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Though he appeared in just seven seasons, Toronto ace Dwight Gooden was the most dominant pitcher of the decade by a mile. With five Cy Young Awards, there could be no other choice for UL Pitcher of the Decade. Gooden had five straight 20-win seasons, won the Triple Crown in 1986, and led the league in WAR four years in a row. His 129-56 record netted a league-best .697 win percentage, and he completed 93 games, including 21 for shutouts.

Gooden joins Billy Pierce, Johnny Podres, and Larry Dierker on the short list of Pitchers of the Decade and is the youngest, by six years, to win the accolade, at age 26.

Dierker is the only other player in UL history remotely comparable to Gooden—indeed the two are the only pitchers to rack up five Cy Young Awards. Gooden has 129 wins and 1886 Ks through his age-25 season, putting him on a trajectory to challenge both Dierker’s all-time win record and Johnny Antonelli’s all-time strikeout record.

Alan Trammell today joined one of the most elite clubs in United League history, becoming just the fourth man named the Player of the Decade. Though he never won a Most Valuable Player award, Trammell led the league in WAR three times and finished in the top five four other times. A nine-time All-Star, Trammell was named to eight All-UL Teams and won seven Gold Gloves. An excellent fielder, he captured seven Willie Mays Awards for the best defensive player in the league, and also led the league with 1944 hits in the decade and hit .329 while driving in 919 RBIs.

Trammell’s rise coincided with Detroit’s rise. Long a league doormat, the Griffins began a run of seven straight division pennants in Alan’s third year, and his the WAR champion seasons (1982, 1984, 1985) coincide with Detroit’s three President’s Trophies.

He joins Ralph Kiner, Mickey Mantle, and Joe Torre on the uber-elite list of Players of the Decade, and becomes the first middle infielder, but second Detroit Griffin, after Kiner.

The United League unveiled its fourth All-Decade Team today, honoring the best 10 hitters and five pitchers from 1981 through 1990. Larry Dierker and Rick Reuschel were named for the second decade in a row, joining Joe Torre as the only two-time ADT winners. Players were chosen based on their statistics and awards from the last ten years alone.

C Darrell Porter
A nine-time All-Star, Porter had the best OBP, SLG, OPS, and WAR among catchers, and his 609 walks doubled his nearest competitor.

1B Eddie Murray

Murray and L.A. teammate Dave Winfield were the only two players in the decade who drove in more than 900 runs and hit at least .300. Murray’s 594 extra-base hits ranks second and his 970 RBIs rank third.

2B Ryne Sandberg

The only player in the decade with over 600 RBIs and 500 stolen bases, Sandberg also netted four Gold Gloves, three Ullies, and seven All-Star Game appearances.

3B Wade Boggs

Boggs was second only to Gwynn in batting average, second only to Trammell in hits and WAR, and second only to Johnny Ray in doubles. He hit .360 for the decade—including .402 in 1982— and averaged 191 hits per year. He won three batting titles and finished second three more times.

SS Alan Trammell

See above.

IF Bob Horner

A five-time home run champion, Horner ended the decade with 422 homers and 3310 total bases, more than any other hitter.

LF Dave Winfield

Winfield’s 349 home runs was second only to Horner and his .546 slugging ranked fourth: not bad for a guy who spent three-quarters of the decade in pitcher’s parks. Winfield won the 1982 MVP award and led the league in SLG and OPS in 1984.

CF Eric Davis

The Atlanta masher led all center fielders with 254 homeruns and 683 RBIs, and hit .293 for the decade with two All-UL Team nominations.

RF Tony Gwynn

Mr. Topper hit over .400 three years in a row, won four straight batting titles, and hit .374, the decade’s best batting average. In 1986 he set new league standards with 293 hits, a .448 average and .476 OBP on the way to the Most Valuable Player award.

OF Ken Landreaux

The Brooklyn center fielder was an iron man. He was third in the decade with 6451 plate appearances and fourth in hits with 1795. He hit over .300 six times and .310 for the decade, and won three Gold Gloves in center field.

SP Dwight Gooden

See above.

SP Rick Reuschel

Reuschel won the most games in the decade (140) and posted a 2.97 ERA despite six years in Boston and Denver, both hitter’s parks. Won the 1982 Cy with a 21-9, 2.84 season with the Federals, and led the league in WHIP in 1986 at age 36.

SP Larry Dierker

The only pitcher who ranked in the top five in both WHIP and complete games, Dierker posted a decade ERA of 2.69, made five All-Star Teams, and won three Ullies and the 1983 Cy Young Award.

SP Scott Sanderson

Sanderson was an innings-eater, an iron man, and a dominant ace. He led all pitchers with 325 starts and 2250 innings pitched, and ranked third with 134 wins and sixth with 1652 Ks.

RP Lee Smith

The decade’s save leader (with 310), Smith was one of just two relievers to make four All-Star rosters. His 650 Ks were most by a relief man and his 1.08 WHIP was second among pitchers with 150 saves.

Everyone remember how this works?  Risk level, fit, and value drive my final verdict of “GOOD”, “BETTER” or “BEST”.  Note there were some trades this draft round, and I will attempt to include in my analysis how these moves may impact the teams involved, although that is even more difficult than assessing one pick.  

Despite the sub-title, this year I’m changing things up.  I now will buy it for “$700 billion and a trillion, 300 million billion dollars” because why not?  

1. FLO – SP Mike Mussina
Did You Know?

Is in the HoF with a cap without a logo.

Never won a Cy Young, and only won 20 games once in his career, in his last season playing.  

FUN FACT:  His thoughts arrive like butterflies, but he don’t know, so he chases them away.

FUNNER FACT:  Although known as “Moose” to the world and an amazing pitcher, he always wanted to be a lumberjack…..  

The best SP in the draft, GM Jo Lima continues to build FLO by sticking to his tried-and-true approach when he was manning MON – pitching.  Although Lima deviated in last year’s draft with the Frank Thomas pick, he seems to be back to what landed him a WS ring with Les Voyageurs. Nearly fully-developed, a potential 23, and a 9 stamina – Lima appears to have found his staff ace.  The Flamingos park is oppressive to hitters, so it appears even FLO knows to play to its strengths.  

Pick Quality:  BEST!

2. MON – C Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez 

Did You Know?

13-time Gold Glove winner; 7-time Silver Slugger; 14-time All Star; HoF Class of 2017; 1 WS.  

How’d he get his nickname?  “Chino Cadahia, who was a Rangers coach at the time, gave me that name. He saw that I was short and stocky, so, from Day One, he started calling me ‘Pudge.’ It caught on, and the rest is history.”

FUN FACT:  starred in a series of commercials that ran in Detroit when he was with the Tigers; the commercials focused on being neighborly and polite while queuing in line and were called “Please don’t nudge Pudge!”.

FUNNER FACT:  CLE GM Charlie Qualls’s (Qualls’?  Qualls is?) favorite catcher.

Wow.  Just Wow.  GM Gryka just hit the jackpot with this pick and solved any catcher issues that MON may have had.  Outstanding defense, some power, and even some speed.  Pudge is not your father’s Oldsmobile.  This guy immediately improves MON on both sides of the game and should begin to contribute even as a rookie.  

Pick Quality:  BEST!

3. KEY – 1B Jeff Bagwell 

Did You Know?

4-time All Star; 3-time Silver Slugger; NL MVP and Gold Glove (1994); HoF 2017.  

Originally drafted by the Red Sox, Yaz begged the club not to trade him.  The club ignored his advice and sent him to Houston for RP Larry Anderson, who promptly left the Red Sox after one season.

Was the test case for the Bill James style of analysis now common in the game.  James predicted he would be a star – much to the amazement of many old-timey beat reporters.  

FUN FACT:  Favorite band is Madness, with “Bagsy Trousers” his favorite song. 

Beat reporter Holloway passed out when reviewing Bagwell’s ratings.  He was heard mumbling “8 contact, 9 power, and 9 eye!” before losing consciousness.  At #3, KEY may have taken the best offensive player of not only the draft but also one of the top offensive players in the entire UL.  This is a massively impactful pick for KEY, and it is very difficult to see any reason to not like this pick.  

Pick Quality:  BEST X 2!

4. SF – CF - Bernie Williams
Did You Know?

5-time All Star, one Silver Slugger; 4-time Gold Glove; 4 WS.   

Trained on classical guitar, his 2009 album was nominated for a Latin Grammy.  

FUN FACT:  Often confused for Bernie Kopell due to his incredible Siegfried (Get Smart!) imitation.

FUNNER FACT:  Parents liked Sesame Street so much, especially Bert and Ernie, that they named him after both - “Bernie”.  

GM Tonole landed a switch-hitting CF with some power in Williams.  But with Devon White already in SF, where will Williams play?  There’s also the fact that from a fielding perspective, Kenny Lofton most likely was the pick here.  White could slide to a corner, or maybe the plan is for Williams himself to slide to a corner.  Apart from White, SF’s other two OFs are getting up there in age, so kudos for fulfilling a need, but the thought that Lofton would have been a better fit is in the back of my mind.  

Pick Quality:  BETTER!


5. LA – CF Kenny "I'm Alright" Lofton
Did You Know?

6-time All Star; 4-time Gold Glove; 5-time AL SB Leader; 54th player to score 1,500 runs.   

Lofton's nephew Cirroc (Lofton) played Jake Sisko on the TV show Deep Space Nine; during an episode entitled “Take Me Out to the Holosuite” about a futuristic game of baseball, Cirroc wore an Atlanta Braves cap as a tribute to his uncle Kenny who was playing for the Braves at that time. 

FUN FACT:  known for being a maverick and happy-go-lucky, typically responds “Don’t nobody worry ‘bout me” when asked how he’s doing.  

FUNNER FACT:  Chuck Rodent is his favorite actor.

FUNNEST FACT: although happy-go-lucky off the field, he plays the game the further on the edge because the hotter the intensity.   

Very possibly the swoop of Round 1.  But how can the #5 pick be a swoop?  Lofton has range, a cannon of an arm, speed to burn, and some good contact, and he does this in a premium position.  With LA’s outfield starting to age, this is just the injection of new life that GM Vays needs.   

Pick Quality:  BEST!

6. ATL – SP Darryl Kile
Did You Know?

3-time All Star; one 20-win season; two 200 SO seasons.  

SAD FACT:  died of a heart attack in his sleep on June 22, 2002.  

GM Chaney needs some players and pitchers STAT.  With Kile, he grabs arguably the second/third best pitcher on the table.  Kile does have some developing to do, but not that much, and this beat reporter believes Chaney may give Kile a baptism by fire and immediately add his firepower into the starting rotation, which now is looking much better with Fernando, Shirley and Kile a solid three.  

Pick Quality:  BEST!

7. LA – RP Rheal Cormier
Did You Know?

Was one of the best badminton players in New Brunswick, Canada.

Was a teammate of Bill “Spaceman” Lee when they played for the Nova Scotia Senior League.

SAD FACT:  Died of lung cancer in 2021.    

Once again, GM Vays hits it out of the park with his tried-and-true strategy of “Ruffin it”.  Many would assume Cormier is a reliever, but GM Vays says “Nay, nay”.  At a potential 23 (7/7/9), Cormier is a left-handed Dave Beard.  The only possible issue – which could certainly be a non-issue – is if Cormier will make it longer than three innings.  While a bit of a risk, this guy has the ratings, and it gives the Outlaws yet another SP that can wait in the wings until it’s his time.  

Pick Quality:  BEST!

8. SEA – 3B Vinny Castilla
Did You Know?

Two-time All Star; three-time Silver Slugger; NL RBI Leader 2004

Leads all Mexican natives in MLB in homers (320), RBI (1,105), hits (1,884), at bats (6,822) and doubles (349).  

FUN FACT:  Parents liked the character of Vinnie Barbarino on Welcome Back, Kotter! that they named him “Vinny”.  

FUNNER FACT:  his dreams really were his ticket out.

FUNNEST FACT:  favorite singer is John Sebastian.    

Due to a severe head cold, Iron Mike found himself thrown into new GM Herman DeBarr’s shoes for the #8 pick; the first time that Iron Mike has dipped his foot into the draft in the modern era.  And what of said draft pick?  This beat reporter has to give it to Iron Mike on this one.  Chris Brown has been doing well at 3B, but he is nearly 30, and there is not another 3B to be found in SEA’s system.  Vinny does have a long development road ahead of him, so we’ll hold final judgement on this pick but give Iron Mike and the AI a provisional rating.  

Pick Quality:  BEST!


9. LA  – SS Rey Sanchez
Did You Know?

Full name is Rey Francisco Sanchez Guadalupe.  

For some reason, a story circulated in 2003 about Armando Benitez giving Sanchez a haircut in the clubhouse; this turned out to be completely fabricated, but people still lost their shit and made a big deal about how “wrong” this was.  

FUN FACT:  interestingly enough, attended Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Schools.  

Wait a minute.  First Lofton.  Then Rheal.  Now the best glove SS in the draft?  Crikey, GM Vays has LA re-stocked for bear for the foreseeable future.  It’s not like he needed Sanchez, but if a glove like his is available, why not have him just in case?  To the winners go the spoils, and Vays’ ability to win at the trade game means he has an embarrassing amount of riches, so much so that Sanchez likely won’t even start and instead come off the bench as a defensive sub.  

Pick Quality:  BEST!

10. BRO – RP Mike Timlin

Did You Know?

Never played AAA ball – jumped from AA to the Blue Jays.  

One 30-save season; won four WS with Toronto and Boston. 

FUN FACT:  Cousin of Griffins SP Randy Tomlin.

FUNNER FACT:  Did a series of used car dealership commercials that gave out loans with low interest rates; tag line was “You’re in like Flynn – with Mike Timlin!!!”. 

Turbo TimBRO had a tough choice at #10.  What do you get a guy that has two complete starting rotations?  The answer is obvious: more pitching!  And that’s just what GM Widholm did – acquire a delectable RP in the name of Timlin.  A potential 24 that is almost fully developed?  Yeah, this guy should partner well with John Wetteland and Rudy Saenz (who is currently hiding in the minors).  Timlin should give BRO an immediate boost in their pen.  

Pick Quality:  BEST

11. ATL - SP Andy Ashby 

Did You Know?

Two-time All Star, NL Shutout leader 1999, 200 IP three times.  

On June 15, 1991, pitched an immaculate inning vs the Reds.  

FUN FACT:  with two Andys on stadium grounds, the Toppers have found themselves more than once in an Abbot and Costello’s “Who’s on First?” situation, with the duo either both responding or both ignoring folks calling their names.  

Topping off a rather productive pitching 1st round for the Toppers, GM Andy Chaney went to another Andy to help improve the club.  By picking up the #2/#3 rated pitcher overall in this year’s draft at this pick……wait!  It’s getting noisy!  Yep, you heard it!  The Swoop Train is rollin’ round the bend!  A 21-rated SP drops to the 11th pick?  No idea how that happened.  Chaney went from three SPs on his roster to filling out his rotation, and the addition of Ashby only makes the addition of Kile look even better.  

Pick Quality:  BEST!

12. DET – RP Mark Wohlers

Did You Know?

Appeared in a cameo role on Saturday Night Live in 1997.  

Fastball was timed at 105 mph.  

WS with Braves in 1995.

FUN FACT: very involved in non-profit work, and was upset when he discovered the horrible retirement benefits and pension for former players of the PBA Tour; in response created his own 501(c)(3) “Wohlers for Bowlers” and holds events throughout the country during the offseason.   

What is up with GM Holloway?  I’ll tell you what’s up.  The Griffins pen stinks on ice.  This is an apparent attempt to do something about it.  Wohlers carries some development risk, but a fully developed Wohlers could be the answer to the Griffins inability to close out games.    

Pick Quality:  BETTER!

13. ATL – RP Arthur Rhodes

Did You Know?

One-time All Star; one WS with St. Louis in 2011.

Wasn’t that fight with Ozzie Guillen over the earring awesome? 

FUN FACT:  favorite singer is Christopher Cross.

FUNNER FACT:  favorite actor is Dudley Moore.

FUNNEST FACT:  once got caught between the moon and New York City.  

GM Chaney is back at it.  I bet you didn’t know that 1991 is the year of the pitcher – at least in Atlanta.  After grabbing Kile and Ashby, why not have a mild after dinner digestif like a bitching relief pitcher?  A potential 22, Rhodes is a hard-throwing leftie with four pitches.  The tandem of Diaz and Rhodes should be a potent set-up/closer combo regardless of who is in each role.  Very nice way to end the round for ATL.  Although there is a concern that Diaz and Rhodes will end up brawling fairly frequently, as neither are the greatest of people.  

Pick Quality:  BEST!

14. BOS – 2B Chuck Knoblauch
Did You Know?

1991 AL ROY; four-time All Star; GG 1997; two-time Silver Slugger; four WS with Twins (1991) and NYY (1998, 1999, 2000).

FUN FACT:  Knoblauch means garlic in German.  

BUMMER FACT: Admitted to using HGH and believes it resulted in him having his worst years as a player and getting hurt.  

BUMMERER FACT:  Twice charged with domestic/family abuse.  

GM Hetzer’s pick at 15 is solid considering the quality of position players this year and BOS’s needs.  The Feds are in the enviable position of having a solid middle IF, and they have no problem in LF either, which is the Knoblauch’s second position, having this Barry something or other out there.  Morandini has a better glove, so the issue will be how Hetzer gets Knobby on the field to take advantage of his bat.    

Pick Quality:  BETTER!

15.  BOS – SP Pat Hentgen

Did You Know?

Three-time All Star; AL Cy Young 1996; two WS with Toronto in 1992 & 1993.

Was born in Detroit and went to Fraser High School, a mere six miles from your beat reporter’s childhood home!

NOT SO FUN FACT:  was teased as a child due to his love of Japanese animation; kids mistakenly thought he was addicted to watching hentai instead of Japanese Manga, so the kids called him “Hentai Hentgen”.  

I really like this pick at 14 by GM Hetzer.  After Moose, it’s debatable as to who the second or third best pitchers in this year’s draft are.  Much depends on the type of pitcher one wants, and on how Iron Mike will treat the pitchers that have great STUFF and CON but nearly no MOVE to their pitches.  And this beat reporter has not one inkling how this will play out.  Regardless, getting an SP that has great pitches and stamina is always a good thing.  With Candiotti and Rasmussen getting older, Hentgen should be ready to step in almost immediately should anything happen.  

Pick Quality:  BEST!

16. DET – SP Pete Schourek

Did You Know?

Won 15 games once; lost 1995 Cy Young to this Craig Maddox guy I’ve never heard of.   

FUN FACT:  Most teammates cannot pronounce his name and simply call him “Shrek”, which is apropos since he looks like a skinny ogre.  

When ATL GM Chaney swoops you by taking SP Andy Ashby, what can you do but find the player closest to Ashby and draft him?  GM Holloway, unable to pronounce Schourek’s last name, has taken to calling Schourek “Ashby”, “Andy” or “Ashby lite”, as save for an extra pitch and extra point of control, that’s exactly what Schourek is.  After sending the Griffins beloved captain Greg Mathews to Havana, Holloway apparently needed to restock with an SP.  Why trade away Mathews and have to rely on a green and untested rookie is beyond this beat reporter’s comprehension.  Schourek will be have big shoes to fill, and this beat reporter remains unconvinced at this moment that Pete will be able to do this, despite his Shrek size (dude is big).  

Pick Quality:  GOOD!

17. CHI – SP Juan Guzman

Did You Know?

One-time All Star; AL ERA Leader 1996; two WS with Toronto (1992 & 1993).

Was 40-11 his first three years in MLB.

FACT: started athletic leagues in Santo Domingo, DR, to give kids something to do and is still actively supporting kids and adults via the Juan Guzman Sports Complex.

FACT:  married to Ana Delia Martinez – Ramon and Pedro Martinez’s sister.  

FUN FACT:  favorite pre-game meal is Olive Loaf.  

FUNNER FACT:  favorite musician is Meat Loaf.  

FUNNEST FACT:  in his spare time, often hits the highway like a battering ram on a silver black Phantom bike. 

What does a GM that has all he needs to in the draft?  That was GM Haugh’s dilemma.  The lineup is set, and the rotation will likely not change from last year, either.  Hence, this pick gets a “Better” solely for the lack of options that Haugh had rather than for the quality of the player chosen or how that player fits with CHI.  Better to draft a pitcher and stock up, as one never knows what could happen if Iron Mike gets testy……

Pick Quality:  BETTER!

18. BOS – 1B Jim Thome
Did You Know?

1993 International League MVP; five-time All Star; Silver Slugger 1996; HoF 2018.

At bat, Thome either struck out, walked, or hit a HR (one every 13.6 Abs).   

FUN FACT:  listens to K-pop before every game to psych himself up.   

FUNNER FACT:  favorite band is Blackpink; Jisoo his favorite member.  

GM Hetzer is one and likely the only GM who’s unafraid of looking Iron Mike directly in the face and saying “here’s my pick – what do you think of that?!!”  A batter with an OBP over .400, and he slipped to #18 overall.  Boston needs a 1B after the money crunch forced the Dion James trade, so in that respect this is a great move.  Thome is also a great fielder.  The nagging question is how Thome’s propensity to K will be reflected in-game by Iron Mike.  This K-tendency likely is the reason he dropped so far in the first place.  “Whither Thome?” is the question to which the League is waiting with baited breath for an answer.  

Pick Quality:  BETTER!

Two unhappy GMs. Two seemingly unconnected events. Two teams on the move. That’s what

this beat reporter certainly believes.

First, while on my annual winter break tour where I visit every UL city, I passed through Detroit, searching for information on how GM Holloway was planning to acquire more talent so his team could make a run at TOR, WAS and BOS: the big boys of the East. One reporter asked

Holloway about how things were going in Vancouver with the Blizzards and if the team was

finally beginning to get comfortable seeing how the affiliate had moved multiple times.

Although extremely difficult to pick up on to an untrained observer and “journalist” such as

myself, it was clear to me, through my razor sharp powers of observation, that Holloway – for

lack of a better way of phrasing it – thought Vancouver sucked. Stated Holloway at his press

conference: “Vancouver sucks.”

Apparently the travel time between Detroit and Vancouver (with no direct flights and long layovers in the Air Canada lounge at YYZ) was wreaking havoc on prospects, and there were several occasions when call-ups couldn’t make it on time to a game. “We need players closer to Detroit, and besides, the strip clubs in Vancouver are awful.”

Second, Denver GM Timothy Smith was recently seen in British Columbia with Stedman

Pacafox, the UL Players Association (ULPA) President and legal eagle, touring the Blizzards

ballpark and surrounding environs. A source inside the ULPA commented that Smith “raved”

about Vancouver and stated he wants to move the DEN Triple-A team there, even going as far

to ask Pacafox “what would it take?” and reminding Pacafox that Smith has “friends in high

places at UL HQ”.

All this is well and good, but Holloway and Smith are going to need help from the ULPA if the

moves come to fruition. And that is precisely where I will focus my attention in the second

article of the series: can the ULPA muster enough support to get the moves approved by a

majority of players? Stay tuned.