Fangraphs article on Gardy

[gunnarthor]

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-managers-perspective-ron-gardenhire-on-players-from-his-past/

 

Great read.

[BK432]

Totally - loads of fun. He's one of the more likable guys in baseball. Thanks for sharing.

[Vanimal46]

I miss him and his personality. Always had a good quote and never took himself too seriously.

[nicksaviking]

Wow, I think that was the first time anyone referred to Dave Kingman as "awesome"!

 

I've always heard stories that he was traded by the Mets in 1977 (and the Angels and released by the Padres all in the same year) for being notoriously not awesome!

[gunnarthor]

 

Wow, I think that was the first time anyone referred to Dave Kingman as "awesome"!

 

I've always heard stories that he was traded by the Mets in 1977 (and the Angels and released by the Padres all in the same year) for being notoriously not awesome!

I suspect players version of who is an awesome teammate often differ from fans and ownerships views. I remember Randy Moss was beloved in the Vikings locker room when ownership (and fans) sided with Childress. 

[nicksaviking]

 

I suspect players version of who is an awesome teammate often differ from fans and ownerships views. I remember Randy Moss was beloved in the Vikings locker room when ownership (and fans) sided with Childress. 

 

Could be. I'm wondering what Gardy would have to say about Delmon Young these days.

 

The collusion case against MLB in the late 80's saw lots of good players get screwed out of contracts as owners tried to keep salaries down. It seemed in Kingman's case they were bound to keep him from joining the vaunted 500 HR club.