Ladies and Gentlemen- Your "Traveling" All-Stars

by Matt Wells

Welcome to Major League Baseball in the 21st Century.  For the past decade, free agency has made the possibility of a player staying with the same team for several years at a time virtually unthinkable.  You can thank free agency, I mean that.  Free agency has helped make the game more exciting, as fans now get to see players playing for teams that we never thought possible (Frank Thomas in Oakland??!!).

You can also thank those green bills we call “money.”  It’s the money that has helped move free agency along.  The days of Cal Ripken, Tony Gwynn, and Barry Larkin are gone.  Players just don’t stay with the same teams throughout their careers anymore.If you don’t believe me, you can observe the following.  I have compiled a list of players who compile an “All-Star team.”  There are not 25 players on this team; for I have forgone some of the bench and the bullpen is not as deep as I would like.  However, these players have to match three characteristics:

1.  The players must still be playing the game.
2.  The players must have played for at least four Major League teams over their careers.
3.  The players must have played in at least two All-Star Games.  This is done to prevent those fluke seasons that happen once in a while.

Ladies and Gentlemen, you’re “Traveling All-Stars.”

CATCHERS

Mike Piazza: Piazza is a 12-time All-Star who has spent time with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, and San Diego Padres.  Of course, nobody remembers Piazza’s days in Florida, a place where he played 5 games and never hit a homerun.  Guess what?…it still counts.

Piazza has had a fantastic career, hitting an even 400 homers as of this post.  During his time in New York, he became perhaps the greatest player in Mets history, hitting 230 homeruns in his 8 1/2 seasons there.

Piazza is also known for hitting one of the more famous homers in Mets history.  His blast off of
Atlanta’s Steve Karsay in the first New York Baseball game after September 11th was heard around baseball.  It also won the game.

Sandy Alomar, Jr.: Alomar is a six-time All-Star catcher who has spent time with the San Diego Padres, Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, Texas Rangers, and Los Angeles Dodgers.  However, his most famous days came while he was the backstop to the successful Cleveland Indians teams of late 1990’s.

Alomar has mostly signed with teams through free agency during his career.  However, he was involved in one of the more successful trades in Cleveland history, when he was traded by San Diego with Carlos Baerga and Chris James to the  Indians for Joe Carter.  Alomar and Baerga would become stars in Cleveland.

FIRST BASEMEN

Richie Sexson: Sexson is a two-time All Star who has spent his career with the Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Brewers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Seattle Mariners.

Many forget that Sexson was drafted by the Indians in the 1993 draft and was traded 7 years later in the deal that brought current Indian closer Bob Wickman to the Tribe.

Sexson would succeed in Milwaukee, but he and the Brew Crew had to part ways when the salary cap got tight.  In one of the more successful trades in Brewers history, Sexson was sent to Arizona.  The Brewers would receive the likes of Junior Spivey, Craig Counsell, Lyle Overbay, Chad Moeller, Chris Capuano, and Jorge de la Rosa.  Capuano is a rising star now for the Brewers.

Sexson spent one injury-filled season in Arizona before signing with the Seattle Mariners in late 2004.  He hit 39 dingers in 2005, his first year in Seattle; he is struggling to begin the 2006 season.

Julio Franco: Franco is a three-time All-Star who is has been seen in a lot of different uniforms.  The Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers (1/2 of a season), Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Atlanta Braves, and New York Mets have all been employers of Julio Franco.

What’s a traveling All-Star team without a veteran?  Franco is currently playing in his 22nd big league season.  He has over 2,500 base hits over his career and is a leader both on and off the field.  Franco is a team player who can come off the bench and provide in the clutch for the Traveling All-Stars.

SECOND BASEMEN

Jeff Kent: Kent has spent his career with 6 clubs: the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, and Los Angeles Dodgers.  In the process, Kent has made 5 All-Star teams.

He was the 2000 NL MVP, when he hit 33 home runs and drove in 125.  Kent winning the award made him more of an enemy to Barry Bonds than he had previously been.  Then again, who is a friend of Barry?

Kent has hit 332 homers during his 14+ big-league seasons and has shown his reliability for the 6 teams he has been in uniform for.

THIRD BASEMEN

Vinny Castilla: Castilla is a two-time All-Star who has spent time with the Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Houston Astros, Washington Nationals, and San Diego Padres.

Castilla reached his peak as part of the “Blake Street Bombers” in Colorado.  Castilla, along with Dante Bichette, Larry Walker, and Andres Galarraga, was part of the fiercest lineup in the National League back in the mid-90’s.

But, enough of living in the past.  Castilla signed with San Diego prior to the 2006 season and is currently sitting on 316 homeruns.  If he has a successful season, Castilla could reach 2,000 career hits this year.

Tony Batista: The Traveling All-Stars will have two veteran third basemen leading the way.  Playing alongside Vinny Castilla will be Tony Batista, a player who has spent his career with 6 big-league teams.  The Oakland Athletics, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, Montreal Expos, and Minnesota Twins have all employed the two-time All-Star.

Though he is not considered one of the best-known power hitters in the game, Batista has hit more than 25 homeruns in each of his past 6 seasons.  After playing the 2005 season in Japan, Batista signed with the Minnesota Twins, where he has become an everyday player.  Batista might be better known for his extraordinarily peculiar batting stance rather than his homeruns.

SHORTSTOPS

Edgar Renteria: Renteria has spent his career with four different organizations, making the All-Star team 4 times.  The Florida Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, and Atlanta Braves have all been employers of Edgar Renteria.

Renteria is known for his game-winning base hit in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series off of Indians closer Jose Mesa.  Mesa and then-Indian shortstop Omar Vizquel have apparently never gotten over that (see last weekend).

Renteria was on the losing side of the World Series in 2004, when his Cardinals got swept by the Red Sox.  He would sign with the Red Sox as a free agent the following season.  After one disappointing season (offensively and defensively) in Boston, Renteria would sign with the Atlanta Braves prior to the 2006 season.

OUTFIELDERS

Luis Gonzalez: “Gonzo” has spent his big-league career with the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, and Arizona Diamondbacks.  He has made the All-Star team 5 times.

Gonzalez, like fellow Traveling All-Star Edgar Renteria, has won a World Series with a base hit.  Gonzalez won the 2001 World Series with a base hit off of Yankees closer Mariano Rivera in Game 7.  Oddly enough, the hit was very similar to Renteria’s.

Gonzalez currently has 321 career homeruns, 1,270 career RBI, and is one walk away from 1,000 for his career.  He hit a whopping 57 homers for Arizona in 2001.

Johnny Damon: Damon may only be 32 years old, but he has already spent his career with 4 different teams: the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox, and New York Yankees.  Damon has appeared in two All-Star Games.

Damon was perhaps the most likable player on the Red Sox during their championship run in 2004.  Part of the so-called “Idiots” Damon hit two homeruns in the famous Game 7 of the ALCS against the Yankees.  This helped cap the greatest playoff comeback in baseball history.

Johnny Damon would alienate some Sox fans when he signed with the hated Yankees prior to the 2006 season.  Damon is now the everyday center fielder in the Bronx, and is yet another highly paid superstar on George Steinbrenner’s payroll.

Steve Finley: Finley is a two-time All-Star who has spent his career with 7 teams: the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, Anaheim Angels, and the San Francisco Giants.  He has played for every team in the NL West except for the Colorado Rockies.

Finley is a veteran who is 2 homers shy of 300 for his career.  He has been to the postseason numerous times, and has won 1 World Series.  Interestingly enough, he has been on both the winning and losing sides of the Series against the Yankees – his Padres lost to the Yankees in the ’98 Series, while the Diamondbacks won it all in 2001.

Finley is currently part of the oldest outfield in the Major Leagues, joining Barry Bonds, Moises Alou, and Randy Winn in San Francisco.

Gary Sheffield: Sheffield is a 9-time All-Star who has spent his career with 6 teams: the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, and New York Yankees.  He was also invovled in the deal that sent fellow Traveling All-Star Mike Piazza to the Marlins in 1998.

Sheffield is a force to be reckoned with in Major League Baseball.  He has 453 career dingers, and is 8 RBI short of 1,500 for his career.  Sheffield came to the Yankees prior to the start of the 2004 season.  In a little more than 2 years in the Bronx, Sheffield has hit 74 homeruns.

On the downside, Sheffield has been mentioned along with Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, and Rafael Palmeiro in the steroids scandals.

Moises Alou: Alou is another one of the outfielders in San Francisco who is a member of the Traveling All-Stars.  Alou, a six-time All-Star, has spent his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Expos, Florida Marlins, Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, and San Francisco Giants.

Alou comes into today with 302 career homeruns and a career batting average of .302.  (How about that?)  He has won a World Championship, winning one in 1997 as a member of the Florida Marlins (his only year in Florida).  He is currently playing for his father, Felipe, manager of the Giants.  Despite being 39 years old, Moises has emerged as a must-have on everyone’s fantasy teams.

DESIGNATED HITTER

Carl Everett: The Traveling All-Stars are not necessarily deep when it comes to designated hitters, but Carl Everett fits the bill.  A two-time All-Star, Everett has been with the Florida Marlins, New York Mets, Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, Montreal Expos, Chicago White Sox, and Seattle Mariners during his career.

One problem with Everett during his career has been his attitude.  He is known to be a hot-headed player who has had his fair share of fines and suspensions during his career.  However, when he plays, he can be lethal.

For his career, Everett is 6 homers shy of 200.  He is playing in Seattle to start the 2006 season, one year after winning the World Series as a member of the Chicago White Sox.

So, you’re Traveling All-Stars lineup is as follows:

1. Johnny Damon – CF
2. Edgar Renteria – SS
3. Luis Gonzalez – LF
4. Gary Sheffield – RF
5. Jeff Kent – 2B
6. Richie Sexson – 1B
7. Mike Piazza – C
8. Vinny Castilla – 3B
9. Carl Everett – DH

Not bad, eh?  Well, wait until you see the starting rotation of the Traveling All-Stars…

STARTERS

Randy Johnson: The “Big Unit” is a 10-time All-Star who has spent his career with 5 different teams.  The Montreal Expos, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Arizona Diamondbacks, and New York Yankees have all had the pleasure of having Randy Johnson as their ace.

Johnson has won 266 career games, recording 4,395 strikeouts in the process.  His career ERA is an astounding 3.12, and he even has a no-hitter to his credit.  His success hasn’t been as good in the postseason, where he has compiled a 7-8 record (2-7 in Division Series starts).  However, he was co-MVP of the World Series in 2001 when the Diamondbacks beat the New York Yankees.  Who won the other half of that MVP Award?….

Curt Schilling: Schilling has been chosen to be an All-Star 6 times in his career.  He has also played for 5 teams during his career, making him eligible for the Traveling All-Stars: the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Boston Red Sox have had Schilling on their teams.

Schilling was the other half of that aforementioned co-MVP Award of the 2001 World Series.  He would actually become more famous for his role in the 2004 postseason, which resulted in a Red Sox World Series Championship.  The bloodied sock was a symbol of perserverance for Schilling and it became one of the more famous symbols during that World Series run (the other being Johnny Damon’s long hair).

Schilling has had a brilliant career.  He is 4 wins shy of 200 and he should reach the 3,000 strikeout plateau this year.  He has gotten off to a great start in 2006; he’s 4-0 with an ERA of 2.60.  It looks like he may be returning to his 2004 form, after he spent part of 2005 on the DL.

Pedro Martinez: Martinez is another veteran pitcher eligible for the Traveling All-Stars.  Pedro has been with the Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and New York Mets during his career, and he has made it to 7 All-Star teams.

Martinez, along with his fellow Traveling All-Star pitchers, is known for high velocity fastballs and his good control – he is averaging 4.3 strikeouts for every walk during his career.  He was won a total of 201 games and is 111 strikeouts short of 3,000 for his career.

Martinez’s popularity soared during his stint with the Boston Red Sox, in which he became one of the most successful pitchers in the organization.  In 7 seasons with the Red Sox, Martinez won 117 games while losing just 37 games.  He signed with the Mets as a free agent prior to the 2005 season, and has becoming one of the most popular players on the team in less than 2 full seasons.

Bartolo Colon: Colon, so few people will know, has pitched for 4 teams during his career, albeit some were short stints.  The Cleveland Indians, Montreal Expos, Chicago White Sox, and Anaheim Angels have had Colon as part of their teams.  Colon spent just 1 1/2 seasons combined for the Expos and Sox; the bulk of his career has been spent with the Indians and Angels.  He has appeared on 2 All-Star teams.  Nonetheless, he barely qualifies for the Traveling All-Stars.

Colon, like the others, is a power pitcher who relies on his fastball the most.  Despite the power pitching associated with Colon, he has only struck out 200 batters in a season twice during his 9+ year career.  Nevertheless, Colon has always been considered one of the better pitchers in the game and still strikes fear into opposing hitters.

Colon has pitched in 5 different postseasons, however he has made the Championship Series just once and he has never made the World Series.  The Angels are hoping that stat can be turned around.

Kenny Rogers: No, no, not the singer.  This is Kenny Rogers, the left-handed pitcher, who has spent his career with 6 different organizations: the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, and Detroit Tigers.  He’s also made 3 All-Star teams.

Rogers might have a problem with anger management, but he’s also taking out some of that anger on hitters, making the All-Star team in the past 2 seasons.  Rogers has had a solid career, compiling 193 wins, while striking out 1,770 batters.  He’s also gotten off to a fine start in Detroit this year; he has a 3-2 record with a 3.21 ERA so far.

BULLPEN

Armando Benitez: Benitez is a two-time All-Star closer who has worn his fair share of uniforms (most of them in 2003).  The Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Florida Marlins, and San Francisco Giants have all employed Benitez.

Benitez may well be remember for making all New York Mets fans sweat every time he came in to close a game.  It also seemed like Pat Burrell hit a homerun every time he faced Benitez.  Oddly enough, Benitez would find success after leaving New York, especially in 2004, when he saved 47 games for the Marlins.

Armando has accumulated 264 saves during his career and has relied on his hard fastball to get batters out.  He’s been injury-plauged in San Francisco, but he has shown that he is a reliable and powerful pitcher when he is healthy.

Roberto Hernandez: Hernandez is a two-time All-Star and a reliever who has been around.  Hernandez has pitched for the Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Hernandez has the honor of being on the list of relievers who have compiled over 300 saves during their career.  Hernandez, now setting up in Pittsburgh, has 325 career saves.

Tom Gordon: “Flash” Gordon has made 2 All-Star teams and has pitched for 7 teams during his career: the Kansas City Royals, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, and Philadelphia Phillies.

Gordon made a name for himself as a starter for the Royals from 1988 to 1995, where he won 79 games.  Beginning in 1998, he has been one of the game’s most reliable relievers, and was the prime set-up man for the Yankees in 2004 and 2005.  He is currently the closer in Philadelphia, where he has converted his first 6 save chances.

Jose Mesa: Mesa has made 2 All-Star teams while pitching for a bevy of teams.  His employers?  The Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Colorado Rockies.

Mesa is, unfortunately, well-remembered for losing Game 7 of the 1997 World Series when he gave up the winning hit to fellow Traveling All-Star Edgar Renteria.  As mentioned above, Mesa and Omar Vizquel haven’t gotten past this.

Mesa is the second player on the Traveling All-Stars with 300 career saves.  He has saved 319 games during his career, while blowing just 57.  2006 is his first year in Colorado, and he’s blown his first 2 opportunities.  That’s what the thin air does to ya….

Esteban Loaiza: I know, I know…Loaiza is a starter.  He just wanted to be on the Traveling All-Stars so much, however, that he agreed to accept a job in the bullpen.  Loaiza is a two-time All-Star, and he has pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, Washington Nationals, and Oakland Athletics.

Both of Loaiza’s All-Star appearances were in Chicago White Sox uniforms.  In 2003, he went 21-9 with a 2.90 ERA.  He was also the AL strikeout leader that year.  In 2004, Loaiza again made the All-Star team, only to be dealt away at the trading deadline to the New York Yankees.  The White Sox got Jose Contreas in that deal, and he has turned out just fine.

So, again, you’re Traveling All-Stars starting rotation consists of:

1. Randy Johnson
2. Curt Schilling
3. Pedro Martinez
4. Bartolo Colon
5. Kenny Rogers

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I hope this has been enlightening, as I have learned many things from this research.  One example: I learned that the Texas Rangers got Michael Young in the deal that sent Loaiza to the Blue Jays (see above).  How do you like that?

I chose the criteria of playing with 4 different teams because, believe it or not, 3 was too easy.  The likes of Alex Rodriguez, Troy Glaus, Bob Wickman, and Billy Wagner (among others) all fit the criteria; I figured I would make things a little more interesting.

Sure, the Traveling All-Stars will probably be together for just one or two more years…after all, they are mostly veterans.

But, give a round of applause.  Despite bouncing around from city to city, these players have succeeded wherever they have gone.  They have indeed survived Major League Baseball free agency.  They are true players, willing to give 110%, no matter what uniform they have on.

Give it up for your Traveling All-Stars.