One Summer: John Valentin's 1995, or The Chicken Parm of Seasons

The New England winter is long, unforgiving, and devoid of ways to fill your time that don’t involve staring unblinkingly and emotionless into the abyss of this futile and pointless folly you call your existence. Plus, you know, it’s slushy and yucky outside. To proactively keep back the misery, I will turn your attention to the sun-drenched, Sox-filled summers of our faded youth with the weekly feature One Summer. For the next month, I will look back on tremendous individual seasons from Sox players whose careers were not consistently All-Stat level, but still produced one outstanding summer in Boston. Remember, just by reading it, you’ll be about 5-10 minutes closer to spring. You are welcome.

One Summer players: John Valentin (1995), Reggie Jefferson (1996), 

Brian Daubach (1999),  Bill Mueller (2003

First Up: John Valentin (1995) 

Look at that: the uppercut swing, the cheesy 90's stache, the superior away jersey. Amazing.

Memories & Career

On Sunday, August 2, 1992, I attended my first Red Sox game at Fenway. The Sox fell to the Baltimore Orioles, 2-1, with Ben McDonald defeating John Dopson. I ate my first Fenway Frank. I learned how to keep the book. And being the early 1990’s, I’m sure I wore an awful combination of flannel, LA Gear, and Bugle Boy jean shorts.

My dad and I sat about 30 rows behind the first base dugout, a decade before Green Monster seats blocked the mid-afternoon sun. As a result, we did not get a clear look at Leo Gomez’s 7th inning home run over the Monster that gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead. Much of the rest of the day blends together, though, as 22 year old memories occasionally do. I don’t remember Tony Pena’s RBI double that brought home Scott Cooper to tie the game in the 7th. And I don’t remember Cal Ripken’s RBI single that scored Brady Anderson a half-inning later to put the O’s on top for good. But that doesn’t matter, because it was it my first Sox game. They could have lost 38-0 and I would still remember it as one of the greatest, sunniest days of my life. How could I not? However, there is another reason I remember that day so fondly.  

In addition to being my first game, it also happened to be the first MLB start for John Valentin, who played short and batted ninth (between Tony Pena and Wade Boggs). Facing the former No. 1 overall pick McDonald, Valentin went 1-2, walked twice, and was stranded on third as the tying run when Tom Brunansky flied out* with the based loaded to CF Mike Deveraux to end the game.

*I do remember Brunansky pinch-hitting for Mo Vaughn. When he was announced, a man a few rows behind the dugout stood and unfurled a white sheet with “Bruno” written in red. My dad had to explain the sign’s significance. Bruno worked the count full (that, I had to research) before flying out to the warning track, which brought the 33, 637 (again, I had to research) to their feet in hopeful excitement, before our spirits were crushed by the ball dropping harmlessly into Deveraux’s glove. It did little to tarnish my day, but I faked disappoint as I joined the Sox faithful in shuffling out of the park dejectedly. Meanwhile, the Sox shuffled dejectedly to a last-place 73-89 record.

Following the game, Valentin went onto have a productive 11 year career that included three trips to the postseason, a league-leading 47 doubles in 1997, and more than $32 million in career earnings.  

I went home and listened to my younger brother cry himself to sleep, because I went to the game instead of him. Four weeks later, I began a productive, workmanlike year in Mrs. Walker’s 2nd grade class at Hartford Avenue Elementary School.

It’s safe to say our fates will forever be linked to that early 90’s Sunday at Fenway. Unfortunately, our paths diverged almost immediately, and it’s hard to say who’s proved more fortuitous. It is a matter of opinion, I guess. I mean, some people are into fame, fortune, and fulfilling a lifelong dream; me, I was more about mastering learning passing Hooked-On Phonics and Plymouth Plantation field trips.

"Christ, Andrew, just get on with you stupid f***ing post. Damnit."

While Valentin probably never recovered from the disappointment of not attending Plymouth Plantation, he managed somehow to pick up the pieces and become a solid contributor on some very good Sox teams. Career, Valentin posted a .279/.360/.454 line, with 124 HR, and a 109 OPS+ (100 is considered league average). In three seasons, he clubbed more than 40 doubles. Valentin began his career with seven straight seasons of at least 101 OPS+, with three seasons of at least a 124 OPS+. After starting nearly 600 games at SS, he moved to second base upon Nomar’s arrival in 1997, where he started more than 80 games. He then moved to third base, where he played nearly 400 games. Twice he led all AL position players in Defensive WAR, and finished third and fourth, respectively, in two other seasons. He was an above average, and occasionally great, player for nearly a decade.

In three postseason trips – 1995, 1998, and 1999 – Valentin was outstanding. In 17 games, he compiled 25 hits, 5 HR, 19 RBI, and an overall line of .347/.407/.639. Valentin tortured the Indians in the 1999 ALDS, totaling 18 bases in the five games, while hitting 3 HR and 12 RBI.

Valentin also forever earned a unique place in baseball history with the simple act of fielding a soft line drive.  On July 8, 1994, he turned an unassisted triple play versus the Mariners. In the sixth inning, with nobody out and the runners on first and second off with the pitch, Marc Newfield lined the ball to Valentin, who touched second base to force out Mike Blowers, and then tagged out Keith Mitchell, who was caught up between first and second. It was the first AL unassisted triple play since 1968, and only one of 15 turned in MLB history. I was watching it from Richard’s Italian Restaurant in Milford while enjoying their chicken parmesan. Sure, Valentin’s unassisted triple play was great, but for a reformed fat kid to still remember one of thousands of dinners over a 20 year period, well, you know it had to be spectacular.

I’m sorry, fellow couch dwellers, where were we? Oh yes, Valentin. Offensively, he got on base at a high rate and hit for power, while defensively he had a very good glove and the versatility to play all four infield positions. He was a force in three postseasons. But it was in 1995 that he produced his greatest summer. I guess you could say that for one summer he was the chicken parmesan of players.  I mean, you could say that, in the way that theoretically you could say almost anything, but I’d probably hold off on saying it right now. It’s your call. I’m just looking out for you.

1995

1995 was a magical year. Will Ferrell made his SNL debut. America received the answer to the question,
“Who shot Mr. Burns?” A 10 year old Andrew Felper played his first season of Hopedale Youth Baseball (the first year of live pitching!). And John Valentin became one of baseball’s best overall players.

Coming into the 1995 season*, Valentin had certainly showed the potential to be a great offensive player. In 1993, his first full season, he played 144 games, hitting .278, with 11 HR and 40 Doubles. During the strike-shortened 1994 season, he posted a .905 OPS and a 129 OPS+.

*Due to the prolonged 1994 work stoppage, MLB played a reduced 144 game schedule in 1995.

In 1995, however, John Valentin exploded onto the scene.  He finished ninth in the MVP voting. He led all AL position players in WAR. He led all MLB shortstops in Defensive WAR. He won a Silver Slugger. He hit three home runs in a game.

Batting ahead of Jose Canseco (24 HR, 81 RBI, .933 OPS) and Mo Vaughn (AL MVP, 39 HR, 126 RBI, .963 OPS), Valentin put together the following campaign for the fourth highest scoring team in baseball:

27 HR, 102 RBI, 37 2B, 20 SB, .298/.399/.533, 138 OPS+

His name could be found in the Top 10 of several AL categories:

• 2nd – WAR (8.3 - 1st among position players. Randy Johnson led league)
• 4th – Doubles (37)
• 6th – Runs Scored (108)
• 6th – HBP (10)
• 9th – Extra Base Hits (66)
• 9th – Total Bases (277)

In WAR, he finished ahead of Edgar Martinez, Albert Belle, David Cone, Bernie Williams, and Jim Thome, among others. Vaughn, 1995’s AL MVP, did not even crack the Top 10.

And for all his impressive feats at the plate, he was just as outstanding in the field. He finished with the best defensive WAR of any SS in baseball, and the best overall among AL position players, ahead of Ripken, Ivan Rodriguez, and Jim Edmonds.

• 2nd - Double Plays Turned at SS
• 2nd-  Putouts at SS
• 4th -  Assists
• 4th -  Range Factors at SS

As mentioned above, Valentin’s 1995 season included a three home run game.  On June 2 at Fenway, he hit three solo home runs versus the Mariners. For the day, Valentin went 5-5, with a single and a double to go along with the three solo shots. He had 15 total bases, to go along with 3 RBI and 4 RS. The Sox won 6-5 in 10 innings when Mike Greenwell singled home Mo Vaughn.

The Red Sox went 86-58, which projects to 97 wins in a 162 game season. They won the AL East before being swept by the Indians in the ALDS, being outscored 17-6 in the three games. Canseco and Vaughn were a combined 0-27 with three walks. It was brutal. Valentin, however, finished his 1995 season as the one of the team’s few offensive bright spots, hitting a home run and posting a .983 OPS.

As mentioned above, he finished ninth in the AL MVP voting. A reasonable argument can be made that Valentin finished too low in the voting – seriously, he finished behind Jose Mesa and Jay Buhner. His remarkable contributions at the plate and in the field on a near daily basis (played 135 of 144 games) for a playoff team should have placed him in the top 5, along with Albert Belle, who should have won, and Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez, and Vaughn.

Click on the link for the voting and the player’s stats: http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1995.shtml#ALmvp

Did you see it? Seriously, Jose Mesa?

So, Valentin did not win the MVP, but, at the very least, he was baseball’s best overall shortstop in 1995, and that includes that season’s NL MVP, Barry Larkin. For that one season, Valentin one of the game’s 7-10 best players. 1995 was good to John Valentin.

What Happened Next

While Valentin posted a couple more solid seasons, including 1997 (league leading 47 doubles, career high 176 hits, 18 HR, 70 Extras Base Hits, .871 OPS) and 1998 (23 HR and a career high 153 games played), he never matched his borderline-MVP season of 1995. On May 30, 2000, Valentin blew out his ACL diving to his left for a ground ball at third base. He missed the rest of the season, and played only 20 games in the Sox’s disastrous (see: Lansing, Mike; Bichette, Dante; Kerrigan, Joe) in 2001. Prior to the 2002 season, Valentin signed with Mets. He appeared in 114 games, hitting 3 HR and posting a .695 OPS. He retired following that season. In 2013, he spent his first season as the Dodgers assistant hitting coach. This was a fact I became aware of only when the Sox played the Dodgers in late August. I was pounding  crying in to sipping a White Russian, when the NESN camera panned the Dodgers dugout. Alertly, and not all slurring my words, I asked myself, as I was the only person in the room, “Hey, is that John Valentin in the Dodgers’ dugout?” Nothing gets past me, even if it takes nearly a full season for me to realize it.  I’m smart.

1995 saw Valentin emerge as the game’s best shortstop, if just for that one season. By 1997, he had been supplanted at that position by Nomar. However, his plate discipline, long, uppercut swing, willingness to play all over the field, and consistent postseason heroics endeared to him to this growing chubby husky fat little leaguer who loved to walk, hit balls far enough that he barely had to run, and play all over the infield.  And someday, hoping against hope, we’ll make that trip to Plymouth Plantation, together.

Bonus

Cape Cod Baseball League Valentin! The Seton Hall product spent Summer '88 with Hyannis. An Italian, Jersey-born power-hitting infielder after my own heart.