ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Eckstein's Alley, as it can now be anointed, is in dead left field, right near the 330 sign and the foul pole, about a row in.
No monuments bearing the visage of a 5-foot-8, blond-haired shortstop have been constructed there yet.
Then again, it's only June.
David Eckstein has hit three grand slams this year, all at Edison Field, all landing practically in the same seat.
Before 2002, Eckstein had never hit a grand slam -- not even in tee ball.
But after Sunday's salami in the Angels' 7-4 win over Cincinnati, Eckstein has come to the plate with the bases loaded seven times this season and has three hits - all home runs.
The surge of power from the diminutive shortstop has vaulted him into the lofty status of the Major League leader in the category.
It also has created a legend of sorts.
"It's incredible," Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "He basically won three games for us. We're looking for a base hit and he gives us a home run."
Scioscia also recognizes the almost-magnetic pull of Eckstein's Alley when his leadoff hitter comes to bat with the sacks full.
"All of them have been within a short chip of each other," Scioscia said. "All pretty much the same location, same trajectory. All just real big hits."
And all of them surprise Eckstein more than anyone.
"It's highly unlikely that it will ever happen again," Eckstein said, but that's what he said after the first two.
"It's the last thing on your mind up there when you do it. You go up there trying to hit a home run and you don't have a shot."
Eckstein became the second Angel to hit three slams in one season (Joe Rudi did it in 1978 and 1979).
Angels starter Scott Schoeneweis, who benefited directly from Eckstein's exploit Sunday, smiled in the clubhouse.
"They keep trying to pound the little guy in there, boy, and he takes his shot every once in a while," Schoeneweis said. "He's a smart hitter. And he's a good Major League hitter, and most every Major League hitter can hit it out of the park. What else can I say? He's a great player to watch."
