Collegiate Times

In case you weren't aware of it, the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies have met in this year's World Series. That's right -- the Rays and the Phillies.

One team that has been a helluva lot better than the media gives them credit for (Phillies) has squared-off with the youngest and most refreshing team out of a division of deep checkbooks and steroid usage (Rays). The Phillies have yielded the past two National League MVPs in Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard -- did you know that? If you didn't, don't worry -- there's a reason for that.

They've never done steroids -- or, nobody has evidence that they have.

None of the players were mentioned in the Mitchell Report or in Jose Canseco's legendary novel, "Juiced."

Canseco's novel is a tell-all narrative of his experiences in Major League Baseball clubhouses learning how to use, distribute, and persuade fellow players into using performance-enhancing drugs. His book slandered many previous household names, such as Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa (whose 1998 home-run chase broke the single-season home run record set by Roger Maris), soft-spoken slugger Rafael Palmeiro, whose 569 home runs are 10th all-time, and other former friends and teammates of Canseco's.

The Mitchell Report was an investigation spearheaded by former Sen. George Mitchell that sought to uncover any player who had used or had facilitated the use of steroids. In cooperation with MLB commissioner Bud Selig, a staggering number of players from all levels, professional teams, skill levels and ages were cited. Most notably was Roger Clemens, a perennial all-star and previously believed to be a sure-fire Hall-of-Famer.

With the degradation of these players' reputations, the new Dark Ages had descended upon Major League Baseball. The sport lost its credibility very rapidly as if this were just another childhood mythology uncovered, such as the Tooth Fairy or Santa Claus. The sport was in disrepair. Enter Josh Hamilton.

A high school and college standout drafted in the early rounds, pro scouts believed that he had the skills to become the next Ken Griffey Jr. He worked his way up through the Tampa Bay farm system until his career took an unexpected turn.

He developed a heroin addiction. Through years of rehab and dedicating himself to religion, Hamilton cleaned up his habit and regained his swing. At Yankee Stadium in mid-July, his 27 home runs in the first round were cause for celebration and head scratching by fans, analysts and Luddites alike. The hot shots at ESPN swore up and down that this was the feel-good story of the year.

Until the Tampa Bay Rays won the pennant. Entering the league in 1998, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays were the definition of futility. From their inception in 1998 until their 10th consecutive losing season in 2007, they finished in last place of their division -- the same division that features powerhouses such as the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.

The 2008 season was a completely different story. As the boldest of ESPN's baseball analysts selected them to have a winning season, the Rays -- who dropped their "Devil" moniker -- jumped to an early lead in their division. By the All-Star break in July, the Rays were neck-and-neck with the Boston Red Sox for their division, proving that they weren't just a fluke. Several months later, they made their first playoff appearance in franchise history.

Squaring off against the Phillies in the World Series, the Rays definitely are the feel-good story of the year.

Continue Reading: 12 Next »