Forgotten "Stars" and Notable Blasts from the Past
One of the greatest joys about following sports is the diverse set of personalities who come across the horizon during our time as fans. For every Superstar like a Reggie Jackson, there no doubt were role players who had a special streak, like when Kevin Maas first joined the Yankees, or had a sustained but unspectacular career like a Roy White. Every team has had their share of contributors, whether it be just for one better-than-expected year, or a 3-4 year run that ended abruptly. They are players who will never enter the Hallowed Halls of Honor, but they will all hold a special place in our minds,either to trigger a memory of a fantastic summer or Fall, or to remind us of a bygone era we enjoyed.
There is no possible way to list every Enos Cabell, Tommy Herr, Jeffrey Leonard, Kevin Mack, Brian Sipe, or Paul Splitorff, but below are a few guys who once were stars, even if it was an early dimming. We all know of Mark Fidrych, Joe Carboneau, or Mark Prior, but do you remember these honest men?
Charlie Hayes - This jolly, rotund guy is fresh in my memory for catching a lazy pop-up to end the 1996 World Series and give the Yankees their first Championship in 18 years. He gave hope for all of us with a spare tire, but he was a surprisingly good fielder. He epitomized the term journeyman, as he played for 8 different clubs, but was always a solid contributor.
Kelvin Bryant - One of a number of players who lost valuable stats and accolades by going to the USFL, Kelvin Bryant was a player who never lived up to NFL potential. But we are sports fans, not just NFL fans, and some props have to be given to the USFL's 2nd leading rusher of all time. A highly sought-after tailback coming out of UNC, Bryant went to the Philadelphia Stars. In 1986, he came to the Redskins and was a fine role player for them, finally ascending to starter for the 1988 season. Unfortunately, he was injured during that campaign and never really regained his form.
Nick Esasky - A bit of a stretch to call him either a star or a flash in the pan, Esasky was a player who just started to hit his career stride when a strange case of vertigo sidelined him for good. I always confused him with Jim Eisenrich because of their odd maladies, but Esasky, who starred mainly with the Reds, finally blossomed for the Red Sox in 1989. He parlayed that year into a free-agent contract with the Braves, but only got into a handful of games before being put on the shelf for good.
Al Toon - Probably one of the most heralded players on this list who played, Toon was drafted 10th by the Jets in 1985. He retired in 1992 due to the toll of numerous concussions and was one of the first players to be featured regarding post-concussion syndrome. When he was healthy, Toon was a force, but he'll never be known as an all-time great because of his injuries. Receivers tend to fall into that category. Guys like Mike Sherrard, Michael Jackson, and Eddie Brown all could dominate until injuries put them back to the pack.
Anthony Carter - Another player who lost some career years to the USFL, Carter came out of the University of Michigan as their #1 WR. He received Heisman Trophy votes three years in a row. Even after playing in the USFL, Carter was a standout for the Vikings and made the Pro Bowl a couple of years. He was one of the most exciting players I had the joy of watching and he reminded me of a more modern Ahmad Rashad or Bobby Moore.......
Leonard "Truck" Robinson - Any man who can have hands of stone with a career over 10 years long and not be a boxer must have some special talent. Robinson was a guy who had great years in '78 and '81, but will always have a place in my heart for being a player on those Kick teams that returned to the postseason. Paired with the hot hand of Bernard King, Truck was a force on the boards, and readily accepted his role player status.
Ben Oglivie -This 3-time all-star was once headed for a possible Hall of Fame career, but instead ended up a very serviceable and sometimes feared player. He was the first non-american born player to lead the AL in HR's. He also played for 17 seasons and was best known as a cornerstone of the Harvey Wallbanger Brewer team. Always solid, sometimes spectacular, Oglivie is a model of what this list is intended to show.
Don Majkowski - "The Magic Man" had a brief but impressive run as a QB. He put up gaudy stats in his first year starting, but fans and players remember him more for the grit and heart he showed. Unfortunately, a dirty hit by Freddie Joe Nunn started him on the road to decline. On that play, Majkowski tore his rotator cuff and was never the same player again. These stories are all too common in the NFL.
This list could go on and on. We could detail sustained production from players like Ken Oberkfell, Kiki Vanderwege or Leon Durham, or chronicle the more honored, but less famous players (in relation to their peers) like Karl Mecklenburg or Rod Smith. And a whole other article could be used to remember players like Ickey Woods, who had a flash and then nothing.
Enjoy the memories of some bygone guys who you know but have probably put to the recesses of your minds.
