Adrián Beltré Was Weirder Than You Remember | Baseball History
94,401
Published 2023-04-26
_____________________________
Twitter: @BaseballHSTRN
_____________________________
Adrián Beltré is one of the greatest third basemen in the history of baseball. Over twenty-one seasons, he racked up more hits than anyone else at his position. He’s been compared to Hall of Famers like Mike Schmidt, George Brett, and other legends of the game. And he looks to be a shoo-in for next year’s Cooperstown election, his first time appearing on the ballot.
Looking back, the case for Adrián Beltré as an all-time MLB talent is as strong as anyone’s. But it wasn’t always that way. For much of his career, Beltré was seen as a good player, if not the best. He never won an MVP, never won a World Series, and rarely led the league in offensive statistics. So how did he become the near-universally beloved icon we know him as today?
This video is about a different kind of great. Mike Schmidt, George Brett - guys like them spent years in front of cameras and on the covers of magazines. Beltré, meanwhile, spent twelve years in the league before his first All-Star Game. His career has been called, quote, “almost boringly steady.” Now, Adrián Beltré is a lot of things. “Boring” isn’t one of them.
_____________________________
MUSIC:
"Ringside" - Dyalla
"Dutty" - Vibe Tracks
"Huma Huma" - From Russia With Love
"Chariots of War" - Aaakash Gandhi
"Heaven and Hell" - Jeremy Blake
"Teasing the King" - Nathan Moore
"Hustle" - Kevin MacLeod
"Sugar Zone" - Silent Partner
"Soulicious" - Dyalla
"Come On In" - Silent Partner
_____________________________
SOURCES:
Baseball Reference
Fangraphs
ESPN
Baseball Savant
sabr.org/bioproj/person/adrian-beltre/
www.nytimes.com/2018/11/20/sports/adrian-beltre-re…
www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19707372/rangers-star-…
dodgerblue.com/dodgers-bonus-pool-money-for-2022-2….
apnews.com/article/eb6794c5d38baf27fb5e4ee3e677639…
www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-adrian-beltre…
blogs.fangraphs.com/the-best-non-all-star-seasons-…
mlb.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/mlb/y2004/m07…
www.espn.com/boston/mlb/news/story?id=4795915
blogs.fangraphs.com/adrian-beltre-was-everyones-fa…
www.newyorker.com/sports/sporting-scene/why-adrian…
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Major_League_Basebal….
baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/statcast-venue?…
All Comments (21)
-
STREETS NEEDED THIS
-
As a Texas Rangers fan I was able to witness Adrian Beltre's ascendance from an All-Star to a future Hall of Famer. I was fortunate enough to be at his 3,000th hit game, and I hope to be in Cooperstown next year for his Hall of Fame induction.
-
The fact that he’s top 15 in games played and it felt like he still had a couple years left in him when he walked away tells you all you need to know about Adrian Beltre
-
Don’t forget that Adrian is also the only player in history to cycle twice in the same ballpark for two different sides (Ballpark in Arlington: 1 for Seattle, 1 for the Rangers).
-
After he left the Dodgers, he had a huge decline with the M's. He redeemed himself with the Red Sox and became a HOFer with the Rangers.
-
This made me cry man. I have lived in Arlington my whole life, and been to 1000+ games. Nothing will every amount to watching Beltre hit a walkoff from his knees or a bare handed snag. Baseball is romantic.
-
Remember him when I first started watching baseball as a mariner fan. He was my favorite player and I was devastated when he was no longer a mariner
-
When I was maybe 8 I remember my dad telling me to run down by the dugout and hold my glove out in case any player tossed a ball my way. Beltre looked up, gave me the nod and tossed me the ball. Been one of my favorite players ever since
-
One of my favorite players I got to see play baseball, his aversion to being touched on his head will never be forgotten 🙏
-
I say this all the time. If I need a 3rd baseman for a team, he's my guy. He was the perfect prototypical 3rd baseman. He was consistent and never lacked on defense
-
I'm a Beltre collector. A Yankees fan but other than Yankees he's one of my all time favorite players to watch. He did everything the right way and imo one of the top 60 players of all time
-
This dude I believe hit multiple home runs from one knee during his tenure in Texas in the Pennant winning teams of 2010 and 2011? What an absolute monster
-
As a Dodger fan, to see him claw his way back and up the ladder to that monster 2004, just to see him leave in Free Agency that very offseason AFTER we FINALLY got to the postseason... I'll tell ya, my loyalty was challenged that offseason. Next to Piazza and Lo Duca, losing Beltre hurt more than any other move the Dodgers made from 1998-2005. McCourt and Fox can both kiss my rear end.
-
I love when Ken Caminiti gets mentioned in a video because he was a relative of mine. Obv had his issues but he seems to be forgotten a lot
-
Jon Bois talking about his most memorable moment in Seattle when he was hit in his sac still makes me chuckle. Especially after he said “I already have 3 kids. I don’t want anymore.”
-
If Beltre isnt first ballot.. we riot.. the dude deserves it.. Class player and great personality.
-
Beltre's first two years at Safeco Field assured that any free agent hitter with good options would NEVER go to Seattle. That never changed until they moved in the fences.
-
Shoot being a kid in L.A. in 04 I remember how great of a player he was. Still one my all my time favorite Dodgers.
-
A long career and never traded. Remarkably consistent too.
-
Ms fan. Love Beltre even though he didn't have his best years in Seattle. He was one of the few watchable things about those mid2000s teams.
