Reaching the majors is the aim of every youngster interested in playing professional baseball. It is a goal that few achieve, but even those who do make it have hopes of some day playing in the World Series.
Some of baseball's most skillful players, individuals who won MVPs, Cy Youngs or a batting title, never had the opportunity to perform in the Fall Classic.
Two of the baseball best friends, Ernie Banks and Billy Williams, spent 13 glorious seasons together as members of the Chicago Cubs. The famous duo was inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown but failed to play in a World Series.
Banks was a two-time MVP and played in 14 All-Star Games. He still holds the National League single-season record for home runs by a shortstop (47). Banks hit 512 homers during his major-league career.
First baseman Williams was equally as talented, playing in six All-Star contests, hitting 425 round-trippers, including at least 20 in 14 seasons.
Williams and Banks are joined by George Sisler, Nap Lajoie, Ted Lyons, Ralph Kiner, George Kell, Rick Ferrell, Rod Carew, Ferguson Jenkins, Gaylord Perry, Phil Niekro and Jim Bunning in the Hall of Fame without a WS ring.
In an interview with Bob Nightengale, noted sports columnist for USA Today, Williams said, "You see all these guys with Series rings, it still bugs us today. Look at Yogi Berra, super catcher for the New York Yankees, he has won 10 of them."
Yogi appeared in the Fall Classic in 14 of his 18 years in the big leagues.
Berra, now 78, still has his first ring (1947), won by defeating the Brooklyn Dodgers.
The Yankees won five straight WS (1949-1953) and Yogi still keeps the '53 ring around the house.
The rest are either in the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center in Little Falls, N.J., or belong to his wife and kids. Speaking of his collection (a ring for every finger), Yogi remarked,"they are all special to me."
The tough Yankee receiver hit 12 homers and drove in 39 runs in the World Series. His home run totals are surpassed only by Mickey Mantle (18) and Babe Ruth (15).
Even Yogi felt sorry for some great players who failed to make it to a Series.
"Take a player, look at Luke Appling," he said. "He was voted the Chicago White Sox's greatest living player in 1969."
Luke hit .310 in 16 seasons-including .388 in 1936. He spent his entire career with the Chisox in one of the worst 20-year stretches in White Sox history.
They never finished higher than sixth in 14 seasons, and never higher than third.
Today, there are plenty of stars waiting for the chance to be in a World Series. Potential Hall of Famers such as Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey, Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Jeff Bagwell and Rafael Palmerio crave the opportunity to play in the big one.
Slugger Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants - a shoo-in for a plaque in Cooperstown - said after making his debut in the 2002 Series, "even though we lost, I can honestly say, there is nothing like it. I wish everyone could experience it just once."
Two of the baseball best friends, Ernie Banks and Billy Williams, spent 13 glorious seasons together as members of the Chicago Cubs. The famous duo was inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown but failed to play in a World Series.
Banks was a two-time MVP and played in 14 All-Star Games. He still holds the National League single-season record for home runs by a shortstop (47). Banks hit 512 homers during his major-league career.
First baseman Williams was equally as talented, playing in six All-Star contests, hitting 425 round-trippers, including at least 20 in 14 seasons.
Williams and Banks are joined by George Sisler, Nap Lajoie, Ted Lyons, Ralph Kiner, George Kell, Rick Ferrell, Rod Carew, Ferguson Jenkins, Gaylord Perry, Phil Niekro and Jim Bunning in the Hall of Fame without a WS ring.
In an interview with Bob Nightengale, noted sports columnist for USA Today, Williams said, "You see all these guys with Series rings, it still bugs us today. Look at Yogi Berra, super catcher for the New York Yankees, he has won 10 of them."
Yogi appeared in the Fall Classic in 14 of his 18 years in the big leagues.
Berra, now 78, still has his first ring (1947), won by defeating the Brooklyn Dodgers.
The Yankees won five straight WS (1949-1953) and Yogi still keeps the '53 ring around the house.
The rest are either in the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center in Little Falls, N.J., or belong to his wife and kids. Speaking of his collection (a ring for every finger), Yogi remarked,"they are all special to me."
The tough Yankee receiver hit 12 homers and drove in 39 runs in the World Series. His home run totals are surpassed only by Mickey Mantle (18) and Babe Ruth (15).
Even Yogi felt sorry for some great players who failed to make it to a Series.
"Take a player, look at Luke Appling," he said. "He was voted the Chicago White Sox's greatest living player in 1969."
Luke hit .310 in 16 seasons-including .388 in 1936. He spent his entire career with the Chisox in one of the worst 20-year stretches in White Sox history.
They never finished higher than sixth in 14 seasons, and never higher than third.
Today, there are plenty of stars waiting for the chance to be in a World Series. Potential Hall of Famers such as Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey, Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Jeff Bagwell and Rafael Palmerio crave the opportunity to play in the big one.
Slugger Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants - a shoo-in for a plaque in Cooperstown - said after making his debut in the 2002 Series, "even though we lost, I can honestly say, there is nothing like it. I wish everyone could experience it just once."
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