PRONKMAS IS HERE!! BLESS YOU JOLLY🎄

@k.s.nichols4060

6 ай бұрын

So much harder before Hafner

@seanmoore8550

6 ай бұрын

the pronkmeister !

As a die hard Indians fan I will always love Pronk. He is from North Dakota. I remember hearing him say he had a graduating class of 8 people, 4 boys and 4 girls. He promised his parents two things, he would always be top 10 in GPA and would have a date to the prom. He is a Cleveland Legend.

@joe-zj8js

5 ай бұрын

So is my guy darin erstad who played for the angels.

@markfolino6976

4 ай бұрын

Rocky Colavito was the Legend for us old folks who are DIEHARD INDIANS FANS, although i did hate it when pronk signed with yankees and hit a grandslam against the Tribe!

Pronk being a real word has to be the biggest information drop of the whole vid

@MScotty90

6 ай бұрын

Especially since it seems to mean “jump up into the air like a scared cat” Now I’m imagining a batter doing that every time a pitch comes remotely close to them.

@erikanglehart5745

6 ай бұрын

Bro I love it that you loved their comment hahahah because truth be told they might have more subs for now but your vids are definitely more relevant and entertaining keep trucking it bro you’ll get their!!…

@ScottieBoy99902

6 ай бұрын

The seats in RF were referred to as, “Pronkville,” lol

@MrMills5454

6 ай бұрын

no steroids was

@RLuca84

6 ай бұрын

More common knowledge than information drop.

Travis Hafner was primarily a Designated Hitter. He played over 1,000 games at DH and less than 100 at 1B.

“Pronk” is one of the biggest “what ifs” in Major League Baseball history. He was so damn good during that little stretch, and I honestly thought he was going to be one of the leagues best hitters for the next decade or so. It’s a shame what injuries can do to players.

@99bimmer

6 ай бұрын

I know right. Same with Prince Fielder

@theaterdreamer

5 ай бұрын

Pete Reiser, Tony Conigliaro and Herb Score are still the gold standards. Haffner had sustained excellence until age 30. Those other guys were cut down just as their careers were started. Reiser fractured his skull running into a concrete wall at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis in July of 1942. He had a brain injury, and a separated shoulder. When they got to him in the outfield, he was unconscious with blood coming out of his ears.

@kylenorman5250

4 ай бұрын

Pronk and Sizemore in the same lineup and two of the biggest what ifs of their era. Brutal.

@williamcurtin5692

2 ай бұрын

I thought that the Pronk-Sizemore-Victor-CC Indians were going to finally win a WS in my lifetime. Then he and Sizemore had chronic injury problems, the Barry Zito contract made it impossible for them to keep CC, and they traded Victor to set up the Miggy-Victor Tribal Demolition Company in Detroit. As Chuck Berry put it: " C'est la vie said the old folks, It goes to show you never can tell".

Man I'll tell you, playing MLB 06 The Show and having to pitch through that Sizemore, Peralta, V Mart and Hafner lineup was spooky.

@kevy2times313

2 ай бұрын

I was gonna make that comment but glad you did hahahah

I love the Konerko shoutout we need a full video about him one of the most underrated hitters of his era

@SamuelJ888

5 ай бұрын

should be on HOF

@dono.8437

3 ай бұрын

I hated Paulie (I'm a Cubs fan) but he was a damn good hitter. Don't tell anyone I said that. 😮

Pronk was simply insane. One of the best pure hitters I’ve seen in Cleveland, along with Manny Ramirez, Albert Belle, Grady Sizemore, Jose Ramirez and Jim Thome.

@BrutusJrThe3rd

6 ай бұрын

Cleveland has been blessed with some amazing hitting. It’s crazy

@user-iq2hy4ug4y

6 ай бұрын

Sizemore didn’t play enough to be included

@user-kt2on3zc1t

6 ай бұрын

Albert Belle. What a waste. Power, speed, average, then-poof-gone.

@joshpereira956

6 ай бұрын

@@user-kt2on3zc1t Guy played for 12 years hit 380 home runs 295 career hitter 350 obp and 560 slug. What planet you on that he just disappeared

@anonymike8280

6 ай бұрын

@@joshpereira956 The answer is, that's what happens to athletes. In Belle's case, however, he suffered from a degenerative hip condition and had to retire at age 33. He did drink heavily and that could have contributed to his conditions though. Alcohol can do that, and has in the case of other athletes. Alcohol is a long-time hidden factor in the career arcs of many athletes. If nothing else, the stresses athletes put on their bodies may exacerbate the degenerative effect alcohol has on the body. People with low levels of physical activity might never experience these effects. PEDs also can contribute to hip degeneration. What went on with some particular individual can never be entirely known though, unless they admit to it. The early 30s is when the body starts to break down and athletic talent goes bye-bye. Even with his short career, Belle has a Hall of Fame case. He didn't very many votes though when he was on the ballot.

Don't forget the record-tying six grand slams in 2006. That shoulder injury was the end for Hafner. I remember that he started off the 2007 season right where he left off the previous year before the broken hand, but about a month later the Indians faced Ervin Santana and the Angels. Hafner struck out four times, including on a pitch that hit him in the foot, and I knew something was wrong. From that point, his power was mostly gone. Five years of injuries and weak grounders to second base followed. It was frustrating to watch.

@gabe9346

6 ай бұрын

Yeah I kept waiting for the record tying grand slam fact-drop

@MrMills5454

6 ай бұрын

dont forget the roids

@evrbody

6 ай бұрын

@@MrMills5454 Right, I forgot that everyone who has ever been good at baseball has taken roids.

@MrMills5454

6 ай бұрын

@@evrbody in the 90s and early 2000s yes

@joshbutler8147

5 ай бұрын

He was on roids.

Pronk!!! Feel like not too many people even remember him because of how brief his peak was, but that dude was a monster. I remember him being a beast in both MVP Baseball 2005 (🐐) and the very first MLB The Show in 2006. Cleveland had some great young players on those mid 2000s teams.

@ibrown3KC

6 ай бұрын

I don't remember "Pronk," but I will never forget Haf. As i NEVER recall him being called Pronk. I always heard Hafner and Haf. Anyhow, He destroyed my Kansas City Royals like few ever have. And a lot of people have destroyed us over the last 30-40 years. Only people like Pujols and Miguel Cabrera compare to him in my memory.

Bro, Adam LaRoche deserves a video too! In an era where 1B players were either fat or buffed/juiced, he was this skinny constant power hitter (an extremely underrated one as well)

@riltalk4055

6 ай бұрын

Haha, Adam played for my Braves. It’s cool to see him being recognized. I think he’s fondly remembered for retiring because the White Sox wouldn’t allow his son in the clubhouse for whatever reason or something to that effect.

@RD24LFG

6 ай бұрын

Dude raked and killed my phillies

@chriscollins9298

6 ай бұрын

@@riltalk4055fr

@aw0001

6 ай бұрын

That dude retired on my Sox because they wouldn’t let his kid play in the clubhouse.

@BSJinx

6 ай бұрын

@@riltalk4055 He's also remembered, for good and for ill, as a major ADHD case when he was a Brave. Once he started taking Adderall to deal with it in 2006, he suddenly became a much more productive hitter. Of course, this led to an explosion of players taking Adderall, leading MLB to all but ban it.

I always talk about Melvin Mora’s 2004 season. Gave up the legend Mike Bordick for him but what a nice little forgotten run he had. An All time Underrated Oriole.

Forgot about this guy. Dude was fun to watch. I'm so glad I grew up during this era of baseball.

@darnellbush2408

5 ай бұрын

Exactly, without any help in the headline the picture told me who they were talking about Travis Hafner. I was in Chicago at the time, what a STUD 💪💪💪💪

As a Twins fan I never forgot about Travis Hafner. The Twins had so many pitchers that relied on weak contact to get outs and Hafner had some moonshots.

@darylredfield9121

6 ай бұрын

Same here in Detroit

@williamcurtin5692

Ай бұрын

Pronk was not a weak contact guy. Neither is Jose. Ask Olber.

Travis Hafner, a name I've haven't heard in a long time. Admittedly the MLB game on mobile has him in game along with his 06 season. Shame he couldn't stay healthy, I think he definitely would be remembered by more than us Stat nerds.

@DubCmusicTV

6 ай бұрын

That’s one of my DH’s

Adam Dunn was before his time. He'd make bank and actually be appreciated in todays game.

@MrRenner12

6 ай бұрын

Agree. Adam Dunn is massively underrated.

@BrutusJrThe3rd

6 ай бұрын

Had 40+ HR seasons in his sleep

@refusetolose05

6 ай бұрын

@BrutusJrThe3rd grew up watching Dunn and Kearns first professional season for the Dayton Dragons in their inaugural season (2000). Man it was fun watching them grow into really great players.

@poindextertunes

6 ай бұрын

Dude has cranked more 500ft dingers than anybody else

@golfmaniac007

6 ай бұрын

No he wouldn’t cuz he strikeout so much

Yup, you convinced me. I consider myself a pretty knowledgeable baseball fan, but I had no idea Hafner was as good as he was during his prime years. You did a fabulous job making your case. No hyperbole, just solid facts. Keep up the great work!

@SavingSoulsMinistries

6 ай бұрын

the only reason i knew haf was a monster for a brief moment is because i played MVP baseball 2005religiously.. even until this day because the show isn't on PC.. and Haf was dangerous man. the indians were sneaky good

Travis Hafner is right up there with one of my favorite Rays of all-time, Carlos Pena, in the 'was only really relevant for a short period of time, but when they were good, they were DAMN good' club. Just something about a hard-hitting lefty power bat, feels like we don't have as many of those types of hitters anymore.

@sec9788

5 ай бұрын

I feel like BASEBALL doesn’t have any of these big personalities anymore. Harper is one of the few left. Most kids wanna play other sports like smart phone watching or KZread influencing…🤷🏼‍♂️

Definitely a legend for us Cleveland fans. I got to see him hit a grand slam in person during that 3 year run and the crowd went absolutely nuts. He seemed like a really cool guy as well.

Hafner was one of my favorites from the mid 2000s and was also the first jersey I ever got. Still wear it to this day!

The upper deck in right field was nicknamed "Pronkville" because he would regularly plant baseballs there. During the celebrity softball game in '19, he actually hit a softball that cleared the right field fence. Guy had amazing power when healthy.

@4kfeatures720

5 ай бұрын

Caught a home run ball from him up there!

The first baseball game I ever went to with my dad was Rangers vs. Indians in Arlington. The day before, Hafner got beaned and broke his hand, so he had to miss the game I went to. However, I instead got to see Hafner's replacement, Kevin Kouzmanoff, hit a 1st inning grand slam on the first pitch he ever saw in the major leagues. That's my personal Travis Hafner story.

Pronk was my favorite player when i was little. he was so so so good and it really hurt when he couldn’t stay healthy.

That ‘06 season was especially crazy in the quality of HR hit. He tied the MLB record with 6 grand slams that season

@sec9788

5 ай бұрын

They need to allow (rhymes with Altoids) in baseball again…

Hafner is one of those guys who fascinate me. Can be a HoFer for a short period, but don't figure it out for long enough. I know injuries can play a role, and he got a late start, but he is part of a rather long list of players who fit into this category.

PLEASE make a video about Rich Hill. One of the craziest careers in modern history and I feel like no one talks about how absurd it was that in his mid-30s, he went from being a minor league journeyman who's career was probably over to being one of the games most dominating SPs for a couple years

@sec9788

5 ай бұрын

He was part of my fantasy squad as of a couple seasons ago too. Guy has had a legit (blue collar/everyday man) career.

Just looked at his stats and lord have mercy he was unreal for 3 years and fell off a cliff. Shocked he only hit 213 homers. Even this guy had a .279 avg…it’s kind of mind boggling that power hitters today are getting away with .200-.250 batting averages.

@JohnReedy07163

15 күн бұрын

He didn't really fall off a cliff, he had stretches during those injury plagued years where he'd rip off like 12 RBI in a week and we'd be like "Oh yeah, Pronk's back!" Then he'd miss 2 months

One thing to remember about that 2006 AL MVP race is that at that time, team success was still a huge factor for the voters. Both Hafner and Ortiz were on teams that missed the playoffs (the Indians had a losing record and were 4th in their division) while Morneau and Jeter were on division championship teams.

@ericmcclellan6901

4 ай бұрын

I’m not saying I really agree with the logic, but I can remember the argument at that time being that if a players team didn’t make the playoffs, then how valuable were they, really. Same arguments happened when A-rod won MVP with the rangers in 2003 when they were terrible

@Phoenix-pm2qr

3 ай бұрын

Thats bad logic. Imagine putting Mike Trout on the A's. He shouldn't ever win MVP because his team is trash?

@ericmcclellan6901

3 ай бұрын

Like I said, I don’t really agree with the logic, but for most of baseball’s history that’s the way things tended to work

Thank you for more Cleveland vids! Best team we have had since the 90s was the 07 team (yes beating the 16 team that almost won the WS) we love to see it! Pronk!!!

@BartoloVids

6 ай бұрын

2017 was better. Regardless of the playoff choke job

I randomly think of how underrated Travis Hafner. Thank you for justifying that thought haha

I'll be honest. I'm from Montreal. We had a team, for 35 years, ending in 2004. Since 2005, I've only watched the playoffs sporadically. Essentially, I'd watch if there was a good story, or underdog team I could get behind. I was highly impressed with your knowledge, research, presentation and storytelling prowess. After watching just one vid, I'm really excited to see what else you have to offer. I'll make you a gentleman's agreement. I'm going to Like this vid and subscribe. (Which I was going to do anyway. LoL). But, if you are interested in stats and the history of MLB, I'd love to see you remind people about us! We didn't lose out team, (Nos Amours). They were STOLEN FROM US!! And that was after 35 years of treating us like crap and setting us up to fail :( It's a sad, long Winter, withhout Spring training to look forward to... Anyway, if we could ever go back, start over and do it again, we would!! Without another thought. Maybe this time former Expo, Dave Martinez, would be managing the same franchise to a World Series victory, but just this once, let it be in the same place I got my first signed ball. It's sitting on my desk right now and it says Dave Martinez 1991 :) Strange, how the only real sliver of a connection, between the Montreal Expos and the World series winning Washington Nations, is our 1990's, little gang's favorite player. We spent 1$ to sit in those right-field bleachers. It must be lonely out there because he would actually talk to us, between pitchers and we would chant Dave, Dave! Whenever he made a great play, or got a hit... Never lose your nostalgia my friends and if possible... Just do me a favor, if you have a second in your video. Or feel like looking at some old stats. Remind people about us every once in a while :) Or even read one of the great books out there and a lot of them, might make for a good future video. I promise everyone, our story doesn't have the best ending but one thing...one thing the Expos never were, was boring!! ;) Happy Holidays and good luck for the rest of the team's. Always remember, 'On opening day, everyone is in first place.' Cheers from Canada pocketrocket8909@zoho.com If anyone wants to talk ball, puck or life! They're all the same in my book ;)

@mistafrooz

6 ай бұрын

As a lifelong Oakland fan, this feels like a visit from the ghost of christmas future lol 😭

@michaeladams5636

6 ай бұрын

Bring back the Expos.

So thankful I found this channel! You do an amazing job with these videos keep up the amazing work!

It always brings me joy when Jolly does a video on a player that I consider a MVP Baseball 2005 legend!

You’re so good at picking fire topics!!! Merry Christmas, Jolly 💙

DUDE NO WAY A PRONK VIDEO AFTER A CHOO VIDEO🙌🙌🙌

4:47 I remember that downturn VERY well because I had tickets to that game against Minnesota that they went into down 1 game. The night before, my friend (who I went to that game with) spent over an hour talking on the phone about how excited we were that they had been playing so well and they idea of them pulling into a first place tie. As you so clearly showed, though, that’s NOT how things went down.

It’s really crazy how many players were amazing and either had short peaks, or injuries, retired early. Some are just forgotten. I loved your video about the top players forgotten to history. Lots of gems on that.

I remember going to indians games as a kid and chanting pronk the donk with my dad 😂 I completely forgot about that, thanks for the refreshed memory and have a merry Christmas, friend!

Cleveland fan here--thank you for showing pronk love!! I still do his batting stance at the cages sometimes

My late brother was a huge Guardians fan and had a make-a-wish that was granted to watch a series behind the plate, take a tour of Progressive Field and meet Pronk. This brings back fond memories watching games with him 😊

@bennybarbells7118

5 ай бұрын

indians*

@JUSTheTIP-on5cb

5 ай бұрын

@@bennybarbells7118I was gonna correct it but you already did . My Man

@jamesgraves9858

5 ай бұрын

@@bennybarbells7118 the guy is talking about his brother's make a wish and you correct him on the name of the team. Jesus. Have some respect. I'm sorry for the untimely loss of your brother, Charles. Take care

@NACHTY1

4 ай бұрын

​@@jamesgraves9858Kinda hard to overlook when the entire time Hafner was on the team AND the guys brother was alive, the franchise was known as the INDIANS

@jamesgraves9858

4 ай бұрын

@@NACHTY1 We know, we all know. To go through the trouble to correct him without acknowledging the importance of his post... Ignorance. That is rude and ignorant. You'll realize what's important one day

merry Christmas jolly thanks for all the content this year :)

You’re my favorite account on KZread man. Great stuff as always. To this day the furthest hit ball I’ve seen in my life was Travis Hafner at Angel stadium, and it was a cold night. He nearly hit it over the right field fields crew equipment area. Keep it up Jolly Olive!

Never heard @JollyOlive Instant subscribe. Best sports commentary ever. Most hilarious stats I've ever heard. 🤣

I always wondered what happened to him, he was SO good in the mid to late 2000’s, sad that injuries did him in…thank you for your video!

Thank you for making this. Pronk was my favorite player as a kid growing up in Ohio. I am still buying his cards to this day, and I keep his bobblehead on my desk during baseball season.

Love your videos Jolly, hope you had a great Christmas! Would love to see a video on Marco Estrada. Especially his few years in Toronto when he was one of the more underrated and undervalued pitchers in baseball, using that fastball and change-up combo. Cheers!!

Pronk is by far my favorite Cleveland Indian/Guardian. My buddy who works in the front office of the Guardians now, got me into Tribe Time as a kid when Hafner was on fire!

Thank you for making this! Him and Grady were my childhood

Really well done content, subbed!

Two great ballplayers from North Dakota who grew up about 60 miles from each other, Erstad and Hafner, were taken in two consecutive drafts. As a young baseball fan growing up in North Dakota just another 60 miles away through the '90s and early '00s, I was a big fan of these guys when they got to the big leagues. Went to school with some of Erstad's cousins and he came once to visit our school. That was a great day.

It's awesome to see Pronk remembered. Got to meet him at Spring Training when he first joined Cleveland. Nice guy and he could smash the hell out of a baseball.

Adam laroch what a throw back I hadn’t heard that name in a long time loved using him in mlb 07 the show

Cleveland fan my entire life. Loved Hafner! Awesome video, new subscriber!

I LOVE Travis Hafner! He was always one of the players I picked when I would play expansion mode in baseball games. He was a hell of a power hitter in his day and I just love watching him rake.

I just discovered your channel and am hooked! Great quality and presentations.

Thanks for doing more Cleveland videos :)

I love videos like this bc as someone who wasn't yet a baseball fan at the time I'm kinda oblivious to players who went a bit under the radar or didn't get their deserved recognition. I knew Hafner was good, but I didn't know he was *that* good

When I was a kid I played a ton of MLB 06: Road to the show On my team, we had myself, Richie Sexson, and Travis Hafner. We probably hit a combined 150+ HR each year. Good times and I am happy that you reminded me of this memory!

As a Die-Hard Mets fan, love the lid bro. Great Channel. I love nerding out on baseball

Looking at that list of 1st baseman one guy I COMPLETELY forgot about was Richie Sexson. He had a couple year stretch where he was one of the best power hitters in the game.

I remember the at bat where Pronk broke out. He had just come back from the minors and I don't recall the exact game, but he started fouling off pitches on a particular at bat. I don't know how many he fouled off, it was anywhere form 9 pitch to a 13 pitch at bat, but I remember posting somewhere that Hafner had arrived. And soon after he started hitting with power.

My favorite player growing up as a kid!!! Been a Cleveland fan since birth (not by my choice, obviously (looking at you Browns)) and this guy was such a crazy hitter. Nobody could be Thome, but man, he was so much fun to watch hit. Hope Pronk is doing well today

This is such a great channel! Awesome video!

I really like your channel man. Love seeing the guys some forgot about

Loved growing up watching Hafner, I was at the game he tied Don Mattingly for for the most grand-slams hit in a season back in 2006. Long live Pronkville. Last I heard he still lives around Cleveland and does a lot a charity work in the area, outstanding guy!

Excellent video... Thank you for all your great content.. I would personally love a Mike Piazza video

Hell yeah bro. I love this!

Wasn't Hafner a DH? I don't remember him playing first base other than for NL games.

@Phoenix-pm2qr

3 ай бұрын

Correct.

Soothing voice, great delivery. I enjoy your videos. Nice job

I remember Hafner even though I'm not a Cleveland fan, because he was such a great pickup on my fantasy team back in those days.

Hafner is a legend in North Dakota. The Buffalo Wild Wings I went to has a portrait of him.

This is probably the only one of these types of “unsung baseball hero” vids I totally believe. I knew absolutely nothing about this player until now and it’s kind of a travesty how underrated he appears to be. What a great player. Geesh

Love videos on these really good forgotten hitters

I remember meeting him at Jacobs Field growing up, he was one of my favorite players to watch

Much love for giving this Cleveland legend his much deserved appreciation on one of the best baseball channels out there. There was nothing quite like watching Travis Hafner slug homers out to center right field that was aptly dubbed “Pronk’s Porch”!

new sub. baseball lover. look forward to the content. thanks, man

Great video. Subscribed. Loved using Travis in the old 2K games

I remember as a kid watching him with bases loaded and 2 outs hit a line drive to right fielder that would be a single for anyone else but he got thrown out at first. Still was one of my favorite players but that memory will always stick with me lol

When he played the Kays I was always worried with him at bat. Glad the advanced stats back me up this many years on. He got the “yeah, but he only plays DH” treatment-MVP meant total WAR, both O and D.

This appearing on my timeline has made my day. Pronk gave the Tribe life in those three years fr. Now I'll just hit the subscribe button.

While on this run of cleveland players with pronk and choo would love a sizemore video. Keep up the great work jolly

When I used to do fantasy draft on I can't remember which MLB the show Haffner would never get pick on the first few rounds but was a guarantee 40 plus home run player if you simulated the season. Amazing power.

I loved his batting stance and sweet lefty swing he had. His MOONSHOT he hit in KC is one of the most aesthetically pleasing home runs I have ever seen

Pride of North Dakota right there. Thanks jolly

Loved Pronk. Always pulled for him. Nice, controlled swing.

Man great video 👍🏼

One of my favorite fantasy draft players in MLB 2k7!

PRONK! His stance epitomized power and he was the heart of that underrated Cleveland lineup.

I knew who this was about by the title. After you said the intro I was like yeah this definitely about my boy from mlb 07: the show

I remember seeing Hafner at AAA Buffalo in 2003 along with Brandon Phillips, Victor Martinez, Jhonny Peralta and Cliff Lee

So, I come from a Chicago fan family. My dad and I are North Siders, but my uncle is a South Sider. Travis Hafner was my uncle's boogeyman. I remember the rants anytime Hafner would come to the plate. Pronk was incapable of not taking the Sox yard almost every single game. He must of had a lifetime .330 vs the White Sox, I swear. Dude was an absolute monster.

One of the first ever Indians games I went to, it was the game where Hafner hit his walk off grand slam against the Blue Jays. I was sitting just a section over from where the ball landed too. It's what sparked my huge love for baseball and Pronk will forever have a spot in my heart for that

This dude was a machine in fantasy baseball

Great subject for the video. The video title doesn't exaggerate in the least. Hafner was a beast - until he fell off the face of the earth.

I remember watching him growing up as a Ohioan. He was beyond underrated. Him, Grady and Cliff were so good...too bad the only one with long term success was Cliff.

Thank you. You made your case; very convincing.

Hard to believe Lew Ford got more MVP votes than he did his first full year...what a blast from the past seeing that name today 😂

I never forgot Travis. That dude was scary watch stride to the plate in the 2007 alcs.

Pride of Sykston, ND. One of 3 great ND players from that era

I got a Travis Hafner home run ball at Tropicana Field when he was with the Indians. It hit the catwalk in the rafters and dropped down to me in center field.