The top 100 favorite Major Leaguers of my lifetime list has just 30 spots remaining. I know the players are eager to see where they land (or if they land). Today, 10 men get to live their dream of making the list. These are the 10: 30. Josh Lindblom — It is true that Lindblom is currently a minor leaguer whose career Major League pitching numbers are just 5-8 with a 3.82 ERA while playing for the Dodgers, Rangers, Phillies and As. None of that has anything to do with Joshs spot here. Hes a good kid who started up a charity for underprivileged children and families. He remains a advocate for the betterment of his hometown in Lafayette and West Lafayette. Once told me his favorite player growing up was Brad Ausmus (now the Tigers manager). Strangely, became a teammate of Brad Ausmus when he made it to the big leagues. 29. Eric Bruntlett — From the same Harrison High School that produced Lindblom (and previous list maker Todd Dunwoody). Bruntlett has it all, a World Series home run, a World Series ring, a game-winning run in a World Series game, an unassisted triple play to end a game against the Mets (which earned its place in the Hall of Fame), a degree from Stanford and a pretty sweet beard (at least during his playing days). Played in the World Series in basically half of his Major League seasons. Clearly is the difference maker teams need but dont see. In seven MLB seasons, he was on the National League representative in the World Series three times. Without a doubt, that was Bruntletts doing. 28. Terry Pendleton — The Braves have had quite a run in my lifetime. But since 1983 (when Dale Murphy won his second straight MVP), only two Atlanta players have earned NL MVP honors. One is Chipper Jones. The other is Pendleton, who nearly won back-to-back but was runner-up to Barry Bonds in 1992 in a season where Gary Sheffield actually shouldve won it but played in San Diego and was overlooked. Crazy Terry Pendleton stat: Played in five World Series but does not have a World Series ring. Crazy Terry Pendleton stat No. 2: Was the NL MVP in 1991, yet was not a 1991 all-star. 27. Juan Pierre — Trivia time: Who has more hits, Juan Pierre or Joe DiMaggio? Yeah, I bet you didnt know Pierre has three more hits than the Yankee Clipper. Ive had the luxury of watching Juan play in person. He appears outwardly to be the most friendly guy for whatever team he plays for, and he played for six teams. Juan is deeply rooted in his faith and wears T-shirts that say Beast Mode. While I am sure the great Juan can go beast mode, it relates to Beast Mode for Christ, which is his website. On my old Playstation 1, I loved using Marlins version of Juan Pierre because he simply could not be thrown out when you bunted with him. Ranks 18th in career stolen bases. However, in the old old days of baseball, stolen bases were credited any time a player advanced an additional base (for example, going first to third on a single or tagging up on a fly ball). 26. Mark Buehrle — This is a true (yet sad) story of a man who still cherishes the Sports Illustrated cover of Buehrles perfect game and has taken it to a handful (thats five) ballparks hoping to get Buehrle to sign it to no avail. Someday, Mr. Buehrle, I will find you (not creepy at all). Anyway, Buehrle is one of my favorite all-time pitchers mostly because I like the fact that he shows how much of an inexact science the MLB draft is. Buehrle was picked in the 38th round. Hopefully he reaches 200 wins (he needs three) this season and I think he has a legitimate shot to be a 300-game winner, which we may never see again. Crazy that a guy who pitches to contact has two no-hitters. 25. Jim Thome — Id like to believe that in an era of steroids, Thome stayed clean and was just a throwback big strong guy who made Rawlings a lot of money by hitting baseballs onto the moon. Thome has 612 career homers. I had the privilege of seeing him blast a homer in the inaugural season of Target Field in Minneapolis. It became probably the coolest moment Ive seen in person as Thome (a Twin) passed Harmon Killebrew (also a Twin) for 10th place on the career home run list. It was pretty late in Killebrews life, but a congratulatory message (pre-recorded of course) from Harmon to Thome played on the big screen and Thome received a standing ovation afterwards. I believe Thome is the last player who will appear on this list who played for the Twins. 24. Clayton Richard — The pride of McCutcheon High School in Lafayette. Ive had the honor to chat with Clayton on multiple occasions. He is a good kid and to this day remains the only Indiana prep athlete to win the states Mr. Football and Mr. Baseball awards. Attended University of Michigan on a football scholarship where he played quarterback. Switched to baseball and made good, getting to the show with the White Sox and pitching in the playoffs before getting traded for Jake Peavy. The Padres beat writers once told me Clayton was one of their favorites because he was such nice down to Earth guy and always willing to chat. It was refreshing to hear, especially after Adrian Gonzalez, from the same team, refused an interview request that same day. I wish I could find the video of Claytons home run that went through a car window as the car was passing by while driving down the street beyond the outfield. 23. Andrew McCutchen — Became a McCutcheon fan while he played for the Indianapolis Indians. Was so good that the Pirates couldnt keep him in Triple-A. I have a signed Indianapolis Indians baseball card of McCutchen. I cherish it by having it in a box in a closet never to be seen again. The rest, you know, is history. McCutchen won the MVP last year and took the most dismal franchise of the past 20+ years to the playoffs. Lisa and I went to two games at PNC Park (amazing sight coming over the bridge to PNC. I recommend to everyone) last year and the fan base was infectious. I found myself rooting for the Pirates for the remainder of the 2013 season. I also won two Pirates tickets while there. Telling them I lived six hours away and would be unable to use the tickets (it was late in the season), I asked if I could trade them in for another prize (hoping to get something of similar value). They gave me baseball cards of Andy Van Slyke, Bill Mazeroski and Willie Stargell. Meh. 22. Chipper Jones — I told you about Terry Pendleton already, so you now know that Chipper Jones is a former MVP. I still have a large collection of Larry Chipper Jones baseball cards from 1990/91 that I thought would turn into a huge investment. Instead, I could sell them all for no more than a few dollars. I am sure many children of the 1980s and 90s had similar visions. Anyway, Jones became the one Braves star from that run of division titles who never played elsewhere. Retired at age 40 though he still had juice in the tank (much like Jeter is doing). Was an All-Star in his final season and hit .287. For a brief few months in 2008, I thought he may challenge the long run of no .400 hitters. Alas, he fell off and ended up hitting a paltry .364. The 19-year veteran will be a Hall of Famer. 21. Alan Trammell — I dont really like to purchase baseball memorabilia as I do trying to attain it myself, but I did purchase an Alan Trammell signed Sports Illustrated that is framed and on my wall. In somewhat of a spoiler for the remainder of this list, Trammell is not even close to my favorite Tiger. However, he and Sweet Lou Whitaker were an awesome combo up the middle for the early Tigers teams of my baseball days. An impossible out as the Detroit leadoff hitter on Nintendos original R.B.I. Baseball game. Heres a brief preview of tomorrows 10: Five pitchers, five position players, only one Hall of Famer, two infielders from southern Indiana, three guys who can light up a radar gun with fastballs at more than 100 miles per hour. Get excited!
Posted on: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 18:16:50 +0000
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