The extensive span of a twenty-year career in Major League Baseball across nine different teams can easily evoke the misconception of a typical journeyman. Although Benito Santiago eventually acclimated to the nomadic nature of such a career, his initial arrival in Southern California was met with national anticipation typically reserved for generational icons. 

Signed from Puerto Rico as a teenager in 1982, the dynamic catcher made a brief appearance in 1986, spanning 17 games, preserving his rookie status and laying the foundation for one of the most electrifying and paradigm-shifting rookie seasons the sport has ever seen. Upon assuming the regular starting role in 1987, Santiago not only cemented his place in the lineup but also ascended to the status of a national sensation, orchestrating a historic, record-setting 34-game hitting streak that remains the longest ever recorded by a modern catcher. His spectacular 1987 summer yielded a robust .300 batting average, 33 doubles, and 18 home runs, earning him a unanimous selection as the National League Rookie of the Year alongside his first career Silver Slugger Award.

However, honestly assessing his performance means going beyond the initial impressive display. Santiago consistently showed strong raw power, never hitting fewer than 10 home runs in any full season with the Padres. Nonetheless, his offensive effectiveness was greatly hindered by an overly aggressive, free-swinging style. It was as if he refused to take walks, often widening his strike zone, which led to a sub-.300 on-base percentage (.299) during his time with San Diego. Opposing pitchers soon understood they could target his aggressive, high-velocity swing, making it impossible for him to match his rookie-year effectiveness again.

His primary authority was his multi-dimensional value behind the plate. Santiago revolutionized defense with raw athleticism and a high-velocity arm, routinely gunning down base stealers from a kneeling position. His artistry earned him three consecutive Gold Gloves (1988–1990), and he ranked in the top ten for defensive bWAR in the National League three times. A human highlight reel, he secured four All-Star selections (1989–1992) and four Silver Sluggers with the Padres. However, his defense was occasionally volatile; he was error-prone, leading NL catchers in miscues three times as his instincts sometimes outpaced his precision.

Following the 1992 Season, Santiago joined the expansion Florida Marlins, leaving them with 758 Hits, 85 Home Runs, and a Defensive bWAR of 8.9.

While Santiago was a popular figure in San Diego, it is hard to rank him any higher, as he had a sub-three OBP with the Padres, and while he was praised for his defense, he was at times error-prone.

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A significant retirement happened in Baseball as Jon Lester is calling it a career.

A talented southpaw with a devastating cutter, Lester began his career with the Red Sox in 2006, where he went to three All-Star Games and helped Boston win the 2007 World Series.  After a brief stop in Oakland, Lester signed with the Cubs, where he went to two more All-Star Games and was the runner-up for the Cy Young in 2016.  That year he led Chicago to their first World Series in over a century, winning the NLCS MVP along the way.  Lester concluded his career with Washington and St. Louis last year.

Lester retires with 200 Wins against 117 Losses with 2,488 Strikeouts.  He will be eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2027.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to wish Jon Lester the best in his post-playing career.

When constructing a championship roster, an organization often requires a robust, vocal anchor behind the plate to oversee the pitching staff and set an assertive tone in the lower half of the batting order. The San Diego Padres identified precisely this foundational element when they orchestrated a significant trade with the St. Louis Cardinals in December 1980, acquiring TerryKennedy. Restricted from regular duties in St. Louis by Ted Simmons, the physically imposing, left-handed hitting catcher regarded the move to Southern California as the ultimate opportunity to demonstrate his daily durability. He wasted no time in affirming this conviction, assuming the role of the starting catcher and promptly establishing himself as a valuable asset under the Pacific sun.

His initial 1981 campaign was a brilliant showcase of immediate contact and spatial awareness. Kennedy logged a spectacular .301 batting average to capture his first career All-Star selection. While he narrowly missed out on a return trip to the Midsummer Classic the following summer, his 1982 campaign proved to be the absolute evolutionary zenith of his raw power.

Kennedy turned run production into a strict daily routine, posting personal bests with 42 doubles, 21 home runs, and driving in 97 runners. He combined offensive volume with durability behind the plate, catching 153 games to lead the San Diego defense. His peak came during the 1983 season when he batted .271 with 17 home runs and 98 RBIs, winning the National League Silver Slugger Award and finishing tenth in MVP voting.

He remained a respectable threat over summers, hitting at least 10 home runs from 1983 to 1986 and earning All-Star selections in 1985 and 1986. His true legacy in Southern California was forged during the 1984 pennant race, where Kennedy was the emotional heartbeat of a team that won its first National League pennant. In that October, he stepped onto the game's grandest stage and carved out a unique piece of baseball lore during Game 1 of the 1984 World Series against Detroit. By driving home two runs against the Tigers, Terry joined his father, Bob Kennedy, as the first father-son combination in Major League history to both record an RBI in World Series play.

Kennedy was traded to Baltimore in 1986, with the Catcher leaving behind a .274 Batting Average, 817 Hits, and 76 Home Runs.