OOTP 20 Countdown Thread

[r0nster]

Originally Posted by actionjackson

Great bat to ball skills, very good career cut short by glaucoma. Why do I have him in the baby blues? The memories are quite foggy, but I was in Fenway Park in 1985, and the Twins were taking pre-game batting practice. Somebody lined an absolute shot into foul territory that I somehow caught with my glove. It left a bruise on the palm of my hand for quite a while. Nobody else could hit the ball that hard...Right? Right? I'll always remember it as a Kirby Puckett foul ball even if it wasn't.

I was at Tiger stadium when he played and a ball was hit to the deepest part of the park and he was standing maybe a yard or 2 off the track and threw the ball to home plate on one hop and the runner was called out …. I was amazed and will not forget it.

[r0nster]

Originally Posted by actionjackson

He is absolutely, positively, unequivocally one of the most criminally underrated players of all-time. Unfortunately, this photo does not demonstrate one of his greatest attributes, which was running down fly balls in a stadium with the deepest CF fence that I've ever seen (Tiger Stadium: 440 feet) time after time after time...Chet Lemon.

Do you remember his over the shoulder catch at boston in deep center field … honestly didn't think he had a chance to catch it (1984) Bless you boys year

[actionjackson]

Originally Posted by r0nster

Do you remember his over the shoulder catch at boston in deep center field … honestly didn't think he had a chance to catch it (1984) Bless you boys year

Unfortunately, I can't recall it. Television coverage being what it was in those days. That doesn't change the fact that he was criminally underrated though.

[Germaniac]

Lefty ... one of the greatest ever, he probably should have retired a couple of years earlier ...
He won 27 games for the 1972 Phillies that won only 59 games ... and I listened to his 1986 Opening Day start ... he almost hit a first inning Grand Slam and the outcome might have been different

#32 Steve "Lefty" Carlton

[actionjackson]

A trio of Blue Jays to celebrate 32 days until the release of OOTP20.

The first one was only here for one year, but man did he ever make an impact on our first World Championship team. In September he felt the fans were sitting on their hands too much, and implored them to make some noise, and they responded. He also hit the huge two-run double down the left field line to score White and Alomar in the top of the 11th in Game 6 of the World Series. A huge thank you to Braves manager Bobby Cox for choosing to not have 3B Terry Pendleton guard the line against a dead pull hitter. Thank you Bobby. A bit of a nervous ninth, but Mike Timlin got it done on an Otis Nixon bunt ( ) back to the mound, and the celebration across Canada was on...Dave Winfield.

The second one was the forgotten man in the Troy Tulowitzki-Jose Reyes swap on July 28, 2015. He was a fabulous mentor to a very young bullpen crew, and did a decent job down the stretch in that unforgettable season in 18 appearances...LaTroy Hawkins.

And finally...The Doctor Is In.

[actionjackson]

He wore the #32 for the Expos in 1979 during a brief callup in which he did not get a plate appearance, but still scored three runs, and swiped two bags...Tim "Rock" Raines.

[actionjackson]

This HoF LF finished his career 73 hits shy of 3,000 in 1944 wearing the #32 for the Philadelphia Athletics..."Bucketfoot Al" Simmons.

[actionjackson]

Little known fact...This 300 (on the nose) game winner was the first radio colour commentator in Blue Jays' history alongside HoFer Tom "Touch 'em All Joe!" Cheek. He wore the #32 for the 1958 White Sox...Early "Gus" Wynn.

[actionjackson]

This should be HoFer (counting stats be damned - look at his rate stats) started out wearing the #32 for the Phillies in 1963 and 1964. He was the 1964 NL ROY, and the 1972 AL MVP, and went to the midsummer classic in 1965-1967, 1970, and 1972-1974...Dick "Wampum Walloper" Allen.

[actionjackson]

This HoFer was the second player to break the colour barrier, was a 7-time All-Star (1949-1955 inclusive), and the final team he played for was the 1959 "Go-Go White Sox" while wearing the #32...Larry Doby.

[actionjackson]

Six mediocre seasons to begin his career followed by six God-like seasons. He retired after his age 30 season in 1966, unable to continue pitching due to an arthritic condition in his pitching arm. Despite the slow start to his career he finished with an MVP, 3 Cy Youngs, 5 ERA Titles, 3 Pitching Triple Crowns, 7 All-Star Games (two in 1961), 3 World Series Championships, 2 WS MVP Awards, and was twice named The Sporting News' Player of the Year. Not bad for basically six seasons...Sandy "The Left Arm of God" Koufax.

[actionjackson]

Finally...This picture was taken on July 28, 1991, the day that Expos' broadcaster Dave Van Horne uttered his iconic phrase "El Presidente, El Perfecto!" to finish the game at Dodger Stadium...Dennis "El Presidente" Martinez.

[Germaniac]

It was pure pleasure to watch him pitch

#31 Greg Maddux

[Crazyjoe0813]

What would a #31 be without the only pitcher to throw two consecutive no-hitters. Johnny Vander Meer of the Reds.

[Germaniac]

They said "Two-thirds of the Earth is covered by water, the other one-third by Garry Maddox" ... they called him Secretary of Defense

#31 Garry Maddox

[BleedBlue]

Originally Posted by actionjackson

Finally...This picture was taken on July 28, 1991, the day that Expos' broadcaster Dave Van Horne uttered his iconic phrase "El Presidente, El Perfecto!" to finish the game at Dodger Stadium...Dennis "El Presidente" Martinez.

Nice pic, I was at this game! Only time I ever rooted for the opposition.

[Germaniac]

He was there as a player, hopefully he'll lead us there as a manager

#30 Craig Counsell

[Germaniac]

One of the best pitchers in the early years of the franchise

#30 Moose Haas

[MrHaroldG]

#30 Maury Wills

In his MVP season of 1962, he stole a then-MLB record 104 bases; the most bases any other team stole that year was 99.

[Germaniac]

Gone way too soon ...

#29 Jim "Catfish" Hunter