of the World Series
2005 World Series
The 2005 World Series, the 101st Major League Baseball championship series, saw the American League champion Chicago White Sox sweep the National League champion Houston Astros four games to none in the best-of-seven-games series, winning their third championship and first since 1917.Home-field...
, the longest game in the history of the Fall Classic. On April 11, 2008 a monument celebrating the 2005 World Series was unveiled at U.S. Cellular Field
U.S. Cellular Field
U.S. Cellular Field is a baseball ballpark in Chicago, Illinois. Owned by the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, it is the home of the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball's American League. The park opened for the 1991 season, after the White Sox had spent 81 years at old Comiskey Park...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Blum is one of the 5 players given a bronze statue of themselves as part of the monument, for hitting his tie-breaking home run.
He returned to the Padres as a free agent in 2006. November 20, 2007, Blum signed a $1.1 million, one-year contract with the Astros. The deal also includes a club option for 2009.
Blum returned to the Astros in 2009 and played mostly 3B for Houston. He hit 10 home runs that season, drove in 49 runs and was known for playing excellent defense at all the infield positions.
On October 30, 2009, Blum re-signed with the Astros. The contract was worth $1.5 million for the 2010 season and included a mutual option for 2011, which would be worth $1.65 million that was declined, making him a free agent.
On November 15, 2010, Blum signed a two year contract worth $2.7 million with the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
.