I will be honest. I have not followed nor cared much for pro baseball since their last strike many moons ago. I grew up a Dodger fan and had always rooted for them. Followed their Albuquerque Dukes then AAA team and got to watch many players develop and move up and some rehab and go back.
But there are other players I latched on to as well from other teams. I won't list them all but I will list four. Who are yours?
Ron Cey - yup, the Penguin!!! It broke my heart when he went to the Cubs but I never disliked the Cubs so it is not like he betrayed me by playing for the Giants like Garvey did. Bastard! My very favorite player of all time, hands down.
Cal Ripken Jr. - Got to see him play when I lived in D.C. We would road trip or train it up there. Got to see him in the old Stadium and the new Camden Yard. Work ethic and class. I do think he has the only record that won't ever come remotely close to being broken. Nowadays with the high priced athletes, some of which won't play with a hangnail, it is untouchable. This is said over some records but many can be attained in a season or two. This one, over a decade and nobody is even remotely close. Not within YEARS of not missing a game. Amazing.
Fernando Valenzuela - I loved that he could also hit. The hoopla around him was fun. Not necessarily my favorite pitcher nor was he the best, he was just fun. As a kid, that meant a ton.
Ken Griffey Jr. - I could have easily filled this up with Dodgers but this guy, this guy...gives it his all. I remember in his younger days how he would hurl his body up on the wall and make spectacular catches to the detriment of his body sometimes. He did not care, he went to 11. I still wonder where he would be in the chase for records and numbers had he not been hurt so much. A great swing and somebody I always admired amongst the more recent players.
There are more but those came to mind quickly.
Damnit, Pudge, Maddux and a host of others are being left off. Somebody pick these guys for your four.
But there are other players I latched on to as well from other teams. I won't list them all but I will list four. Who are yours?
Ron Cey - yup, the Penguin!!! It broke my heart when he went to the Cubs but I never disliked the Cubs so it is not like he betrayed me by playing for the Giants like Garvey did. Bastard! My very favorite player of all time, hands down.
Cal Ripken Jr. - Got to see him play when I lived in D.C. We would road trip or train it up there. Got to see him in the old Stadium and the new Camden Yard. Work ethic and class. I do think he has the only record that won't ever come remotely close to being broken. Nowadays with the high priced athletes, some of which won't play with a hangnail, it is untouchable. This is said over some records but many can be attained in a season or two. This one, over a decade and nobody is even remotely close. Not within YEARS of not missing a game. Amazing.
Fernando Valenzuela - I loved that he could also hit. The hoopla around him was fun. Not necessarily my favorite pitcher nor was he the best, he was just fun. As a kid, that meant a ton.
Ken Griffey Jr. - I could have easily filled this up with Dodgers but this guy, this guy...gives it his all. I remember in his younger days how he would hurl his body up on the wall and make spectacular catches to the detriment of his body sometimes. He did not care, he went to 11. I still wonder where he would be in the chase for records and numbers had he not been hurt so much. A great swing and somebody I always admired amongst the more recent players.
There are more but those came to mind quickly.
Damnit, Pudge, Maddux and a host of others are being left off. Somebody pick these guys for your four.
