Denny McLain and Maris had incomparable back to back seasons then faded away.
Don Newcombe
Tony Oliva
Dale Murphey
Fred Lynn
Dave Parker
Mattingly & Madlock mentioned above
Ultimately, I think Dick Allen, Dwight Evans, Tommy John, Steve Garvey, and Gil Hodges get into Cooperstown anyway, but any of them could be included on this list.
I'm not sure how some of these guys are "short term wonders".
For example:
Bill Madlock won four batting titles over 9 years. He his .313 as a rookie in 1974 and 13 years later had an amazing half-season for Detroit (and a key dirty slide) to help the Tigers win their division. He had way too many good years spread out to be a "short term wonder".
Ditto for Tony Oliva. The guy played 1676 games and was really good for most of them. Hardly a short term wonder.
Ted Simmons hit over .300 and had 77 RBI in his first full season in 1971. TWELVE years later, he was hitting .308 with a career-high 108 RBI. How is that "short term"?
@Bosox1976 said:
Albert Belle's six or seven year tear, if he wasn't crazy.
Belle had 10 straight outstanding seasons. From 1991-2000: 10 straight 100+ RBI seasons, averaged 37 homers a year, had 3 years of 48+ and OPS+ somewhere north of 144.
Belle wasn't a short-time wonder, he was an all-time great slugger who should have been in the HOF a decade ago.
Well, there is the corked bat incident, which is one of the best stories in the history of baseball!
I actively collect Kirby Puckett. I have collections of Michael Jordan, Emmitt Smith, Roberto Clemente, Dwight Gooden, Tom Seaver, Errict Rhett and Evan Longoria.
@Bosox1976 said:
Albert Belle's six or seven year tear, if he wasn't crazy.
Belle had 10 straight outstanding seasons. From 1991-2000: 10 straight 100+ RBI seasons, averaged 37 homers a year, had 3 years of 48+ and OPS+ somewhere north of 144.
Belle wasn't a short-time wonder, he was an all-time great slugger who should have been in the HOF a decade ago.
Well, there is the corked bat incident, which is one of the best stories in the history of baseball!
Could someone fill me in? I must have missed that story.
Well, there is the corked bat incident, which is one of the best stories in the history of baseball!
Could someone fill me in? I must have missed that story.
Belle got caught using a corked bat. The umpires confiscated his bat. Jason Grimsley, a pitcher for Cleveland, was ordered by the team to break into the umpires' locker room - going up through the ceiling! - and swap the bat out for another (uncorked) one. Unfortunately, all of Belle's bats were corked, so Grimsley had to use a bat from another player. A custodian went into the dressing room, saw ceiling tile chunks on the floor along with other damage. The switched bat was discovered, there were threats of burglary charges and of getting the FBI involved. Eventually, Cleveland turned over Belle's bat, it was found to be corked, and he got suspended. Grimsley kept his role secret for years.
Andy Van Slyke!
He had some great seasons and was a 5 tool player. He got better in hitting in his later years, but unfortunately, could not stay healthy. Its a pity.
Gregg Jefferies
I really thought he was going to get over 3,000 hits and collect many hitting accolades along the way.
"So many of our DREAMS at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we SUMMON THE WILL they soon become INEVITABLE "- Christopher Reeve
Comments
Denny McLain and Maris had incomparable back to back seasons then faded away.
Don Newcombe
Tony Oliva
Dale Murphey
Fred Lynn
Dave Parker
Mattingly & Madlock mentioned above
Ultimately, I think Dick Allen, Dwight Evans, Tommy John, Steve Garvey, and Gil Hodges get into Cooperstown anyway, but any of them could be included on this list.
Dale Murphy
Ted Simmons
Gooden
I'm not sure how some of these guys are "short term wonders".
For example:
Bill Madlock won four batting titles over 9 years. He his .313 as a rookie in 1974 and 13 years later had an amazing half-season for Detroit (and a key dirty slide) to help the Tigers win their division. He had way too many good years spread out to be a "short term wonder".
Ditto for Tony Oliva. The guy played 1676 games and was really good for most of them. Hardly a short term wonder.
Ted Simmons hit over .300 and had 77 RBI in his first full season in 1971. TWELVE years later, he was hitting .308 with a career-high 108 RBI. How is that "short term"?
wasn't the original intent of the OP, to keep it to a one game event ?
rather, not borderline HOF careers ?
I'll go with Dave Bergman (RIP)
fouled off a bunch of pitches (9 or 10)
to eventually hit a full count, 3 run homer
to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th
One games are fine! I mentioned Fernando Tatis.
Shane
Johnny Vander Meer?
Well, there is the corked bat incident, which is one of the best stories in the history of baseball!
I actively collect Kirby Puckett. I have collections of Michael Jordan, Emmitt Smith, Roberto Clemente, Dwight Gooden, Tom Seaver, Errict Rhett and Evan Longoria.
No kidding. That's a great story.
Could someone fill me in? I must have missed that story.
Shane
Belle got caught using a corked bat. The umpires confiscated his bat. Jason Grimsley, a pitcher for Cleveland, was ordered by the team to break into the umpires' locker room - going up through the ceiling! - and swap the bat out for another (uncorked) one. Unfortunately, all of Belle's bats were corked, so Grimsley had to use a bat from another player. A custodian went into the dressing room, saw ceiling tile chunks on the floor along with other damage. The switched bat was discovered, there were threats of burglary charges and of getting the FBI involved. Eventually, Cleveland turned over Belle's bat, it was found to be corked, and he got suspended. Grimsley kept his role secret for years.
Andy Van Slyke!
He had some great seasons and was a 5 tool player. He got better in hitting in his later years, but unfortunately, could not stay healthy. Its a pity.
Gregg Jefferies
I really thought he was going to get over 3,000 hits and collect many hitting accolades along the way.
BST: Tennessebanker, Downtown1974, LarkinCollector, nendee
Ron Kittle. 40 HR 326 BA, 50 HR, 345 BA in the minors, and 35 HR as a rookie. Gotta be a lock, right?