Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Not necessarily the most accolades or MVP awards so I'll keep the Mariano Riveras, David Ortiz' out of the discussion but what player/pitcher had a great & happy career.
One that comes to mind is David Cone. The guy was a talented pitcher with the Mets & got to experience the postseason for the first time early in his career. He went home to KC and got to play with George Brett and won a Cy Young award. He got to experience being the headliner in a big trade that sent him from Toronto to an exciting division race in NY & play in one of the best postseason division series. Even though he got injured next season, he came back and won a few World Series rings with NY and pitched a perfect game. He became so liked in NY that he got a spot long term broadcasting. He then pitched one more season with the historical Red Sox but went out at the right time. He had a few downs but this guy was able to do it all. He was on a lot of winning teams, played on some all star teams and his career was enjoyable for the most part.
Chris Carpenter is another guy. Even though injuries delayed the start of his career in Toronto, he had many great seasons in St Louis. He won a Cy Young, won a few World Series titles and pitched in some big pivotal postseason games with the Cards.
Lonnie Smith. Despite some problems with cocaine, he wound up playing 17 seasons, hitting .288 for his career and played on 3 World Series Champions and 5 Pennant winners. Not too shabby for 'Skates.'
Stan Musial...great player, long career, everyone loved him and thought him to be a perfect gentleman.
The criteria for "great and happy career" is rather broad, seems like depending on how one defines it, lots of players would qualify. It might help bring it into focus by defining the opposite....the wretched, unhappy career which would be headed up by guys like Dick Allen, Dave Kingman, Milton Bradley et al.
Could there be an "All A-hole" team?
C- A.J. Pierzynski
1B - Dave Kingman
2B - Rogers Hornsby
3B- Dick Allen
SS- Garry Templeton
Outfield...Ty Cobb, Milton Bradley, Jose Canseco
Pitcher- Kenny Rogers, Joaquin Andujar
Those are all just off the top of my head, so if you have better nominations, I am open to modifications
Last edited by Grandstander; 02-23-2017 at 01:59 PM..
Stan Musial...great player, long career, everyone loved him and thought him to be a perfect gentleman.
The criteria for "great and happy career" is rather broad, seems like depending on how one defines it, lots of players would qualify. It might help bring it into focus by defining the opposite....the wretched, unhappy career which would be headed up by guys like Dick Allen, Dave Kingman, Milton Bradley et al.
Could there be an "All A-hole" team?
C- A.J. Pierzynski
1B - Dave Kingman
2B - Rogers Hornsby
3B- Dick Allen
SS- Garry Templeton
Outfield...Ty Cobb, Milton Bradley, Jose Canseco
Pitcher- Kenny Rogers, Joaquin Andujar
Those are all just off the top of my head, so if you have better nominations, I am open to modifications
By stating " ... I'll keep the Mariano Riveras, David Ortiz' out of the discussion ..." it sounded like the OP was talking about guys such as Al Oliver, who had nice careers even though they weren't considered 'great.' It sounds like he wants to keep Hall of Famers out of the discussion, we already know most of them are great.
Oliver played 18 seasons, banged out 2743 (including 529 doubles and 219 homers) hits for a .303 batting average and he won a World Series ring with the 1971 Pirates.
In 1982 while with the Expos, at the age of 35, he led the league in hitting (.331), RBI (109), hits (204) and doubles (43).
The following year he paced the league with 38 doubles.
Obviously, I didn't know him personally, but that seemed like a nice long, happy career.
Last edited by 2002 Subaru; 02-25-2017 at 07:15 AM..
...guys such as Al Oliver, who had nice careers even though they weren't considered 'great.'
Al Oliver was indeed a great player. In their hey-day, he and Bill Madlock were the two toughest outs in baseball.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
