Like a fine wine, Paul Molitor seems to get better with age. Weakened early in his career by various injuries, Molitor was turned into a full-time DH in 1990. The shift helped to lengthen a Hall of Fame career. In 1993, he became the oldest man to drive in 100 runs, when at the age of 37 he had 111 RBI for the Toronto Blue Jays. Nicknamed the 'Igniter' for his uncanny ability to instigate a rally, a January 1994 poll of AL managers selected Molitor as the best two-strike hitter in the league.
Dubbed 'The Franchise' by adoring Kansas City fans, Brett led the Royals to six AL West titles, two World Series appearances, and their first and only championship. Hitting for average and power, solid on the basepaths, and steady in the field there was very little on the baseball diamond George couldn't do. Brett (whose older brother, Ken, spent 13 years in the majors) retired in 1993 as the all-time club leader in every offensive category excluding stolen bases. However, Brett may be best remembered for two accoutrements: a ubiquitous wad of chew habitually stuffed in one cheek and the fateful pine tar he spread on his bat on July 24, 1983.
HITTING
HITTING
Considered one of the smarter players in baseball, Molitor is a straight-away hitter with excellent bat control. Batting leadoff early in his career with the Brewers 'Mollie' was often called upon to bunt, a skill he executed to perfection. His .332 batting average in 1993, his first season with the Blue Jays, helped carry the Jays past the Yanks and into the postseason, where he hit .500 with six extra-base hits in the World Series. While playing for his hometown Minnesota Twins, Paul continued to defy the aging process by hitting a remarkable .341 in 1996.
Under the tutelage of legendary hitting coach Charlie Lau, Brett learned how to adapt to off-speed pitches early in his career. He soon became one of the best hitters in the league, flirting with a .400 batting mark for most of the 1980 season (he finished with a .390 mark, the highest AL average since Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941) but managed to save his best hitting for the postseason. With the Royals down 2-1 to the Yankees in Game Three of the 1980 ALCS, Brett launched a Goose Gossage fastball into the upper deck at Yankee Stadium. The three-run shot sent the underdog Royals into the World Series for the first time in club history.
DEFENSE
DEFENSE
Shuffling between shortstop, second base, and center field during his first few seasons in the bigs, Molitor was never given an adequate chance to hone his defensive skills. Eventually, Molitor found a home at third base, where he achieved moderate success with the glove. Even though he's been primarily a DH over the past few seasons, Molitor has seen limited time at first, where he is steady.
Blessed with a strong arm and above-average range, Brett was solid in the field, winning a Gold Glove for his play at the hot corner in 1985. However, Brett was known to have mental lapses; he once booted a ball after waving goodbye to friends in the stands. Brett was turned into a full-time DH in 1991 after a brief stint at first.
BASERUNNING
BASERUNNING
Fleet of foot in his more youthful days, Molitor stole 40 bases four times as the Brewers' leadoff man in the early to mid 1980s. Slowed by injuries and age as his career went on, Paul managed to develop a keen sense of when to run. He had one streak of 32 straight stolen bases between '94 and '95 without being thrown out.
Although often described as heavy-legged, Brett was extremely bold and aggressive on the basepaths and wasn't afraid to stretch singles into doubles. Brett once remarked that his favorite part of the game was sliding hard into second while trying to break up the double play.
LEADERSHIP/CHARACTER
LEADERSHIP/CHARACTER
After the Jays had won the 1993 World Championship, longtime Blue Jays skipper Cito Gaston remarked that he didn't get misty-eyed until he hugged Molitor -- a sixteen-year veteran who had just won his first ring. Desiring to end his career near his birthplace of St. Paul, he turned down several opportunities to play for contenders and instead signed with the small-market Twins before the '96 campaign.
In awe of his ferocious desire to win, teammate Hal McRae described Brett as 'our inspiration.' The Royals retired Brett's number 5 after his playing days were over. Brett was fiercely competitive; his most fiery moment came in the 'Pine-Tar Game' of July 24, 1983, when his two-run game-winning homer was revoked after Yankee skipper Billy Martin pointed out that Brett had more than the legal 17 inches of pine tar on his bat. Angered at the umpires' ruling, Brett stormed onto the field barking at anyone in his way.
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