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Baseballers of Lesser Note: Phil Plantier
Topic Started: Nov 17 2010, 04:00 PM (1,732 Views)
Erick Von Erich
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Hallo there, and welcome to the seventh installment of (Professional) Baseballers of Lesser Note. In which we spotlight some of the distinguished gentlemen who have partaken in the professional gentleman's sport of baseball throughout the various eras encompassing the aforementioned sport.

This week we look at Phil Plantier.

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What'd He Do?
Career Stat Totals:
8 Seasons/ .243 BA/91 HR/ 292 RBI/ 260 Runs/


What Can You Tell Us About Him?
Plantier was a top prospect in the Red Sox organization in the late 80's. Showing good development at every level, with an ability to hit for average and power, he by-passed Double A and eventually came to the big leagues in the second half of the 1991 season. Plantier looked like a superstar in the making as he hit .331 with 11 HRs and 35RBIs, good enough for 8th place in the 1991 ROY voting.


What Happened to Him?
Plantier was slowed by injuries and suffered the infamous Sophomore Slump in 1992. At the end of the season, he was traded to the San Diego Padres for pitcher Jose Melendez. In 1993, with two expansion teams in the NL, Plantier had his best season --.240 with 34 HRs and an even 100 RBIs as the Padres primary left fielder. He finished the year with the second best HR rate in the NL, second only to Barry Bonds. He also developed a "feast or famine" reputation, as he struck out over 100 times that season. Still, it looked like the Padres had a new slugger (something they needed after trading away just about everyone NOT named "Gwynn" in a 1993 fire sale).

Some San Diego fans even took to dressing up in giant banana suits in support of Plantier. Umm...why a banana? Well, it was probably a plantain... close enough to "Plantier".

Plantier continued his early pattern in 1994-- after one "hot" year, he slumped the next. His numbers declined a little in the strike shortened 1994 season and at the end of the year he was involved in one of the biggest trades of the 90's. Plantier, along with teammates Derek Bell, Ricky Gutierrez, Craig Shipley, Doug Brocail and Pedro Martinez (not THAT Pedro) for a bounty of Houston Astros: Ken Caminiti, Andujar Cedeno, Steve Finley, Brian Williams and Roberto Petagine. Even though it happened while the players were still on strike, it was an intriguing deal because it included a wealth of young talent that had an impact on each team.

The trade eventually boild down to work in the Padres' favor. Plantier ran into injuries and was pretty much a bust in Houston. He was released in July of 1995 and was immediately acquired by the Padres. It was big news for the Padres as they were trying to catch the Dodgers and Rockies in the NL West. Having their "old" slugger back looked like a boost. But the Padres finished in third place, 8 games back of the division lead. At the end of the season, Plantier's contract was up and he left via free agency.

The following years led to more trades and minor league assignments for Plantier. Yet he still had the "swing for the fences or swing at thin air" stigma wherever he went. He signed with the A's, was traded to the Tigers, re-signed with the Padres (his THIRD tour with the team), traded to St. Louis and then finally landed in Toronto before the 1998 season. Plantier never made it out of Spring Training with the Blue Jays, instead opting for a release. He ended up with the Mets' Triple A team, but never returned to the bigs and retired after the year.

He dropped off the radar for awhile, until re-surfacing as a coach in the Mariners' system in 2008. If you're ever in a fight with Plantier...toss him a bat. Chances are you'll come away unscathed.

Look for (Professional) Baseballers of Lesser Note on Tuesdays/Wednesdays!
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torturedsoulv1
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I remember the name, but I always thought he was black, so he truly was not memorable to me
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Erick Von Erich
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torturedsoulv1,Nov 17 2010
04:15 PM
I remember the name, but I always thought he was black, so he truly was not memorable to me

Plantier was definitely a west coast (or western time zone) "star". If he remained with the Padres for their 1996 division title, he might've been a little more memorable.

I know what you mean about not remembering him. Like you and Plantier, to me, Pat Listach (1992 NL ROY) was a guy who's ethnicity I didn't know. Brewers games were never on TV in 1992-1994, around here. I don't think it was until the late 90's when I finally saw a picture of Listach and said: "huh. I always thought he was white".
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The Swigg Lebowski
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Wait, Listach isn't white?
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torturedsoulv1
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The Swigg Lebowski,Nov 18 2010
10:18 AM
Wait, Listach isn't white?

I thought he was white also

Guess I mix up the races of all the scrubs
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Scrooge McSuck
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I could've sworn he was white, too. Maybe that was Pat Mears.
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Erick Von Erich
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I dunno... I can't figure out what Listach is now, either.

Both of these somewhat current pictures confuse me!;

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He's from Louisiana, so maybe he's Creole?
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