MLB History: The All Valentine’s Day team
By David Hill
What would the All Valentine’s Day Team be without a pair of Valentines?
Right field: Ellis Valentine
For a time, Ellis Valentine was one of the better all around outfielders in the game – a respectable power threat and an excellent defender. A lifetime .278/.315/.458 batter, he hit 123 homers, eclipsing 20 homers in a season three times. An All Star in 1977, he also won a Gold Glove in 1978 when he led the league with 25 assists in right.
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Center field: Bobby Valentine
These days, Bobby Valentine is remembered for his days as a manager, and the Groucho Marx glasses he wore as he snuck back into the Mets dugout after being thrown out of a game. He was a major prospect, a minor league star who appeared destined to be a great player in the majors. Unfortunately, that never happened, as he snapped his leg running into a wall, ruining his career. He did spend ten years in the majors, posting a .260/.315/.326 batting line with 59 doubles, but one has to wonder what could have been.
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Left field: Corey Hart
Although Corey Hart played just 29 games in left, we needed to find a way to get his bat in the lineup. A two time All Star, Hart was a key power hitter for the Brewers, hitting 20 or more homers five times before injuries ruined what was a promising career. Overall, he produced a .271/.329/.478 batting line, hitting 162 homers and 221 doubles.