For a pitcher to reach the high 90s on a fastball at the turn of the century in baseball was a feat in and of itself. To strike out 10 batters per nine innings in the same era was also an anomaly. Pitching at the highest level of the minors at the age of 19 and debuting at 20 was unique. To do all of these things made a player special.
Rick Ankiel was able to accomplish each of these tasks as a rookie pitcher way back in 2000.
The St. Louis Cardinals drafted Ankiel out of Port St.