Let's go one step further

[freakhappy]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Jeter would have caught Rose if Jeter had the drive to last in the game for as long as it would take to catch Rose, regardless of where or how he played. Rose would have kept going if he could have found a team to take him. Jeter doesn't have that mentality, so he is going out now as a decent player but on his own terms. More power to him for that. You don't want to see another Rickey Henderson situation, trucking around indie minors teams trying to find any MLB club to take him. That's just sad IMO.

Adam, I respect your opinion, but I don't think it's sad at all the way Henderson left the game. As far as I know, he didn't need the money, but just wanted to play for as long as he could and for the most part, he succeeded. I can see if Henderson just stuck around for money purposes only, but he was a legend that truly loved to play and be around ball players. During his last year or two I remember ESPN showing some highlights of him still playing and being around his minor league teammates and he couldn't have been happier...he is a true idol of mine and his passion for the game is something to be admired. I think a lot of people assume things should happen a certain way and when it doesn't, something is wrong...I just don't believe that is true. I applaud guys like Jamie Moyer, Pete Rose, and Rickey Henderson for trying to play until nothing was left in the tank. True ballplayers if you ask me.

It seems like these days in any sport if you are past your prime, you have a very small leash and will most likely be passed over by a younger player...even if you have some game left in ya. I guess it is what it is.

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by freakhappy

Adam, I respect your opinion, but I don't think it's sad at all the way Henderson left the game. As far as I know, he didn't need the money, but just wanted to play for as long as he could and for the most part, he succeeded. I can see if Henderson just stuck around for money purposes only, but he was a legend that truly loved to play and be around ball players. During his last year or two I remember ESPN showing some highlights of him still playing and being around his minor league teammates and he couldn't have been happier...he is a true idol of mine and his passion for the game is something to be admired. I think a lot of people assume things should happen a certain way and when it doesn't, something is wrong...I just don't believe that is true. I applaud guys like Jamie Moyer, Pete Rose, and Rickey Henderson for trying to play until nothing was left in the tank. True ballplayers if you ask me.

It seems like these days in any sport if you are past your prime, you have a very small leash and will most likely be passed over by a younger player...even if you have some game left in ya. I guess it is what it is.

I have to agree with Mike (not that that is a bad thing).

Consider the career of Joe McGinnity. He didn't hit the bigs until age 28 after a brief three year career in the minors. In ten years he pitched 3400+ innings to earn his HOF credentials.

And then he pitched until he was 54 in the minor leagues recording another 3400+ innings after his last pitch in the bigs.

At the age of 52 he threw over 200 innings in the Class D Mississippi Valley League in 1923.

I'm not sure but is there another HOFer who recorded more time in the minors than in the majors?

Obviously he wasn't hanging around for the money, but he pitched over 7000 innings most of which were on the downhill side of his career and he did it without "Tommy John" surgery.