Rare Feat

It has been a long journey for Carlos Beltran since 2004 since being traded from Kansas City to Houston.  In eight plus seasons without so much as an at bat against the Royals, Beltran stole his 7th base of the year. That stolen base was the 300th of his career. In his first game against the club that drafted him and brought him up, he accomplished something only 7 others previously had. Swiping 300 bases and belting 300 homers.

Beltran, now 35, has had an interesting ride to this point. Traded to the Astros in 2004 to help with Houston's pennant run, he was a hot commodity in the game. Many teams sought the five tool switch hitter that off-season. Beltran landed in New York with the Mets, where he would be more memorable as a ghost than the savior they ordered. A sparkling catch here a burst of power there, but the bulk of his tenure in Flushing Meadows was forgettable. While his 2006 through 2008 numbers were fairly impressive. Injuries, major or not, cut parts of five seasons short.

Now a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, Beltran joined an elite group. Andre Dawson, Barry & Bobby Bonds, Willie Mays, Steve Finley, Alex Rodriguez, Reggie Sanders and now Beltran. Carlos is the first switch hitter in the 300 steal 300 homers club. Although a rare feat, Beltran has some work to do, as this is not an automatic pass into Cooperstown. Of this 300/300 club, only Dawson and Mays are enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Nonetheless, an applause is due. At 35, Beltran is enjoying a tremendous 2012 campaign belting 19 homers to date leading the league.   

-Pal

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