Salmon Clubhouse visited by legendary namesake

On every day of the Grand Canyon baseball grind, GCU players see "Tim Salmon" on their clubhouse's signage.

On Wednesday, they saw and heard from Salmon inside the building. The GCU and Angels Hall of Famer spoke to them for 90 minutes in the Tim Salmon Clubhouse that he helped build with a donation during his major-league career.

GCU players hung on his insight and advice with awe of his star-studded, 14-year MLB career, just as Salmon is taken aback with where his former NAIA program stands nationally now as a three-time defending WAC champion with two NCAA Division I tournament trips in those seasons.

"I always think to myself, 'What would I have wanted to hear at that age?' " said Salmon, who was a third-round draft pick out of GCU. "All these kids want to play at the next level. You need to win. It's about winning at this level. Winning develops talent in you that you don't realize.

"When people are looking are for those who are going to move on to the next level, coming from a winning program and learning how to play the game the right way makes you the player who gets an opportunity to play at the next level."

Salmon still holds GCU career records for home runs (51) and RBIs (192) from his 1987-89 Lopes career under head coach Gil Stafford. He turned that into a career of .282 hitting, 299 home runs, 1,016 RBIs and a 2002 World Series championship that put him in the Angels Hall of Fame. He now works for the franchise's television broadcast as an analyst.

Salmon clubhouse visit

"It was a really special day to have Tim Salmon here," GCU head coach Gregg Wallis said. "I just wanted him to come by and share his wisdom, his experience, his thoughts on winning baseball, the characteristics of what his 2002 championship team was about and his hitting approach. To have the most accomplished player in the history of Grand Canyon baseball come and share his time with our team was really special."

After his Wednesday talk, Lopes players were doubling back with follow-up questions for the 1993 American League Rookie of the Year as they headed out to a GCU Ballpark practice with the season opener nine days away. He said he had a good feel for what to communicate to them after serving as Scottsdale Christian Academy's varsity baseball coach for the past 10 years.

"I think they're a little wide-eyed," Salmon said. "You only get one opportunity, so I probably threw a bucket-load of stuff at them Their heads are spinning. The bigger thing was confirmation from the coaches that, 'Everything you said is what we're trying to do.' It's good to know that I reinforced some things that they're trying to teach."

He shared with the Lopes how Angels manager Mike Scosccia regularly said, "Today is the most important day of the season," during their World Series championship season. Unbeknownst to Salmon, the Lopes coaches have been putting that on the practice plan each week in preparation for their season.

Salmon, who visits GCU games each season, said he takes great pleasure in watching the University's growth and Lopes baseball's development. But he is still "a little embarrassed" by his name boldly adorning the clubhouse exterior.

"My building is actually the oldest building now on campus probably," Salmon said. "There's so much news stuff around here. My wife (Marci) and I met here. Every time we come on campus, we're trying to figure out, 'Where are we exactly?' We're trying to figure out our stomping grounds. It's pretty amazing coming here and to see the evolution of this campus. I'm just so proud of what it's become."

Grand Canyon University Athletics

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