Has it really been a decade since baseball picked its All Century Team in 1999? So much has changed in the Major Leagues since that All-Star game night in Boston’s Fenway Park. Certain modern day legends would be torn apart as frauds when the secret of their success was exposed as “Better Living Through Chemistry.” The greatest hitter of the game would have his last rites turn into a popsicle joke. And the curse of Hall of Famer would vanish from that ballpark in a few short years. Major League Baseball: All Century Team is a special event from almost a bygone era.
Bob Costas narrates the 70 minute special which tells us which 35 players stood out at various positions from the 100 players picked for the Centennial honor. There’s no major surprises for fans of the game. We get the always mentioned Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Ty Cobb and Cy Young. Each player gets a mini-bio featuring vintage photos and footage of them playing the game. However there are quite a few picks that have become controversial since that summer night a decade ago.
Pete Rose was banned from the game, but the Commissioner allowed the all-time hits leader to be honored. At the time Rose declared that he’d never bet on his team. Five years later, when Rose needed to sell his latest book, he admitted to betting on Reds games while he was the manager. He claims that he never bet against his team, but does that matter? Gambling on baseball is forbidden. Reports had him never betting on his team when certain pitchers took the mound. For one night, the louse was given a hero’s reception.
Two of the active players who stood on the field for the honor have had their reputations ruined by their alleged involvement in steroids. Mark McGwire was the biggest hitting star in the game in ’99. He had demolished Roger Maris’ season record of 61 home runs by belting 70 out of the park. Roger Clemens had also become a stud on the mound with 7 Cy Young awards. He also become entangled in accusations of taking a needle in his butt to maintain his aging body. Both men seem destined to wait quite a few years before being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The saddest winner of the night is Ken Griffey Jr. Junior was at the top of his game and aiming to be one of the greats in ’99. He was on pace to shatter Hank Aaron’s career homer mark. Over four seasons, he’d knocked 209 balls over the outfield fence. The season after this honor, Junior went to the Cincinnati Reds. The relocation proved to be a disaster. Instead of elevating him to superstardom, his hard nosed play in the National League led to long stints on the disabled list. In the decade since this honor, he’s remained a good player when he’s not limping off the field.
The man of the night was Boston Redsox great Ted Williams. The outfielder might have had numbers better than Ruth except he was a pilot for the U.S. Marines for five years during the height of his career. Still the Splendid Splinter finished his career with over 500 homers and the honor of being the last man to hit over .400 for a season. The All Century honor provided a bit of a comeback for Williams as a new generation learned of his legend. However his health would decline and his son wasn’t much of a help. Three years later when Ted died, his head was cut off and frozen under orders from his son. But on this night, he was a beloved star and not part of a sno-cone freakshow. Smiling at the RedSox fans, Ted a seated giant in the middle of the field where he made his reputation with the bat. Major League Baseball: All Century Team reminds us of a time when the measure of a player wasn’t analyzed from a urine sample. It was what they left on the field in the 20th Century.
The video is 1.33 Full Frame. The quality of the footage varies with the source material. The older stuff that was captured on film looks so much better than the mid-80s videotape. The audio is Dolby Digital Stereo. Costas is recorded at a proper level. The vintage footage varies in clarity and levels.
Top 100 Players (10:18) is a montage of all the nominated guys. There’s no career details with the vintage clips. You’ll have to look their stats and biographies online.
Fenway Park Ceremony (4:04) is an edited version of the evening. Luckily they give us the moment when Ted Williams rides out on the field in a golf cart. He rules Fenway that evening. The all star players surround Williams as he arrives on the diamond. The Kid knew how to draw a crowd.
Turner Field Ceremony (2:29) has the greatest living players at World Series Game 2. Ted Williams talks to Nolan Ryan in the locker room. The biggest moment belongs to Hank Aaron since it is his town.
Turner Field Pre-Ceremony (4:16) is video of the players meeting each other in the locker room. Ted Williams talks with Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens. There’s a sense that Ted wants to grab a bat and test their heat. Pete Rose’s son wears a Yankees hat.
Major League Baseball: All Century Team reminds us what it takes for a player to be the best in the game. The 35 players featured get treated as clutch players at the plate and in the field. For young kids wondering about the names above their favorite players in the all-time lists, the special is a perfect introduction to the greats who elevated the game.
A&E Home Video and Major League Baseball present Major League Baseball: All Century Team. Starring: Bob Costas, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Hank Aaron and Pete Rose. Running Time: 70 minutes. Released on DVD: August 25, 2009. Available at Amazon.com
