In high school, I played center and forward in basketball, and wide receiver and safety in football. I was a star pitcher who threw a no-hitter in my final high school game -- in which I also hit four home runs.
I was drafted by the Angels but decided to go to junior college. My college team won the NCAA Championship. My first year on the varsity, I had a 1.38 ERA and went 11-4. I batted .250. I was later named All American, and later drafted by the Orioles.
I was continually traded and set the Mets' club record for most home runs with 36, but I only scored 65 runs that season...the highest percentage of runs scored on homers for any player who hit more than 30 in a season. I hit 37 the next season, then my record was broken by Darryl Strawberry.
I am one of only a handful of players who played for four teams in a single season. At the end of that season, I hit four home runs and had seven RBIs for the Yankees but couldn't play in their postseason because they acquired me after the August 31 trade deadline (at the time).
I led the majors with 48 home runs and 115 RBIs. I hit a 536-foot home run that season in Wrigley Field. Three years later, I led the league with 37 home runs. I was a three-time All-Star and had MVP votes in five of my 16 MLB seasons.
I played 1B, 3B, RF, LF, DH, PH and was fast enough that early in my career I was a pinch runner 21 times. I was an erratic fielder, leading the league in Rtot at 1B one year (+4), then leading the league in errors at the same position the next year (13).
In my last three seasons for a small-market MLB team, I hit 100 home runs with 303 RBIs. They refused to renew my contract. My last appearance in professional baseball was for the SF Giants AAA ball club in which I hit .203 with two home runs in 20 games.
I was part of a free agent group that was awarded damages because MLB owners colluded to hold salaries down. I was awarded $829,000.
I only appeared in the MLB postseason once, in which I went 1 for 10 with three strikeouts.
In my career, I played for seven major league teams. When I retired, I was #19 in career home runs. I'm tied with Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron for 4th most on the All-Time Grand Slam list with 16. I also have the lowest career WAR (17.3) of any player with more than 400 home runs, and 23% of that WAR came in a single season. Until David Ortiz broke my record with 38 HRs, I held the record of most home runs of any player in their final season (35).
I had a terrible relationship with the media, and in my first year of Hall of Fame eligibility, I only received three votes. I was the first player with more than 400 home runs who did not make the HoF.
Who am I?
I was drafted by the Angels but decided to go to junior college. My college team won the NCAA Championship. My first year on the varsity, I had a 1.38 ERA and went 11-4. I batted .250. I was later named All American, and later drafted by the Orioles.
I was continually traded and set the Mets' club record for most home runs with 36, but I only scored 65 runs that season...the highest percentage of runs scored on homers for any player who hit more than 30 in a season. I hit 37 the next season, then my record was broken by Darryl Strawberry.
I am one of only a handful of players who played for four teams in a single season. At the end of that season, I hit four home runs and had seven RBIs for the Yankees but couldn't play in their postseason because they acquired me after the August 31 trade deadline (at the time).
I led the majors with 48 home runs and 115 RBIs. I hit a 536-foot home run that season in Wrigley Field. Three years later, I led the league with 37 home runs. I was a three-time All-Star and had MVP votes in five of my 16 MLB seasons.
I played 1B, 3B, RF, LF, DH, PH and was fast enough that early in my career I was a pinch runner 21 times. I was an erratic fielder, leading the league in Rtot at 1B one year (+4), then leading the league in errors at the same position the next year (13).
In my last three seasons for a small-market MLB team, I hit 100 home runs with 303 RBIs. They refused to renew my contract. My last appearance in professional baseball was for the SF Giants AAA ball club in which I hit .203 with two home runs in 20 games.
I was part of a free agent group that was awarded damages because MLB owners colluded to hold salaries down. I was awarded $829,000.
I only appeared in the MLB postseason once, in which I went 1 for 10 with three strikeouts.
In my career, I played for seven major league teams. When I retired, I was #19 in career home runs. I'm tied with Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron for 4th most on the All-Time Grand Slam list with 16. I also have the lowest career WAR (17.3) of any player with more than 400 home runs, and 23% of that WAR came in a single season. Until David Ortiz broke my record with 38 HRs, I held the record of most home runs of any player in their final season (35).
I had a terrible relationship with the media, and in my first year of Hall of Fame eligibility, I only received three votes. I was the first player with more than 400 home runs who did not make the HoF.
Who am I?
Audaces fortuna iuvat