History of Paul Goldschmidt in Timeline
Paul Edward Goldschmidt, nicknamed "Goldy", is an American professional baseball first baseman currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks and St. Louis Cardinals. Goldschmidt has also played for the United States in international competitions. Known for his exceptional batting skills, Goldschmidt is a highly regarded player in baseball.
1920: RBI Becomes Official Statistic
The year 1920 marked when RBI became an official baseball statistic, providing a context for Goldschmidt's hitting streak achievements in 2022.
1925: Ty Cobb's Two-Game Performance
Goldschmidt's performance was compared to a similar feat achieved by Ty Cobb in 1925, emphasizing the rarity of such a stat line.
1938: Goldschmidt's Grandparents Escape Nazi Germany
Paul Goldschmidt's Jewish great-grandparents and grandfather escaped Nazi Germany in 1938.
1963: Cardinals Hitting Streaks Since 1963
Goldschmidt's 25-game hitting streak was compared to the Cardinals' longest streaks since 1963, further highlighting its significance.
September 10, 1987: Paul Goldschmidt Born
Paul Goldschmidt was born in Wilmington, Delaware on September 10, 1987.
2003: Pujols' Hitting Streak
In 2003 Albert Pujols hit in 30 straight games, a record for the Cardinals that stood until Goldschmidt's hitting streak.
2006: Texas State Championship
Goldschmidt played third base for The Woodlands High School, which won the Texas state championship in 2006.
2006: Drafted by the Dodgers
Goldschmidt was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 49th round of the 2006 MLB draft but did not sign.
2008: Southland Conference Hitter of the Year
Goldschmidt was named the Southland Conference hitter of the year in 2008.
2009: Drafted by Diamondbacks
Paul Goldschmidt was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the eighth round of the 2009 MLB draft.
2009: Southland Conference Player of the Year and All-American Honors
In 2009, Goldschmidt was named Southland Conference player of the year and received third-team All-American honors.
2009: Drafted by the Diamondbacks and Minor League Start
Goldschmidt was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009 and began his minor league career with the Missoula Osprey, where he set a franchise record with 18 home runs.
2010: Previous Largest Cardinals Contract
Before Goldschmidt's deal in 2019, the largest contract in Cardinals history was a seven-year, $120 million agreement with Matt Holliday signed in 2010.
August 1, 2011: MLB Debut and First Home Run
Goldschmidt made his MLB debut on August 1, 2011, recording a hit in his first at-bat, and hit his first home run the following day.
2011: Postseason Grand Slam
During the 2011 NLDS, Goldschmidt hit a grand slam, the third by a rookie in MLB postseason history.
2011: Minor League Success and Awards
Goldschmidt excelled in the minor leagues in 2011, leading in home runs and RBIs, and earning multiple awards, including Diamondbacks' player of the year and Southern League MVP.
2011: MLB Debut
Goldschmidt made his MLB debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011.
June 1, 2012: First Career Regular Season Grand Slams
Goldschmidt hit his first career regular-season grand slam on June 1, 2012, and another just four days later.
August 20, 2013: Third Grand Slam and All-Star Selection
On August 20, 2013, Goldschmidt hit his third career grand slam. He was also selected to his first All-Star game in 2013.
2013: First All-Star Selection and Awards
In 2013, Goldschmidt won his first All-Star selection, a Hank Aaron Award, a Gold Glove, and a Silver Slugger Award, leading the NL in home runs and RBIs.
2014: Contract Extension and All-Star Appearance
Before the 2014 season, Goldschmidt signed a contract extension with the Diamondbacks. He also started in the 2014 All-Star Game.
2014: Season-Ending Injury
Goldschmidt's 2014 season was cut short due to a broken hand suffered after being hit by a pitch on August 1, 2014.
June 10, 2015: 100th Career Home Run
On June 10, 2015, Paul Goldschmidt hit his 100th career home run against Brett Anderson of the Los Angeles Dodgers. This milestone placed him sixth on the Diamondbacks' all-time home run list.
2015: NL MVP Runner-Up
Goldschmidt finished as runner-up for the NL MVP Award in 2015.
2016: 2016 Season Performance
In 2016, Goldschmidt had a batting average of .297 with 24 home runs, 106 runs, and 95 RBIs. He also participated in the 2016 MLB All-Star Game.
August 3, 2017: First Three-Home Run Game
On August 3, 2017, Paul Goldschmidt hit three home runs in a single game for the first time in his career, contributing to the Diamondbacks' victory over the Chicago Cubs.
September 13, 2017: 1,000th Career Hit
Paul Goldschmidt achieved his 1,000th career hit on September 13, 2017, during a game against the Colorado Rockies.
2017: Free Agency Eligibility
Goldschmidt was set to become eligible for free agency after the 2017 season, but he had signed an extension earlier.
2017: 2017 Postseason Performance
In the 2017 National League Wild Card Game, Goldschmidt hit a significant three-run home run. However, his performance declined during the 2017 NLDS, where he batted only .091. The Diamondbacks ultimately lost the series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
August 3, 2018: 200th Career Home Run
On August 3, 2018, Paul Goldschmidt hit his 200th career home run against Chris Stratton of the San Francisco Giants.
December 5, 2018: Trade to St. Louis Cardinals
On December 5, 2018, Paul Goldschmidt was traded from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Diamondbacks received Luke Weaver, Carson Kelly, Andy Young, and a draft pick in return.
2018: End of Initial Contract
Goldschmidt's initial contract with the Diamondbacks, which was extended earlier in his career, covered through the 2018 season.
2018: Trade to Cardinals
The Arizona Diamondbacks traded Goldschmidt to the St. Louis Cardinals during the 2018-19 offseason.
March 23, 2019: Contract Extension with Cardinals
On March 23, 2019, Goldschmidt signed a five-year contract extension with the St. Louis Cardinals worth $130 million. This deal set a new record as the largest in the team's history.
April 20, 2019: Longest Home Run
On April 20, 2019, Goldschmidt hit a 465-foot home run, his career-longest and the longest at Busch Stadium in the Statcast era.
June 21, 2019: Foul Ball Out of Stadium
On June 21, 2019, Goldschmidt hit a foul ball that left Busch Stadium, a first-time occurrence in the stadium's history.
July 26, 2019: Six Home Runs in Six Games
On July 26, 2019, Goldschmidt hit a home run in his sixth consecutive game, tying the Cardinals franchise record.
2019: Contract Option Exercised and Trade to Cardinals
The Diamondbacks initially exercised Goldschmidt's $14.5 million contract option for the 2019 season. However, later in the year, Goldschmidt's time with the Diamondbacks ended.
2019: Club Option Year
The Diamondbacks had a club option for Goldschmidt for the 2019 season.
2019: Trade to St. Louis Cardinals and Contract Extension
In 2019, Paul Goldschmidt was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. He then signed a significant contract extension with the team.
October 28, 2020: Elbow Surgery
Goldschmidt underwent surgery on October 28, 2020, to remove a bone spur from his right elbow.
2020: Cardinals Contract and Performance
Goldschmidt's contract extension with the Cardinals spanned into 2020.
April 13, 2021: 250th Career Home Run
On April 13, 2021, Paul Goldschmidt hit his 250th career home run against the Washington Nationals.
May 23, 2022: Walk-off Grand Slam and Hitting Streak
On May 23, 2022, Goldschmidt hit a walk-off grand slam, extending his hitting streak to 15 games. He set new records for hitting statistics during a 15-game span.
June 11, 2022: End of On-Base Streak
Goldschmidt's impressive 46-game on-base streak ended on June 11, 2022.
July 5, 2022: 1,000th Run Scored
Paul Goldschmidt scored his 1,000th run on July 5, 2022, in a game against the Atlanta Braves.
2022: NL MVP Award
Paul Goldschmidt won the National League Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in 2022.