Name: Charles “Chili” Theodore Davis
Position: Outfielder/Designated Hitter
Bats: Both
Throws: Right
Number(s): 24, 44
Years Played As an Angel: 1988-1990, 1993-1996
Angels’ Stats: .279 Avg., .829 OPS, 973 hits, 167 2Bs, 156 HRs, 618 RBIs, 28 SBs
Career Stats: .274 Avg., .811 OPS, 2380 hits, 424 2Bs, 350 HRs, 1372 RBIs, 142 SBs
How He Was Acquired: Signed for both stints as a free agent.
Why You Should Know Him: The three time allstar and owner of three World Series rings spent two notable stints with the Angels. He is 4th all time in home runs for a switch hitter. Prior to joining the Angels in 1988, Chili spent 8 seasons in San Francisco where he was voted 4th in Rookie of the Year voting and was selected to two allstar games. As an Angel his first two years were productive. He earned AL Player of the month in July 1988 and even garnering a 3rd place vote in the 1989 MVP vote. In 1990 his season was hampered by injuries allowing him to play in only 113 games. The team then allowed him to sign as a free agent with the Twins.
He of course per the outcome of many Angels decisions of that era went on to have his most successful season to date and helped the Minnesota Twins win the World Series that year. He placed 14th in MVP voting that year. He went on to have another solid year in 1992 before becoming a free agent. The Angels after the 1992 season attempted to sign Paul Molitor to fill their DH role. He instead signed with the Blue Jays and went on to win a World Series of his own. The Angels settled on plan B in the form of Davis.
His second stint with the Angels proved to be even more productive than the first. He set a career high in RBIs in 1993 and had perhaps his best career season in the strike shortened 1994. The doomed 1995 season along with the subsequent 1996 season saw him maintaining his strong form. However after the 1996 season he was traded to KC in a deal that included future Angels color commentator Mark Gubicza. The deal was made to make room in the crowded young Angels outfield for Darrin Erstad who was called up during the summer. At the time of the trade Chili ranked 2nd in career home runs (156) and RBIs (618) for the Angels behind Brian Downing. He currently ranks 6th and 5th respectively.
Chili went on to have two more successful seasons with the Royals. He then finished his career with two more seasons with the Yankees, winning the World Series in each. He went 0-1 as pinch hitter in the 1994 All Star game as an Angel.
Memorable Moments/Games: While he played in and won three World Series, his time with the Angels saw minimal success. He went 0-2 with a walk in the 1995 regular season playoff versus the Mariners.
Anecdotes and Quotes: “ The one collision that absolutely I got hit harder than anybody else was Chili Davis in 1986 when he was with the Giants. Chili plays hard; he’s 6′ 3″, looks like Apollo Creed, got a nice lean. I saw stars. That was the hardest I’ve been hit, including my years of playing football. It was a heck of a collision…He was out that time. We were both out.” —Mike Scioscia
Where is He Now?: Chili owns and operates the Chili Davis Premier Baseball location in Peroria Arizona. It features batting cages, retail shop, and a Starbucks.
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