News
Giles to be inducted to AFL Hall of Fame
Outfielder to be honored during ceremony on Nov. 18
By Corey Brock / MLB.com
09/14/09 9:33 PM ET
SAN DIEGO -- Padres outfielder Brian Giles will be the 2009 inductee into the Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame, the league announced on Monday.Giles, who is currently on the disabled list with a right knee contusion, played in the AFL in 1994 with the Sun Cities Solar Sox.
"We congratulate Brian Giles on becoming the 24th member of the Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame," AFL executive director Steve Cobb wrote in a press release. "Brian's career is a testament to hard work, perseverance, and durability."
Giles, 38, was named to the Arizona Fall League Team of the Decade (1990s) in 2001.
He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in ceremonies on Nov. 18 before a 6:35 p.m. PT game between the Mesa Solar Sox and Scottsdale Scorpions at Scottsdale Stadium.
Giles was drafted in the 17th round of the 1989 First-Year Player Draft by the Indians and he appeared in the AFL in '94 after his sixth season in the Indians organization.
A two-time All-Star, Giles has a career .291 batting average in 1,847 games for three teams (Cleveland, 1995-98), Pittsburgh ('99-2003) and the Padres ('04-current).
Giles, who is in the final year of his contract with the Padres, was hitting .191 in 61 games this season before going on the disabled list with a knee contusion on June 23 (retroactive to June 19).
Giles will become the 24th member of the AFL Hall of Fame, joining Garret Anderson, Dusty Baker, Jermaine Dye, Terry Francona, Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Giambi, Shawn Green, Roy Halladay, Todd Helton, Torii Hunter, Derek Jeter, Derrek Lee, Grady Little, Ken Macha, Jerry Manuel, Tony Pena, Troy Percival, Mike Piazza, Albert Pujols, Jimmy Rollins, Mike Scioscia, Alfonso Soriano, and Eric Wedge.
The selection committee, chaired by baseball ambassador Roland Hemond, the "Architect of the Arizona Fall League," bases its appointments upon individual achievement at the Major League level since participating in the AFL.
The AFL begins its 18th season on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
