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Jim Edmonds combined all-around play to forge an outstanding 17-year big league career. One of the most under-appreciated centerfielders in baseball history, the Silver Slugger Award winner was a 4-time All Star, and 8-time Gold Glover, and a World Series champion.

Edmonds broke in with the Angels in an 18-game cup of coffee in 1993. In ’94 he played 59 games in left field, 19 in right, 5 in center and 22 games at first base. Then in ’95 the Angels made him their everyday centerfielder. Edmonds responded by earning an All Star selection. By season’s end he had 33 homers, 107 RBI and a .290 average.

Over his next four years he hit .295 with a .511 slugging percentage, slugging 25 or more homers in three of the four campaigns. Defensively he earned back-to-back Gold Glove Awards starting in 1997.

In March of 2000, the Angels traded Edmonds to the Cardinals. The first 6 seasons of the new century saw Edmonds dominate. During the run he averaged 35 homers, 98 RBI, 100 runs scored, and 34 doubles per season while posting a 154 OPS+. He slashed .292/.406/.584. Defensively he earned a Gold Glove each year. In those half-dozen years from 2000-2005 Edmonds 36.5 WAR with 5th in all of baseball behind only Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Todd Helton, and Albert Pujols.

Edmonds and the Cardinals went to the postseason five times during the centerfielder’s peak. Then in 2006 he helped St. Louis earn its 10th World Series championship and its first since 1982.

In December, 2007 the Cardinals dealt the 37-year old Edmonds to the Padres. After hitting .235 in 2008, Edmond became a free agent. Disappointed by the offers he received, he sat out the entire 2009 season. In January, 2010 Edmonds called the decision a mistake and expressed interest in a return. The Brewers stepped up and gave him a contract.

Edmonds hit .286 in 73 games for Milwaukee before being dealt to the Reds on August 9th. In 2011 he signed a minor league deal to return to St. Louis. Hampered by an Achilles injury from the year before, he announced his retirement in Spring Training.

Edmonds left the game with 1,949 hits, 437 doubles, 393 homers, 1,251 runs, and 1,199 runs batted in. His career shines when looked through the lens of advanced metrics. His career 132 OPS+ ties him with Tony Gwynn and just above Wade Boggs and Rod Carew – a trio of men who combined for 20 batting championships. Edmonds’ OPS+ ranks ahead of Cooperstown men Dave Winfield, Carl Yastrzemski and many others.

Edmonds’ career WAR total of 60.4 ties him with slugger Harmon Killebrew and puts him in front of many Hall of Fame dignitaries including Yogi Berra, Vladimir Guerrero, and Mike Piazza.

In 2014 the Cardinals inducted Edmonds into their team Hall of Fame. When Edmonds appeared on the 2015 ballot for Cooperstown he received just 2.5% of the vote. Despite his greatness, he was one-and-done on the writers’ ballot.

Shown here is the receipt Edmonds signed to receive his 2003 All Star Game ring.