TMS All-90's Team: Left Field

After the mild huge success of the All-80's Team, we're back to look at the players from a decade later. Oh the '90's. What a strange new world it was. Baseball cards were becoming glossy and overpriced. A strike cancels the 1994 World Series (Sorry Montreal!). And of course who can forget the homers, homers, homers?! One issue I noticed with the All-80's Team is that there was very little argument in the polls. So to make it more interesting and spark a little more debate, I've decided to combine both leagues instead of doing separate NL and AL features. This will also keep it from dragging on well into August. As always be sure and vote for your choice in the poll in the left sidebar.

Well it's official. I've decided to concede the SS race to Nomar. Meanwhile a fat, unshaven Barry Larkin is holed up somewhere, plotting his next move, which undoubtedly will be tackling global warming and saving the environment.

Moving on to the outfield we start things off in left. I can honestly say this is a frightening bunch. Seven badasses and Dante Bichette. You have enough attitude and testosterone here to film a whole trilogy of blaxploitation films.




LEFT FIELD

Moises Alou
Montreal Expos (1990-96), Florida Marlins (1997), Houston Astros (1998-99)

All-Star: 1994, 1997, 1998
Silver Sluggers: 1994, 1998
Postseason: 1997 WS, 98 NLDS

Notes: A gritty, hard-nosed player, Moises, along with Gary Sheffield and Bobby Bonilla, was part of a tough offensive core that led the Marlins to their first World Series title. Known for peeing on his hands as well as one of the few guys left that you can still see openly chewing tobacco quite often.







Albert Belle
Cleveland Indians (1990-96), Chicago White Sox (1997-98), Baltimore (1999)

Nickname: Joey
All-Star: 1993-97
Silver Sluggers: 1993-96, 1998
Postseason: 1995 WS, 1996 ALDS
League Leader: SLG ('95, '98), Runs ('95), Doubles ('95), HR ('95), RBI ('93, '95, '96)

Notes: Proof positive that being a cantankerous asshole can be detrimental to your Hall of Fame prospects, Albert certainly put up HOF-worthy numbers. Belle had 9 consecutive 100 RBI seasons before his hip gave out. A quick examination of his various exploits during and after his playing days leaves one to wonder whether or not the guy is mentally stable.




Dante Bichette
California Angels (1990), Milwaukee Brewers (1991-92), Colorado Rockies (1993-99)

All-Star: 1994-96, 1998
Silver Sluggers: 1995
Postseason: 1995 ALDS
League Leader: Hits ('95, '98), HR ('95)

Notes: It's Eddie Munster on steroids! You have to question whether Bichette's career numbers would be as good as they are had he not played in Colorado for the bulk of his career. While only 25% of his career at bats were in Coors Field, over 40% of his home runs were hit there.







Barry Bonds
Pittsburgh Pirates (1990-92), San Francisco Giants (1993-99)

Awards: 1990 NL MVP, 1992 NL MVP, 1993 NL MVP
All-Star: 1990, 1992-98
Gold Gloves: 1990-94, 1996-98
Silver Sluggers: 1990-94, 1996, 1997
Postseason: 1990 NLCS, 1991 NLCS, 1992 NLCS, 1997 NLDS
League Leader: OBP ('91-93, 95), SLG ('90, '92, '93), R ('92), HR ('93), RBI ('93), BB ('92, '94-97)

Notes: All animosity aside, you know and I know there's no one better on this list than Bonds. That being said, I fully expect someone else to win this poll due to the sheer contempt most have for Barry. Love him or hate him, his stats speak for themself. Barry is also the only LF on this list to have any Gold Gloves in the 90's.



Ron Gant
Atlanta Braves (1990-93), Cincinnati Reds (1995), St. Louis Cardinals (1996-98), Philadelphia Phillies (1999)

All-Star: 1992, 1995
Silver Sluggers: 1991
Postseason: 1991 WS, 1992 WS, 1993 NLCS, 1995 NLCS, 1996 NLCS

Notes: Gant came up right at the tail end of the abysmal Chuck Tanner-Russ Nixon Era of the late 80's in Atlanta. By 1990 Bobby Cox had come on board to right the ship and Gant became one of the main offensive forces in the Braves resurgence. Later in the decade Gant bounced around the NL providing his powerful bat for the Reds' and Cardinals' playoff runs.





Juan Gonzalez
Texas Rangers (1990-99)

Nickname: Juan Gone, Igor
Awards: 1996 AL MVP, 1998 AL MVP
All-Star: 1993, 1998
Silver Sluggers: 1992, 1993, 1996-98
Postseason: 1996 ALDS, 1998 ALDS, 1999 ALDS
League Leader: SLG ('93), HR ('92, '93), 2B ('98), RBI ('98)

Notes: Juan Gone has been so oft-injured later in his career that it's hard to remember how prolific a slugger he once was. Gonzalez ranks 9th on the all-time home run list for players up to and including age 30. Shit, I don't know how to word that better.






Rickey Henderson
Oakland A's (1990-95, 1998), Toronto Blue Jays (1993), San Diego Padres (1996-97), Anaheim Angels (1997), New York Mets (1999)

Nickname: Man of Steal
Hall of Fame: Some day...
Awards: 1990 AL MVP
All-Star: 1990, 1991
Silver Sluggers: 1990
Postseason: 1990 WS, 1992 ALCS, 1993 WS, 1996 NLDS, 1999 NLCS
League Leader: OPS ('90), Runs ('90), BB ('98), SB ('90, '91, '98)

Notes: By the time the 90's were over, not only had Rickey surpassed Lou Brock on the all-time SB list, he had opened up 396 steal lead.



Greg Vaughn
Milwaukee Brewers (1990-96), San Diego Padres (1996-98), Cincinnati Reds (1999)


All-Star: 1993, 1996, 1998
Silver Sluggers: 1998
Postseason: 1996 NLDS, 1998 WS

Notes: Despite his decent power numbers, Greg is often overshadowed by his cousin. Of course, I'm obviously referring to Jerry Royster.








Be sure and vote for your choice of left field for the TMS All-90's Team. Check out the poll in the left sidebar.