He had rookie status in 3 season due to not having enough at bats or time on the active roster. His brief, but awesome 1988 performance helped turned him into a hype machine.
Currently a player is considered to be a rookie, and thus eligible for the Rookie of the Year award, if the player has accumulated in prior major league seasons:
Fewer than 130 at bats or Fewer than 50 innings pitched Fewer than 45 days on the active roster, excluding time on the disabled list, in military service, or time when the rosters are expanded (currently after September 1)
Being from the NY area, I got caught up in the Jeffries rookie card hype. He was supposed to be the next big thing...NOT.
He did pay me back in some respects in 1993 when I drafted him in my fantasy baseball league, a league I am still in by the way. I got him very late and he went on to hit .342-16-83 with 46 stolen bases. The only big year he ever had.
"My father would womanize, he would drink. He would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark. Sometimes he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy. The sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament. Our childhood was typical. Summers in Rangoon, luge lessons. In the spring we'd make meat helmets. When we were insolent we were placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds - pretty standard really."
So any player could, say, have ten (10) at-bats a year for twelve consecutive years and enter their 13th season and still be considered a rookie. Amazing.
<< <i>ah that magic rookie hype! i sold dozens upon dozens of Gregg jefferies RC for $8- $12 a pop! cash money!! >>
Want some of mine in 25, 50, and/or 100 blocks?
Expensive lessons learned, to say the least.
So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
Gregg Jefferies, in his High School and Minor League days was one of the best baseball players in the country. He was also Minor League Player of the Year a couple times.
I played against him (and with him) for 4 years in the early 1980s. I also played on the same USA team with him in Japan in 1984. Jefferies was the best player Ive ever seen on the field (along with Matt Williams, and Bonds).
He just never really took it to the super star level in the Majors.
What was standout about Jefferies on the field? He had trouble finding a "home" position in the minors and the majors. He was such a phenom in NY.
<< <i>Gregg Jefferies, in his High School and Minor League days was one of the best baseball players in the country. He was also Minor League Player of the Year a couple times.
I played against him (and with him) for 4 years in the early 1980s. I also played on the same USA team with him in Japan in 1984. Jefferies was the best player Ive ever seen on the field (along with Matt Williams, and Bonds).
He just never really took it to the super star level in the Majors. >>
I think it is more amazing that he got HOF votes. I remember the hype, as others said, he was the next big thing. I was a fan and got to meet him when he played for AAA Tidewater and made a stop here in Rochester. My sister was dating the visiting clubhouse manager and got me in before a game, still have that treasured ball he signed for me.
<< <i>What was standout about Jefferies on the field? >>
In his 2nd "rookie season", he had a pretty impressive stat line... 29 games, 109 ab, 35 hits (8 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs), 17 rbi, 5 steals, .321 avg.
I guess the NY fans thought they were getting a out-of-the box star slugger with Jefferies to stick somewhere in the infield to lead the team into the 90s. Didn't quite work out.
Reading this post gives me flashbacks to the 100-ct stacks of 1988 Fleer and Donruss that I spent my hard earned paper route money on.
Let's face it, anyone in the hobby thought that this guy was a lock to be a superstar. Great minor league numbers, an SI article, New York hype machine, and clutch hitting during a pennant drive. Everyone projected him as a .300-30HR-100RBI guy. I don't know if it was the NYC heat that got to him, but he just wilted.
I am surprised he retired as such as young age, he seeme to pick it up after he turned 25.
His rookie status reminds me of Sandy Alomar, Jr. Didn't he have Donruss "Rated Rookie" cards for about the first 12 of his first 13 years in the majors???
<< <i>Being from the NY area, I got caught up in the Jeffries rookie card hype. He was supposed to be the next big thing...NOT.
He did pay me back in some respects in 1993 when I drafted him in my fantasy baseball league, a league I am still in by the way. I got him very late and he went on to hit .342-16-83 with 46 stolen bases. The only big year he ever had. >>
One big year and the Phillies signed him to a big contract and he was his normal self. He was supposed to help get them back to the playoffs, but ended up being a drain on the team.
Comments
WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
Fewer than 130 at bats or
Fewer than 50 innings pitched
Fewer than 45 days on the active roster, excluding time on the disabled list, in military service, or time when the rosters are expanded (currently after September 1)
(from BR Bullpen on baseball-reference.com)
WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
He did pay me back in some respects in 1993 when I drafted him in my fantasy baseball league, a league I am still in by the way. I got him very late and he went on to hit .342-16-83 with 46 stolen bases. The only big year he ever had.
/s/ JackWESQ
<< <i>ah that magic rookie hype! i sold dozens upon dozens of Gregg jefferies RC for $8- $12 a pop! cash money!! >>
Want some of mine in 25, 50, and/or 100 blocks?
Expensive lessons learned, to say the least.
/s/ JackWESQ
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booyahkasha!
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cheers
I played against him (and with him) for 4 years in the early 1980s. I also played on the same USA team with him in Japan in 1984. Jefferies was the best player Ive ever seen on the field (along with Matt Williams, and Bonds).
He just never really took it to the super star level in the Majors.
<< <i>Gregg Jefferies, in his High School and Minor League days was one of the best baseball players in the country. He was also Minor League Player of the Year a couple times.
I played against him (and with him) for 4 years in the early 1980s. I also played on the same USA team with him in Japan in 1984. Jefferies was the best player Ive ever seen on the field (along with Matt Williams, and Bonds).
He just never really took it to the super star level in the Majors. >>
<< <i>What was standout about Jefferies on the field? >>
In his 2nd "rookie season", he had a pretty impressive stat line...
29 games, 109 ab, 35 hits (8 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs), 17 rbi, 5 steals, .321 avg.
I guess the NY fans thought they were getting a out-of-the box star slugger with Jefferies to stick somewhere in the infield to lead the team into the 90s. Didn't quite work out.
WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
Let's face it, anyone in the hobby thought that this guy was a lock to be a superstar. Great minor league numbers, an SI article, New York hype machine, and clutch hitting during a pennant drive. Everyone projected him as a .300-30HR-100RBI guy. I don't know if it was the NYC heat that got to him, but he just wilted.
I am surprised he retired as such as young age, he seeme to pick it up after he turned 25.
I never did see him around town, though, and would have no idea if he still lives there.
<< <i>Being from the NY area, I got caught up in the Jeffries rookie card hype. He was supposed to be the next big thing...NOT.
He did pay me back in some respects in 1993 when I drafted him in my fantasy baseball league, a league I am still in by the way. I got him very late and he went on to hit .342-16-83 with 46 stolen bases. The only big year he ever had. >>
One big year and the Phillies signed him to a big contract and he was his normal self. He was supposed to help get them back to the playoffs, but ended up being a drain on the team.
Steve