Geoff Blum

Geoff Blum
Blum with the Houston Astros
Infielder
Born: (1973-04-26) April 26, 1973 Redwood City, California
Batted: Switch Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 9, 1999, for the Montreal Expos
Last MLB appearance
July 17, 2012, for the Arizona Diamondbacks
MLB statistics
Batting average	.250
Home runs	99
Runs batted in	479
Teams
Montreal Expos (1999–2001) Houston Astros (2002–2003) Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2004) San Diego Padres (2005) Chicago White Sox (2005) San Diego Padres (2006–2007) Houston Astros (2008–2010) Arizona Diamondbacks (2011–2012)
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion (2005)

Geoffrey Edward Blum (born April 26, 1973) is an American former professional baseball infielder in Major League Baseball and current part-time announcer for the Houston Astros. During his major-league career, he played for the Montreal Expos, Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, San Diego Padres, Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks. 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.

Early life

Before becoming a professional baseball player, he majored in sociology at the University of California, Berkeley and played for the California Golden Bears baseball team.

Professional career

Montreal Expos

He began his professional career when he was selected in the seventh round of the 1994 amateur draft by the Montreal Expos. During his time with the Expos, he spent the winter of 1995 in the Australian Baseball League with the Hunter Eagles.

Houston Astros

After playing there for three years, he was traded to the Houston Astros in exchange for Chris Truby.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays

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.

San Diego Padres

Blum signed with the San Diego Padres as a free agent on December 9, 2004.

Chicago White Sox

He was traded to the Chicago White Sox for a minor leaguer on July 31, 2005.

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, featuring bronze statues of five players. Blum is one of them, commemorating his tie-breaking home run. The home run would forever cement his place in White Sox history.

San Diego Padres

He returned to the Padres as a free agent in 2006.

Houston Astros

On November 20, 2007, Blum signed a $1.1 million, one-year contract with the Houston Astros. The deal also included 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.

Arizona Diamondbacks

On November 15, 2010, Blum signed a two-year contract worth $2.7 million with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was released by the Diamondbacks on July 20, 2012.

Broadcasting career

On January 12, 2013, he was named a color analyst of the Houston Astros for the 2013 season for about 60 games when Alan Ashby is doing play-by-play in place of Bill Brown, who will work only about 100 games in the 2013 season.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
• San Diego Union Tribune article