Editing Jim Edmonds (section)

====1997–1999: Gold Glove selections====
Edmonds, along with [[Tim Salmon]], [[Garret Anderson]], and [[Darin Erstad]], comprised a group of four outfielders that emerged as viable options for the Angels in the mid-1990s. This created a dilemma for the team's front office, who sought to have all four players serve as everyday starters. As a result, the Angels traded designated hitter [[Chili Davis]] and first baseman [[J. T. Snow]] for pitching in the 1996–97 offseason in order to create playing time for all four outfielders. Amid the positional shakeup, Edmonds was able to stay in center field while Erstad moved to first base.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Newhan |first1=Ross |title=A Snow Job? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/158128176 |access-date=14 April 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=5 March 1997 |pages=C1 and C14}}</ref> Edmonds received recognition for his defensive prowess in 1997, often making highlight reels. During a June 10, 1997, game against the [[1997 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]], Edmonds ran straight back towards the center field wall of [[Kauffman Stadium]] and dove outstretched for a fly ball over his head, making the catch on the warning track. The catch is widely viewed as one of the greatest defensive plays in baseball history, with [[Joe Posnanski]] of ''[[The Athletic]]'' ranking it as the 29th-greatest moment in all of baseball history.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Posnanski |first1=Joe |title=60 Moments: No. 29, Jim Edmonds makes a catch for the ages |url=https://theathletic.com/1862779/2020/06/10/60-moments-no-29-jim-edmonds-makes-a-catch-for-the-ages/ |access-date=14 April 2022 |work=[[The Athletic]] |publisher=[[Times Mirror Company]] |date=10 June 2020}}</ref> In the 1997 season, Edmonds batted .291 and hit 26 home runs with 80 RBIs.<ref name="stats" /> Following the season, he received his first career [[Gold Glove Award]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Mondesi, Edmonds Can Play the Field |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/158330089/ |access-date=14 April 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=23 October 1997 |page=C7}}</ref>

In September 1998, the division-leading Angels fell behind the [[1998 Texas Rangers season|Texas Rangers]] in the standings, ultimately losing the division and missing out on the playoffs. Edmonds, despite batting .340 that month with five home runs and 20 RBIs, was criticized by some teammates for his purported nonchalance towards the Angels' late-season elimination. In an interview, Edmonds said that he wasn't "going to come in the next day and want to kill himself" if the Angels were [[Mathematical elimination|mathematically eliminated]].<ref name="si">{{cite magazine |last1=Pearlman |first1=Jeff |title=He's No Angel |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/2000/04/03/hes-no-angel-dogged-for-years-by-a-hellish-reputation-jim-edmonds-is-finally-out-of-anaheim-and-hoping-the-outfield-grass-is-greener-in-st-louis |access-date=15 April 2022 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=3 April 2000}}</ref> In 1998, Edmonds played a career-high 154 games, hitting .307 with 25 home runs and 91 RBIs. He received his second career Gold Glove Award.<ref name="stats" />

During [[spring training]] in 1999, Edmonds tore the [[Glenoid labrum|labrum]] in his right shoulder while lifting weights, aggravating an injury he had been playing through for several years prior.<ref name="si" /> He underwent surgery to correct the injury, sidelining him for the first half of the season. In addition to the deactivating surgery, tensions were also rising in the clubhouse as some teammates were taking exception to Edmonds's alleged nonchalant, dismissive attitude. These factors created doubt that the Angels would bring back Edmonds after the 1999 season. Team newcomer [[Mo Vaughn]], who had yet to share the field with Edmonds, accused him of not accepting responsibility for team struggles.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Newhan |first1=Ross |title=Edmonds' Surgery Might Have Lasting Effect |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-apr-25-sp-31078-story.html |access-date=15 April 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=25 April 1999}}</ref> Edmonds returned to the field as a designated hitter on August 2, 1999, going 2-for-4 against the [[1999 Texas Rangers season|Texas Rangers]] with a double. He returned to center field on August 7. He finished his abbreviated 1999 season batting .250 with 5 home runs and 23 RBIs in 55 games.<ref name="stats" />