Who is your favorite unheralded BLB player of all-time?

[Z]

I started this thread once a couple years ago. It's time to discuss it again.

I think my answer now is the same it was then.

I always appreciated Joe Iliquez in my early Philly years.

And I wonder what could have been. He had two very impressive seasons at ages 24 and 25, putting up 4.6 WAR and 5.5 WAR as a two-way center fielder.

Alas, he ran into the wall while trying to catch a fly ball in spring training in 1981, and he wrecked his back, if I remember correctly.

He missed the entire 1981 season.

He never fully recovered.

Honorable mention: My current closer River Ross, who went to high school at Maine West and has been with the Guides organization since, making his BLB debut in 1994. I hope he retires with us.

[umd]

1. Jim Newlin. Ask Prez, we traded that guy back and forth for playoff runs.

2. Chuck Lindsey. He was never really considered elite, but his numbers were very good across his career. I think he'd be looked at differently if he had beaten one of those VA tainted teams.

Others:

3B Nesty Garcia - had some great BA seasons.

OF Yadir Adili - spent the majority of his career in MOR.

Pat Danford - he was a very consistent IL hitter when DAV wasn't great.

[funclown]

Bob Burleson- 2B. Think only my second trade and first with Pat. Guy was a bench warmer when he came to use in 89 as a throw with a draft pick. Anyway, next season Bob became an ALLSTAR in 90. Followed 91 with a strong showing. 92 he was demanding way to much money so had to walk, but came back to us in 93 and AGAIN played at a high level this time OPSing .800 and joined out team one last time in 95. Not a bad throw in player for a guy names "Joe Acuna"


Tood Boyce- 2B. Lol, must like IFers. Todd always seemed he'd do well but NEVER EVER made the top 100 prospect list. Well all he became was a two time allstar for us and today still hitting strong with back to back .280 seasons for Toronto. Also pretty dam good infielder leading the least once with turned double plays.


Couple of other honorable mentions: 1B- Artie Latham, CF- Troy Stucker, SP- Ruben Aparacio

No one will ever retire here since that nonsense, but these are guys I really did like.