Each week, commenter RandBallsStu (branding! #hirestu) tracks down a former Minnesota sports figure about whom you might have otherwise forgotten. This works out well, except when we get yelled at by these athletes. Stu? --------------
The Hunt Down
Name: Jeff Reboulet
Claim to Fame, Minnesota: Was Tom Kelly's Nick Punto for your Minnesota Twins from 1992-1996. The light-hitting, sure-handed utility infielder had his best offensive season in 1995, with 4 dingers, 23 ribbies, a .292 average and a .771 OPS. As was expected of utility infielders at the time, Reboulet cultivated a scrappy, fundamentally-sound mustache. It gets 7 Wilfongs out of a possible 10.
I'm Not Kidding About the Punto Thing: read this Baltimore Sun story from 1997. For Tom Kelly, that's the equivalent of cutting open a vein.
Claim to Fame, Everywhere Else: after leaving the Twins in free agency after '96. Reboulet lived that journeyman infielder life. He signed with Baltimore and played in his only postseason in 1997, where he hit a home run off of Randy Johnson (!) in the Orioles' ALDS-clinching victory over the Mariners. (Pictorial evidence here from the Baltimore Sun.) Reboulet then moved on to the Royals, Dodgers and Pirates before retiring in 2003.
Where He Is Now: the Dayton, Ohio native co-founded Horizon Wealth Management, which offers financial planning services for professional athletes. The black mustache is now a tasteful, grey goatee.
Is He on Twitter: not verified, but it sure looks like it's him.
Has He Ever Been in a Twitter Feud with Patrick Reusse: no.
Dayton, Ohio Power Rankings:
3.The Wright Brothers
4.Mike Schmidt
6.Dave Huffman (homer ranking #1)
7.Martin Sheen
8.Jeff Reboulet (homer ranking #2)
9.Rob Lowe
10.Nancy Cartwright
(Thanks to Twitter follower @gfunk1755 for the suggestion)