Up on the blog today, you know I'll take any excuse to create a card for one of the great under-appreciated players of his era, Vada Pinson, who was one of the coaches on the inaugural Seattle Mariners team of 1977:
Pinson signed with the Brewers as a Free Agent in January of 1976 after a year with the Kansas City Royals.
Sadly,
the Brewers released Pinson right as the season started on April 4th,
deying us an extra season of the man trying to chase 3000 hits.
Well, what would a man of his stature do with all that free time?
Take his knowledge of the game and put it to good use as a coach!
I’ve always loved his career, and wonder had he not
played the bulk of his Big League time in the shadows of Willie Mays,
Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente and Frank Robinson, would he have made it
all the way to the Hall of Fame.
Four-times he’d collect over 200 hits, seven times over 20-home runs, nine times over 20-stolen bases, and the man only made two All-Star teams!
Just an awesome career that saw him finish with over 2700 hits, 250 homers and 300 stolen bases, while also collecting over 480 doubles and 120 triples.
Sadly, he passed away far too soon after suffering a stroke at the age of 57 in 1995.
Four-times he’d collect over 200 hits, seven times over 20-home runs, nine times over 20-stolen bases, and the man only made two All-Star teams!
Just an awesome career that saw him finish with over 2700 hits, 250 homers and 300 stolen bases, while also collecting over 480 doubles and 120 triples.