Goodbye, Huston (a picspammy farewell)

by schmifty on Nov 15, 2008 9:28 AM PST Comment 38 comments

I should've thought to do something like this for Rich, but the aftermath of that trade was too turbulent. This move came with more forewarning.

Huston Street was one of my favorite players to watch during his tenure with the A's. From his beaming smiles in his rookie hazing outfit, to his extolling the virtues of marriage, to his complete blowup at an ump, he was always sort of interesting to follow. You always had to ask yourself, "Is he REALLY that cheezy? Or is it just an act that's about to crack?". And, you know, he was really hot.

Although bringing him to the mound was always risky business this year, I will miss watching him play. I hereby bid farewell to the days of hitting 'record' on the Tivo before the 9th, staring deep into my screen with Street on the mound, and rewatching the inning afterward.

You might say this move brings the Golden Age of A's Hotness to a close. We've been packed and stacked for quite a few years, with everyone from the Big 3, to Byrnes, Swish, Haren, Harden, and now Street playing... and going. We've even lost new role-players such as Nibbles and CarGon. I would say much weight is now on the shoulders of a one Mr. Ryan Sweeney, to keep the faith alive.

And so... one last go-round for some classic Huston poses and moments:

I remember the first time I saw Huston on TV - it wasn't this show (Jim Rome), but it was around that time, on the Hot Seat. Tight closeup of his face, Huston very good on camera, and my parents and I were all kind of silently mesmerized by the screen. Watched him a lot after that.

The youngster days. His face has changed a lot already.

Media darling, early on.

CLASSIC. Funny and yet strangely hot.

Intense.

I think this pic won him some awards on ladiesdotdotdot. Rightfully so.

Zagaris always helped a sista out.

Japan.

And then he went all Clark Kent in that BART piece.

And then there was: The Day Sweetness Cracked.

"I WASN'T TALKING TO YOU!"

"I'M THINKING!"

... that was hot. I wish I still had it on my Tivo.

By the time I saw him in person for the first time - July 2008 - he was looking worse for wear.

And then he was gone.

So - Memories? Moments? Pics? Feel free to add. I need some closure.

5 recs | Comment 38 comments

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Comments

will you do the same

when crosby is gone? i hope not

http://www.dirtywatah.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/full-getty-72124100cc056_alcs_game_4_o_8_16_15_pm.jpg

by Asfan4ever723 on Nov 15, 2008 9:42 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

This is not the place for that kind of picture!

I should’ve figured it out from the url… dang it.

by whiteshoes40 on Nov 15, 2008 10:34 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

how ironic would that have been

if we had sent Street to the Tigers for Ordonez?
I can imagine some of the headlines:
“Magglio shuts cuts Street’s season with A’s short again…”
yeah, I know it’s a bit of a stretch

by stranahanahan on Nov 15, 2008 11:17 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This may be the longest comment ever. Sorry.

Pictures, in no particular order:

(credit to jlaff for the next few beauties)

by whiteshoes40 on Nov 15, 2008 10:32 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

These are awesome!

I love him carrying his own luggage around, haha – never seen that one before! Of course we needed a Richie/Huston Guitar shot, a Tongue shot, and the ESPN cover – those are essentials! Thanks for posting!

by schmifty on Nov 16, 2008 1:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I always admire Street for the way he was with fans

I went to 5 games at Angels stadium last year, and every single time I got some face time with Street. And he was always running around during batting practice, giving water to everybody. it always cracked me up.
My best memory was when he was signing for us and my friend got his ball back and looked at the signature, with the “20” below it and said, “Huston, why the hell did you sign my ball with a heart?”. Huston then spent the next couple minutes explaining that it wasn’t a heart and wouldn’t leave it alone until my friend conceded that it was the number 20 and not a secret love note from the pitcher.
good stuff.

by stranahanahan on Nov 15, 2008 10:45 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

hahaha

"It's like déjà vu all over again." -yogi berra

by Cheezombie on Nov 15, 2008 10:52 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Before one ST game this year,

he stood in the sun, signing autographs and chatting with fans, for about an hour and a half. And, unless he’s a very good actor, he even enjoyed it.

Ray: "How fun is it to be up here playing in the Big Leagues?"
Gio: "It's *SUPER* fun!!!"

by Poppy on Nov 15, 2008 4:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Aww... that's awesome!

He was also one of a few A’s that I noticed signing before the game at Yankee Stadium this summer (the other being Ziggy). I don’t know why I was too shy to go ask for an auto – he’s clearly very, very nice!

by schmifty on Nov 16, 2008 1:08 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Ask for an auto?

Like, a car? Sure, the guy’s rich, but that would have been really inappropriate…

Ray: "How fun is it to be up here playing in the Big Leagues?"
Gio: "It's *SUPER* fun!!!"

by Poppy on Nov 16, 2008 4:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey,

depends on what you can do for him! ;-D

by schmifty on Nov 16, 2008 5:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That is an adorable story

Hysterical that he felt the need to prove himself! Must have been really fun, too.

by schmifty on Nov 16, 2008 1:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh crap,

I forgot that he was traded. Anyways…

by Kimberly on Nov 15, 2008 11:32 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

LOL

at the last two photos.

by walkoff baltimore chop on Nov 15, 2008 1:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

awwwwww good ol’ huston. He was very stressful to watch. I did the tivo thing as well but I really liked him! He did always seem like a real sweet guy.Love the pictures as well…he was very good looking. :) Well, I guess he still is. His looks didn’t disappear because he was traded..I hope.

by ilovegregsmith on Nov 15, 2008 11:52 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Okay, here ya go

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Nov 15, 2008 3:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Those are great, I'm surprised I haven't seen most of them before!

I’ve searched around on your site for stuff tagged Huston Street, but somehow I’ve missed a bunch. I love how you’ve got the Huston Hops documented! At least, I assume that was taken when he was doing his Hops, like in this youtube vid?

by schmifty on Nov 16, 2008 1:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, it was from his jumping

The current site only has this year’s stuff, which can be found via the search button. The ones from 2006 are on an older site of mine, different version.

Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog

by Flashfire on Nov 20, 2008 9:08 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Huston

Is to me in a way a local boy. Very disappointed to see him go. I will miss him

Let's have our Piazza and eat the Cust too - SPWC

by closetasfan on Nov 15, 2008 4:28 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Oooof.

Didn’t really hit me until now. Always thought his delivery was one of the coolest to watch. For all the crap we gave him, he was a damned good pitcher. I’ll be sad to see him go.

by danmerqury on Nov 15, 2008 7:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Glad you decided to post this.

Nice walk down memory ~~lane~~ street!

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Nov 15, 2008 8:18 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Can't forget this from last season against the Gnats in the phone booth

"However, at Elias, I think they keep track of the amount of sunflower seeds spit in a dugout each night." - Brad Ziegler, 8/7/08

by doctorK on Nov 15, 2008 8:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

thanks doctork

Shots from the A’s/Giants game when the sprinklers accidentally came on are my absolute favorites of Huston, like a “The Natural” moment in time, and the joy of the game comes back. I’ll miss you Huston!

by luvsmrZ on Nov 16, 2008 7:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Street was a class act.

I wish him nothing but success.

by IM4Oakgal on Nov 15, 2008 8:45 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Some more...

The one that got lots of love from ladiesdotdotdot was mine too. When did that happen, and what is that site?

by JLaff on Nov 16, 2008 10:31 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

You took the one on ladiesdotdotdot? Cool!

It was shown in the post “Baseball’s Best Asse(t)s, The Final”, as a demonstration of why Huston was rated #2 in the league. That was from June 2007. Very cool! Great pics by you!

by schmifty on Nov 16, 2008 1:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

sigh

i will miss huston and his pearly whites!

""These guys are a different breed of ballclub." - Twins manager Ron Gardenhire on the A's

by gotgreen on Nov 16, 2008 1:39 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

HOLYCRAP

Is that a bottle of baby oil and a towel in the third photo?

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Nov 16, 2008 1:45 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Uhm... yes

And yes, the shot was set up that way on purpose, by a Flickr user.

by schmifty on Nov 16, 2008 1:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I know who you're talking about :)

He’s an interesting fella.

by Kimberly on Nov 16, 2008 10:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hee! Yes, yes.

He gives good shout-outs to many of our boys. His inclusion of a pic fom Athletics Magazine is what compelled me to finally get a subscription :)

A's Strategy 2009: "Whoever is not hurt plays" - Syphon, 11/10/08

by schmifty on Nov 17, 2008 7:33 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Ah.

I know the user, I just didn’t realize that was his pic. Yes, he’s very interesting. I think I’d get along pretty nicely with him, though. :)

(PS – There is a certain male porn star he likes that I think looks like Rich Harden… anyone else think that?)

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Nov 17, 2008 7:56 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

When I saw Tommy Hansen in one of that guy's other Flickr pics, I thought it was Rich at first.

Is that who you mean?

If not – YOU MUST TELL ME WHO! Rawrrrr.

A's Strategy 2009: "Whoever is not hurt plays" - Syphon, 11/10/08

by schmifty on Nov 17, 2008 7:58 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Nope, that's the one.

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Nov 17, 2008 6:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed, I had the same thought.

Which prompted me to go find him in, uh, motion – doesn’t so much remind me of Rich upon further inspection – but has his own charms.

A's Strategy 2009: "Whoever is not hurt plays" - Syphon, 11/10/08

by schmifty on Nov 17, 2008 6:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

I did the same thing.

I’m only willing to say Rich and Hansen look alike in the face. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen Rich in motion to compare that. :)

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Nov 17, 2008 8:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I’m going to miss him :(

by drmmerchk on Nov 17, 2008 1:12 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Nice guy.........

Nice guys don’t make great closers! Good bye Street. We need a big ol’ scruffy lookin’, red-neck about 6’6", 280 lbs that has that crazed look in his eyes. You know, like if you just took the last turkey leg off the plate and he had his eye on it! Hand him the ball skip!!!! :)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

A’sFan

by A'sfan on Nov 22, 2008 10:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs