Name A Forgotten Once-Big Prospect

[AmishDave]

Damn. You brought out Doug Million. No, seriously, I tear up every time he is brought up.

You aren't the only one

 

[AmishDave]

Eric Milton

 

[James52411]

Ryan Harvey, the cover boy for 2003 Bowman Chrome Draft.

 

[AmishDave]

Whoever the shortstop that the Yankees traded to the Phillies for Abreu. C.J. Henry. I was in the Philippines when this trade went down and I cried, because the Phillies got absolutely jobbed in this 'deal'.

 

[vhillers]

Kevin Haas

 

[smapdi]

I've got 6 boxes of 2004 Elite Extra in my closet, waiting for them to ripen. You want a name? Rip a box and pick a card, any card.

Matt Tuiasosopo.

 

[AmishDave]

I've got 6 boxes of 2004 Elite Extra in my closet, waiting for them to ripen. You want a name? Rip a box and pick a card, any card.

Matt Tuiasosopo.

Or Matt Moses.

 

[DaClyde]

How about the thief Ruben Rivera who stole some Jeter equipment and tried to sell it for some extra bucks. Or Hensley "Bam Bam" Meulens. I think he alone drove some 1988 (or 89..whatever) Donruss sales.

I'm still holding out hope for that Meulens comeback!

 

[csmtampa]

Ryan Harvey, the cover boy for 2003 Bowman Chrome Draft.

I was going to say Harvey as well. Kid hit an absolute BOMB against us in High School.

 

[carlitoson]

I've got 6 boxes of 2004 Elite Extra in my closet, waiting for them to ripen. You want a name? Rip a box and pick a card, any card.

Matt Tuiasosopo.

How about Chris Carter (the lefty-hitting white one) or Eric Campbell.

Don't forget this guy:

 

[notjomommasclint]

Thomas diamond!!

Seriously XXXX that guy!

 

[matfanofold]

1983 TT

Not only is Ron Kittle a forgotten once-big prospect, he is the once-big forgotten prospect. More than that, he may very well be the first 'prospect' with regards to baseball cards & his 1983 Topps RC as a investment! Ron Kittle was perhaps the first minor league player to gain national exposure, inside or outside our hobby, when he clobbered 50 HR's playing for Edmonton of the Pacific Coast League in 1982, a feat I am not sure anyone has done since. Unlike today, in the early 1980's it took time in the MLB to gain exposure and subsequent hobby love. It was a rarity, even perhaps unheard of, for a 'prospect' in the minor leagues to make a name nationally before hitting the bigs but Kittle did just that.

If memory serves me correctly, Kittles 1983 Topps Traded RC card was the first ever Topps card to list for over $1 upon initial release. Partly because of his milb lore but also because for the first full year in MLB he somewhat actually lived up to the hype hitting 35 HR's and driving in 100 in 145 games, winning ROY and making an AS appearance. However, the next few years showed a steady decline in production although shades of power remained. In the end he simply never could adjust to MLB off speed stuff and his strike out total rose as his BA diminished. Finishing his career that spanned 10 seasons and 5 teams with a .239 lifetime BA and 176 HR's. Even though he never lived up to his billing of the 'next Babe Ruth', he did lay the foundation of prospecting as we know it today, with regards to paying attention to the milb and purchasing RC cards to flip.

 

[Brewer Andy]

A few guys listed in this thread had decent careers or certainly were not "forgotten" (Ben McDonald, Gregg Jefferies, Richie Sexson) but how we made it this far without a Phil Plantier mention I'll never know.

Joey Meyer
Wilton Guerrero
Kenny Felder
Some Brewers that spring to mind

 

[Laxcat]

I believe that is pronounced Juan Guzman.

 

[Y4NK335]

Brandon Snyder
Josh Fields
Eric Hurley
Billy Rowell

 

[AmishDave]

Eric Duncan

 

[manningmurphyfan]

Alex Escobar (Mets)
Rick Aasadorian

Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Freedom Card Board mobile app

 

[AmishDave]

David Nied

 

[Laxcat]

You aren't the only one

I bought a certified auto for .50... I was actually upset at the guy for selling it that cheap. Does that make any sense?

 

[AmishDave]

Merkin Valdez
Ron Wright