Sports Illustrated's Online Vault is pretty much the greatest thing since sliced bread, and periodically we'll be taking a look back at a memorable story. This week's article was originally published April 12, 2004 and written by Jeff Pearlman.
You might not recognize the youngster on the top, that would be Josh Hamilton. This story chronicles a five year period spanning from the 1999 MLB Draft, in which Hamilton was taken with the first overall pick by the Devil Rays and Beckett was taken second overall by the Marlins, to 2004.
In 2004, many thought that Hamilton would never play baseball again, let alone make it to the majors because of his multiple drug incidents and Beckett had already developed into a World Series MVP with the Marlins in 2003.
What's interesting if if this article were written again today, that by the time both careers are done, they might look very similar in the end. It certainly appears that Beckett has already reached his peak as a pitcher and Hamilton is just entering his as a hitter. I remember being fascinated in '04 when I read this article the first time, and I'm equally so this time around with how much things have changed since it was written.
"180 Degrees of Separation " 4/12/04 by Jeff Pearlman
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