Sorry for conjuring up images of Cinderella circa 1988 with that headline.

On a recent trip to Cleveland, I was staying at the same hotel as the Chicago White Sox, who were in town for a early 3-game series at Progressive Field. During the check-in process, two White Sox players, Jim Thome and Carlos Quentin were standing behind me at the front desk. Most rabid baseball fans, if given the choice to speak to one of the players, would speak to Thome. He’s a probable Hall of Famer, and seems like a pretty good dude. But after getting my room key, I walked by Quentin, who had yet to register an at-bat for his new club after being traded by the Diamondbacks last December. I simply said “hey man, I thought the D-Backs gave up on you too quickly.” He said “thanks”, and that was that.

I believe what I had told him. Granted, with Justin Upton being compared to a young Ken Griffey Junior, it would be difficult to keep him out of the lineup, and thus keep Quentin on the roster as a fourth outfielder. So the Diamondbacks dealt him to the Sox for minor-league first baseman Chris Carter.

Peruse the American League leaders today, and you’ll see Carlos Quentin’s name and statistics featured prominently. He’s tied with Texas’ Josh Hamilton for the league lead in home runs with 12, and he’s second to Hamilton with 40 RBI.

Again, let me reiterate, I understand why the Diamondbacks made that deal, and no, I don’t believe that CQ would have put those numbers up in Sedona Red this year. But it did get me to thinking, about all those players in the history of Phoenix professional sports that have been let go too soon by their teams, only to become stars somewhere else.

Here’s my list of the ones that got away…

10. Alex Cabrera,Diamondbacks-Yeah this big Venezuelan only played in 31 games for the D-Backs, but he did hit 5 home runs. And yes, I know you suspected he was on the juice back in 2000, and that his name showed up in the Mitchell Report, but take a look at what this guy did after his contract was sold to the Seibu Lions of Japan’s Pacific League. In 6 seasons, Cabrera has belted 273 homers, including 55 in 2002, which tied a Japanese Record. He’s also helped lead the Lions to 2 Pacific League titles, and a Japan Series championship in 2004.

---

9. Jamir Miller,Cardinals - Big Red fans were flying high in January 1999, the Cardinals had won their first playoff game in forever, and for the first time since moving from St. Louis, things were looking up for the franchise. Then came the front office decision to let fullback Larry Centers, offensive lineman Lomas Brown, and young stud linebacker Jamir Miller leave via free agency. Miller landed with Cleveland in 1999, and made the Pro Bowl following the 2001 season, when he registered 13.5 sacks. Ironically, the 2001 Pro Bowl would be Miller’s last game, as he ruptured an achilles’ tendon in training camp the next year, an injury which ended his career.

---

8. Joe Johnson,Suns-This one hits a nerve with a lot of people. Following the 2004-05 season, Johnson asked for and received a trade to the Atlanta Hawks, where he could be “the man”, instead of being a 4th option on a loaded Suns team. Johnson became “the man” for a team that won a total of 56 games in the first two seasons he’s been there. Remember, the Hawks did make the playoffs this season, and took the Celtics to 7 games before being ousted. In 3 seasons with the Hawks, JJ has averaged 22.0 points per game, and played in 2 All-Star games. But, on the bright side Suns fans, you got Boris Diaw out of the deal. Commence pulling your hair out now.

---

7. Kyle Vanden Bosch,Cardinals- The Cardinals deserve a lot of criticism for some of the personnel decisions they’ve made over the years, but this one really wasn’t their fault. In 4 years with the Cards after being drafted in the 2nd round of the 2001 NFL Draft, Vanden Bosch registered a total of QB sacks. Vanden Bosch had been riddled with knee injuries during his stay in the desert, but was picked up by the Tennessee Titans before the 2005 season. In his 3 years in Music City, Vanden Bosch has registered 31 sacks, forced 9 fumbles, and played in 2 Pro Bowls.

---

6. Gail Goodrich,Suns- Goodrich played on the original Phoenix Suns team in 1968 after being acquired from the Lakers in the expansion draft. In 2 seasons with the Suns, Goodrich averaged 21.9 points per game, and represented the Valley in the 1969 NBA All-Star Game. Following another solid season where Goodrich averaged over 20 points, the Suns shipped him back to the Lakers for big man Mel Counts. In the next 6 years with the Lakers, Goodrich averaged 22.5 points per game, played in 4 All-Star games, led the Lakers in scoring 4 straight seasons (and Chamberlain and West were on those teams), played in 2 NBA Finals, and won one NBA Championship on the 1971-72 team which won 69 games and was considered the greatest team of all time until Jordan’s 95-96 Bulls won 72. Counts played 2 years in Phoenix and averaged 8.2 points per game. Oops!

---

5. Brad Penny,Diamondbacks- Penny never technically pitched a game for the Diamondbacks, but was traded in 1999, along with Abraham Nunez and Vladimir Nunez to Florida for oft-injured closer Matt Mantei. Penny won 48 games over 4 1/2 seasons in Florida was then dealt to the Dodgers in 2004. In his time in Los Angeles, the right hander has gone 45-28 with a 3.86 ERA, he’s pitched in 2 All-Star games, finished 3rd in the 2007 NL Cy Young vote, and has done the deed with Alyssa Milano (allegedly). Meanwhile, Mantei can be seen starring as Vanilla Ice in Casino Arizona’s Showstoppers Live! Advantage Penny.

---

4. Daniel Briere,CoyotesHe was apparently too small when the Coyotes traded Briere to Buffalo in 2004 for Chris Gratton. Since then, Briere has thrived in the NHL’s post-lockout rule structure, scoring 123 goals and notching 179 assists for the Sabres and Flyers. Gratton? He scored 11 goals in 82 games for the ‘Yotes, but was dealt along with Ossi Vaananen to Colorado for Keith Ballard and Derek Morris in what is probably the best trade in Coyotes’ history. So I guess it wasn’t a total loss.

---

3. Garrison Hearst, Cardinals - Hearst was drafted high- #3 overall in the 1993 NFL Draft by the Cardinals out of Georgia, so there were immediately high hopes. He held out, and for the first two years in the Valley, was riddled by injury. In 1995, he set a then-Arizona Cardinals record with 1070 yards rushing and was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. For his efforts, Hearst was cut after the season. He spent 1996 in Cincinnati, and then it was on to San Francisco where he ran for 5535 yards and 26 touchdowns over the next 5 seasons. He played in 2 Pro Bowls, and generally was regarded as one of the toughest running backs in the league during his time with the 49ers.

---

2. Jay Novacek, Cardinals - Novacek was serviceable as a Cardinal, catching 83 balls for 1054 yards and 8 touchdowns in 5 years. In Dallas, Novacek became a star, catching 339 balls for 3576 yards and 22 touchdowns. He played in 5 Pro Bowls, and won 3 Super Bowls with the Cowboys. Double oops!

---

1. Dennis Johnson, Suns - DJ had quite the reputation when he got to Phoenix; after all, he had been named the 1979 NBA Finals MVP, helping the Seattle Supersonics to their one and only championship. The Suns pulled off a monster deal to get him, sending the popular Paul Westphal to the Sonics. DJ delivered. In his 3 years in Phoenix, Johnson played in 2 All-Star Games, was once an All-NBA First Team selection, and was a 3-time All-NBA Defensive selection all while averaging 17.5 points per game. In the summer of 1983, the Suns dealt Johnson along with a first-round draft pick to Boston for Rick Robey and 2 second round draft picks. What was a questionable trade at the time, became the single worst sports personnel move in Phoenix’s sports history. Johnson flourished in Boston, playing alongside Larry Bird, Robert Parish, Kevin McHale and company, the Celtics won 2 championships, and played in 2 other NBA Finals. Robey, on the other hand, played in 111 games over 3 years with the Suns, starting only 5, and averaged 4.5 points per game. When his career in Boston was over, the late Dennis Johnson had his number 3 jersey retired and raised to the rafters at historic Boston Garden, and Larry Bird called DJ “one of the best teammates I ever had.” And you thought the Marion for Shaq trade looked bad?

Honorable mention: Dan Uggla, Diamondbacks; Michael Finley, Suns; Keith Tkachuk, Coyotes; Teppo Numminen, Coyotes; Lyle Overbay, Diamondbacks; Jeff Suppan, Diamondbacks; Tim McDonald, Cardinals.

Join the discussion at The Fanster Forums. Arizona Sports 24/7.