28 years ago today

[DiggityDaggityDo]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1787090072581370110

 

[Archie]

amazing tracking and timing. very fluid what a treat he was to watch.

2nd best player born in his small Pennsylvania town though

 

[JDS]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1787090072581370110

Good omen they are my best bet today

 

[KVB]

Fuk, I think I had Belle in the Slugger of the Day thread that day.

I think.

 

[DiggityDaggityDo]

Fuk, I think I had Belle in the Slugger of the Day thread that day.

I think.

Archie will pick him tomorrow.

 

[Archie]

i'd never pick Albert Belle

 

[Archie]

joey might be a good pick tho

 

[DiggityDaggityDo]

i'd never pick Albert Belle

My bad. I was thinking of Cool Papa Bell.

 

[Archie]

cool papa was soooo fast he once got a line drive up the middle that hit him in the butt while he slid into 2nd

 

[BobbyFK]

What an amazing catch!

 

[DiggityDaggityDo]

cool papa was soooo fast he once got a line drive up the middle that hit him in the butt while he slid into 2nd

 

[Archie]

amazing tracking and timing. very fluid what a treat he was to watch.

2nd best player born in his small Pennsylvania town though

Donora , Pa produced
Stan the man Musial
Griffey Sr
Griffey Jr..

Griffey Sr's dad , buddy played high school ball with Musial

Donora population 4,500

 

[djefferis]

Donora , Pa produced
Stan the man Musial
Griffey Sr
Griffey Jr..

Griffey Sr's dad , buddy played high school ball with Musial

Donora population 4,500

Sometimes these small towns turn out some real talent. Especially in these old steel towns where the only way out was usually athletics.

Look at Blaine, Ohio - (technically unincorporated - closest “town” is Bridgeport, OH - just across the river from Wheeling, WV).

Produced the Niekro Brothers AND John Havlicek - who went to school at the same time and were actually neighbors. The odds of 2 HOF athletes (and a pretty damn good player) living next door to each other as kids have got to be up there.

I know there have been some pretty strong connections with some towns in California and Florida turning out talent - of course some of this is a result of historical powerhouse programs and kids transferring in thanks to a benevolent alumni / booster.

 

[Archie]

roch hill south Carolina has turned out like two dozen NFL players p

 

[flyingillini]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1787090072581370110

I remember these, I still have a couple unopened

 

[BigJay]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1787090072581370110

Gotta love and respect the kid. One of the few in his era who didn’t roid and still put up amazing career numbers