cuervo72
11-05-2007, 10:04 AM
From the Sports I Bracket, it's the first round matchup of the MLB Outfielders!
The Matchup:
Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henley Henderson (born December 25, 1958 in Chicago, Illinois. Henderson was born Rickey Nelson Henley, named after musician Ricky Nelson) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who is baseball's all-time leader in stolen bases and runs scored. In a 25-year career with nine clubs, Henderson's high on-base percentage, power, runs scored, and stolen base totals made him the premier leadoff hitter of his era; many consider him the best ever. At the time of his last game in 2003, Henderson ranked among the sport's top 100 all-time home run hitters; he was also the all-time leader in walks, a record since surpassed by Barry Bonds. When asked if he thought Rickey Henderson was a Hall of Famer, statistician Bill James replied, "If you could split him in two, you'd have two Hall of Famers." Rickey Henderson ranks 4th all-time in games played (3,081), 10th in at-bats (10,961), 20th in hits (3,055), and first in runs scored (2,295) and stolen bases (1,406). His record for most walks all-time (2,190) has since been broken by Barry Bonds; Henderson is now second. He also holds the record for most home runs to lead off a game, with 81; Houston's Craig Biggio has the second-most ever, with 53. During the 2003 season, Henderson surpassed Babe Ruth for the career record in secondary bases (total bases compiled from extra base hits, walks, stolen bases, and hit by pitch).
VS
Rick Monday
Rick Monday (born Robert James Monday, Jr. on November 20, 1945 in Batesville, Arkansas) is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball and is currently a broadcast announcer. From 1966 through 1984, Monday, a center fielder for most of his career, played for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics (1966-71), Chicago Cubs (1972-76) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1977-84). He batted and threw left-handed. In a 19-season career, Monday compiled a .264 batting average with 241 home runs and 775 RBI. He was selected an All-Star in 1968 and 1978. The two most famous moments of Monday's career were both associated with the Dodgers. On April 25, 1976, during a game at Dodger Stadium, two protestors, a man and his son, ran into the outfield and tried to set fire to an American flag they had brought with them. Monday, then playing with the Cubs, noticed they had placed the flag on the ground and were fumbling with matches and lighter fluid; he then dashed over and grabbed the flag off the ground to thunderous cheers. He handed the flag to Los Angeles pitcher Doug Rau, after which the ballpark police arrested the two intruders. When he came up to bat in the next half-inning, he got a standing ovation from the crowd and the big message board behind the left-field bleachers in the stadium flashed the message, "RICK MONDAY... YOU MADE A GREAT PLAY..." He later said, "If you're going to burn the flag, don't do it around me. I've been to too many veterans' hospitals and seen too many broken bodies of guys who tried to protect it." At the end of the season, the Cubs traded Monday to the Dodgers in a five-player deal with two players (one of whom was Bill Buckner) going to the Cubs. By 1981, Monday was mostly a utility player. In the deciding Game 5 of the NLCS at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, he smashed a ninth-inning home run off the Expos' Steve Rogers that proved to be the difference in a 2-1 Dodgers victory. Monday's home run dashed the Expos' only chance at a pennant in their 36-year history in the National League. Even today, heartbroken Expos fans refer to his homer as "Blue Monday." Los Angeles would go on to win the 1981 World Series, defeating the New York Yankees 4 games to 2. Soon after his retirement as a player, Monday became a broadcaster for the Dodgers.
Voting will be open for two days.
The Matchup:
Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henley Henderson (born December 25, 1958 in Chicago, Illinois. Henderson was born Rickey Nelson Henley, named after musician Ricky Nelson) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who is baseball's all-time leader in stolen bases and runs scored. In a 25-year career with nine clubs, Henderson's high on-base percentage, power, runs scored, and stolen base totals made him the premier leadoff hitter of his era; many consider him the best ever. At the time of his last game in 2003, Henderson ranked among the sport's top 100 all-time home run hitters; he was also the all-time leader in walks, a record since surpassed by Barry Bonds. When asked if he thought Rickey Henderson was a Hall of Famer, statistician Bill James replied, "If you could split him in two, you'd have two Hall of Famers." Rickey Henderson ranks 4th all-time in games played (3,081), 10th in at-bats (10,961), 20th in hits (3,055), and first in runs scored (2,295) and stolen bases (1,406). His record for most walks all-time (2,190) has since been broken by Barry Bonds; Henderson is now second. He also holds the record for most home runs to lead off a game, with 81; Houston's Craig Biggio has the second-most ever, with 53. During the 2003 season, Henderson surpassed Babe Ruth for the career record in secondary bases (total bases compiled from extra base hits, walks, stolen bases, and hit by pitch).
VS
Rick Monday
Rick Monday (born Robert James Monday, Jr. on November 20, 1945 in Batesville, Arkansas) is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball and is currently a broadcast announcer. From 1966 through 1984, Monday, a center fielder for most of his career, played for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics (1966-71), Chicago Cubs (1972-76) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1977-84). He batted and threw left-handed. In a 19-season career, Monday compiled a .264 batting average with 241 home runs and 775 RBI. He was selected an All-Star in 1968 and 1978. The two most famous moments of Monday's career were both associated with the Dodgers. On April 25, 1976, during a game at Dodger Stadium, two protestors, a man and his son, ran into the outfield and tried to set fire to an American flag they had brought with them. Monday, then playing with the Cubs, noticed they had placed the flag on the ground and were fumbling with matches and lighter fluid; he then dashed over and grabbed the flag off the ground to thunderous cheers. He handed the flag to Los Angeles pitcher Doug Rau, after which the ballpark police arrested the two intruders. When he came up to bat in the next half-inning, he got a standing ovation from the crowd and the big message board behind the left-field bleachers in the stadium flashed the message, "RICK MONDAY... YOU MADE A GREAT PLAY..." He later said, "If you're going to burn the flag, don't do it around me. I've been to too many veterans' hospitals and seen too many broken bodies of guys who tried to protect it." At the end of the season, the Cubs traded Monday to the Dodgers in a five-player deal with two players (one of whom was Bill Buckner) going to the Cubs. By 1981, Monday was mostly a utility player. In the deciding Game 5 of the NLCS at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, he smashed a ninth-inning home run off the Expos' Steve Rogers that proved to be the difference in a 2-1 Dodgers victory. Monday's home run dashed the Expos' only chance at a pennant in their 36-year history in the National League. Even today, heartbroken Expos fans refer to his homer as "Blue Monday." Los Angeles would go on to win the 1981 World Series, defeating the New York Yankees 4 games to 2. Soon after his retirement as a player, Monday became a broadcaster for the Dodgers.
Voting will be open for two days.