Greatest left fielders in National League history by team

Atlanta Braves: Rico Carty (1966-72)
Miami Marlins: Jeff Conine (1993-97; 2003-05)
New York Mets: Kevin McReynolds (1987-91; 1994)
Philadelphia Phillies: Ed Delahanty (1888-89; 1891-1901)
Washington Nationals: Tim Raines (via Montreal) (1979-1990)
Chicago Cubs: Billy Williams (1959-74)
Cincinnati Reds: Frank Robinson (1956-65)
Milwaukee Brewers:  Ryan Braun (2007-present)
Pittsburgh Pirates: Willie Stargell (1962-82)
St Louis Cardinals: Stan Musial (1941-63)
Arizona Diamondbacks: Luis Gonzalez (1999-2006)
Colorado Rockies: Matt Holiday (2004-2008)
Los Angeles Dodgers: Zack Wheat (1909-26)
San Diego Padres: Gene Richards (1977-83)
San Francisco Giants: Barry Bonds (1993-2007)

Hank Aaron: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1982

Born: February 5, 1934

1949: Tryout with Dodgers

1951-2: Negro Leagues

1952: Signed by Boston Braves

1952-3: Minor Leagues

Debut: April 13, 1954 (Milwaukee Braves)

1956: NL Batting Champ (.328)

1957: Hit pennant winning home run

1957: NL MVP (.322, 44, 132, 118 runs, 198 hits, .978, 369 TB)

1957: Braves win World Series

1958: Braves win Pennant

1959: Three Home Run game vs Giants

1959: NL Batting Champ (.355)

1959: .355, 39 HR, 123 RBI, 116 runs, 223 hits, 46 doubles, 1.037 OPS, 400 TB, .636 slugging

1963: 44 HR/31 Steals

1966: Braves move to Atlanta

1968: 500th Home Run

1969: Braves win NL West

1970: 3000th hit

1970: Lou Gehrig Award

1971: 600th Home Run

1972: 2,000th RBI

1972: Broke TB record

1973: 700th Home Run

1974: Broke home run record (715)

1974: Traded to Milwaukee Brewers

1976: Hit 755th and final Home Run of career

1976: Became Braves Exec

1980-present: Braves Senior VP

1982: Elected to Hall of Fame (97.8%)

1990: Published autobiography

1999: All Century Team

1999: Hank Aaron Award debuted

2002: Presidential Medal of Freedom

2007: Bonds passed Aaron on HR List (Aaron recorded his congratulations)


Accomplishments:
1957 World Champion

1957 NL MVP

2x Batting Champion

25x All Star

3x Gold Glove

3,000 Hit Club

700 Home Run Club

All Time leader in TB (6,856)

All Time leader in RBI (2,297)

All Time leader in XBH (1,477)

1970 Lou Gehrig Award

2x Player of the Month

Player of the Week (April 14, 1974)

.305

2,174 Runs

3,771 Hits

624 Doubles

755 HR

240 SB

1402 walks-1383 Strikeouts

.374 OBP

.555 Slugging

.928 OPS

100+ Runs: 15x

200+ hits: 3x

30+ Doubles: 10x

40+ Doubles: 2x

10+ Triples: 3x

20+ HR: 20x

30+ HR: 15x

40+ HR: 8x

100+ RBI: 11x

20+ SB: 6x

31 SB (1963)

.300+ Average: 14x

.355 (1959)

.400 OBP: 3x

.500 Slugging: 18x

.600 Slugging: 6x

1.000+ OPS: 5x

300+ TB: 15x

400 TB (1959)

Led league in games (155): 1961

Led league in runs: 3x

Led league in hits: 2x

Led league in doubles: 4x

Led league in HR: 4x

Led league in RBI: 4x

Led league in slugging: 4x

Led league in OPS: 3x

Led league in TB: 8x

Led league in SF (12): 1960

Postseason: .362, 6 HR, 16 RBI, 1.116 OPS (3 Series)

Jimmie Foxx: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1951

There was no class in 1950.

Born: October 22, 1907

1924: Purchased by A’s

Debut: May 1, 1925 (A’s)

1929: Becomes full time first baseman

1929: A’s win World Series (Foxx hit .350 w/2 HR and 5 RBI)

1930: A’s win World Series (Foxx hit .333 w/1 HR and 3 RBI)

1931: A’s lose World Series to Cardinals (Foxx hit .348 w/1 HR and 3 RBI)

1932: Led league w/58 HR 169 RBI

1932: AL MVP

1933: Led league w/48 HR 163 RBI

1933: Won Batting title

1933: AL MVP

1935: Traded to Red Sox

1935: Won HR crown (36)

1937: Hit a ball into the third deck at Yankee Stadium

1938: Won batting title

1938: 175 RBI

1938: Walked six times in a game

1938: AL MVP

1939: Won HR Crown (35)

1940: Becomes youngest to 500 home runs (broken by Alex Rodriguez)

1940: Set record w/12 straight 30 HR seasons (broken by Barry Bonds)

1941: Drinking caught up with Foxx and his skills degraded quickly

1942: Claimed off waivers by Cubs

1945: Signed with Phillies

1945: Pitched in 9 games

1951: Elected to Hall of Fame

1952: Managed Ft. Wayne Daisies of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

1956-57: Coached the University of Miami baseball team (20-20 record)

1958: Went bankrupt. He ended up employed by the Lakewood Recreational Dept.

Died: July 21, 1967 (choked to death on a piece of meat)

1992: Tom Hanks’ character in A League of their Own was based on Foxx

1999: Nominee for All Century Team

Accomplishments:
2x World Champion

2x batting champion

3x MVP

9x All Star

.325 career hitter

534 Home Runs

1922 RBI

1751 Runs

2646 hits

458 doubles

1452 walks/1311 strikeouts

.428 OBP

.609 slugging

1.038 OPS

Led league in games played: 155 (1936)

Led league in runs: 151 (1932)

100+ runs: 11x

200+ hits: 2x

30+ doubles: 9x

10+ triples: 4x

20+ home runs: 12x

30+ home runs: 12x

40+ home runs: 6x

50+ home runs: 2x

Led league in home runs: 4x

Led league in RBI: 3x

100+ RBI: 13x

150+ RBI: 4x

Led league walks: 2x

100+ walks: 7x

Hit .300: 12x

Hit .350: 4x

Led league in OBP: 3x

.400+ OBP: 12x

.500+ Slugging: 15x

.600+ slugging: 9x

.700+ slugging: 3x

Led league in slugging: 5x

1.000 OPS: 9x

Led league in OPS: 5x

4956 total bases

Led league in total bases: 3x

300+ Total Bases: 10x

400+ Total Bases: 2x

Pitching: 1-0 record, 1.52 ERA, 23.2 IP, 13 hits, 1.141 WHIP, 10 games

Postseason: .344, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 1.034 OBP (3 World Series)

Andy Van Slyke: A Timeline

Born: December 21, 1960

1979: Drafted by Cardinals in 1^st Round (6^th overall)

Debut: June 17, 1983 (Cardinals)

1985: One of five Cardinals to steal 30 bases

1985: Cards win Pennant (Lose World Series to the Royals)

1987: Traded to Pirates

1988-1992: Won five straight Gold Gloves

1990-1992: Pirates win three straight Division titles, but lose the NLCS each time

1991: Angered Canadians by calling Canada a “pacifist, socialist country”

1992: In Game 7, NLCS, Van Slyke tried to reposition Barry Bonds so the leftfielder could throw out Sid Bream at home in the event of a hit to left. Bonds flipped off Van Slyke and was out of position when a hit came in his direction.

1995: Signed with Orioles as a Free Agent

1995: Traded to Phillies

1995: Retired

2001: Received no votes for the Hall of Fame and was removed from the ballot

2006-09: Coach for Detroit Tigers

2006: Tigers win Pennant (Lose World Series to Cardinals)

2009: Wrote book on 2008 Tigers

2010: Wrote The Curse: Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Or Do They?

Accomplishments:
3x All Star

5x Gold Glove winner

2x Silver Slugger

.274 career average

Hit .300: 2x

835 runs

100+ runs: 2x

1562 hits

Led league with 199 hits (1992)

293 doubles

30+ doubles: 2x

Led league with 45 doubles (1992)

10+ triples: 3x

Led league with 15 triples (1988)

164 home runs

20+ home runs: 2x

792 RBI

100 RBI (1988)

245 stolen bases

20+ steals: 6x

30+ steals: 2x

.349 OBP

.443 slugging

.500 slugging: 3x

Led league in Sac Flies with 13 (1988)

Postseason: .190, 1 HR, 10 RBI (5 series)

All Time single season baseball leaders (in my lifetime)

Batting Average:
George Brett .390 (1980)

Tony Gwynn .394 (1994)

OBP:
Barry Bonds .609 (2004)

Non-Steroid OBP:
Frank Thomas .487 (1994)

Wade Boggs .476 (1988)

SLG:
Barry Bonds .863 (2001)

Jeff Bagwell .750 (1994)

Larry Walker .720 (1997)

At Bats:
Jimmy Rollins 716 (2007)

Runs:
Jeff Bagwell 152 (2000)

Hits:
Ichiro: 262 (2004)

Doubles:
Todd Helton 59 (2000)

Triples:
Curtis Granderson 23 (2007)

Home Runs:
Barry Bonds 73 (2001)

Ryan Howard 58 (2006)

RBI:
Manny Ramirez 165 (1999)

Andres Galarraga 150 (1996)

Walks:
Barry Bonds 232 (2004)

Jeff Bagwell 149 (1999)

Strikeouts:
Mark Reynolds 223 (2009)

Steals:
Rickey Henderson 130 (1982)

OPS:
Barry Bonds 1.421 (2004)

Frank Thomas 1.217 (1994)

Larry Walker 1.171 (1997)

Pitchers

ERA :

Dwight Gooden 1.53 (1985)

Wins:
Steve Carlton 27 (1972)

Bob Welch 27 (1990)

Games:
Mike Marshall 106 (1974)

Saves:
Francisco Rodriguez 62 (2008)

IP:
Wilbur Wood 376 2/3 (1972)

Strikeouts:
Nolan Ryan 383 (1973)

Complete Games:
Catfish Hunter 30 (1975)

Shutouts:
John Tudor 10 (1985)

Game Starts:
Wilbur Wood 49 (1972)

Walks:
Nolan Ryan 204 (1977)

Losses:
Steve Arlin 21 (1972)

Steve Bahnsen 21 (1973)

Mike Maroth 21 (2003)

Top 10 Left Fielders of All Time

Ted Williams is #1 by the proverbial country mile...and the rest....in no particular order.

Ted Williams

Barry Bonds*

Al Simmons

Carl Yastrzemski

Rickey Henderson

Joe Jackson

Manny Ramirez*

Ralph Kiner

Willie Stargell

Stan Musial

Tool of the Decade: The Aughts

Here are the candidates for Tool of the Decade:

Ron Artest: Artest is the headcase that initiated the Malice at the Palace. This tool goes nuts in Auburn Hills and Detroit gets blamed.

Barry Bonds: He cheated…and he cheated because he was jealous of Sosa and McGwire. Oh yeah, he’s also a racist asshole.

Barry Bonds Fans: They are like the Jonestown cult. Despite overwhelming evidence, they still support this guy, his behavior, and make excuses for him.

Hugo Chavez: I am not sure why this thuggish dictator is so popular amongst the left. His heavy handed dictatorship has destroyed the Venezuelan economy and crushed freedoms. Yet, he is popular in American leftist circles.

Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears: Talentless people that are famous for their trashy public behavior.

Perez Hilton: A minor annoyance to be sure. Just when you thought celebrity stalking could not get worse, enter Hilton, TMZ, and other filth.

Bernie Maddoff: He even bankrupted George Castanza (See Curb Your Enthusiasm).

The Music Industry: They eliminated cassette singles, overpriced CD singles to force people to buy full length albums. This created the download craze which they then started suing over (PR Nightmare). All of this and then came American Idol. If you are good at karaoke, then try out! The end result was a collapse of profits, the industry, and the worst crap to be heard on radio since the early 50s.

Reality TV Stars: Who is worse? The fools on reality TV or the fools that watch reality TV?

Michael Vick: Dog fighting? He should have been hung up by his testicles and given an electric cattle prod up his ass.

Kanye West: Where to start…

The Winner: Barry Bonds and his fans

Dealing with the Roiders...

Well, we are smack in the middle of the story that won't go away. It's baseball's version of herpes. Just when you think the steroid story is over, it comes back inflamed worse than before. So, how do we deal with this era? Here are some suggestions...

1. Bud Selig should resign.

2. The records should revert back. So, Hank Aaron is still the all-time homer champ and Roger Maris is the single season homer champ.

3. Barry Bonds, Rafael "It was just a vitamin" Palmero, Miguel Tejada, Mark McGwire, and other known roid users will be banned from Hall of Fame consideration.

4. All the names from the 2003 test should be released.

5. Alex Rodriguez will have his career statistics reset to take into account the 2001-2003 seasons. A-Rod and others with positive tests will be tested regularly.

6. The current steroid policy will remain in place and reviewed annually. If it does not seem to be working, then a first positive will result in a year suspension and a second positive will result in a life time ban.

This won't happen, but it should. The union would throw a hissy fit. A vocal minority of idiots, er fans, that support some of these players would complain. But, it would teach people that cheaters do not prosper.

Assorted Ramblings

Item: President Obama warns that if we don't pass the stimulus, a Great Depression will happen.

Reaction: Why is it ok for Obama to scare people with stories about a coming economic apocalypse, yet when the Bush Administration warned about a nuclear armed Saddam, that was fear mongering??

Item: Retail sales were up.

Reaction: Perhaps the recession is not as bad as they say. Maybe we don't need the stimulus plan.

Item: Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are spatting over the stimulus plan.

Reaction: Like that is a surprise. Reid is a wimpy self important liberal while Pelosi is a nutty self important out of touch limousine liberal.

Item: The stimulus plan has a provision whereby health care and doctor's decisions will have to be run past a government bureaucrat.

Reaction: Having a mid-level HMO employee decide what medical care a patient can have is bad while having a bureaucrat do the same thing is good.

Item: The Census has been taken over by the White House.

Reaction: Yeah, having Rahm Emmanuel involved in the census is going to result in a legitimate count. If Emmanuel was not in politics, he'd be in the mob.

Item: Bret Favre Retires (we think)

Reaction: Favre created the man crush. He was tough on the field, but a prima donna off. He was not the best QB ever and not the best of his generation. However, his signature games were as good as anyone that ever played. (See: Favre to Sharpe, The Superbowl win, and the game after his dad died).

Item: Baseball players gone wild. A-Rod admits to steroids, Bonds is charged with perjury, Miguel Tejada pleads guilty to lying before congress, and Roberto Alomar is accused of trying to spread the AIDS virus.

Reaction: It can't get much worse...well maybe if a star got caught with an underage...oh wait...

Item: Michael Phelps is caught on film tapping a bong.

Reaction: I was a bit surprised anyone cared. After all, President Obama admitted to being a crackhead at one point. We've had several politicians and celebrities admit to drug use. What's the deal? Well, Phelps is on film...maybe that is the barrier celebs can't cross now.