Leaving too early?

[Duespayer]

In tribute to Nomar, who sleeps with his trophy.

Thinking about top players (in any sport) who spent several years with a team, helped build them up, then were either traded or signed as a FA with another club, one season before his former club won the championship.

I had a few others in mind, but anyone could confirm them, I would appreciate it.

 

[Canuck Pappy]

Adrian Dantley.
Helped the Detroit Pistons become a good team in the late 80s with his scoring. Isiah wanted his buddy Mark Aquire around so Dantley left just before the Pistons won two titles.

 

[Football_Bat]

Ted Simmons was THE offense for the Cardinals until Whitey Herzog traded him to the Brewers.

Judging from 1982, Whitey got the last laugh.

 

[Pringle]

Magglio Ordonez.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Dale Murphy.

Traded from Braves to Phlly in 1990. This will be the Braves first losing season since.
Left Philly after 1992. Phils won World Series in 1993.
Signed with Colorado in 1993. Played in 26 games. Retired. Colorado made playoffs in 1994.

Dale Murphy played in 2,180 games and made just one NLCS, in 1982. But each of the three teams he was on made the playoffs the year after he left.

 

[Freelance Hack]

He doesn't quite fit the category, but I'll go ahead and nominate Takeo Spikes.

You think he now wishes he had listened to Marvin Lewis?

http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2006/09/14/news/sports/sports05.txt

 

[ThomsonONE]

Joe Torre - spends 67 & 68 with the Braves while the Cardinals go to the Series, then gets traded to the Cardinals for 69 and the Braves win the division.

 

[imjustagirl2]

Brook Jacoby.

OK, so '92 was his last year and the Indians didn't get really good until 1994. But I stand by it!

 

[Ledbetter]

Dominique Wilkins left Georgia after his junior year. The following season the Dogs went to the Final Four.

 

[Ashy Larry]

Don Mattingly.....and Buck Showalter as a coach.

 

[Sea Bass]

Phils won World Series in 1993.

So why's this guy so happy?

 

[rgd]

Because he just got his prostate examined.