Baseball Manias: The Bird, Fernandomania, Ichiro

[MyDogSparty]

Besides the following manias...

"The Bird" (Mark Fidrych, Detroit Tigers) in 1976
"Fernandomania" (Fernando Valenzuela, Los Angeles Dodgers) in 1981
"Ichiro" (Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners) in 2001

...what other mania's have there been in baseball. Specifically, I was thinking about any particular player for one particular season that captivated baseball fans everywhere, not things like Anaheim Angel "rally monkees" or Pittsburgh Pirates "We are Family" theme songs but players.

[MasonDixon]

Hideo Nomo in 1995 for sure.

[Imapotato]

Way back when

Spahn and Sain and pray for rain

[Iron Jaw]

And of course, "M&M."

[flash143817]

Hideo Nomo in 1995 for sure.

Nomo-mania swept Southern California for sure when he swooped onto the scene in 1995.

Nomo still pitched perhaps the greatest game ever when he managed to throw a no-hitter in Coors Field.

[FatAngel]

Dizzy and Daffy

[FatAngel]

Bo Jackson

[yankillaz]

How can we forget the Big Mac-Sammy Duel? It took the whole summer of 1998.

Also remember when Doc Gooden arrived in 1984, Pedro's majestic outings in 1999.

[GiambiJuice]

Doc Gooden

[KCGHOST]

Maury Wills in 1962 in his successful attempt to break Ty Cobb's seemingly unbreakable single season stolen base record (of course, Lou Brock and Rickey Henderson later became the record holders).

George Brett's memorable unsuccessful try to break .400 in 1980. No hitter has gotten as far into September batting .400 since Williams.

[Brian McKenna]

isn't ruth the biggest mania of them all?

[Seattle1]

Griffey (Jr.)

[Gashouse6]

I don't know if this counts, but the Rally Monkey in Anaheim in 2002.

[RedSoxVT92]

Harry Chappas was pretty popular during his time with the White Sox because of his small stature.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

How can we forget "Super" Joe Charboneau, the 1980 AL Rookie of the Year! Any ballplayer that can open a beer bottle with their eyesocket has to be cool! :D

Here is a list of some other notable "one-hit" wonders.


http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/onehitwonders.html

[Eastvanmungo]

Pepper "The Wild Hoss of the Osage" Martin... especially during the 1931 WS where he batted .500 and drove Mickey Cochrane to distraction with his baserunning.

And the whole Gashouse Gang in general.

[julusnc]

1989 Chicago Cubs had the "keys" to the future in Jerome Walton and Dwight Smith.

1986 Will "The Thrill" Clark and "Wally World" Joyner.

1987-1990 Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco were The Bash Brothers.

1957 "Hurricane" Bob Hazle for the Braves.What a September call up.

[west coast orange and black]

i am willing to wager that many breakfast table conversations in 1941 started with:
"how'd dimaggio do yesterday?"

[digglahhh]

Dontelle Willis capitivated the fans when he got off to his incredible rookie start. I wouldn't go so far as to call it manic, but the funky delivery, outgoing personality and amazing start really made the D-Train take off.

[west coast orange and black]

"game over" became part of the lexicon, even with non-baseball fans.

[west coast orange and black]

why does buddy biancalana, around '83 or so, keep ringing in my head? anyone?

[ElHalo]

Gator Guidry in '78. The Miracle Braves.

[bhss89]

Stubby Clap for a very brief time in St. Louis?
I don't know, I'm guessing; I'm not a Cards fan and I don't live in StL.

If you'd ask those Sklar brother idiots on ESPN Classic, Jose Oquendo Mania is still alive and well with them!