Okay, here’s a breakdown of the baseball players highlighted in the provided text, ranked as presented, with a summary of their careers:
1. Mike Flanagan (1951)
* Position: Pitcher
* Teams: Primarily Baltimore Orioles
* Key Achievements: 1979 AL Cy Young Award winner, 1983 World Series Champion, 7 seasons with 200+ innings pitched, 167 career wins. Also served in various roles for the Orioles after retirement (pitching coach, GM, broadcaster).
* Overall: A dominant left-handed pitcher and a Baltimore icon.
2. Alcides Escobar (1986)
* Position: Shortstop
* Teams: Kansas City Royals (primarily), Milwaukee brewers
* Key Achievements: 2015 World Series Champion, 2015 All-star, Gold Glove winner, ALCS MVP (2015). Key player in the Royals’ championship runs.
* Overall: A reliable shortstop and a vital part of the Royals’ success in the mid-2010s.
3. Billy Ripken (1964)
* Position: Second Baseman
* Teams: Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers
* Key Achievements: Played alongside his brother Cal Ripken Jr. as a double-play combination, triumphant broadcaster with MLB Network.
* Overall: While overshadowed by his Hall of Fame brother, Billy had a respectable 12-year career and found success as a broadcaster.
4.Sammy Strang (1876)
* Position: Infielder/Outfielder
* Teams: Multiple teams from 1896-1908 (including New York Giants)
* Key achievements: 1905 World series Champion, Led MLB in on-base percentage in 1906 (.423), Served in the military (Spanish-American War and WWI).
* Overall: A versatile player from the early 20th century who also served his country.
5. Adolfo Phillips (1941)
* Position: Center Fielder
* Teams: (Data incomplete in the provided text, but noted as a swift center fielder)
* Key Achievements: Known as the “panamanian Flash,” twice finished in the top five in stolen bases in the National League.
* Overall: A speedy outfielder with a nickname suggesting exciting play.
This information is based solely on the text provided.
