Best character baseball player?

[Angola!]

Tony Clark

I like that one.

 

[Songbird]

Franklin Stubbs?

 

[Overrated]

Travis Fryman

 

[Songbird]

Ron Oester (****er killed the Dodgers every time).

 

[Batman]

During the Phillies' glory years, Manny Trillo was a good one. As good a fielding second baseman as there was in the late 70s/early 80s (I think he had the record for errorless chances at one point) and had a few clutch hits here and there. Ain't nobody outside of Philadelphia and maybe Cleveland remembering him, though.

 

[Songbird]

I have a card of Trillo (had one anyway) of Trillo with the Cubs.

 

[imjustagirl]

I hate you all.

 

[Batman]

I have a card of Trillo (had one anyway) of Trillo with the Cubs.

Good God. I just looked at his baseball reference.com page. Never realized he lasted until 1989. Thought he fizzled after the Phils threw him in in the Von Hayes deal. Dude played 17 years in the majors. Damn.

And speaking of longevity, howsabout Julio Franco as a character player?

 

[DanOregon]

Brian Downing always killed the A's when I was a kid.

 

[Songbird]

Good call on Downing, although I hated his batting stance.

Dusty Baker is another.

 

[vicd]

Tanner Boyle

 

[Songbird]

Ahh, Tanner ...




And I'd like to party with Tatum O'Neil.

 

[Scouter]

Placido Polanco

 

[Birdscribe]

Tim Salmon.

Guy did everything for the Angels, save make an All-Star team.

 

[Songbird]

And he brother was a pretty good DB at USC.

 

[mike311gd]

Bill Pecota.

 

[93Devil]

I remember Zane Smith just owning the Mets when he played for the Pirates.

 

[Songbird]

I remember every team owning Zane Smith when he pitched for the Braves.

 

[93Devil]

I just remember the Mets of the early 1990s were always facing lefties. They just had a ***** of a time with them.

 

[Batman]

Garry Maddox was another good one. Great center fielder. In my mind, I can still see him lanking after fly balls at the Vet.

I've always thought of Tim Wakefield as being in this category, too. Guy's been a rock for some pretty good Red Sox teams, been around forever, but never has (and never will be) better than a No. 3 starter.