A Third Round Pick from Washington State, John Olerud is one of a handful of players who never played in the Minors before tasting the Majors.

Playing only a handful of games in 1989, the First Baseman was used in a platoon in 1990 and 1991, but it was evident that Olerud was ready to take it over full-time.  Olerud was their everyday First Baseman when they won their first World Series in 1992, and he was one of the best players in the AL the following season when the Blue Jays repeated as champions.  

Olerud was still good over the next three seasons, though he was not as offensively potent.  Olerud won the 1993 Batting Title (.363) and led the league in OBP (.473), OPS (1.072), OPS+ (186), and Doubles (54).  He finished third in MVP voting, and this was his only season as a Jay where he went to an All-Star Game.  Toronto traded Olerud to the Mets as part of an overhaul, leaving the organization with 910 Hits, 109 Home Runs, and a Batting Average of .293.  Olerud was also inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

There are many people who think of John Olerud only as the guy who wore a batting helmet in the field, which he did so to protect his skull as (he had a brain aneurysm as a teenager.  He was undoubtedly a lot more than that!

John Olerud had previously won a Batting Title and two World Series Rings with the Toronto Blue Jays, and he would also have a productive run with the New York Mets.  His renaissance would, however, take place in the city of Seattle.

John Olerud was only with the New York Mets for three seasons, but the already two time World Series Champion subtly racked up a lot of hits, including a 1998 season where he batted .354 and finished 12th in MVP voting.  Overall, Olerud had an excellent Slash Line as a Met of .315/.425/.501, which is an incredible number that propelled him to this rank.