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record for career home runs, at 51.)
Salmon turned down an offer in 1986
from the Atlanta Braves, who drafted him
in the 18th round. In 1989, he was drafted
in the third round by the Angels, and went
on to have a “nice, solid career,” becoming
GCU’s most famous athlete ever — 14
seasons, all with the Angels, .282 career
batting average, 299 home runs, American
League Rookie of the Year in 1992. Not Hall
of Fame-worthy, but very good. Dignified.
When it mattered most, when the Angels
played in the 2002 World Series for the only
time in their history, Salmon hit .346 with
two home runs, including the game-winner
in Game 2. It was the exclamation point on
his career.
“Winning the World Series really just
made it whole,” he said.
But Salmon has found fulfillment in
retirement, too. When not coaching, he
does 45 games a year as an analyst for the
Angels’ pregame and postgame television
broadcasts. He is an organizer and emcee
for “Tales From the Dugout,” which brings
current major league players to GCU to
share their Christianity.
“Whether I’m a baseball player or not, it’s
important to be open and share my faith,”
Salmon said. “This is a natural fit. I’m just
happy to be part of God’s kingdom’s work.”
A measure of a man is his legacy, and
one of Salmon’s many contributions can
be seen on GCU’s campus: He donated the
baseball clubhouse that bears his name. He
was called the face of the franchise when
he retired from the Angels in 2006, and he
is considered by many the No. 1 player in
Angels history. He is so well regarded in
Anaheim that he is given carte blanche to
do as much TV work as his schedule allows.
That, like coaching, could be a more
expansive future career path, he said.
But Salmon’s main focus remains his
family, and that means spending a lot of
time at Scottsdale Christian. He patterns
his coaching style after his role model,
longtime Angels Manager Mike Scioscia,
but he does what works for him — calm,
under control.
“When I played, I didn’t envision myself
coaching as much as I do,” Salmon said.
“I kind of formed my own style. I see a lot
of coaches out there today showing a lot
of excitement, but they’re making it too
much of a pressure-packed situation. I just
focus on two things: hustle and don’t make
mental mistakes. It’s fun and challenging to
try to meet the kids’ needs.”
After the game, Salmon runs all of the
players through wind sprints, and not just a
couple. It goes on for 10 minutes, back and
forth, back and forth, and the players do it
enthusiastically. They know this is how it’s
done. This is the major league way. This is
dignified — and successful.
RICK VACEK
W
hen a rubber ball hits the line during a
game of four square at William T. Machan
Elementary or two children grab the last jump rope
at the same time, problem-solving kicks in. What
in the past may have generated a quarrel at this
Phoenix school of 600 students now is settled with
a quick game of rock-paper-scissors.
GCU alumna Evelia (Stacey) McClarty (B.S. in
Athletic Training, `08) is partly to credit. McClarty
is a programcoordinator for Playworks, a national
organization that trains coaches to create safe, fun
recess at hundreds of low-income schools around the
country. The goal is to transformrecess and the school
day with healthy play, while freeing up teachers to
instruct and students to learn.
McClarty has beenaPlayworks coach for two years,
andher husband, T.J., whomshemet at GCU, holds the
same positionat CreightonElementary inPhoenix. Each
has trained 15fifth-grade junior coaches to teachgames
andhelp supervise recess. The young coaches also learn
skills in listening, leadership, life andmorale-building, and
to recognize signs of bullying.
“The focus is on students beingable to resolve their
own conflicts,” she said. “It’s easy for anadult to tell a kid,
‘Hey, don’t do that,’ but if a junior coach says, ‘No, that’s
not right,’ they learn tohold eachother accountable.”
McClarty, who ran cross country at GCU, says
Playworksworks. Fewer soccer balls are being
intentionally kickedout of bounds inanger, andmore
childrenare playing together, rather thangoing solo
on themonkey bars. A2013ArizonaPlayworks survey
reported85percent of participating schools recordeda
drop indisciplinary referrals during recess and in class
time used to resolve playground spats.
OnMay 9, GCUwill host a conference and
commencement ceremony for Playworks toapplaud its
180 junior coaches inArizona.
Putting Play Back
on the Playground
. . . I just focus on two things: hustle
and don’t make mental mistakes. It’s
fun and challenging to try to meet the
kids’ needs.
