Ellis Valentine, a Top 5 all-time throwing arm, talks Barger and Barfield, the legendary '77 All-Star Game's call to arms, Vlad and Bo and more
The all-star Expos outfielder discusses his redemption song that brought him for the personal depths to counsellor for youth groups and family man
We finally caught up for a wide-ranging conversation with former Expos’ star, Ellis Valentine. At one time, in the mid-’70s, Ellis was on his way to a potential Hall-of-Fame career in Montreal. If you haven’t had the chance to check out Valentine’s immense outfield talent, call him up on YouTube and prepare to be stunned.
Valentine’s career was derailed and ultimately slowed by substance abuse and an incident being hit in the face by a Roy Thomas fastball in 1980, that affected his peripheral vision for the next three years. He talks about the lost art of outfield defence, the problem of attracting more African Americans to baseball.
Drafted one round ahead of Gary Carter by the Expos in 1972, Ellis checks in on the link he had with Kid on their rapid rise to the majors and compares to the same link between Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Bo. And far more.
I can’t wait to listen to this Griff. Other than the rock, I think he was my favourite player. One reason is that in the games I watched he seemed to be the most clutch guy on the team. Carter was close. I never thought Dawson, Cromartie, Parrish, wallach, and all the other guys of that era were good in the clutch. And my god that arm.
I only watched the expose on Wednesdays and the odd Saturday, you were there all the time so maybe my impression is not supported by reality or the stats.