In looking to the d-backs future I found out something about the past. Players get remembered for different reasons. Gonzo for the winning hit in the world series, Tony Womack for stealing bases and hitting a grand slam on father's day just after his own father had passes away, Matt Williams swinging at a slider low and away, or BK Kim throwing wild sliders that hit players even though they swung at them.
Chad Tracy is generally remembered for having red hair and hurting his knees. He has been on the team now for six seasons and is third all time in games. His career stats are not mind blowing but he ranks surprisingly high on a number of lists.
Third in games played, 5th all-time in HRs, 4th in RBI, 4th in hits, 3rd in doubles (1 behind Steve Finley for 2nd), and 6th in batting average.
His statistical output is pretty remarkable considering he has missed significant time in each of the past 3 seasons and has really only played 4 and a half full seasons, missing nearly 200 games with injuries (mostly knee problems). In only his second season he hit 27 home runs while hitting over .300. His power numbers dropped a little bit in his third year but he still posted 41 doubles, 80 RBI, and 20 HRs to go with his .281 average. Had he stayed healthy, he'd be our franchise first baseman and would rank second in doubles, HRs, RBI, and hits to only Luis Gonzalez.
On this day, Tracy is only 29 still, and could've potentially gone on to be the most productive diamondback in team history, but injuries de-railed what was a promising career. He may be with the team another year or two but he'll have to rebound and finally stay healthy to regain some playing time. I hope he does it, he deserves a lot more credit than he gets.
