There are only a few baseball players in a course of a lifetime that we can truly define as special. These players are also known as generation players, players that come along once in a generation, and are not only great on the field, but are a cut above the rest, and have that extra flair that makes them larger than life. Players that not only shines on the ball field, but also captured the hearts of the fans. I've attempted to create a sample size that would expand from our father's era, to my generation, the "chicks dig the long ball" era, and today and beyond. It may be a lengthy post, so I've broken it up into two post. Here's part one.
For the old timers, an example would be Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Bob Gibson, Sandy Koufax. These players were not only great, hall-of-fame players, but the most non-educated, out of ordinary, science lab nerd (no offense to all you chemist out there who love baseball) know who these players are. They are glossed with catchy nicknames like "The Mick", "The Say Hey Kid", "Joltin' Joe", "Teddy Ballgame". Hollywood made movies and wrote songs about them. These are the first wave of players that we re-live through grainy, black and white film, and hear recounts of stories of their greatness.
The middle aged ball fan like myself, growing up in the late 80's and early 90's, there were a lot of lean years, but players that would fall into our generation would be Cal Ripken Jr., Ken Griffrey Jr., Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Nolan Ryan, and Roger Clemens. Who could forgot the greatness of the "Iron Man", the no-hitting "Nolan Express", "The Kid" and his backward hat, the chase for 61, BBBAAAARRRRYYYY and 7-56, and "The Rocket". These players are undoubtedly hall of famers, though I say that knowing full well that some of these players may not make the hall, but everyone in their right mind knows that they belong. But it is because of there supposed wrongdoings that makes them a generational player.
When thinking about generational ball players of the early 2000's, the list is short. But I think I have come up with a list of players that will ultimately be stamped with this label. They are, in no particular order, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Puljos, Randy Johnson, and Mariano Riveria. I understand that I may get a lot of negative feedback from those non-readers of this blog, but I do have logic and reasoning behind these players. First off, this was probably the easiest list of generational players that I could have probably put together. When trying to think about generational players of the old-timers and mine generations, I had a lot harder of a time putting together those list than the list for today's youth. When looking at the list of players from today's youth that will be labeled as generational players, the word obvious comes to mind. Derek Jeter will become the 28th player ever to reach the 3,000 hit club, the first since Craig Biggio in 2007, A-Rod and Albert Puljos are both on there way to breaking the all-time home run record, Randy Johnson will be the last pitcher to win 300 games, and Mariano is well within striking distance to take over as the all-time saves leader.
Not only do these players have a well of records to their credit, but they also have the off-the-field credentials that make them generational players. Who will ever get the sounds of "Der-ek Je-ter" ringing through Yankee Stadium, or Mariano running in from the bullpen to Metallica's "Enter Sandman." Randy Johnson with his sweeping slider and the deadly combo of the mullet and mustache.
When looking to the future, it's hard to determine this early in some players careers who will be so fortunate to be called a generational player, but I will attempt to try. In part two, we will take a closer look at those players. I love this topic of generational players when discussing baseball and talkin' about my generation, past, and future.
Mr. Armchair Speaking
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