New York Yankees MLB World Series Champions
Time to Shine: MLB Playoffs can elevate a ballplayer's legacy
In October, it takes only one solid month, or perhaps only one sizzling week, or even as little as one well-timed swing of the bat to make a reputation. Mediocre players are forever remembered for their fleeting moments of postseason clutch-ness. Great players are elevated to gods.
And many Octobers, a promising young player bursts into the nation's consciousness, never to depart.
In October 2001, Alfonso Soriano was a 25-year-old rookie second baseman on a team full of superstars and October heroes. In a sense, he joined both categories when he hit a two-run, walk-off homer against the Seattle Mariners to win Game 4 of the American League Championship Series.
Mickey Mantle was 20 years old and had just finished his first full season in the majors when he hit .345 and slugged .655 in the 1952 World Series.
2006 World Series Playoffs Odds MLB Baseball
Detroit Tigers +1800
Los Angeles Dodgers +700
Minnesota Twins +700
New York Mets +450
New York Yankees +110
Oakland Athletics +450
San Diego Padres +1300
St Louis Cardinals +700
Bobby Richardson was 25 and in his second full season when he was named World Series MVP in 1960.
Derek Jeter was the AL rookie of the year in 1996, but he is remembered more that year for hitting .361 in his first postseason in pinstripes - including the famed Jeffrey Maier "home run" in Game 1 of the ALCS. His reputation is such that he is considered one of the great, clutch Octobers performers of all time, despite a career postseason batting average (.307) that actually ranks below his career regular season average (.316).
Perhaps another young Yankee will continue the line of October heroes this month. If so, the leading candidate is Robinson Cano - the 23-year-old second baseman who entered the final weekend of the regular season battling for the AL batting title.
Of course, no October spectacle is better than a superstar player performing superhuman feats.
Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson will forever be introduced as "Mr. October."
Albert Pujols, now that his St. Louis Cardinals survived a potentially historic September collapse, could be the one player this October whose at-bats are not to be missed.
Undoubtedly, someone will construct his legacy this month.
A Cano or a Justin Morneau or a Joel Zumaya will burst into superstardom.
A Marco Scutaro or a Nick Punto will elevate a pedestrian career with one spectacular week.
Or a Pujols, Carlos Beltran or Frank Thomas will put his teammates on his own back and carry them for an entire month.
Heck, perhaps even Alex Rodriguez can do it. If ever there is a time to erase an awful legacy and create a new one, it is October.