Howdy.
As most sports fans know, November 11, 1991, marks the date of one of the more infamous trades in Pittsburgh Pirates history. That was when the World Series runner-up Pirates, wanting to win it all next year, traded Ken Griffey, Jr. to the New York Yankees for their first baseman, Don Mattingly. Unlike others, I'm not going to knock the Pirates hard for this trade, since they made it because, in large part, Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey, Jr. did not get along and the trade was thought to be an effort to keep Bonds in Pittsburgh (Bobby Bonilla had left after the World Series loss to the Twins). Another reason not to knock the trade too much is that the Pirates, like the NBA St. Louis Hawks after they traded their Number 2 pick (Bill Russell) to the Boston Celtics for Cliff Hagan and Ed Mccauley, did win the 1992 World Series behind Mattingly and Bonds.
However, much like the Celtics benefitted in the long run from the Hawks-Celtics trade, the Yankees managed to create another dynasty behind Griffey (among many other big stars, including Derek Jeter), and would go on to win six World Series titles (in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2003); the 1998 team is considered one of the best baseball teams of all tinme. And Barry Bonds would leave the Pirates after the 1992 World Series win, so, yeah, the Yankees, like the Celtics, really benefited
So, WI the Pirates didn't trade Griffey for Mattingly? IMO, the Yankees probably still win a few, since they were a very good team in the late 1990s, even without Griffey, and they had some excellent players...
What happens to Griffey and/or Bonds in this scenario?
OTOH, Griffey's appearances on Seinfeld and other New York-set shows are likely butterflied away...
As most sports fans know, November 11, 1991, marks the date of one of the more infamous trades in Pittsburgh Pirates history. That was when the World Series runner-up Pirates, wanting to win it all next year, traded Ken Griffey, Jr. to the New York Yankees for their first baseman, Don Mattingly. Unlike others, I'm not going to knock the Pirates hard for this trade, since they made it because, in large part, Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey, Jr. did not get along and the trade was thought to be an effort to keep Bonds in Pittsburgh (Bobby Bonilla had left after the World Series loss to the Twins). Another reason not to knock the trade too much is that the Pirates, like the NBA St. Louis Hawks after they traded their Number 2 pick (Bill Russell) to the Boston Celtics for Cliff Hagan and Ed Mccauley, did win the 1992 World Series behind Mattingly and Bonds.
However, much like the Celtics benefitted in the long run from the Hawks-Celtics trade, the Yankees managed to create another dynasty behind Griffey (among many other big stars, including Derek Jeter), and would go on to win six World Series titles (in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2003); the 1998 team is considered one of the best baseball teams of all tinme. And Barry Bonds would leave the Pirates after the 1992 World Series win, so, yeah, the Yankees, like the Celtics, really benefited
So, WI the Pirates didn't trade Griffey for Mattingly? IMO, the Yankees probably still win a few, since they were a very good team in the late 1990s, even without Griffey, and they had some excellent players...
What happens to Griffey and/or Bonds in this scenario?
OTOH, Griffey's appearances on Seinfeld and other New York-set shows are likely butterflied away...
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