Do you remember the first athletes career you followed from start to finish

[Jauronimo]

Da'Rick Rogers.  I was going to say Len Bias but that might not count.

[The Avenger]

Tim Wakefield. Saw him play third base for the Welland, Ontario Pirates in single-A ball. We relentlessly razzed him as we were Niagara Falls Rapids fans sitting on the third base side. After the game as Wakefield was walking to the school bus to take the team back to Canada, he looks for us in the parking lot and challenges us to a fight. Dude, I'm not gonna fight you - go get on your school  bus. Years later he makes it all the way to the majors and he's pitching for my team,  the Red Sox and I have to cheer for him...

 

Of all the guys on that single-A Welland team I bet nobody went on to a very successful MLB career, and that was the guy we picked on...

[EasternOHBillsFan]

On 5/11/2022 at 8:54 PM, The Avenger said:

Tim Wakefield. Saw him play third base for the Welland, Ontario Pirates in single-A ball. We relentlessly razzed him as we were Niagara Falls Rapids fans sitting on the third base side. After the game as Wakefield was walking to the school bus to take the team back to Canada, he looks for us in the parking lot and challenges us to a fight. Dude, I'm not gonna fight you - go get on your school  bus. Years later he makes it all the way to the majors and he's pitching for my team,  the Red Sox and I have to cheer for him...

 

Of all the guys on that single-A Welland team I bet nobody went on to a very successful MLB career, and that was the guy we picked on...

 

Now Tim Wakefield has brain cancer, and I am devastated for him and his family. He pitched brilliantly for the Pirates in the magical season of 1992, and then of course they got rid of him and he because a Red Sux pitcher for many, many years...

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/red-sox-say-tim-wakefield-is-in-treatment-asks-for-privacy-after-illness-outed-by-schilling/ar-AA1hpl6j#image=AA1dK7CY|1

[SinceThe70s]

25 minutes ago, EasternOHBillsFan said:

 

Now Tim Wakefield has brain cancer, and I am devastated for him and his family. He pitched brilliantly for the Pirates in the magical season of 1992, and then of course they got rid of him and he because a Red Sux pitcher for many, many years...

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/red-sox-say-tim-wakefield-is-in-treatment-asks-for-privacy-after-illness-outed-by-schilling/ar-AA1hpl6j#image=AA1dK7CY|1

 

Always sad to hear bad news like this. Am I wrong in remembering that Wakefield had an unusual year to year contract with the Red Sox towards the end of his career?

[Royale with Cheese]

Kyle Williams

Derek Jeter

Allen Iverson

Kobe

Shaq

Chipper Jones

LeBron.  I went to a bar with friends to watch a HS kid lol

 

[GoBills808]

Kobe for me

Then lebron

[OGTEleven]

Tony Gwynn.  When he started I could pretty much only watch him against the Mets and Braves but followed the box scores. As time went on games were easier to watch.

 

If I counted Bills players there would be too many to list.

[Augie]

I almost hate to say it, but I was at that exact age to soak up the entire OJ experience. I was about 10 watching the local news special  with OJ highlight reels from USC. I read the book. We had season tickets. I remember where I was when he ran for about 250 vs Boston, my parents would see them at McMahons on Main St for dinner, I lived near him in Chapel Woods. 

 

So I was fascinated at 9-10 years old, before he even arrived, and in his later years we’d drink beer and drive by his house and yell teenage stuff at the crowd he had over post-game hanging in front of his house. Those were formative years. 

 

 

 

And then, there was that thing……

 

[EmotionallyUnstable]

Mine was Julio Jones. 
 

My friend in HS and I ran across his high school highlight tape…when we were in the library for a study hall my junior year.  I remember him signing on to Alabama, getting drafted, watched his whole career and finally his ultimate demise just the past season. 
 

He was an all time great. 

[without a drought]

Taro Tsujimoto

[muppy]

wow interesting thought.  My very first favorite Bills was Butch Byrd.  But actually follow their career from the start would be OJ Simpson.  Being such a superstar NFL star cemented his career in my mind from the beginning till end.

 

If I were to see him now I would turn about face and walk away.

[k2mountain]

Gilbert Perreault. He came about when I started as a young sports fan. He played his entire career, 17 seasons for Buffalo, a tenure unheard of these days.

[Beast]

Babe Ruth 

[Irv]

Meadowlark Lemon

[thenorthremembers]

Sadly he just passed away.  Tim Wakefield.  Watched him play for the Bisons when I was a youngster and then followed his entire career.   Loved watching him throw the knuckleball.

 

Always felt very lucky to have the Bisons here.