Now for some non-Jays members....

Ivan Rodriguez was signed by Texas as a 16-year-old free agent on 7/27/88...has spent his entire 7-year professional career in the Rangers organization, including the last 4 full seasons in the Major Leagues...is a 4-time All-Star (1992-95)...Buddy Bell is the club's only other 4-time All-Star...in 1993 became the seventh-youngest player ever to start an All-Star Game (21 years, 7 months, 12 days)...was the same exact age as Joe DiMaggio when DiMaggio started his first mid-summer classic...caught 10 innings in the 1994 All-Star Game, becoming 1 of only 5 players to catch more than 9 innings in an All-Star Game...has led American League catchers in caught-stealing percentage 3 times in the last 5 seasons...in his Major League career has posted a .432 caught-stealing percentage...in 1994 won his third straight Rawlings Gold Glove Award and was named to the Silver Slugger Team, joining Lance Parrish as the only American League catchers to earn the top offensive and defensive honors in the same season...his 16 HR in 1994 was a Rangers record for a catcher...in 1991 and 1992 was the youngest player in the majors...made his Major League debut on 6/20/91 and at 19 years and 7 months was the third-youngest player in club history...his 88 games caught that season were the second-most ever by a teenager...on 8/30 vs Kansas City off Storm Davis became the youngest player in club history to homer (19 years, 9 months)...in 1991 finished fourth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting.

1997 SEASON
"Pudge" Rodriquez enjoyed a stellar 1997 season that showcase his excellence, both behind the plate and in the batter's box. First let's look at his defensive skills. His play behind the plate is like the vaunted "46" defense of the 1985 Chicago Bears - he allows no room to run. He threw out a career high 51.9% (40-77) of the runners attempting to steal, and that was the highest percentage by any Major League receiver. He topped the American League for the third straight and fifth time in the last seven years in that stat. He had a .992 (seven errors in 903 total chances) fielding percentage and led all A.L. receivers in starts (139) and assists (75). He also totaled nine pure pickoffs, seven at first base and one each at second and third. All of these numbers resulted in his sixth consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove Award, tying Jim Sundberg for the most ever by an American League catcher Pudge's defense has always been there. Now his hitting is improving to the point where he is one of the best batsmen in the league. His .313 average was the highest for an A.L. qualifying catcher since Boston's Carlton Fisk in 1977 (.315). He hit safely in 27 of his first 30 games at .365 (46-126) and compiled the A.L.'s third highest average at home (.347) and was ninth best with the bases loaded, .556 (5-9). He tied a club record with three home runs on September 11against Minnesota which was the eighth three-homer game in history by an American League catcher. Pudge started his fifth consecutive All-Star Game and it was his sixth overall appearance in the Mid-Summer Classic, the most of any Ranger.

Mmm...now for Seattle....

Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez was selected by the Mariners in the first round of the 1993 June draft...played at all four levels of the Mariners farm system in 1994, hitting a combined .300 with 21 HR, 86 RBI and 23 stolen bases in 131 games...made his Major League debut as the starting shortstop 7/8/94 in Bos at the age of 18.

1997 SEASON
Alex Rodriquez continued to assail American League pitching in 1997 much as he did he previous year when he established himself as one of the games' greatest hitters. He began the season on a tear, batting .333 in April and .358 in June. On June 5 at Detroit he became the second Mariner (Jay Buhner) to hit for the cycle as he homered in the 1st, singled in the 4th , tripled in the 8th and doubled in the 9th. The cycle won $1 million for a fan in Washington as part of a Mariners radio/TV promotion. He became the first American League shortstop other than Baltimore's Cal Ripken to start an All-Star Game since 1983 when Milwaukee's Robin Yount manned the spot. In his second All-Star Game appearance he he went 1-for-3 with a single off Atlanta's Greg Maddux. "Arod" also showed that there is more to his game than just a lethal bat, as he swiped 29 bases which ranked seventh in the American League and was the most by a Mariner since Harold Reynolds stole 31 in 1990. Arod also proved to be one of the Mariner's few bright spots in their Division Series against the Orioles. In the four game series he batted.313 which included a home run off of Orioles reliever Armando Benitez in Game One.

One of the greats...

George Kenneth Griffey, Jr. was selected by Seattle with the first pick of the June 1987 free-agent draft...after just 2 Minor League seasons earned a spot on the Mariners' Opening Day roster in 1989...has been an All-Star 6 times in his 7 seasons...in 1992 won the All-Star Game's MVP Award...his .571 BA in All-Star Games is the highest in history for players with at least 10 at-bats...has won 6 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards and 3 Silver Slugger Awards...established the American League record for consecutive errorless chances by an outfielder (573, 4/16/92-8/8/93)...has hit at least .300 in 5 of his 7 seasons...has five 20-HR seasons and two 40-HR seasons...has three 100-RBI seasons...with 45 HR in 1993 and 40 HR in 1994 became the 22nd player ever to record consecutive 40-HR seasons...in 1994 hit .323 with 40 HR and 90 RBI to finish second behind Chicago's Frank Thomas in the AL Most Valuable Player voting...that season became the first Mariner ever to lead the American League in homers...in '94 established Major League records with 22 HR through May 31 and 32 HR through June 30...on 5/20/94 became the third-youngest player in history to hit 150 HR...may have had his best season in 1993, when he hit .309 with career highs in HR (45), RBI (109), hits (180) and runs (113)...was the first Mariner to hit 40 HR in a season and the 10th-youngest player ever to do it...became the fourth-youngest player ever to have 3 straight 100-RBI seasons (100, 103, 109)...from 7/20-7/28, 1993 tied the Major League record by hitting at least one homer in 8 consecutive games...on 7/29 doubled off the outfield wall in his attempt to make it 9 straight...at the 1993 All-Star Game in Camden Yards, became the first player ever to hit the B&O Warehouse in right field when he smacked it during the home run-hitting contest...with 100 RBI in 1991 and 103 RBI in 1992 became the first Mariners player with consecutive 100-RBI seasons...in 1990 became the first Mariners player ever elected to start an All-Star Game...was the second-youngest player ever to start an All-Star Game (Al Kaline, 1955)...earned his first Rawlings Gold Glove Award in 1990, becoming the second-youngest player ever to win one of those awards (Johnny Bench, 1968)...earned a spot on the Mariners' 1989 Opening Day roster after establishing club spring training records with 33 hits, 21 RBI and a 15-game hitting streak...was the youngest player in the majors that season...in April 1989 tied the Mariners record with 8 consecutive hits and set a club record by reaching base safely in 11 straight plate appearances...homered in his first professional at-bat...is Seattle's all-time home run leader with 189...in 1989, Ken Jr. and Ken Sr. became the first father-son combination to play in the Major Leagues at the same time...Ken Sr. played with Cincinnati that year...on 8/31/90, they became the first father-son combo to appear in the same lineup...on 9/14/90 at California off Kirk McCaskill they became the first father-son duo ever to hit back-to- back homers.

1997 SEASON
To say that 1997 season was a historical season for Ken Griffey, Jr. is a dramatic understatement. The Mariners star outfielder put togeher a season that will be analyzed by baseball fans for years. In 157 games Griffey smacked 56 home runs which was the seventh highest total in baseball history. He also became the fourth youngest player (27 years, 155 days) in baseball history to reach 250 home runs despite missing 201 games to injuries and strikes. He trailed only Jimmie Foxx (26 years, 269 days), Eddie Matthews (26 years, 320 days) and Mel Ott (27 yars, 94 days).He drove in a Mariner club record 147 runs a number that was tied for the 5th most RBI in a season in the last 48 years. He had 393 total abses which ranked as the29th highest total in Major League history. To say that Griffey was hot at the start of he season is an understatement as he blasted 24 big flys through the end of May, a new Major League record. He entered the All-Star break with 30 home runs, becoming just the third player ever to record two seasons with 30+ HR at the break (also: Willie Stargell and Mark McGwire). He was elected to his eighth All-Star Game and led the American League in voting for the fifth time and the Major Leagues for the third time. He was named Player of the Week twice ( April 8 and Sept.5) and on September 7 became the 15th player in Major League history to hit 50 home runs when he connected off of Minnesota's Bob Tewksbury at the Metrodome. Tends to hit home runs in bunched as he had eight multi-homer games and bashed seven home runs in seven days from August 31-September 7. Griffey led the Mariners to their second AL West crown in three years and was awarded for his stellar play by winning his eighth Gold Glove for defensive excellence and his first MVP which he was named unanimously.

One of my favourites...

Jack Thomas Snow, Jr. was selected by the Yankees in the fifth round of the June 1989 free-agent draft...spent his first 4 professional seasons in the Yankees organization, including his Major League debut, before he was traded to the Angels on 12/6/92 with Russ Springer and Jerry Nielsen for Jim Abbott...twice has been named American League Player of the Week...in July 1994 recorded his career-high 11-game hitting streak...in his rookie season in 1993 had 16 HR and 57 RBI...following the 1994 season appeared as an extra in the television hit "e.r."...in 1992 at Class AAA Columbus was named International League Player of the Year after hitting .313 with 15 HR and 78 RBI.

1997 SEASON
Snow had career-highs in HR (28), RBI (102), runs (81), walks (96), doubles (36), stolen bases (6) and games played (157)...Won the Willie Mac Award as voted on by his teammates for being the team's most inspirational player...Had a strong year despite a spring training scare in which he was hit in the face by a Randy Johnson pitch...Was a terror from May to July, batting .330 (91-for-275) with 16 home runs and 53 RBI...Included in that stretch was a career-high 12-game hitting streak in July...Had a career-high five RBI Aug. 4 against Cincinnati...Is signed through the 1998 season with a club option for 1999.

One of my favourites...

Named 1994 Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America, The Sporting News, USA Today Baseball Weekly and Topps/NAPBL...participated in the 1994 Arizona Fall League...combined to hit .344 with 5 HR, 68 RBI and 50 stolen bases in 58 attempts at Columbus, Class AA Albany and Class A Tampa in 1994, and was named Florida State League MVP...at Class A Greensboro in 1993, was voted the Most Outstanding Major League Prospect by South Atlantic League managers after hitting .295 with 5 HR, 71 RBI and 18 stolen bases.

1997 SEASON
The sophomore slump couldn't touch Jeter, as he strung together a season that was every bit as impressive as his Rookie of the Year campaign in 1998. Appearing in 159 games, he scored 116 runs (only the third player in history to score 100 runs in their first two seasons), stroked 190 hits, hit 10 homers and stole 23 bases. He batted .291 (190-654) and also laced seven triples and thirty-one doubles. His defense continued to be another strength as he exhibited soft hands and a powerful throwing arm. The Yankees are set at this position for the next decade.