Paul Goldschmidt is a former professional baseball player who spent the majority of his career playing first base for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was born on September 10, 1987, in Wilmington, Delaware, and attended Texas State University, where he played college baseball for the Bobcats.
Goldschmidt was drafted by the Diamondbacks in the eighth round of the 2009 MLB draft and made his major league debut in 2011. He quickly established himself as one of the best first basemen in the league, earning his first All-Star selection in 2013. That year, he finished second in the National League MVP voting after hitting .302 with 36 home runs and 125 RBIs.
Over the course of his career, Goldschmidt was known for his power hitting and his ability to get on base. He hit over 30 home runs in five different seasons and had a career batting average of .290. He was also a skilled fielder, winning three Gold Glove Awards for his defensive play at first base.
In addition to his individual accomplishments, Goldschmidt was a key player for the Diamondbacks during his time with the team. He helped lead them to the playoffs in 2011, 2017, and 2018, and was a fan favorite in Arizona.
After spending nine seasons with the Diamondbacks, Goldschmidt was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in December 2018. He played two seasons with the Cardinals, hitting .260 with 34 home runs and 115 RBIs in 202 games.
In March 2021, Goldschmidt was named the starting first baseman for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, but the tournament was ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On October 6, 2021, Goldschmidt announced his retirement from baseball after 11 seasons in the major leagues. He finished his career with 1,278 hits, 259 home runs, and 900 RBIs, and was widely regarded as one of the best first basemen of his generation.
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