New Arrival: Juan Gonzalez, of, Cleveland Guardians
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Juan Gonzalez had a good big league career. But when I think of Juan Gone, I think about a single at-bat to open the 2005 season.
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If you were a Cleveland fan back in 2005, chances are you were confused why Juan Gonzalez opened the season on the big league roster. He signed with the club that offseason on a one-year deal, spent most of the spring injured, and when he was healthy, his hitting was not inspiring confidence that the 35-year-old slugger had much left in the tank. Cleveland also had prized outfield prospect Grady Sizemore in the wings, who many expected would open the season with the major league team. Alas, the Cleveland brass decided to go with the veteran Gonzalez. The fans were not happy when the news broke.
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In Gonzalez’s first at-bat of the season, he got a hit…and injured himself running to first. This was a shock to nobody. He had missed 301 of a possible 486 games over the past three seasons. The club placed him on the 15-day IL and recalled Grady Sizemore.
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Sizemore would go on to have a great season, with a 123 OPS+, garnering a spatter of MVP votes. He was a big part of a surprise Cleveland club that won 93 games. Juan Gonzalez’s career was effectively over, and he would never see another major league at-bat.
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Still, Juan Gone had a great career. Two MVP awards, three all-star selections, six silver sluggers, and 434 career home runs. He is solidly in the Hall of Very Good.
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Also: I am the only person who loves the 1992 Donruss design. Rated Rookies, especially. It’s one of a handful of non-Topps ’90s era cards that I think are the bees’ knees. 1991 and 1992 Fleer and 1992 Score are right there as well.