Worthy Thoughts About Worthless Angels

This week's Worthy Thoughts entry is journeyman third baseman Dave Hollins. If you look at his career as a whole, Hollins was a serviceable player in his 12 big league seasons, in which he played for seven different teams. He was hard-nosed, he played on the '93 National League Champion Phillies, he played with diabetes, etc. However, it was his two-year stint with the Angels that leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Hollins wasn't horrible with the Angels, but he frustrated me more than anyone else on that team, more than the Big O and Ross from Friends combined. The dude ended more big innings than anyone on the team, constantly striking out or popping up, which caused my face to go into more contortions than Max Patkin.

In the field Hollins was even more of a disaster. Whether it was Rickey Henderson or Florence Henderson running to first base, he would wind up and fire the ball to first base with no accuracy whatsoever. They really should have held a "Dave Hollins Hard Hat" promotion at the Big A, because sitting in the first-base seats was a concussion waiting to happen.

My "favorite" encounter with Hollins came on Memorial Day, 1997. A few of us were waiting by the players parking lot to snag an autograph or two and Mr. Hollins walks up.

WiseAndEck: Mr. Hollins, do you have time to sign an autograph?

Hollins: Shouldn't you be in school?

WAE: Sir, it's Memorial Day.

Hollins: But still...

Thank you for that memory, Dave Hollins, and this blog entry is your reward.