Today I present you with the curious case of Les Straker. Lester Paul Straker Bolnalda, actually. I think he made the right choice - Les Bolnalda doesn't quite have the same ring, does it?

Straker probably has one of the stranger career paths I've ever seen. A two-year major league career, posting an overall 10-15 record. Not very inspiring, you say? Well, he also pitched in three post-season games, two in the world series, and is part of a world champion team? What's that? His postseason record? Well, ok, it was three no-decisions and an ERA near seven. Quit piling on the guy. He had two teammates named Blyleven and Viola who had his back.

Really, the only pitcher I can think of with a similar career so far is Rick Ankiel, with the exception that Ankiel never won a world series, imploded far worse in the postseason, and was much, much better than Straker in the regular season, striking out well over a batter per inning. Straker's Baseball-Reference most similar pitchers list reads like a who's who of guys you never heard of. Wynn Hawkins, Jackson Todd, Don Kaiser, Clem Hausmann, David Bush. Oh wait, I've heard of David Bush. Michelle drafted him to her all-innuendo fantasy baseball team last year, along with Rod Barajas, BJ Ryan, and Bob Cockshaft. Ok, I made that last name up, just checking to see if you were still with me.

Anyway. An image search for Les Straker turns up very little. An image search for Rick Ankiel turns up a nice picture of Naomi Watts, but that's mostly irrelevant.

One of these things is doing it's own thing. Sing it with me! One of these things is not like the rest. Ahem. Yes, so. . . Albany, Orlando, Toledo, Portland, Twins. Yep, career minor leaguer. With a world series ring.

And in keeping with that theme, the two paragraphs alotted for his card list Straker's career achievements as: A no-hitter in the Florida State League; Leading the Southern League in complete games; And a four-hit shutout against the Detroit Tigers. That's nice. That's like if I listed wadE's career accomplishments as: Got a 30 on his ACT test; Graduated from college; bought his wife a really really nice engagement ring. Umm. . . or something. Ok, that was a reach. Better luck next time.