TMS All-90's Team: Right 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.

As I suspected, this last poll was a one-horse race. Junior destroyed the rest of the competition and easily won the honor of TMS center fielder of the 90's.

Now we move the last spot in the outfield. Right field has always been the home to some big time hitters, and this list is no exception. Because of the large list of worthwhile candidates, I have decided to supersize this poll like I did with first base. So you'll have 10 guys to choose from instead of the standard 8. Apologies to Reggie Sanders, Ruben Sierra, Shawn Green, and Mr. Congeniality, Raul Mondesi, who just missed the cut. Now, let's get this epic battle started.



RIGHT FIELD

Jay Buhner
Seattle Mariners (1990-99)

Nickname: Bone
All-Star: 1996
Gold Gloves: 1996
Postseason: 1995 ALCS, 1997 ALDS

Notes: To best describe Jay Buhner's impact in the 90's, I give you a quote from Frank Costanza to George Steinbrenner.

"What the hell did you trade Jay Buhner for?! He had 30 home runs, over 100 RBIs last year! He's got a rocket for an arm... You don't know what the hell you're doing!"







Joe Carter
San Diego Padres (1990), Toronto Blue Jays (1991-97), Baltimore Orioles (1998), San Francisco Giants (1998)

All-Star: 1991-94, 1996
Silver Sluggers: 1991, 1992
Postseason: 1991 ALCS, 1992 WS, 1993 WS

Notes: Never one to really hit for average, Carter was known more for his power, hitting 20 or more home runs for 12 consecutive seasons, dating back to 1986. Joe had seven 100-RBI seasons during the 90's, but is probably best known for one of the most famous home runs in baseball history.








Tony Gwynn
San Diego Padres (1990-99)

Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2007
All-Star: 1990-99
Gold Gloves: 1990, 1991
Silver Sluggers: 1994, 1995, 1997
Postseason: 1996 NLCS, 1998 WS
League Leader: AVG (1994-97), Hits (1994, 1995, 1997)

Notes: Winner of the TMS All-80's NL RF poll, Gwynn continued to shine throughout the 90's. In 1994 Tony saw his most legitimate chance at batting .400 dashed by the strike. He was sitting at .394 when the season was suspended.







David Justice
Atlanta Braves (1990-96), Cleveland Indians (1997-99)

Awards: 1990 NL Rookie of the Year
All-Star: 1993, 1994, 1997
Silver Sluggers: 1993, 1997
Postseason: 1991 WS, 1992 WS, 1993 NLCS, 1995 WS, 1997 WS, 1998 ALCS, 1999 ALDS

Notes: Playing for the Braves and later the Indians, Justice found his way into the postseason more often than naught. The 1990 NL ROY provided plenty of offense and was one of the premier sluggers of the decade. Oh yeah, he was also married to her, which ain't too shabby either.







Paul O'Neill
Cincinnati Reds (1990-92), New York Yankees (1993-99)

All-Star: 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998
Postseason: 1990 WS, 1995 ALDS, 1996 WS, 1997 ALDS, 1998 WS, 1999 WS
League Leader: AVG (1994)

Notes: I don't know if there's anyone that can top him, and I'm too lazy to look but O'Neill's four World Series rings in the 90's (1 with Cincy, 3 with New York), may be the most of any player in that decade. Paul was one of the key hitters in the Yankees offense during the late 90's.







Manny Ramirez
Cleveland Indians (1993-99)

Nickname: Man-Ram
All-Star: 1995, 1998, 1999
Silver Sluggers: 1995, 1999
Postseason: 1995 WS, 1996 ALDS, 1997 WS, 1998 ALCS, 1999 ALDS
League Leader: SLG (1999), RBI (1999)

Notes: Ramirez really didn't start playing full-time until 1995 but by the end of the decade he had established himself as one of the most prolific sluggers in baseball. Man-Ram led the league in 1999 with 165 RBI, and he has hit 25 or more homers every season dating back to 1995. He's had 30 or more since 1998. Also, I think he should come to bat to the song "Black Betty" by Ram Jam, thus dubbing his at bat the Man Ram Jam. No? OK, I'll shut up now.



Tim Salmon
California/Anaheim Angels (1992-99)

Nickname: Mr. Angel, Kingfish
Awards: 1993 AL Rookie of the Year
Silver Sluggers: 1995

Notes: I was actually surprised that Salmon never went to a single All-Star Game in his career. I mean even Gary DiSarcina attended at least one for God's sake! Salmon's 299 homers is a franchise best in Anaheim. All I know is that back in the early 90's I was really big into collecting his cards, you know, because some day when he was in the Hall, they'd be worth something. You just watch, when the apocalypse comes, the 1994 Fleer Tim Salmon insert set will become our currency and I'll be rich, RICH I tell you! (Maniacal laugh slowly morphs into disillusioned groan)



Gary Sheffield
Milwaukee Brewers (1990-91), San Diego Padres (1992-93), Florida Marlins (1993-98), Los Angeles Dodgers (1998-99)

All-Star: 1992, 1993, 1996, 1998, 1999
Silver Sluggers: 1992, 1996
Postseason: 1997 WS
League Leader: AVG (1992), OBP (1996)

Notes: If and when Sheffield is inducted into the Hall of Fame, what hat is he going to wear? During his 19 year career he's donned a cap for the Brewers, Padres, Marlins, Dodgers, Braves, Yankees and now the Tigers. Sheff had one of his best seasons in 1996 with Florida, hitting .314 with 42 HR and 120 RBI. He was part of the huge trade in 1998 that brought Mike Piazza to Florida for 5 games before he was shipped off to New York.




Sammy Sosa
Chicago White Sox (1990-91), Chicago Cubs (1992-99)

Nickname: Slammin' Sammy
All-Star: 1995, 1998, 1999
Awards: 1998 NL MVP
Silver Sluggers: 1995, 1998, 1999
Postseason: 1998 NLDS
League Leader: Runs (1998), RBI (1998)

Notes: On March 30, 1992 the White Sox traded a spry young kid named Samuel Peralta Sosa to the Cubs, for the old surly bastard George Bell, and the rest as they say is history. Love him or hate him now, but in the mid-to-late 90's, Sosa was the man on the Northside. Also his trade to Baltimore brought us Mike Fontenot, which may end up being the best piece in that deal.




Larry Walker
Montreal Expos (1990-94), Colorado Rockies (1995-99)

All-Star: 1992, 1997-99
Awards: 1997 NL MVP
Gold Gloves: 1992, 1993, 1997-99
Silver Sluggers: 1992, 1997, 1999
Postseason: 1995 NLDS
League Leader: AVG (1998, 1999), OBP (1997, 1999), SLG (1997, 1999), Home Runs (1997), Doubles (1994)

Notes: And lastly we have Larry Walker, the biggest thing to come out of Canada since Loverboy, and the greatest slugger from the Great White North since Jeff Heath. Walker was a lifetime .313 hitter and could wind up being the first player inducted into the Hall of Fame as a Colorado Rockie.




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