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His destiny was Cooperstown. After his first seven years in a Red Sox uniform, not many would argue that the skinny shortstop from California was on the road to enshrinement into the Baseball Hall of Fame. How times have changed. Today, 4-1/2 years removed from his glory days in Boston, Nomar Garciaparra is relegated to the Dodgers’ bench as a utility player and pinch-hitter, with Cooperstown nowhere in his future travels.

Drafted in 1994, Nomar won American League Rookie-of-the-Year in 1997. Disregarding his injury year in 2001, Nomar averaged 27.5 home runs, 107 RBI, and a batting average of .328, including two batting titles in 1999 and 2000 when he hit .357 and .372, respectively. Since his trade to the Cubs mid-season in 2004, his yearly averages are .286, 46 RBI, and 9.6 home runs (albeit, dealing with numerous injuries).

Ironically, Nomar’s fall from super-stardom can be directly linked to his new Dodger’s teammate, Manny Ramirez. After the 2003 season, the Red Sox had a deal in place that would have sent Ramirez to the Rangers for shortstop Alex Rodriguez. If the deal had gone through, the Sox would have sent Nomar to the White Sox for Magglio Ordonez. The following season, a disgruntled Nomar quickly became a clubhouse cancer, and he was shipped to the Cubs in a blockbuster trade.

When Nomar’s baseball days are over, and we look back at his career, thoughts of what might have been will always linger.