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Definition Of A Baseball Player

I saw it in my inbox: the MLB Morning Lineup. They send you contract and free agent information, human interest stories, and other things to keep fans satiated during the off-season. I had almost thought of unsubscribing, but hadn't. "Former Rangers star, batting champ Young retires". I died a little; I saw the Rangers occasionally on ESPN, but I knew who Michael Young was. He switched positions 3 times, because the team asked him to do it. He has that look; it's that, "I love this game so intensely, it makes other players uncomfortable" look. You probably don't know how hard it actually is to play multiple positions at this level. Well, neither do I, but it doesn't just happen. This dude was an All-Star 7 times in 14 years, at the same position and in the same league as some guy named Alex Rodriguez. He was your American League batting champion in 2005. Ask the Rangers who led them to back-to-back World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011; they'll tell you. When they traded him to the Phillies in 2012, all of Arlington went, "What? Why?" Certain guys make it a privilege to watch baseball; Michael Young was that guy.

He won't make the Hall of Fame, but if you could honor people for honoring baseball, I'd start that Hall with him in it.

Thanks, Michael.
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