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Features Reader Challenge: Plying the Trades
Here's an interesting thought experiment ...

What ballplayer has been traded the most times for the most All-Star or All-Star caliber players? We're not necesarily talking about individual lopsided deals here, or even blockbusters; just guys who have been dealt a number of times for a number of recognizable names. No doubt the gentle readers of Batter's Box will have a number of nominees, but let's start with the guy who prompted the idea for me while hitting against the Braves on TBS (Mike Cameron) and the daddy of baseball's current headliner, the most vagabond of all All-Stars ever (Bobby Bonds).

Oh, and a couple of, not "rules," really, but for the purposes of this thread, "parameters" ...



  1. Players mentioned must have been involved in more than one transaction of note, not just one huge Von Hayes-ian 1-for-5 blockbuster;
  2. Players who were acquired as bit parts to a trade and then developed into a Huge Freaking Star will be considered at their "star" level.
Be specific; name the player, the trades involved, and the players who were dealt for him. As with our earlier examples:

MIKE CAMERON

  • Traded by White Sox to Reds for 40-homer corner infielder Paul Konerko;
  • Traded by Reds to Mariners as part of package for Hall of Fame OF Ken Griffey Jr.
  • Traded by Mets to Padres for blossoming young OF Xavier Nady
That's a nice run, but not nearly as impressive as ...

BOBBY BONDS

  • Traded by the Giants to the Yankees for All-Star OF Bobby Murcer;
  • Traded by the Yankees to the Angels for future All-Star OF Mickey Rivers and future 20-game winner Ed Figueroa;
  • Traded by the Angels to the White Sox as part of a deal for All-Star C Brian Downing, future 14-game winner Chris Knapp and future 16-game winner Dave Frost;
  • Traded by the White Sox to the Rangers for All-Star OF Claudell Washington and another player;
  • Traded by Rangers to Indians as part of deal for for future AL Rolaids Relief winner Jim Kern and another player;
  • Traded by Indians to Cardinals for future All-Star OF Jerry Mumphrey and future NL Cy Young winner John Denny.
Top THAT, Bauxites!
Posted by Mick Doherty on Tuesday, May 23 2006 @ 11:17 PM EDT.
Reader Challenge: Plying the Trades | 16 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Craig B - Wednesday, May 24 2006 @ 02:53 PM EDT (#147476) #

Bobo Newsom and Ben Chapman were traded in 1937 to the Red Sox for a package that included Hall of Famers Rick Ferrell and Wes Ferrell.  How often does a guy get traded for TWO Hall of Famers at once?

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zeppelinkm - Wednesday, May 24 2006 @ 02:55 PM EDT (#147477) #
Well.. I wouldn't have posted this if there were a bunch of other posts because I didn't think it was good enough, but here goes..

15-Jan-03: In a three-way deal: New York Yankees traded Orlando Hernandez and cash to the Chicago White Sox for Antonio Osuna and Delvis Lantigua. Chicago White Sox then traded Orlando Hernandez, Jeff Liefer, Rocky Biddle and cash to the Montreal Expos for Bartolon Colon and Jorge Nunez.

20-Dec-05: Arizona Diamondbacks traded Javier Vazquez and cash considerations to the Chicago White Sox for Orlando Hernandez, Luis Vizcaino and Chris Young.

Only two so far.. but still, Hernandez while not an all-star, was an ALCS MVP and won the comeback player of the year award once. Bartolo Colon has a Cy Young (debatable or not he's got one) and numerous all star appearences and Vazquez has also made an all-star appearence.



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Craig B - Wednesday, May 24 2006 @ 03:02 PM EDT (#147478) #

Doyle Alexander does pretty well.

Traded to Baltimore in 1971 as part of a package that netted Frank Robinson (HOF) and Pete Richert (AS)

Traded to the Yankees in 1976 as part of a package that netted Rudy May, Rick Dempsey, Tippy Martinez (AS) and Scott McGregor (AS)

Traded to the Giants in 1980 for John Montefusco (AS)

Traded to the Braves in 1986 for Duane Ward (AS)

Traded to the Tigers in 1987 for John Smoltz (AS and future HOF)

Traded for seven All-Stars in his career, including one upper-echelon Hall of Famer and one who should certainly go in.  Plus a bunch of other useful players.

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Craig B - Wednesday, May 24 2006 @ 03:09 PM EDT (#147480) #

Al Dark does well too.  Sid Gordon (AS), Buddy Kerr (AS), Willard Marshall (AS), Jackie Brandt (AS), Red Schoendienst (HOF), Jim Brosnan, Richie Ashburn (HOF), and Joe Morgan.

Sadly, it's not THAT Joe Morgan.  :)  Though it is an interesting instance of two future managers being traded for one another straight up.

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Mike Green - Wednesday, May 24 2006 @ 03:24 PM EDT (#147481) #
How about Willie Montanez? 1970- traded from Phillies to Cards for a package including Dick Allen and Cookie Rojas 1976- traded straight up for Garry Maddox 1977- part of a 4 team trade involving Braves and Mets...Braves didn't get much but Bert Blyleven, John Milner, Jon Matlack and Al Oliver were involved 1979- traded to Texas for package including Mike Jorgensen Feb '80- traded to San Diego for package including Gaylord Perry Aug '80- traded to Expos for Tony Phillips 1981- traded to Pirates for John Milner One Hall of Famer (Perry), Dick Allen (who's in a class all his own), perhaps Bert Blyleven, and a bunch of useful players. Probably not as impressive a list as Doyle Alexander, but Montanez' career was over by age 34.
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King Ryan - Wednesday, May 24 2006 @ 03:51 PM EDT (#147483) #
Actually Craig, Wes Ferrell is not in the HOF.

I actually agree with the voters in that only one of the Ferrell brothers deserved in, problem is they chose the wrong one...



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Dylan B - Thursday, May 25 2006 @ 01:25 AM EDT (#147554) #
What About Gary Sheffield? He was traded from the Brewers for  future All-Star Ricky Bones and the underrated Jose Valintine. Then from San Diego for future All-Star Trevor Hoffman. He was then involved in the blockbust trade from the Marlins for  future HOFer Mike Piazza  and Todd Zeile. Then the Dodgers shipped him Atlanta for All-Star Brian Jordan  and future All-Star Odalis Perez.
I gets even better if you include those players traded with him like Bobby Bonilla, Charles Johnson and Jim Eisenreich.

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Mick Doherty - Thursday, May 25 2006 @ 10:31 AM EDT (#147565) #

Mike, great call on Montanez -- he may out-do Bonds in the traded-for category. And you missed one of the best, in that he was once dealt for Darrell Evans, a guy I personally think should get some mention in Hall of Fame discussions. Okay, he probably shouldn't get IN, but his "most similar list" is packed with guys who are consisently "in the debate" and it seems like Evans (414 homers primarily as a 3B; not many outside Schmidt and Mathews have topped that) isn't even in the conversation ... here's Evans' list:

  1. Graig Nettles (905)
  2. Dale Murphy (850)
  3. Dwight Evans (843)
  4. Gary Gaetti (838)
  5. Chili Davis (823)
  6. Joe Carter (813)
  7. Don Baylor (805)
  8. Ron Santo (790)
  9. Eddie Mathews (785) *
  10. Billy Williams (785) *
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Craig B - Thursday, May 25 2006 @ 10:50 AM EDT (#147570) #

Actually, I think Alexander outdoes Bonds as well.  Doyle was traded for seven All-Stars including Frank Robinson.  Bonds was traded for five.

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Mike Green - Thursday, May 25 2006 @ 10:52 AM EDT (#147572) #

I agree completely, Mick.  Darrell Evans, Dwight Evans, and Reggie Smith are three of my favourite underappreciated ballplayers.  I am hoping to do Hall Watch pieces on them later this year. Speaking of which, my favourite ballplayer, Tim Raines, is eligible for election in the next go-round, and he will get the Hall Watch treatment later this summer.  I'll try to scrape off the rose-colouring from the glasses...

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Craig B - Thursday, May 25 2006 @ 11:00 AM EDT (#147573) #
Why didn't I know before that Joe Carter was traded for one Alomar brother and with another?  Joe's got a good list considering he was only traded four times.  Rick Sutcliffe (AS), George Frazier, Ron Hassey, Sandy Alomar (AS), Chris James, Carlos Baerga (AS), Fred McGriff (AS), Tony Fernandez (AS).  And someone named Darin Blood, who should have played for the Pirates.
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Craig B - Thursday, May 25 2006 @ 11:14 AM EDT (#147575) #
Oscar Gamble: Johnny Callison (AS), Del Unser, Pat Dobson (AS), Bucky Dent (AS), Mike Hargrove (AS), Kurt Bevacqua, Mickey Rivers (AS).
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Craig B - Thursday, May 25 2006 @ 11:22 AM EDT (#147579) #

Ken Holtzman: Rick Monday (AS), Don Baylor (AS), Mike Torrez (somehow never an AS but 185-160 in his career), Rudy May, Rick Dempsey, Tippy Martinez (AS), Scott McGregor (AS), Ron Davis (AS).

Did the A's really trade Dennis Eckersley to the Cardinals for Steve Montgomery?  Man.  I guess Billy Taylor did OK for them, so I suppose I can let this pass.

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Mike Green - Thursday, May 25 2006 @ 11:27 AM EDT (#147581) #
Holtzman's list is amusing because of all the Orioles and Yankees there. Alas, no Eddie Murray, no Reggie Jackson, no Jim Palmer, no Ron Guidry.
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Craig B - Thursday, May 25 2006 @ 11:29 AM EDT (#147582) #

Rick Wise, what a concentration of quality.  Wise was traded three times in his career...

  • Once straight up for a Hall-of-Famer (Steve Carlton)
  • Once with Bernie Carbo for a near Hall-of-Famer (Reggie Smith) and Ken Tatum
  • Once with Bo Diaz and two young pitchers for another Hall-of-Famer (Dennis Eckersley) and Fred Kendall

 

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Reader Challenge: Plying the Trades | 16 comments | Create New Account
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