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Subject: Biggest bust ever
Posted by: Chuck
- Donor [550322311] Tue, May 06, 2003, 00:40
As many of you know, I love to have a thread every few weeks that allows everyone to enter and share from their experiences. I figured it was another good time for one of these.
Simple question: Who/what was the biggest bust ever in baseball. It may be an individual player or a trade that never should have gone through, or other moves that never make sense.
I think we all know about the Babe Ruth trade, but I'll throw out a couple of my initial ones:
1.) Brien Taylor. I don't know much about him, but I remember as a baseball card collector that he was so hyped up as the next star of baseball with the Yankees. Not sure who he was in the first place or where he is now. Just know I was never lucky enough to get one of his cards :-)
2.) The Jeff Bagwell trade from Boston-->Houston. I'm not sure of all the details again, but wasn't someone like Danny Darwin involved? It would've been interesting to see what Boston would have done with Mo & Bags on the same team.
3.) Griffey post Reds signing. Lest we forget that before he signed in Cincy (personally, I still think it was a joke that Cincy was so much closer than Seattle to family in FLA-- either a 2 hour or a 4 hour plane trip), he was considered by some as one of the greatest players ever. My guess is: he tried way too hard to justify his contract and never relaxed. I still think that another team where he is not supposed to be the star, and w/o turf, could revitalize him for another 3-5 years.
4.) Any Phillips move in the last 2 years. Well, not any, but almost anything he has done has turned to crap (is that the opposite of gold?). I think Phillips did some good things for the Mets, but his decisions recently have stunk.
5.) Phillies signing the wrong brother all the time. I heard this a few days ago, but there was a list of like MIKE Maddux and a bunch of other brothers they have had through the years. Would be interested to see the list of it if anyone knew who it was. |
| 1 | Gary
ID: 193162111
Tue, May 06, 2003, 00:48
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How about the Cubs not being able to keep Maddog Maddux in Chi-town.
What about the Pedro trade, he wasn't always a Red sock.
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| 2 | JackHammers
ID: 52458415
Tue, May 06, 2003, 00:51
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Glenn Davis for Steve Finley, Pete Harnisch, and some guy named Schilling. The beginning of the End. I think Baltimore got 6 homers out of it.
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| 3 | Fatal Image
ID: 41143921
Tue, May 06, 2003, 01:25
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The Brien Taylor story is a sad one for me. I SO wanted to see that guy pitch.. but he never made it to the majors.
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| 4 | blade
ID: 3437522
Tue, May 06, 2003, 01:31
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Brien Taylor threw his career away by trying to be macho. he got into a fight with someone(may have been in a bar but not sure)...and ruined his pitching arm. i remember his mother at first threatened the Yankees he wouldn't sign unless he received "Van Poppel" money referring to a big signing bonus given to another big pitching prospect Todd Van Poppel.
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| 5 | The Pink Pimp
ID: 91127165
Tue, May 06, 2003, 01:33
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Morganna the "kissing bandit" circa the late 70's.
By far the biggest bust ever on a baseball field.
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| 7 | blade
ID: 3437522
Tue, May 06, 2003, 01:36
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Re Chuck #1
there are plenty of his baseball cards to go around. Brien Taylor Baseball Cards
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| 8 | Strike One
ID: 356372421
Tue, May 06, 2003, 01:58
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I'll tell you what the biggest bust ever was, and it's a damn hot dog i got at the Tigers game last week after waiting 5 long and i mean LONG innings in the cold. that thing was so dry and shriveled up it reminded me of them worms on the sidewalk after a rain storm. What ever happened to the times when ball park franks snapped when you bit into them?!?!?
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| 9 | Fatal Image
ID: 41143921
Tue, May 06, 2003, 02:06
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blade nobody wants his cards NOW. :) But for a little while they were the hottest thing going.
Another good bust is the Mets triad of young pitchers that were supposed to make them a great team again, hell, a DYNASTY.
Isringhausen/Wilson/Pulsipher!
Let's see, one decent closer, one below-average starter, and one guy who totally washed out. Sigh :(
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| 10 | blue hen
Leader
ID: 22100300
Tue, May 06, 2003, 02:18
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Worst trade is indeed the Glenn Davis trade - for Steve Finley, Pete Harnisch, and Curt Schilling (recently acquired with Brady Anderson for Mike Boddicker).
I agree with Brien Taylor as the biggest bust (if not Morganna). I had him on the brain before I read a single post. At #2, the Braves took a guy named Mike Kelly. He played a bit, but his mediocrity is the only solace for Yankee fans.
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| 11 | Two-niner
ID: 341125617
Tue, May 06, 2003, 03:56
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Drew Henson is making his way into the neighborhood. 37 errors last year? wow.
He still didn't have the hype of Taylor, though.
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| 12 | Myboyjack
Leader
ID: 14826271
Tue, May 06, 2003, 06:57
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Tigers gave Smoltz away for a stiff - Anderson
Reds traded Paul O'Neil for Roberto Kelley
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| 13 | Motley Crue
Donor
ID: 38333108
Tue, May 06, 2003, 07:40
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You should have saved the idea about the most lopsided trades for another thread, Chuck.
Michael Jordan comes to mind immediately. He was no baseball player.
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| 14 | Khahan
ID: 3127107
Tue, May 06, 2003, 08:22
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I believe the Jeff Bagwell trade was so Boston could get Larry Anderson and have a boost in pitching down the stretch.
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| 15 | Texas Flood
Donor
ID: 311039208
Tue, May 06, 2003, 08:36
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Tigers traded Smoltz for Doyle Alexander(Braves) in Aug of 1987. Alexander went 9-0 for the Tigers down the stretch but was 0-2 in the playoffs. He then pitched for the Tigers for another two seasons and was sub .500 @20-29.
Another notable Tiger trade was the trading of a Batting Champ, Harvey Kuenn for a Home Run Champ Rocky Colavito in 1960.
And speaking of the Tigers the great Ernie Harwell was part of a trade between the Atlanta Crackers and Brooklyn Dodgers. Ernie was sent from the Crackers to the Dodgers for a Montreal catcher named Cliff Dapper. Dapper was to manage the Crackers and Harwell was wanted by Branch Rickey for the braodcast booth.
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| 16 | Mattinglyinthehall
Sustainer
ID: 1629107
Tue, May 06, 2003, 09:06
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Andre Robertson. Sad story.
Greg Jefferies was touted by the NY media as the next Mickey Mantle or Willie Mays. Had a decent career as a servicable multi-position talent who started more often than not and even had one great year when he hit .342 with 16hr, 82rbi and 46sb (all career highs), but that was after the Mets had given up on him and aside from that one season he never developed into anything really special.
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| 17 | Motley Crue
Donor
ID: 38333108
Tue, May 06, 2003, 09:33
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Jefferies and Elster, the second coming of Mantle and Maris. Not.
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| 18 | infinite
ID: 34329237
Tue, May 06, 2003, 09:35
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kevin maas..had a run for about 2 months..then never heard of again
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| 19 | Farn
Donor
ID: 7822711
Tue, May 06, 2003, 09:43
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I think the NY media tries to make these guys into something never should have been. They try to say that good ballplayers will be great ones so when they only end up as good players they look like busts (ie. Jefferies, Maas, etc).
So to add to that list I will throw Jose Contreras out there now (he will never live up to the huge signing bonus and expectations of NY).
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| 20 | Mattinglyinthehall
Sustainer
ID: 1629107
Tue, May 06, 2003, 09:47
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Mmm. Other touted Yankees from that era that never became anything:
Mike Blowers
Hensley (Bam Bam) Meulens
Sam Militello
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| 21 | Mattinglyinthehall
Sustainer
ID: 1629107
Tue, May 06, 2003, 09:55
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It's pretty early to dismiss Contreras as overhyped. Historicly speaking a pitcher as effective as he was in Cuba has a good shot to do well in MLB and at this point it is certainly at least as likely that there is something wrong as it is that he just isn't that good.
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| 22 | KnicksFan
Donor
ID: 439341814
Tue, May 06, 2003, 10:00
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Ruben Rivera was the next Mickey Mantle.
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| 23 | Mattinglyinthehall
Sustainer
ID: 1629107
Tue, May 06, 2003, 10:15
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In the case of Jefferies, I don't think you can blame the NY media, either. Jefferies was a pet of Davey Johnson.
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| 24 | Perm Dude
Leader
ID: 0059248
Tue, May 06, 2003, 10:16
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You guys are too NY-centric: Joltin' Joe Charboneau! Rookie of the Year in 1980, he played 70 games in the next 2 seasons and was done.
pd
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| 25 | loki
Sustainer
ID: 19392511
Tue, May 06, 2003, 10:22
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By far the worst trade of all times, comparable to the Babe Ruth deal, was the Mets trade of Nolan Ryan. Whom they received in return escapes me, but it may have been Jim Fregosi.
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| 26 | Mattinglyinthehall
Sustainer
ID: 1629107
Tue, May 06, 2003, 10:32
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Hmm, good one, PD. On his page at baseball-reference.com:
Not included on this page: Joe opened beer bottles with his eye socket. How cool is that!?
Checking ROY results makes this a lot easier.
1979 AL John Castino
1989 NL Jerome Walton
1992 AL Pat Listach
1994 AL Bob Hamelin
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| 27 | wiggs
Donor
ID: 10261612
Tue, May 06, 2003, 11:51
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#9 Fatal image, dont forget bobby jones was a member of that group too. They played in binghamton all together and they were amazing to watch here. They had some huge hype, but never really developed.
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| 28 | loki
Sustainer
ID: 19392511
Tue, May 06, 2003, 12:00
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Gary-It is usually forgotten that Pedro was an LA Dodger before being an Expo. The Dodgers had all 3 Martinez brothers,all pitchers, on their roster at one time.
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| 29 | Khahan
ID: 3127107
Tue, May 06, 2003, 12:03
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I'm not sure it if was a free agent signing or a trade acquisition, but what Danny Tartabull and his stint with the Philadelphia Phillies?
Either way, it was a huge bust.
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| 30 | Perm Dude
Leader
ID: 0059248
Tue, May 06, 2003, 12:13
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Yeah, same with Cecil Fielder and the Indians. A match made in hell.
Or, better, Keith Hernandez signing with the Indians. He signed for a huge amount (then, $3,500,000 over two years), played 43 games (poorly) the first year, then sat the whole next year collecting a paycheck and badmouthing the team.
pd
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| 31 | pogophiles
Leader
ID: 155452911
Tue, May 06, 2003, 12:16
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If you include free agent signings, the Braves pickup of Nick Esasky would rank up there. In exchange for a $5.6M 3 year contract, the Braves got nine games from Esasky before labrynthitis ended his career...
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| 32 | Mattinglyinthehall
Sustainer
ID: 1629107
Tue, May 06, 2003, 12:19
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labrynthitis?
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| 33 | Perm Dude
Leader
ID: 0059248
Tue, May 06, 2003, 12:24
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He was lost to the team...
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| 34 | SillySpheres at Work
ID: 582492810
Tue, May 06, 2003, 12:43
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Anyone remember Generation K? The Mets had 3 superstar young pitchers who were supposed to be the corner stone of their franchise for years to come, but they all ended up with arm troubles and havent done much in the majors. I could only remember that Isringhausen was part of it, but a quick google search revealed it was Jason Isringhausen, Bill Pulsipher and Paul Wilson.
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| 35 | Farn
Donor
ID: 7822711
Tue, May 06, 2003, 13:07
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i think Fatal Image remembers in post 9 :)
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| 36 | Strike One
ID: 356372421
Tue, May 06, 2003, 13:27
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Juan Gonzalez in Detroit....
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| 37 | Spi's Like Me
ID: 551231013
Tue, May 06, 2003, 13:29
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Todd Van Poppel...i think he was even a Topps "Future Star" or "Rated Rookie". He absolutely sucked.
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| 38 | Chuck
Donor
ID: 550322311
Tue, May 06, 2003, 13:32
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A lot of these guys I remember from baseball card collecting. I had no clue on their talent, but "everybody" wanted one.
Todd van Poppel
Hensley Muelens
Gregg Jeffries-- when I pulled a Jeffries rookie, it was prob. the greatest pull ever for me at the ripe age of 8
Brien Taylor-- no, I don't want any of his cards NOW...
also...
Scott Erickson had some baseball card hype
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| 39 | darkside
Leader
ID: 516203012
Tue, May 06, 2003, 13:42
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Chris Sabo. What happened to him?
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| 40 | Tree, also @ work
Donor
ID: 599393013
Tue, May 06, 2003, 13:47
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David Clyde, at least based on the hype and local hero status, was a monster bust. this kid pitched his team to the Texas state high school baseball finals, and 3 weeks later was taking the mound for the Rangers.
2 years later he threw his arm out, and was washed up with the Indians in no time.
where is he now?
peace,
Tree
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| 41 | KTx
ID: 13231212
Tue, May 06, 2003, 14:30
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Todd Van Poppel... was surprised no one mentioned him til post #37
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| 42 | Chuck
Donor
ID: 571132017
Tue, May 06, 2003, 17:17
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Walt Weiss was another ROY (I think the same year as Sabo) who never made it big. I think he was taken in an expansion draft at one time.
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| 43 | Astade
ID: 303521820
Tue, May 06, 2003, 17:42
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Any Red Sox fans in here?
I remember there was a lot of hype about Mike Greenwell after his 1988 season.
What ever happened to him? It seemed like he dropped off the face of the planet (or atleast his production did ;))
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| 44 | Taxman
Leader
ID: 1316217
Tue, May 06, 2003, 18:22
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Tree:
More on the David Clyde story. Clyde was a Texas boy (Houston) and taken #1 overall in the 1973 draft. In his first game, just a few weeks after he graduated high school, he produced an unforgettable 1st inning at (old) Arlington Stadium. He walked the first three batters he faced, and then he struck out the next three batters, stranding all three baserunners.
That inning was to me was to be the beginning of a Hall of fame career, which of course wasn't. He finished his career in Cleveland 6 yrs later with an 18-33 W-L record and was among the first of many drafting failures of the Texas organization.
My personal favorite worst pick made by Texas was the 1989 5th overall pick of Donald Harris, a Texas Tech outfielder and football star who turned out to be the best defensive back in the draft (Frank Thomas went 2 picks later).
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| 45 | RecycledSpinalFluid
ID: 42121814
Tue, May 06, 2003, 19:05
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The Astros attempt to counterbalance the Bagwell heist, they later traded Kenny Lofton for a sack of used jocks, 3 baseballs (rumored to be signed by Mario Mendoza) and a toss-in bullpen catcher named Ed Taubensee.
Interesting trades of the 90s. Some good ones there.
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| 46 | Mattinglyinthehall
Sustainer
ID: 312481619
Tue, May 06, 2003, 19:57
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Johnny Mitchell
Browning Nagle
Blair Thomas
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| 47 | patjams
ID: 23438612
Tue, May 06, 2003, 19:58
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Ryan Leaf
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| 48 | Taxman
Leader
ID: 1316217
Tue, May 06, 2003, 22:08
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Sammy Sosa to Chicago White Sox for Harold Baines (who finished 1989 @ Mendoza Line and returned to pale hose following year via free agency to hit .300+ again) and IF Fred Manrique. Pres. George Bush calls the trade his biggest mistake as an adult (prior to the time he became Pres of Florida, errrr US)
biggest mistake by Bush
He played just 25 games for Texas in 1989 (hitting the first home run of his career off Roger Clemens on June 21st) before the Rangers traded him to the White Sox, along with pitcher Wilson Alvarez and infielder Scott Fletcher, for Harold Baines and Fred Manrique on July 29th. Years later, former Rangers owner George W. Bush would draw a big laugh at a South Carolina debate during his 2000 presidential campaign when he called the Baines/Sosa swap his biggest mistake as an adult.
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| 49 | Khahan
ID: 3127107
Wed, May 07, 2003, 08:47
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From the best trades of the '90's article, its funny to read this now:
Derek Lowe, Jason Varitek
The Red Sox unloaded Heathcliffe Slocumb onto the Mariners in July 1997. In return, the Sox got Lowe, who could become a closer or even a 20-game winner and is as versatile as any pitcher in the game today. Varitek had a solid 1999 (20 homers, 76 RBI) and should be Boston's backstop for years to come.
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| 50 | Fatal Image
ID: 41143921
Wed, May 07, 2003, 14:16
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Sure the Sosa deal was a mistake, but I wouldn't put it alongside some of these others. There was no way to know Sosa would juice himself up to such massive proportions. At the time he was not a productive player.
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| 51 | schillman
ID: 59456713
Wed, May 07, 2003, 15:16
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Lance Parrish when he came over to the Phillies.
Underperformed mightily for a few seasons and Philly's Phinest let him hear about it.
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| 52 | Spi's Like Me
ID: 551231013
Wed, May 07, 2003, 15:50
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ryne sandberg from philly to the cubs for ivan dejesus...that's absolutly awful!
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| 53 | gibby88
Donor
ID: 361571219
Thu, May 08, 2003, 00:46
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dolly parton
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| 54 | Athletics Guy
ID: 4844555
Thu, May 08, 2003, 00:59
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No way man, you obviously haven't seen enough porn!
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| 55 | MyDodgers
ID: 3417217
Thu, May 08, 2003, 01:05
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Not a baseball trade but what about the Herschel Walker trade. Dallas wins 3 SB's but Minnesota....
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| 56 | Caper
Donor
ID: 1535108
Thu, May 08, 2003, 07:34
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Ralph Sampson
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