Sean posted this the other day at his blog and I liked it, so I will borrow the idea from him. Check out his, it is very entertaining. There is one caveat and it is that the player cannot be a great player. Just a random player and memory.
Jim Gott
Okay, so this might not be as random as some of Sean’s players. However, Jim Gott was my first favorite player. I cannot remember exactly how or why, I think it was towards the end of the 1987 season when the Pirates got him. I think my dad liked that he was picking up saves, so I thought he was pretty good too. I sent him a letter requesting an autograph…I did not get anything back. The next season I moved on and discovered a much cooler player: Andy Van Slyke.
Bob Kipper
Speaking of random Pirates relievers from the late 80s…I do not remember anything about this guy, other than his baseball card. I swear I got one of his cards in every pack I bought.
Jimmy Anderson
I always thought he was a pitcher that was slightly better than his record. Or at the very least, he had potential. He never reached any potential and he definitely was not good.
Jeff Clement
He came to Pirates in the Jack Wilson trade and he was considered a failed prospect, but that maybe a change of scenery would help. I really wanted him to succeed and hoped he would be that Lefty McThump the Pirates always seemed to lack…it did not happen.
Gary Varsho
I swear I remember Gary Varsho being a good player. Or at least more than just a bench player. And I feel like he was a coach with the Pirates for longer than two years. Crazy.
Marvin Benard
Back in 2003, I went to a Pirates game when the Giants were in town. I think it was early in the year (but it would have been close to the end of the semester). We wanted to see Barry Bonds, but instead we got Marvin Benard. The fans heckled him mercilessly and it was one of the few times where I could see a player rattled from it. He was definitely happy to leave Pittsburgh after that series was over.
