Sierra & Galaragga

Sierra & Galaragga

'CAREER PATHS': February 2002

RUBEN SIERRA's career can best be described as a "long and winding road." During the late 80s he was regarded as one of the game's best only to fade into obsurity during the mid 90s. He broke back into the bigs in 2001 and signed with Seattle for the 2002 season.

TEXAS RANGERS 1986-92: Sierra's career began with a flourish during his first stop in Texas. He was named an All Star 3 times (98,91,92)and was regarded as one of the game's best players. His finest season came in 1989 when he hit .306 with 29 HR and 119 RBI and finished second to Milwaukee's Robin Yount in the MVP race.

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OAKLAND ATHLETICS 1992-95: Sierra was dealt to Oakland on a deadline day deal in '92 for Jose Canseco. His batting average dipped to .233 in '93 but he still drove in a 101 runs. He was dealt to the Yankees during the '95 season.

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NEW YORK YANKEES 1995-96: Sierra played in 152 games in parts of two seasons with the Bronx Bombers. He hit 18HR and drove in 96 runs in pinstripes.

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DETROIT TIGERS 1996: Sierra's stay in Detroit lasted only 46 games. He hit only one home run as a Tiger.

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CINCINNATI REDS 1997: Sierra began the '97 season in Cincinnati, but hit only .244 with 2HR and was released after 25 games.

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TORONOTO BLUE JAYS 1997: Sierra's stint as a Blue Jay lasted only 14 games. He hit .208 with 1HR and 5 RBI.

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CHICAGO WHITE SOX 1998: Sierra played only 27 games in '98, hitting .216 with 4HR and 11 RBI with the White Sox.

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EXILE 1999: After being released by Cleveland during Spring Training in '99, Sierra spent the year out of the major leagues.

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TEXAS RANGERS 2000-01: Sierra spent the 2000 season in AAA Oklahoma before a September call up with Texas. He had a rebirth in 2001 hitting .291 with 23HR and 67 RBI in only 94 games.

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SEATTLE MARINERS 2002: Thanks to a strong '01 campaign, Sierra signed with Seattle and figures to be their regular DH in 2002.

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ANDRES GALARAGGA, one of the best power hitters of the 1990s, has had a career full of ups and downs. "The Big Cat" came into his own in Colorado and continued in Atlanta until a bout with cancer threatened to end his career. After sitting out the '99 season, he returned and remains a productive player.

MONTREAL EXPOS 1985-91: A product of Montreal's farm system, Galarraga broke into the bigs in '85. He broke out in '88 hitting .302 with 29HR and 92 RBI and earned his first All Star birth. He would hit 23 & 20 home runs in the next two seasons, but his average dipped into the .250s. His defense did not suffer though; he won Gold Gloves in '89 & '90. During 1991, his final season in Montreal, injuries limited him to 107 games and he hit just .219.

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ST. LOUIS CARDINALS 1992: Galarraga's season in St. Louis was a frustrating one, he played in only 95 games hitting .243.

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COLORADO ROCKIES 1993-97: "The Big Cat" quickly establashed himself as the star of the expansion Rockies, hitting .370, winning the NL batting title, and going to the All Star game in '93. He took advantage of the Rocky Mountain air in '96 & '97 by clouting 47 & 41 HR and driving in 150 & 140 runs respectively.

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ATLANTA BRAVES 1998, 2000: Galarraga contiued his success in Atlanta, hitting .305 with 44 HR and 121 RBI in '98. But, he was diagnosed with cancer prior to the '99 season, which would cause him to miss the entire year. He would return, however, in 2000 and hit .302 with 28 HR and 100 RBI in his last season in Atlanta.

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TEXAS RANGERS 2001: Galarraga struggled during his 72 game stint in Texas, hitting just .234. He was dealt to the SF Giants in July.

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SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS 2001: Galarraga spent the final 49 games of the '01 campaign in the Bay Area. He finished on a high note, hitting .288 as a Giant.

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MONTREAL EXPOS 2002: "The Big Cat" returns to where it all began this year and hopes to rekindle former glories.

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