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| Baseballers of Lesser Note: Brian Jordan | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 29 2011, 01:36 PM (964 Views) | |
| Erick Von Erich | Jun 29 2011, 01:36 PM Post #1 |
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I'm Big E and I tell it like it is
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Hallo there, and welcome to the twelfth 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 Brian Jordan. Posted Image What'd He Do? 15 Seasons, 184 HR, 821 RBI, .282 avg, 119 SB What Can You Tell Us About Him? Drafted twice by MLB and then by the NFL, Brian Jordan was a somewhat unheralded "two sport star" in the time of Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders (or even DJ Dozier). One of a handful of athletes to make both the Pro Bowl and All Star Game, for a brief time in the mid-to-late 90's, Jordan could've been mentioned in a list of "top outfielders in MLB". What Happened to Him? Jordan was first drafted out of high school in 1985 by the Cleveland Indians. He didn't sign, instead opting to attend the University of Richmond (VA), closer to his hometown of Baltimore. He excelled in both baseball and football for the college, which led to his dual draft status in 1988 as an outfielder and a defensive back. That summer he was selected by both the St. Louis Cardinals and the Buffalo Bills. He began playing pro baseball in the Cardinals' system, but was cut by the Bills in their August training camp. He caught on with the Atlanta Falcons in 1989 and did the two-sport thing for the next three seasons. Playing with Deion Sanders in 1991, the Falcons earned a surprising wild card berth which helped make Jordan a Pro Bowl safety alternate at season's end. Everything seemed to point to Jordan remaining in the NFL, but he Walked away from the league in June 1992 when he signed an exclusive contract with the Cardinals. The contract specifically prevented Jordan from continuing his football career. At the time, sports fans scoffed at the idea. Why would a Pro Bowl safety, on a seemingly up-and-coming team and coming into his own, walk away to concentrate on his miniscule baseball career? Jordan made his MLB debut in 1992. He shuttled between Triple A Louisville and St. Louis until 1995. In 1995 he became the Cardinals' primary RF. In 1996 he had his best year, finishing 8th in the MVP voting while hitting .296 with 17 HRs, 104RBIs and 22 stolen bases on the division-winning Cardinals team. The Cards advanced to the NLCS and Jordan hit a game-winning homer in Game 4 of the series. It looked like Jordan had made the right career choice, after all. He remained the Cards' cleanup hitter until late in the 1998 season: when the Cards acquired Mark McGwire and all his drugs. Jordan signed with the Atlanta Braves for '99. That year he made his only All-Star Game appearance. He was great for the Braves during their run TO the World Series...but then he stepped into a big pile of Shittiness, going only 1 for 17 against the eventual champion New York Yankees. After injuries, he returned to form in 2001, hitting .295 with 25 HRs and 97 RBIs. Yet the Braves kept with their annual tradition of losing in the playoffs for the 38th time in a row. Prior to the 2002 season, Jordan was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a deal for Gary Sheffield. He had two decent years for the Dodgers until his knees flared up, essentially ending his career. He hung around MLB until the 2006 season, including a stint with the Rangers and a return to the Braves. At the end of the '06 season he was released by the Braves, which officially ended his career. Apparently a big fan of the city of Atlanta, Jordan chose to retire there and maintains his Brian Jordan Foundation. It's sort of an Atlanta kids' charity with scholarships and stuff. He's also on good terms with the Cardinals, as he made an alumni appearance for them last year. Brian Jordan's career was solid. He had impact with his teams and put up decent numbers. For a short time, these elements might've landed him on a Top 20 list, yet not an elite Top 10 list. Keeping him in the "star" region, but not the "superstar" region. |
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| Scrooge McSuck | Jun 29 2011, 02:06 PM Post #2 |
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I'll get you next time, toilet!
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Being a mid-level star in the 90's, I'm not totally in the dark with this slection. I think I've heard Brian Jordan call games for Atlanta's Triple A team in Gwinnet, at times alongside Tony Schiavone (yep, that Tony Schiavone). Not too bad for a color man, but he lacks the personality to be interesting even when the game isn't. I like a little bit of humor instead of nonstop disecting the fundamentals of the game. He's still new to it, so maybe he'll get more comfortable being himself. |
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| Erick Von Erich | Jun 29 2011, 02:42 PM Post #3 |
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I'm Big E and I tell it like it is
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There's a Tony Schiavone "greatest" joke in there...but C'MON. It's only been used, um, often. Here's some more info on Jordan from BR: http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Brian_Jordan It goes into his lack of drawing walks and never playing more than 150 game. Only really cool note is that he had a cameo on "Young and the Restless" in 2000. Hey, remember when Mike Piazza popped up on "General Hospital"?! You don't?!! Shame! |
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| Scrooge McSuck | Jun 29 2011, 02:49 PM Post #4 |
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I'll get you next time, toilet!
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Was this during his phase of bleaching his hair and fending off rumors about his sexual preference? Piazza, not Jordan. |
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| Erick Von Erich | Jun 29 2011, 03:03 PM Post #5 |
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I'm Big E and I tell it like it is
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I think it was during The Strike, when Piazza appeared on General Hospital. Definitely pre-NY Mets and pre-pre "I'm Not Gay" Press Conference. Have to ask my mom next time I talk to the old bag. She remembers the Bills' Jim Kelly simply because he made a cameo on "GH", circa 1992. I remember John Franco consistently appearing on some cable show during The Strike, too. Maybe something on FX? They were brand new and trying all sorts of junk. |
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| Scrooge McSuck | Jun 29 2011, 03:15 PM Post #6 |
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I'll get you next time, toilet!
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That reminds me of the Married with Children episode that featured Joe Morgan, Piazza, Dave Winfield, Bret Sabrehagen, and Frank Thomas. Al started his own league and went on strike because the owners weren't sharing revenue with the players. Har har. |
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| torturedsoulv1 | Jul 8 2011, 10:17 PM Post #7 |
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true maharajah Jinder Mahal
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I don't think Brian Jordan should be considered a baseball player of lesser note He had a decent career. Not saying he was a superstar, but he was better than a lesser note player IMO First time I disagree with one of these selections |
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| Erick Von Erich | Jul 9 2011, 01:09 PM Post #8 |
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I'm Big E and I tell it like it is
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He qualifies because he only had one career All-Star selection. He's definitely on the upper end of my qualifications: at least 5 seasons, never more than 1 All-Star selection and never won an award. He was also never a league leader in any category. Have to look it up, but I'd be amazed if he lasted more than the obligatory one year on the HOF ballot. To me, that definitely qualifies. My intent is to spotlight lesser known players, not just scrubs. Guys who didn't light the world on fire. While I've included a buncha' no-names, Jordan and Mike Marshall are two on the upper end. Marvin Freeman and Alex Cole would be the lower end. And I'm more than a little bummed that Dante Bichette doesn't qualify. Main reason for Jordan's inclusion is because of what I experienced in St. Louis, last year. On Friday nights, the Cardinals round up a former player for "alumni autograph night". People were in line for Jordan, but didn't know who he was. These were St. Louis fans, which I thought was more than a little shocking. Of the five or six people I talked to, they had no idea that he ever played for the Falcons, or when he played for the Cardinals. |
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