From Hero to Forgotten: The Unfulfilled Promise of Eric Davis

From Hero to Forgotten: The Unfulfilled Promise of Eric Davis
In the vast span of baseball history, some remarkable stories often slip through the cracks. Join us as we unravel the tale of a forgotten hero, Eric Davis, whose electrifying talent once promised to reshape the game. Hailed as a five-tool player, Davis burst onto the scene in the 1980s, captivating fans with his speed, power, and defensive prowess. However, despite his meteoric rise, Davis's journey took unexpected turns, leaving many to wonder what could have been. In this video, we delve into the highs, lows, and unfulfilled promise of Eric Davis - the overlooked legend whose legacy deserves a second look.
In today's video we look at From Hero to Forgotten: The Unfulfilled Promise of Eric Davis...keep watching for more on, eric davis, major league baseball, eric davis baseball, eric davis (baseball player), eric davis reds, davis,1980s baseball, baseball swings, eric davis highlights, eric davis stolen base, baseball highlights, eric davis hall of fame, eric davis 1986, eric davis 1987 and eric davis collection
Subscribe for more on baseball history, baseball, major league baseball and MLB. Inspired by Baseball Doesn't Exist, Made The Cut, and Cam 23.
Inspired by Eric Davis: The Biggest "What If" of the 1980s/1990s
Inspired by Doc Gooden's Career Was Over. Then He Did the Impossible.
Inspired by Players You Forgot Were Elite! | Episode 1
Click here to subscribe: bit.ly/3NgaQ2K
Click here to subscribe: bit.ly/3NgaQ2K

[@mrpaullandini]

One of the greatest ever. Definitely not forgotten by anyone who watched him play.

[@BBUYTTV]

Glad you are keeping the flame alive! Thank you for the comment!

[@mrpaullandini]

@@BBUYTTVThanks for the video! You’re doing great work.

[@BBUYTTV]

@@mrpaullandini thank you! I appreciate the kind words!

[@hogg4229]

My favorite player as a kid.

[@BBUYTTV]

He was awesome for a period of time! Thank you for sharing!

[@jtom1309]

He was an AMZING player, at one point in time he was the very best player in MLB. Old school baseball card collectors will remember how hot his rookie cards were around 1987-88. The tragedies in his personal story are on par with his friend Darryl Strawberry and his DL limitations were perhaps even more severe than Mattingly. In most other universes, this guy was a first round HOFer.

[@BBUYTTV]

You are right, at one point in time in the late 80s I think he was the best player in the game. It’s too bad that he had so many health problems. He probably would have been in the HOF. Thank you for the comment!

[@thirdlegstalliano]

Eric Davis was my favorite player back then. In my opinion, his best year was 1990 when the Reds won the World Series.

[@BBUYTTV]

@@thirdlegstalliano that was a great year for him and the Reds. Swept a tough A’s team that year. Thank you for commenting!

[@Idiot_Savant02]

I just pulled a autographed Eric Davis Card from Topps 88’ set (2023 update series) I had no idea who we was but I posted it on the baseball cards subreddit because it was such a rare pull. Everyone on that posted ranted about how amazing of a player he was. They talked about his 162 game stretch, and his SB ability. It was like a got a free history lesson by pulling such an obscure card. This dude was incredibly loved and respect by his generation of baseball fans

[@BBUYTTV]

@@Idiot_Savant02 no doubt! He was unbelievable to watch. Glad you got to find out more about him by diving deep on his career. Thank you for the comment!

[@JohnBaranich-wv6ot]

I never forgot about him. He was a great player. If he’s not already, he should be in Cincinnatis hall of fame.

[@elbob17]

Never forgotten in this house. His jersey is framed in my basement. My favorite athlete when I was 11 in 1987. My favorite athlete at 48 in 2024.

[@BBUYTTV]

@@elbob17 that’s great!

[@chadstubbs6045]

My favorite ball player of all time!!!! Used to mimic his batting stance in little league

[@BBUYTTV]

There are an awful lot of people who grew up during that time that had him as their favorite player. He was so fun to watch. Thank you for your comment!

[@joeshields2005]

Ohhhhh that stance he had when he was in the box . Love it

[@BBUYTTV]

Thank you for sharing!

[@jamesgeschwender2276]

Growing up a reds fan in the early 70s i remember Eric Davis very well. 1 hellava ball player. What i didnt know was his struggle with cancer. I lost my 3 year old granddaughter alaina to cancer in 2014 also my girlfriend and father and a couple of cousins and now my brother is in a fight for his life with cancer. If Cancer had a face I'd kick it square in the family jewels. Thank you for the video

[@BBUYTTV]

Sorry for you losses…cancer touches so many unfortunately. I am glad you enjoyed the video. Thank you for sharing your story

[@jamesgeschwender2276]

@@BBUYTTV ✌️🤘

[@luckadoo7982]

Davis and Strawberry my all time favorites

[@10rcoleman]

I grew up loving the reds and Davis he was awesome I remember to try to copy his stance in pony league I live in Va but we went to riverbend a couple times when he was there Larkin sabo O’Neil they were it in my eyes

[@BBUYTTV]

He was amazing! Thank you for sharing!

[@txbill2512]

One of my favorite players of the 80's. His bat speed was something else as well.

[@BBUYTTV]

Speed and power, pretty much the whole package! Thank you for the comment!

[@inkedvillan80]

He was AMAZING

[@BBUYTTV]

When healthy he could do anything! Thank you for the comment!

[@softwelveone]

I can't prove this but the demands of a long season weakens the body and opens up the door for injuries... couple that with playing in cincy... pitchers having to throw harder and harder... more Tommy John surgery performed then ever before... Eric Davis was a unique, special talent, esthetically pleasing to watch!

[@BBUYTTV]

It was definitely exciting every time he touched the field. Thank you for the comment!

[@michaeldipietro5010]

I am an Orioles fan. I was excited for them to have Eric on the team for his power (that's what I remember most prior to his coming to Baltimore). He most definitely is not missed by me (and probably many other) Orioles fans for his contributions. For me, he is in the annals of Orioles OF like Mike Devereaux, Brady Anderson, Steve Finley, Adam Jones, and Nick Markakis.

[@BBUYTTV]

You definitely got him on the down side of his career.

[@dasmurfy92]

Eric Davis was a beast. Wish he never got hurt!

[@BBUYTTV]

Me too. Loved watching him play! Thank you for the comment!

[@chadcarpenter9836]

One of the best in his generation

[@BBUYTTV]

Definitely! Wish he could have stayed healthier! Thank you for the comment!

[@philneliusharris4189]

Very underrated player in that era. Extremely fun to watch.

[@BBUYTTV]

No doubt! So fun to watch! Thank you for the comment!

[@MarvinMonroe]

Just imagine, 3 more homeruns in 1987 and he would have been 40/50 club. All that Canseco hype in 1988 about first ever 40/40 club would have been nonexistant

[@thirdlegstalliano]

The numbers, in this case, do not do justice to the superstar player Eric Davis was in the late 80s and early 90s. Those of us lucky enough to have seen him play in his prime can attest to his greatness.

[@BBUYTTV]

You had to see it to believe…in his prime he was as good as anyone!

[@lordcolinb]

That injury in the world series and how Marge Shot acted about it

[@BBUYTTV]

That was terrible. Can’t believe how it went down. She was a terrible owner. Thank you for your comment.

[@randalljohnson7123]

MY ALL TIME FAVORITE PLAYER PERIOD HE WAS THE REASON I PLAYED BASEBALL 🔴🟥♥️♦️

[@BBUYTTV]

He was exciting to watch! Thank you for sharing.

[@jsd795]

Davis, Strawberry, Gooden and Bo Jackson are roughly the same age from the same era who had unlimited potential that wasn't fulfilled but they were so much fun to watch before it fell apart for them.

[@BBUYTTV]

Good observation. I never thought about it that way, but you are correct. Thank you for your comment!

[@thomasguglielmo1509]

Always loved that stats in that 162 game stretch, so happy you mentioned it

[@BBUYTTV]

They are hard to ignore. Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for the comment!

[@ice-iu3vv]

for a few years in the later 80s, when healthy, he could carry a team on his back more than anyone else i ever saw. pitchers can only work every 5 days. power hitters can be walked. base-stealers usually dont have power. defensive stars usually arent dominant hitters. eric could go 3-4 weeks at a stretch when he would typically get an extra base hit, a walk or single, steal a base, drive in 2 runs, score 2 runs, and save a run on defense. if the 75-76 reds had eric and the bullpen from the 1990 team, they might have won over 130 games.

[@BBUYTTV]

He was a beast for sure and so fun to watch. Thank you for the comment!

[@jeffn9952]

Better than Canseco and didn't need steroids

[@BBUYTTV]

Unbelievable combination of power and speed. Thank you for your comment!

[@paulhager1281]

Canseco I feel was better...funner to watch...I don't care how strong u r..baseball is hard....hand eye contact and steroid use do not compute...respectively

[@jsd795]

@@paulhager1281yeah roids don't help 😅😅😅. That must be why they became rampant in the game and why so many players went from average to great players all of the sudden during the roid era.

[@MarvinMonroe]

​@@paulhager1281funner to watch?? Davis had the coolest stance ever and would hit grand slams and hit for the cycle and steal tons of bases and make diving catches and had one of the best arms ever. How could Canseco be more fun to watch? Unless you were attracted to Canseco. Then it would make sense to me why you had so much fun watching him

[@unkledoda420]

​@@paulhager1281Roids = more muscle = faster bat speed = easier hitting. Yeah you still need good hand eye coordination but saying roids don't help is just silly.

[@Boss3Nate]

Easy first ballot HOF player if he stayed healthy. Absolute stud... Eric the Red!

[@charlesclinton3305]

I vaguely remember his time with the Tigers, he tried as hard as he could but he just wasn't able to replicate his abilities from when he was with the Reds. Although he was able to get somewhat back to that level later, it just wasn't meant to be with the team I root for.

[@BBUYTTV]

He was pretty much done by that point. He was great to watch in his prime though! Thank you for the comment!

[@billgrewe8340]

If my memory is accurate, at Dodger Stadium i saw him charge a blooper to center with a runner on first. The runner had to wait to see if the ball was caught. It was not. Davis, at full speed, caught it on one hop and keep flying toward the infield ultimately stepping on second to force the runner. I never saw anyone else do that.

[@BBUYTTV]

That’s awesome! Thank you for sharing!

[@DarylPell]

Eric The Red will never be forgotten here in Cincy.

[@BBUYTTV]

Glad to hear that! He deserves to be remembered! Thank you for the comment!

[@tatevancleve1802]

Wow that's crazy I didn't know Eric Davis & Daryl strawberry were beasties. Daryl strawberry was my favorite position player & Eric Davis was my number two. Than later on Ron Gant, bo Jackson, then Gary sheffield & Ken Griffey jr.

[@BBUYTTV]

Grew up in the same area of Southern California. I like the players you followed. Definitely some exciting guys!

[@therealbs2000]

THE OG ACUNA

[@hugosegura6287]

@jeffn9952, I’ve never forgot about him. In my mind he could’ve been the N.L M.V.P. In 86,87 and 90. It’s unbelievable that he and Darrell Strawberry, grew up together in Los Angeles, and subsequently they both contracted colon cancer in their 30’s. I’m glad they both survived.

[@BBUYTTV]

He was definitely at the top of his game during that late 80's period. It is eerie the parallel track that Davis and Strawberry had...especially with their cancer battles. I am glad they both survived. Thank you for the comment.

[@Todd-fc2xb]

This was well done. Those 80 stolen bases are staggering.

[@BBUYTTV]

Thanks! He was a beast!

[@GFYM_Finance]

Davis was the right-handed Darryl Strawberry. It's amazing how similar their physiques were, not to mention their production over the years.

[@BBUYTTV]

@@GFYM_Finance mirror images!

[@blakecardin]

ED was an absolute monster in the box, on the bases and in the field. Ray Knight was an absolute D-Bag to ED.

[@BBUYTTV]

In his prime he was as good as anyone. Maybe Ray was jealous! Thank you for the comment!

[@kerryklopfstein4260]

He’s not forgotten in Cincinnati.

[@BBUYTTV]

Of all of the stops in his career that would be the one I would expect him to still be remembered in. Thank you for your comment!

[@CharmCityGamer]

If only he hadn't gotten hurt in the 90 Series... he would've been so special.

[@BBUYTTV]

Definitely! The treatment by the Reds after that happened is indefensible!

[@CharmCityGamer]

@@BBUYTTV No doubt about that my friend!

[@michaelkeyes5813]

Did win a world series and a great player when healthy!!

[@BBUYTTV]

Absolutely!

[@marklee7243]

It's too bad, but he was a true 5 tool player. His frame was just not build for 162 games a season. I still have his jersey from 87 but it fits real tight. 😂

[@BBUYTTV]

Ha! Keep that jersey. It is a fitting tribute to a player that was one of the best for a short period of time. Wish he could have stayed healthy

[@Thecoolio097]

that batting stance....

[@BBUYTTV]

Relaxed yet powerful!

[@WB-1]

He got hurt. If not for that he would've been a HOFer

[@BBUYTTV]

You are probably right, the serious injuries he had and his cancer fight were the only things holding him back. Thank you for the comment!

[@unkledoda420]

Byron Buxton reminds me so much of Eric Davis. Amazing talents, 5 tool potential but their bodies just weren't built for it. They just can't get through a full season without missing substantial time.

[@BBUYTTV]

I can see that comparison. Thank you for the comment!

[@georgesouthwick7000]

Unfortunately injuries shortened his career. When healthy, he was as good as anyone, a 5 tool player.

[@BBUYTTV]

Absolutely! Wish we could have seen him healthy! Thank you for the comment!

[@Nestor123057]

Ray Knight beat the Be Jesus out of him at third base in 86'.

[@BBUYTTV]

That was a brutal fight! Thank you for the comment!

[@tmcl1837]

He killed my home team, the Phillies.

[@BBUYTTV]

He killed a lot of teams when he was at his peak. Such a tough player to have playing against your team. Thank you for your comment!

[@MarvinMonroe]

Anyone with a brain who was a baseball fan back in the 80s knows how great he was. Also eff Ray Knight. He sucker punched Eric back in 1986 or whenever and then 10 years later he managed Eric. Obvious they wouldnt get along

[@BBUYTTV]

Bad blood for sure!

[@AnsonBeeker]

Eric Davis got cancer. It's not like he did anything to ruin himself.

[@BBUYTTV]

Correct, just bad luck with injuries and illness. All outside his control.

[@LEEMAN-X]

It's crazy hearing all these amazing stats from all these black players back in the day and then you look at baseball stats now, it's a joke, if you steal 20 bases now and hit 20 Homer's you're like a super star player now and days lol

[@BBUYTTV]

The game has changed a lot for sure. Difficult to compare stats across eras sometimes. Thank you for the comment!

[@henrywallacesghost5883]

Eric was every bit as good as Daryl Strawberry. I think they might have been cousins as well?

[@GeeEm1313]

The narrator said they were friends.

[@BBUYTTV]

Not related but good friends. I actually think at their peak Eric was better. Thank you for your comment!

[@rolyrod69]

Please say no to AI sports KZbinrs.