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The Essential Gary Sheffield

G-Fafif Nov 30 2010 12:23 PM

In a predictable article on the necessity to have Cap'n Cocky collect his 3,000th hit in MFYwear, Ben Shpigel takes a modest shot at one of the indelible milestones achieved in black, blue and orange: ...baseball history is littered with outstanding players who were essentially in the wrong uniform when they joined exclusive company — Wade Boggs (3,000th hit, Tampa Bay), Randy Johnson (300th win, San Francisco), Gary Sheffield (500th home run, Mets). My mission is not defend Sheffield's Metropolitan honor (it wasn't a big deal, but it was a perfectly fine thing when he hit it) but to wonder what uniform would have been essentially "right"? Sheff is a guy I don't particularly identify as a member of any franchise. He played his most games and years with the Marlins, but couldn't have been dumped much faster by Huizenga once he went about dismantling the 1997 champions, so I feel no real sentiment/equity for Gary in teal. Sheff wasn't a superstar in Milwaukee (a malingerer and proud of it, actually). He established himself in San Diego but didn't last two seasons there. Everywhere else among Dodgers, Braves, MFYs and Tigers was Mercenary City. Really, given the Doc connection and the rumors that always swirled about him coming here, the Mets were as good a 500th home run site for Sheffield as anywhere else.

Edgy DC Nov 30 2010 12:28 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

If the Yankees want Sheffield's 500th homer, I'd be happy to give it to them in exchange for Gooden's no hitter. And surely there's a Mike Stanton milestone we can trade for Cone's perfect game.

G-Fafif Nov 30 2010 12:31 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

Edgy DC wrote: If the Yankees want Sheffield's 500th homer, I'd be happy to give it to them in exchange for Gooden's no hitter. Why stop there? They can have our 2009 and we'll take our chances with their 1996. They can have our 1996, too.

metirish Nov 30 2010 12:34 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

I remember being surprisingly pumped about Sheffs 500th and how that was one of the few highlights from that season. Seeing that the guy wasn't the prick I was made to believe he was was also a nice surprise.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 30 2010 12:36 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

metirish wrote: I remember being surprisingly pumped about Sheffs 500th and how that was one of the few highlights from that season. Seeing that the guy wasn't the prick I was made to believe he was was also a nice surprise. ... until, y'know, August.

metirish Nov 30 2010 12:38 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

Oh that.....

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 30 2010 12:41 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

I think of Sheff as a Padre.

Edgy DC Nov 30 2010 12:45 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

I think of him as a Dodger, because it was as a Dodger that his petulance triggered 400 threads at the MOFo about the Mets' need to get him.

seawolf17 Nov 30 2010 12:47 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

Gary Sheffield was a Dodger? He'll always be a Brewer to me.

TransMonk Nov 30 2010 12:49 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

That Gary hit it against the Brewers is somewhat fitting. There are few players Milwaukee hates more.

metirish Nov 30 2010 12:50 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

A Brave for me and a MFY I suppose

G-Fafif Nov 30 2010 12:52 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

The perfect modern player: can't be readily identified by consensus as an Anything.

Edgy DC Nov 30 2010 12:54 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

Gary Sheffield was a Dodger? He'll always be a Brewer to me. Went to LA in the Mike Piazza dealio. Had three 100 RBI seasons before being sent to Atlanta. A lot of eventual career win shares were exchanged when Gary Sheffield was traded. When he was on the table, so were the eventual fates of two franchises. March 26, 1992: Traded by the Milwaukee Brewers with Geoff Kellogg (minors) to the San Diego Padres for Ricky Bones, Matt Mieske and Jose Valentin. June 24, 1993: Traded by the San Diego Padres with Rich Rodriguez to the Florida Marlins for Andres Berumen, Trevor Hoffman and Jose Martinez. May 14, 1998: Traded by the Florida Marlins with Manuel Barrios, Bobby Bonilla, Jim Eisenreich and Charles Johnson to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Mike Piazza and Todd Zeile. January 15, 2002: Traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Atlanta Braves for Andrew Brown, Brian Jordan and Odalis Perez. November 10, 2006: Traded by the New York Yankees to the Detroit Tigers for Kevin Whelan (minors), Anthony Claggett and Humberto Sanchez.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 30 2010 12:58 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

So he obviously should've been wearing a BraveFishDodger hat, in front of Atlanta's screaming fans, Los Angeles' texting late arrivals, or Miami's orange seats.

G-Fafif Nov 30 2010 12:59 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

1st HR as a Brewer. 50th HR as a Padre. 100th HR as a Marlin. 150th HR as a Marlin. 200th HR as a Dodger. 250th HR as a Dodger. 300th HR as a Dodger. 350th HR as a Brave. 400th HR as an MFY. 450th HR as an MFY. 500th HR as a Met. Hard to say there's a "wrong uniform" for him to do his milestoning.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 30 2010 01:05 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

In a predictable article on the necessity to have Cap'n Cocky collect his 3,000th hit in MFYwear, Ben Shpigel takes a modest shot at one of the indelible milestones achieved in black, blue and orange: You should devote your next BATS submission to tearing Shpigel a new one. That would be awesome.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 30 2010 01:06 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Nov 30 2010 01:10 PM

Looks like a Met to me. Back of the card (below) notes that the most HR's Sheffield hit for one team is 129. 2009 Topps Heritage Flashback

G-Fafif Nov 30 2010 01:10 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

In a predictable article on the necessity to have Cap'n Cocky collect his 3,000th hit in MFYwear, Ben Shpigel takes a modest shot at one of the indelible milestones achieved in black, blue and orange: You should devote your next BATS submission to tearing Shpigel a new one. That would be awesome. I'll have to see how that works. Thanks for the advice. Phil Niekro won his 300th passing through as an MFY. I don't remember a lot of indignation over that. The Red Sox would be a particularly appropriate opponent for the big moment, and not just because of the longstanding rivalry between the two teams. In September 1979, Carl Yastrzemski got his 3,000th hit in a game against the Yankees at Fenway Park. For those keeping score, Yastrzemski hit a ground ball to second off Jim Beattie that just eluded Willie Randolph and went into right field for a single. Now Jeter can return the favor. Do the MFYs really owe the Red Sox one for Yaz's 3,000th? That's stretching worthy of Mark Herrmann or John Harper.

seawolf17 Nov 30 2010 01:12 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

G-Fafif wrote: Phil Niekro won his 300th passing through as an MFY. I don't remember a lot of indignation over that. Because doing that made Phil Niekro is a True Yankee™.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 30 2010 01:16 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

G-Fafif wrote: Do the MFYs really owe the Red Sox one for Yaz's 3,000th? That's stretching worthy of Mark Herrmann or John Harper. Harper is not nearly that imaginative but I'm tellin ya, this stuff would make for an explosive Bats.

G-Fafif Nov 30 2010 01:22 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

The achievement will underline that consistency is his hallmark, that what Babe Ruth is to home runs and Lou Gehrig is to runs batted in, Jeter is to hits. In the last two seasons, Jeter first passed Gehrig for career hits as a Yankee and then Ruth for total hits in a career. If his agent makes this argument, Cashman should laugh hysterically and leave the room, whatever room he happens to be in.

Edgy DC Nov 30 2010 01:24 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

Hopefully not an airplane.

Frayed Knot Nov 30 2010 01:49 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

The achievement will underline that consistency is his hallmark, that what Babe Ruth is to home runs and Lou Gehrig is to runs batted in, Derek Jeter is to singles. Fixed it for you. What there is no fix for, however, is folks who see those as equivalents. The perfect modern player: can't be readily identified by consensus as an Anything. Not true, I instantly identify him as as asshole.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 30 2010 03:18 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

The achievement will underline that consistency is his hallmark, that what Babe Ruth is to home runs and Lou Gehrig is to runs batted in, Ichiro is to singles, and Derek Jeter is to doofy, unnecessary jump-throws and sleeping with actresses named Jessica. Re-fixed.

SteveJRogers Nov 30 2010 06:14 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

In a predictable article on the necessity to have Cap'n Cocky collect his 3,000th hit in MFYwear, Ben Shpigel takes a modest shot at one of the indelible milestones achieved in black, blue and orange: ...baseball history is littered with outstanding players who were essentially in the wrong uniform when they joined exclusive company — Wade Boggs (3,000th hit, Tampa Bay), Randy Johnson (300th win, San Francisco), Gary Sheffield (500th home run, Mets). My mission is not defend Sheffield's Metropolitan honor (it wasn't a big deal, but it was a perfectly fine thing when he hit it) but to wonder what uniform would have been essentially "right"? Sheff is a guy I don't particularly identify as a member of any franchise. He played his most games and years with the Marlins, but couldn't have been dumped much faster by Huizenga once he went about dismantling the 1997 champions, so I feel no real sentiment/equity for Gary in teal. Sheff wasn't a superstar in Milwaukee (a malingerer and proud of it, actually). He established himself in San Diego but didn't last two seasons there. Everywhere else among Dodgers, Braves, MFYs and Tigers was Mercenary City. Really, given the Doc connection and the rumors that always swirled about him coming here, the Mets were as good a 500th home run site for Sheffield as anywhere else. Meh, I just take it as going after the latest "milestone" coming from someone in a uniform worn for either just a couple of seasons or part of one. Not really being specific to where the player should have gotten it in. The first two mentioned, while not the vagabonds that Sheffield was could be debated in terms of what the right team they should have obtained the milestones (or cap in Cooperstown for that matter). Probably more so Red Sox with Boggs and Diamondbacks for Johnson, but you can make a decent case for MFY for Boggs and Mariners for The Unit.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 30 2010 06:29 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

Tom Terrific sticks the milestone up the Yankees' ass.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 30 2010 06:31 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

I was at that game! It was my second (and final) visit to Yankee Stadium.

Edgy DC Nov 30 2010 06:31 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

What shoe brand is that? Converse?

The Second Spitter Nov 30 2010 09:17 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

Edgy DC wrote: What shoe brand is that? Converse?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 30 2010 09:30 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

Ah yes. Spalding of course had roots in baseball equipment but made a brief run at mainstream jock prominence in the early 80s. Anyone remember the commercial with Terry Bradshaw running in slow motion? New Spalding shoes feel like wings on your feet And with wings on your feet you can fly! Wiiiiings! That feel gooood! Fly-yi-yi-yiii!

Edgy DC Nov 30 2010 09:45 PM Re: The Essential Gary Sheffield

Amazing that that trademark would be instantly recongizeable to me on an infielder's glove or a stupid golf ball but meant nothing to me on a pair of shoes.