tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81125625020768158452024-03-05T05:21:40.006-06:001986 Topps BlogJets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.comBlogger427125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-89839429543653055382014-11-02T21:35:00.002-06:002014-11-02T21:35:27.079-06:00#429 Greg Booker<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1dKDHjblIjmhor2ohKl5vYBZaiM9VxBlWcHP8NpfR0jUxdW9VcfQUwamfqudsX-VyFkrbu4GfFfKHzvT4MJ96sgTzn44xG7c9DliyBTHm2DTnpulJInscMpnhleq-Cap5K6hO3z0vu4/s1600/429front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1dKDHjblIjmhor2ohKl5vYBZaiM9VxBlWcHP8NpfR0jUxdW9VcfQUwamfqudsX-VyFkrbu4GfFfKHzvT4MJ96sgTzn44xG7c9DliyBTHm2DTnpulJInscMpnhleq-Cap5K6hO3z0vu4/s1600/429front.jpeg" height="320" width="231" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Card thoughts:</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> Greg Booker looks really young in this picture, but on his earlier
cards, he looks really old. Probably because he aced the mustache.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The player:</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
Greg Booker was a man with a dynamite arm, but man did he have control issues. In
1982, while pitching at Class-A Reno, the guy walked an incredible 157 batters
in 161 or so innings (against 87 strikeouts). That season would be Booker’s
last full time as a starter, as he moved up the ladder steadily, despite ERAs
that never went below 5, and walks galore. Somehow making the majors at age 23
(11 2/3 innings pitched, 9 walks), he was a stellar contributor to the Padres
pennant run in 1984, keeping his ERA below 3 throughout July and August.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It was good enough for a roster
spot in the postseason, where pitched fine against the Cubs, but then lost his
control in Game 3 of the World Series, walking 4 in one inning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Booker got a card in this set,
perhaps because he pitched in the World Series, because he barely pitched at all
in ’85 (22 1/3 innings pitched, and ugly 6.85 ERA). He finally righted the ship
in 1987 (after an ’86 season mostly in the minors), and had a decent year as a middle
reliever (while marrying his future boss’s daughter—Kristi McKeon). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But ironically, once his
father-in-law, Jack McKeon, took over as manager (in addition to his GM duties)
in 1988, he barely pitched. Booker was booed mercilessly, while he often went
two weeks between relief appearances. While his ERA doesn’t seem all that bad (3.39),
he had become the team goat. By the middle of the 1989 season, Booker was gone,
traded to the Twins for Terrible Freddie Toliver. Invited to spring training by
the Cubs in 1990, he was cut before the season began, and ended up pitching his
last 2 games with the Giants that season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Booker still works in baseball
(as a scouts), after previously working for a long time as a pitching coach
(including from 1997-2003 for the Padres). He has no hard feelings for his father-in-law:
He lived next door to him for several years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgF8lug9agXcW59hifHE3_mswBhr5Y-h83KuMbRPh-6SEL94nxsBPh7uCgez_m-LstXQb0puMiixEwzf0msKivb0mgsKohbAB0WvjFIAjN4Kq0UT-NarNy_Iy7D-UQPPqkOcgMeAFuMk/s1600/429back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgF8lug9agXcW59hifHE3_mswBhr5Y-h83KuMbRPh-6SEL94nxsBPh7uCgez_m-LstXQb0puMiixEwzf0msKivb0mgsKohbAB0WvjFIAjN4Kq0UT-NarNy_Iy7D-UQPPqkOcgMeAFuMk/s1600/429back.jpeg" height="223" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 19px;"><b><u>Rear guard:</u></b> Back before pitching prospects were protected like rare jewels, it was common to see a 19-year phenom appear in the majors. Expansion teams especially had the propensity to rush first round draft picks to the majors in order to create some buzz. Little did Franklin know that he would never pitch again the majors after 1971. The poor guy couldn't buy a ticket out of Alexandria (Texas League) for three years, and he missed the entire 1972 season after injuring his elbow. Even sadder, after never making it back to the pros, Franklin's wife left him, his father committed suicide, and he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. His mental illness caused him to overeat and chain smoke. </span><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/former-madison-high-pitcher-jay-franklin-no-2-overall-draft-pick-in-1971-blames-subsequent-problems-on-baseball/2011/06/02/AGLSKlJH_story.html" style="font-size: 19px;">He blames baseball for his problems</a><span style="font-size: 19px;">. </span><span style="font-size: 19px;">Franklin currently resides in a group home. </span></div>
</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-78731569542009539462014-10-22T21:53:00.001-05:002014-10-22T21:54:30.893-05:00#428 Max Venable<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiED-p6DVUYE9Co6gxvDLO1sSU_sF3CSLbP9VXwNlDF04Ov2uZkWlamv4wT06ZpryUTalwEjYjx0o50ifY_QT1-7agYS5aAfiIkYaa2lA6AJ1TQe7VUxw1Vv1ImDNKHoSvOs-yr9OhSJ6k/s1600/428front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiED-p6DVUYE9Co6gxvDLO1sSU_sF3CSLbP9VXwNlDF04Ov2uZkWlamv4wT06ZpryUTalwEjYjx0o50ifY_QT1-7agYS5aAfiIkYaa2lA6AJ1TQe7VUxw1Vv1ImDNKHoSvOs-yr9OhSJ6k/s1600/428front.jpeg" height="320" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Card thoughts:</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> I always wondered how ball players, especially base stealing types,
wore glasses. You would think the glare would get to you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The player:</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
Despite the awesome name (although his given name is William), Venable was not
much of a baseball player. In high school, he was known more as a football
star, and he turned down scholarships to sign with the Dodgers. He became, however,
a surplus minor leaguer with them, despite once driving in over 100 runs as a
leadoff hitter while at <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lodi</st1:place></st1:city>
(California League). The Giants drafted him in the Rule 5 draft in 1978, and he
spent ’79 as a defensive replacement and pinch runner, hitting just .165. 1980
was a bit better as he hit .268 and he ended up starting a few more games in
the outfield. But in ’81, he spent most of the year at Pheonix, only getting
into 18 games in the majors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Venable once again played the
role of the late-inning defensive replacement and pinch-runner in 1982, but by
1983 he was the primary back up outfielder. Despite the confidence the Giants
had in him, he ended up hitting just .219. He did, however, come in second in
stolen base percentage, swiping 15 bags while only being caught twice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">After a quick stop in <st1:city w:st="on">Montreal</st1:city> (he was a throw-in in the Al Oliver deal),
Venable landed in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cincinnati</st1:place></st1:city>
where he had his best season in 1985, hitting .289 and stealing 11 bases in 77
games. This impressed the Reds, and they made him their primary left-handed
pinch hitter the following year. But he didn’t hit well in the clutch (.175 in
high-leverage situations) or much overall (.211). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The Reds gave on Venable, and
he spent almost the entire 1987 season at AAA Nashville, appearing in just 7
major league games. 1988 found him exiled to the Mexican League, where he hit
.319 in 13 games. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Against the odds, he once
again became a steady contributor with the Angels in 1990 and 1991, where he
hit around .250 and played solid defense. Another two years in a foreign country
(in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
where he hit well for the Chiba Lotte Marines), and there would not be a third
chance, as his career ended in 1993.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Venable immediately became a
manager in the Braves minor league system, but he couldn’t win at Idaho Falls
(1994) or Danville (1995), as the talent at those levels consisted of Bruce
Chen (who is still pitching), and that is about it. He was relegated to a
coaching role, which he performed ably in <st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region>
and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Korea</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
Venable’s most recent gig was as the hitting coach for <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">High</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Desert</st1:placetype></st1:place>
in the California League.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Yes, Wil Venable, long time
outfielder for the Padres, is Max’s son. Another son plays in the Canadian
Football League.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6m7urAU7sROij_DGM4ZMVpbaZgxp-wikLel9CSQBaBm-b52bFb1JlU_Y2hj0HIhrwfypR1HKcyb0Cf8HXFrgDn62i40sB8cQDm8O-mI03D8kBlerG9hl77nKI7fLXahHrNNr3eiaF9I/s1600/428back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6m7urAU7sROij_DGM4ZMVpbaZgxp-wikLel9CSQBaBm-b52bFb1JlU_Y2hj0HIhrwfypR1HKcyb0Cf8HXFrgDn62i40sB8cQDm8O-mI03D8kBlerG9hl77nKI7fLXahHrNNr3eiaF9I/s1600/428back.jpeg" height="226" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Rear guard:</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
Palindromes? A frustrated English major wrote this trivia question! <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In World War II, Kazak was
part of the D-Day operation, where he was bayoneted, and his elbow shattered by
shrapnel. Despite this, he persevered and became an all-star in 1949. By 1952,
he was already done in the majors. Kazak had just 1 hit in those 13 Red games
that year. But Kazak didn’t give up: He played another 7 years in the minors,
retiring at age 40. Kazak would never play for the Tigers, despite being shown
with them on his ’53 </span><a href="http://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/CardDetail.aspx?item=23861" style="font-size: 14pt;">card</a><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-78408179612420300432014-09-21T11:20:00.004-05:002014-09-21T11:22:14.296-05:00#427 Joe Cowley<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YTCKeLvYYTNNW4ztjPrUVPgnjIhs2Tcwhcr8uosc2Dq21grPiIefGgTy714OFwzpZIKOP0h_HobORy0JkZxGfJ2D9g-DgIKPrXAgYUhEKZEvhg4CJsfJC-zT08WD9TE5y-kME3nfvzU/s1600/427front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YTCKeLvYYTNNW4ztjPrUVPgnjIhs2Tcwhcr8uosc2Dq21grPiIefGgTy714OFwzpZIKOP0h_HobORy0JkZxGfJ2D9g-DgIKPrXAgYUhEKZEvhg4CJsfJC-zT08WD9TE5y-kME3nfvzU/s1600/427front.jpeg" height="320" width="230" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Card
thoughts:</span></u></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I thought this Joe Cowley was this<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Cowley">jerky Sun-times columnist</a>,
but apparently I was wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The player:</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Cowley spent 9 years in the Braves system,
but never pitched much with them in the majors—which is telling, because from 1981-1984
(when Cowley was at AAA), their major league pitching staff was no great shakes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">After essentially
being released by the Braves in 1983, Cowley was picked up by the Yankees as
AAA insurance for their starters. But the Yankees only had Ron Guidry and Phil
Neikro as regular starters that year, and Cowley was rotated into the rotation
in July. He performed surprisingly well, going 9-2 with a 3.68 ERA.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Cowley was even
better in the season shown on this card. With a 12-6 record, with winning
percentage was in the top ten in the league. He was helped by the Yankees high
power offense, however, as his peripherals that season were pretty bad: 85
walks to 97 strikeouts, and 29 home runs given up in just over 159 innings. Cowley
couldn’t even field well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Realizing they had
lightning in the bottle, the Yankees made a rare wise trade (for the time), and
sent Cowley to the White Sox for Britt Burns and a few minor leaguers. With the
Sox, he continued to walk tons of guys, although his strikeouts were up a tad. His
11-11 record wasn’t so great, however, although some of that can be attributed
to the poor White Sox offense backing him up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">But notably,
Cowley threw one of the more improbable no-hitters in major league history. You
usually think of no-hitters as a crisp, well-thrown game. This was decidedly
not. Cowley was in trouble all game, and at one point walked three batters in a
row (with no outs). However, he got out of it by just giving up a sacrifice
fly. Those three walks were out of seven on the day, and he won the game 7-1. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Cowley would
never win another major league game. He went 0-2 the rest of the season, and
then gave up 17 hits and 21 walks in just 11 2/3 innings with the Phillies in
1987 (he only made it past the fifth inning in one of those four starts. He
gave up 7, 5, 5 and 6 runs in those starts. ). So Cowley is the last pitcher to
have his last win be a no-hitter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFw11zWJfAzUO42jognCLPsW18BvqcVyJaw5BcYiH0qkwpvvUGBRqr_L3jQcLGSIyHdE9vHfHZWIYkGHWhUy4nEYmsPpvu9SXqWhjKNNzag-7uItBHxlKF5x_B4VR8iqUZP3pZU1EaPw0/s1600/427back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFw11zWJfAzUO42jognCLPsW18BvqcVyJaw5BcYiH0qkwpvvUGBRqr_L3jQcLGSIyHdE9vHfHZWIYkGHWhUy4nEYmsPpvu9SXqWhjKNNzag-7uItBHxlKF5x_B4VR8iqUZP3pZU1EaPw0/s1600/427back.jpeg" height="227" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Rear guard:</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> You might think Cowley was a veteran by
looking at this card back, but no. Those are almost all minor league teams.
Topps standard back then was if a player had less than 3 years experience, they
showed the minor league record. If you squint hard, you can see he played with
the Braves (tucked away in there in 1982).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">As a kid, though, all those
unknown towns were exciting. Cowley’s best minor league year as a starter was
with <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Greenwood</st1:place></st1:city>
in 1978, where he went 11-7. <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Greenwood</st1:place></st1:city>
was part of the now defunct Western Carolinas League (which changed its name in
1979 to the South Atlantic League). <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Greenwood</st1:place></st1:city>
had been a Braves affiliate since 1969, but didn’t survive the initial
transition to the South Atlantic League (they later had three years as a
Pirates affiliate).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-50461607393322220932014-09-10T22:24:00.002-05:002014-09-10T22:24:51.306-05:00#426 Brewers Leaders<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2w4rFAwyevxzwFgbouLBqrrBRZOD6TNPTRyA6t6och5KN1zDpHEf8jGcE-n7KpUKvuJidw1LNREzqJvWnlQur83GH2Egno0CKOBOHQk-pO-nd424RJnpYm6Pa2AWAUovAyX12y4LwI4/s1600/427front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2w4rFAwyevxzwFgbouLBqrrBRZOD6TNPTRyA6t6och5KN1zDpHEf8jGcE-n7KpUKvuJidw1LNREzqJvWnlQur83GH2Egno0CKOBOHQk-pO-nd424RJnpYm6Pa2AWAUovAyX12y4LwI4/s1600/427front.jpeg" height="320" width="220" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>Card thoughts:</u></b> The Brewers finished in 6th place in the AL East with 90 losses. They were an aging team, still trying to hold on to the veteran hitters than brought them the pennant in '82. Unfortunately, they never developed many young pitchers in the intervening years.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>The player:</u></b> Another prominent Brewer to make their debut in 1973: Gorman Thomas.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17HQ5LPrnZnhKr7sETawIM9dxVETyP0br5_Q-2F9dDiWfjFPsiAe5Z4b-WTzP9CTV5DlCE40i9233ZG2K7dFo6VPa5b0JH3LY8hA94WKHjpYcoRueDwqbh2QTWV9KQ3M44aeXyAYJPB8/s1600/426back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17HQ5LPrnZnhKr7sETawIM9dxVETyP0br5_Q-2F9dDiWfjFPsiAe5Z4b-WTzP9CTV5DlCE40i9233ZG2K7dFo6VPa5b0JH3LY8hA94WKHjpYcoRueDwqbh2QTWV9KQ3M44aeXyAYJPB8/s1600/426back.jpeg" height="223" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>Rear guard:</u></b> The surprise here is that Robin Yount didn't lead the team in any offensive category. A shoulder problem limited him to just 122 games. Teddy Higuera, a 27-year old rookie from the Mexican League, made a big splash with the Brewers in '85. And I do not remember Danny Darwin being on the Brewers.</span></div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-21920875457484424522014-08-16T15:29:00.002-05:002014-08-16T15:29:52.657-05:00#425 Larry McWilliams<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvcYvcGDJyc4J4LlYGopc6f-YKUAZVkEWvFDnEDqz2sTi8gocnIfvfQrrsBlgR9rnCF8pHST356d_fOs1dnJ9g-z5PnWAmdRla5_zAO80M7Y3-Sk89vmrbCettmO4msogKAoi-H7_oj0/s1600/425front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvcYvcGDJyc4J4LlYGopc6f-YKUAZVkEWvFDnEDqz2sTi8gocnIfvfQrrsBlgR9rnCF8pHST356d_fOs1dnJ9g-z5PnWAmdRla5_zAO80M7Y3-Sk89vmrbCettmO4msogKAoi-H7_oj0/s1600/425front.jpeg" height="320" width="233" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><u>Card thoughts:</u></b> Topps did a
good job capturing what made McWilliams effective: A deceptive delivery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-size: 14pt;"><u>The player: </u></b><span style="font-size: medium;">McWilliams was
the Braves’ #1 draft pick in 1974 (in January—there used to be two drafts a
year). Most of the guys in that draft </span><span style="font-size: 19px;">didn't</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> make it to the majors, and Roy Smalley was the only player better than McWilliams that was chosen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A starter for the first part
of his career, McWilliams 9-3 record as a rookie (with a 2.82 ERA) showed
promise. In addition, he was one of the pitchers that stopped Pete Rose's 44 game hitting streak that year. But he would struggle as a starter as he made just 13 starts in 1979
while getting injured, and when healthy in 1980, went 9-14. Seemingly in
desperation, he went to a quick no wind-up, pitching motion that served to make
hitters uncomfortable at the plate. This made McWilliams’ forkball even more
devastating, although it </span><span style="font-size: 19px;">wasn't</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> until a trade to the Pirates that it began to
show.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">After year in 1981 that he
spent almost entirely at AAA (he made just 5 starts), McWilliams began the year
with the Braves, but as a reliever, rather than a starter. His 6.21 ERA was the
highest in his career, so the Braves gave up on him, shipping him to the
Pirates for Pascual Perez.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">With the Pirates, McWilliams
had a great season as a starter, going 6-5 with a 3.11 ERA. The next year, his
15 wins were sixth in the league, and that year he was in the top ten in many
other pitching categories as well. McWilliams last year as a full time starter
was 1984, where his numbers slipped to 12-11, more because of the poor play of
the Pirates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">By the time this picture was
taken, McWilliams was a swingman, starting only 2/3 of the games he pitched. He
was less effective in this role, and his 3-11 record in 1986 (1-8 as a
starter), told that tale. In 1987 he pitched so badly, he was a briefly out of
baseball. But the Cardinals took a chance on him the following year, and he was
a durable, if not spectacular, spot starter and long reliever for them. Another
year followed with another abysmal winning percentage, this time for the
Phillies (.154). McWilliams would end his career with the Royals in 1990 on May
12. He threw just one pitch in that game, and it was stroked for a RBI double
by Lance Johnson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6feT6YhJGU1gAgezuZmMlF-yQVvzZfVL8Ts_2wbo-mQbcJmSGRn7xjKsHopRSIx-9X57YozHAiYBkjQso5OJllrb-2lQ9Ow7JQ1T2k142aAR_pLPdAhfizGhbwOxZRnnHK9-JO_i8nVA/s1600/425back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6feT6YhJGU1gAgezuZmMlF-yQVvzZfVL8Ts_2wbo-mQbcJmSGRn7xjKsHopRSIx-9X57YozHAiYBkjQso5OJllrb-2lQ9Ow7JQ1T2k142aAR_pLPdAhfizGhbwOxZRnnHK9-JO_i8nVA/s1600/425back.jpeg" height="225" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><u>Rear guard:</u></b> McWilliams' first win came against the Mets in his major league debut. He gave up no runs, and five hits in 7 innings, walking 2 and striking out 2.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-2141197261395658482014-08-10T19:36:00.002-05:002014-08-10T19:37:32.652-05:00#424 Rick Miller<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4bJ-8pVBWsN0O1ktT1mNQVNf9K18jRceNsZ6OaHOLHVzYajUjJpR9wjuZxVFLxYuAhXwZm3V8jdV7MgDsUNgeNgjlecpKyGD_7cJozSuMf3Bczfd1BW8hoyZt-BZSOFqNakt3GD9uTU/s1600/424front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4bJ-8pVBWsN0O1ktT1mNQVNf9K18jRceNsZ6OaHOLHVzYajUjJpR9wjuZxVFLxYuAhXwZm3V8jdV7MgDsUNgeNgjlecpKyGD_7cJozSuMf3Bczfd1BW8hoyZt-BZSOFqNakt3GD9uTU/s1600/424front.jpeg" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Card thoughts:</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> Rick Miller is not a pitcher, although he looks like he’s warming up
one in the bullpen before a game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The player:</span></u></b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Rick Miller was on a team
for one reason: His defense. Although he hit righthanders well enough to be
platooned occasionally, his real value was as fourth outfielder who you could
count on not to blow the big play.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Miller won a basketball
scholarship to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Michigan</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place>, but when he
injured his ankle, he turned to baseball, where he was converted from a pitcher
into an outfielder. After winning the Big Ten batting title, Miller was drafted
by the Red Sox. In the minors, he showed good defense, but his tendency to try
for home runs, despite his small size, led to mediocre batting averages.
Despite this, he was called up to the Red Sox at the end of the 1972 season as
a defensive replacement for their lumbering outfield. In 15 games, Miller hit
.333, including a double in his first at bat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Playing more in 1973, usually
backing up Tommy Harper in center, he hit just .214. Slated for the same role
in 1974, injuries to Reggie Smith, and lackluster play by <a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2011/07/60-dwight-evans.html">#60 Dwight Evans</a>,
allowed Miller to get into 143 games (a career high) and steal 12 bases. Miller
also married <a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2013/01/290-carlton-fisk.html">#290 CarltonFisk</a>’s sister after the season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The next 3 seasons saw
Miller’s playing time decline, as youngsters Jim Rice and Fred Lynn needed less
defensive backup than their forbears. In addition, they rarely came out of the
lineup, meaning Miller had to be content in a pinch hitting role. The low point
in his career was in 1975, when he hit just .194. While his number rebounded
some the following seasons, it looked like his days as a regular player were
over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But then came free agency,
and the owners didn’t really know how to lavish their money in those days. For
some reason, the Angels chose to sign Rick Miller, a 30 year old reserve
outfielder as their starting centerfielder after the 1977 season. As the team’s
leadoff hitter, he hit .263, with an on base percentage of .341. On the other
hand he was caught stealing 13 times, while stealing just 3 bases. But in the
field, he was as good as ever, winning the Gold Glove.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">1979 was Miller’s best year,
as he hit .291 in the regular season, and .250 in the ALCS. After another year
with the Angels, Miller came back to the Red Sox, this time as their starting
center fielder. But as he was always a stopgap solution, Miller was perpetually
in danger of losing his job when someone better came around. This time, it was <a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2012/10/255-tony-armas.html">#255 Tony Armas </a>in 1984.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The rest of his career was
uneventful on the field, as he mostly pinch hit. But in his last season,
Miller ended up going after some fans in the stands in Anaheim after they spent the game
heckling his family.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXYCgaz7-2k_OSa1pr2gape4tkzt0f6yApRGTpPOaGy_KFSC5o2xjiHMbx-39KexVTHboXs8YkaXASlEVVDk0j7IzgCG5gAjAShWvWkcH_H9Lo80O3K9sLY8rP_eykH700EoL818-xME/s1600/424+back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXYCgaz7-2k_OSa1pr2gape4tkzt0f6yApRGTpPOaGy_KFSC5o2xjiHMbx-39KexVTHboXs8YkaXASlEVVDk0j7IzgCG5gAjAShWvWkcH_H9Lo80O3K9sLY8rP_eykH700EoL818-xME/s1600/424+back.jpeg" height="226" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><u>Rear guard:</u></b> Miller's 1,000th hit came off the Angels' Ken Forsch, and was a pinch hit double (Miller was pinch hitting for <a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2011/05/38-glenn-hoffman.html">#35 Glenn Hoffman</a>). Furthermore, the hit score the first run of the game in the eighth inning. Unfortunately, Miller was thrown out at the plate by Gary Pettis while attempting to score on a single to center by Jerry Remy. The Red Sox could have used that run as Bob Stanley couldn't hold the lead in the ninth,</span></div>
</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-91289079839447273782014-08-02T10:15:00.001-05:002014-08-02T10:15:36.253-05:00#423 Dan Spillner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0uAeCs3pRA9dk2F8gqF47NOXbMtarTgGkkvqqOwZH10grgYOQRXQ4w3ad3W9_OX62G_JyG1SU-0VsnnMrg4FtC3hbeXewAv7hjRXW7kW7ni7pjO3FMsuN5BjCA76zQcTYmPGaU74ikY/s1600/423front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0uAeCs3pRA9dk2F8gqF47NOXbMtarTgGkkvqqOwZH10grgYOQRXQ4w3ad3W9_OX62G_JyG1SU-0VsnnMrg4FtC3hbeXewAv7hjRXW7kW7ni7pjO3FMsuN5BjCA76zQcTYmPGaU74ikY/s1600/423front.jpeg" height="320" width="230" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Card thoughts:</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> It was a cold day at Tiger Stadium when this photo was taken. And
Spillner is in the twilight of his career, as his gray hair attests.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><u>The player:</u></span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">
Spillner was a hard thrower who initially must relied on his fastball to get
people out. This </span><span style="font-size: 19px;">wasn't</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> conducive to starting, and in each of his first three
seasons starting for the Padres, he last more than 10 games. Spillner did,
however, toss a one-hitter in 1974, his rookie year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Figuring a flamethrower was
better suited in the bullpen, Spillner was moved there in 1977. The 76 games he
threw were second in the league, and he saved 6 games. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A mid-season trade to the
Indians in 1978 (for Dennis Kinney) would lead to his greatest successes. He
was put back into the rotation for good in early August the following season,
and he won 4 out of 7 starts. The next year, he had a career year, going 16-11
while starting 30 games. But he came down with a bad back the next year, and he
was put back into the bullpen, where he would stay the rest of his career.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">After recording 21 saves
(with 12 wins) in 1982, the Indians thought they had stumbled upon a reliable
bullpen arm. But a 5.07 ERA the next year disabused them of that notion, and he
was shipped off to the White Sox midway through the 1984 season. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Despite a good year
represented by this card (4-3, 1 save, 3.44 ERA), when Spillner became a free
agent after the season, the owners were colluding against signing players, and
he </span><span style="font-size: 19px;">couldn't</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> find a job. Forced into retirement, he later won $486,000 in a judgment
against the owners. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Spillner now works in
construction in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Seattle</st1:city></st1:place>
area. Maybe he’ll build your house if you live out there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0l_LhdHn_EKwrSjCpZvFkqMGskgImU-8fcZ0aY1uhfwdRxBMeadiC0H6Y-kBdDGLcl-Jrg1X68klidQMJG7esqgKw6Dzn8AbbjldtS6JNNz3E2WHJWRHmZNuFiNcUicsUZKspMmvAFSM/s1600/423back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0l_LhdHn_EKwrSjCpZvFkqMGskgImU-8fcZ0aY1uhfwdRxBMeadiC0H6Y-kBdDGLcl-Jrg1X68klidQMJG7esqgKw6Dzn8AbbjldtS6JNNz3E2WHJWRHmZNuFiNcUicsUZKspMmvAFSM/s1600/423back.jpeg" height="225" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><u>Rear guard: </u></b>Those are Spillner's career numbers.</span></div>
</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-34497434384045946472014-07-25T11:16:00.001-05:002014-07-25T11:16:14.492-05:00#422 Mike Jorgensen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkx3IQNDDyA-UV4tXafXBlsWYImyr7rzu0uLi36CC0-QALWJnknPGROnzNICmStmph6eG4BTpWDgXz-MqM1lAkv7dFjEoN6Fm3rq1s6-r67DmDyv4_c40mgY6wV71Oxt2ZxGdMBORh7c/s1600/422front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkx3IQNDDyA-UV4tXafXBlsWYImyr7rzu0uLi36CC0-QALWJnknPGROnzNICmStmph6eG4BTpWDgXz-MqM1lAkv7dFjEoN6Fm3rq1s6-r67DmDyv4_c40mgY6wV71Oxt2ZxGdMBORh7c/s1600/422front.jpeg" height="320" width="232" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Card
thoughts:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jorgensen is an example of a player
that was around a lot in baseball in my youth, but has virtually disappeared:
The late-inning defensive replacement. He was an even rarer breed: The late
inning, defensive first baseman replacement. In this case, he backed up Jack
Clark, never a great fielder. Here, he sits in an aquarium for the Topps
photographer, looking rough and old (he was 35).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
player: </span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jorgensen came up with the Mets during
their glory years in the late 60s/early 70s. He began his career much the way
he ended it: Backing up a poor fielding, good hitting first baseman, in this
case Donn Clendenon. After an initial two seasons where he rarely started a
game, Jorgensen was traded to the Expos and became their starting first baseman.
Although he was a great fielder, and even won a gold glove in 1973, he didn’t
hit for enough power to be a first baseman (although, he had a fine batting
eye, good enough to earn him an OPS above .900 in 1974).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Expos were willing to trade hitting for
fielding, so when they acquired <u>Tony Perez</u>, Jorgensen played sparingly,
and he was soon traded to the A’s. This effectively ended his career as a
starter. After this, it was a rare year that he averaged more than 1 ½ at bats
per game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What really affected Jorgensen’s ability as a
hitter, however, was a terrible beaning he got when he was a Ranger. Andy
Hassler beaned him early in the 1979 season. After attempting to come back, it
was found that he had a blood clot in his head that could have killed him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jorgensen was sent back to the Mets in 1980 for
Willie Montanez (who had been sent to the Rangers in a mid-season deal). He was
more of a super utility guy for the Mets, playing first and all three outfield
positions. Eventually, the Mets acquired Keith Hernandez, who was a great
hitter and fielder, leaving Jorgensen’s role superfluous. After playing about
80 games with the Braves over parts of two seasons, backing up Chris Chambliss,
Jorgensen landed in his final spot, St. Louis. In the post season, he pinch hit
three times and played left field once, without doing anything of note.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I did not remember this, but Jorgensen managed the
Cardinals for part of the 1995 season, replacing Joe Torre. He now works as a
scout for the organization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNrMJFquFS34-kksXLdhV1mzgRDUhufstyu2mg9MF7E7TUg7skIoJCHuHJEBpLGSI7XNoRcvCF0VwifXoOPQJFa5E7vImD8RUXPSptMR35_Yma6YrCsmgZDkricMGz_ItnCHCIH5mOzw/s1600/422back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNrMJFquFS34-kksXLdhV1mzgRDUhufstyu2mg9MF7E7TUg7skIoJCHuHJEBpLGSI7XNoRcvCF0VwifXoOPQJFa5E7vImD8RUXPSptMR35_Yma6YrCsmgZDkricMGz_ItnCHCIH5mOzw/s1600/422back.jpeg" height="223" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><u>Rear guard: </u></b>"Squint tighter. And they're (the stats) gone." -- Aaron Stauffer</span></div>
</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-43395128270494577332014-07-17T13:40:00.002-05:002014-07-17T13:40:43.044-05:00#421 Dave Palmer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPTlCqcaSOFryBaMCfzMthzLdU45XyK9DCWwkK7o3YMrk7ksrlDN-RamhsY-s12grMEgLHhxMBXllY5LF9SkYsOkjIKUjvIMpVpzbWuNLY6XRc85b1J-0b255qSdiHz_rU-uDh8A0mH8/s1600/421front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPTlCqcaSOFryBaMCfzMthzLdU45XyK9DCWwkK7o3YMrk7ksrlDN-RamhsY-s12grMEgLHhxMBXllY5LF9SkYsOkjIKUjvIMpVpzbWuNLY6XRc85b1J-0b255qSdiHz_rU-uDh8A0mH8/s1600/421front.jpeg" height="320" width="230" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Card
thoughts:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Dave Palmer looks like a very linear
man. Straight and narrow. On all his Fleer and Donruss cards, Dave is always
identified by his full first name, David.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
player:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Dave Palmer pitched in the same high
school rotation as future major league pitcher Dave LaPoint. He made the majors
just two years out of high school, making his debut at the age of 20. In 1979
and 1980, Palmer apprenticed as a swing man, with his best season coming in the
former year where he was 10-2, including being unbeaten in seven starting
decisions (among 11 starts).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Unfortunately, arm troubles hit Palmer in 1981, and
he didn’t pitch in the majors that year. 1982 saw him come back for 13 starts,
where he was fairly effective (6-4, 3.18 ERA). Unfortunately, 1983 saw him miss
time once again, this time for the whole season with an elbow injury (it’s
likely that today, Palmer would have been a candidate for Tommy John surgery). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With his history of injury, the Expos were hesitant
about putting him in the rotation early in the 1984 season. After a long relief
stint, Palmer was selected to pitch the second game of a doubleheader. He
pitched 5 perfect innings, before rain halted the game. Although Palmer got the
win, as the game was official, he was not credited with a perfect game. But the
injuries were taking a toll, and the rest of the season Palmer struggled, with
his ERA rising by almost half a run over the previous season (he also missed
the entire month of August). Missing August again the following year, Palmer
made just 23 starts, but his ERA (3.71) was high for low-scoring Olympic
Stadium, and he had his first losing record (7-10). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Given his inability to stay healthy, and his slowly
declining effectiveness, it wasn’t surprising that Palmer </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">wasn't</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> resigned by
the Expos. Signing with the Braves, Palmer finally had a season where he was
able to make all of his scheduled starts. Pitching at homer happy Fulton County
stadium (aka “The Launching Pad”), Palmer saw his ERA climb, and an increase in
walks showed his home stadium was getting to him (107 walks in 209 2/3
innings). But his 11-10 record was pretty good for a last place team, and his
better health had the Braves expecting they could rely on him the following
year. However, his arm was still fragile, and he reverted back missing
significant chunks of the season. When healthy, he was ineffective, as his ERA
shot up to 4.90, and he won only 8 games against 11 losses.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Palmer was not signed after the season, and went to
the Phillies, where the familiar story emerged: </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Couldn't</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> stay healthy, and a
losing record and high ERA when he pitched. He did memorably have quite a
blooper, tripping over third base and </span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvDHb6wHTo"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">landing on his face</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
while advancing on a wild pitch thrown by Cubs pitcher <a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2013/05/330-rick-sutcliffe.html">#330 Rick Sutcliffe</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A cup of coffee with the Tigers in 1990 (5 starts,
7.79 ERA), and a few minor league appearances for the Indians, and Palmer was
done. He is currently the pitching coach for a suburban Atlanta high school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5Rh9ctnb7N_hMU3Dg6qIE-3Xm9YwhsfAri701ARi-EbYs-po_-eUsTzLRBJgeRYt_QukH7Czk1uSkjjxnpuLc0Goo3c7A1TjYf-5lUoAEaaBGH6iiAcb_o9wVMX3ykxC0ypqf1uFvTc/s1600/421back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5Rh9ctnb7N_hMU3Dg6qIE-3Xm9YwhsfAri701ARi-EbYs-po_-eUsTzLRBJgeRYt_QukH7Czk1uSkjjxnpuLc0Goo3c7A1TjYf-5lUoAEaaBGH6iiAcb_o9wVMX3ykxC0ypqf1uFvTc/s1600/421back.jpeg" height="223" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><b><u>Rear guard:</u></b> All I can say about that factoid is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nL21u2fCZk">this</a>. Manny Mota is better known as being a great pinch hitter, especially with the Dodgers. But when the Expos drafted him, he was a high-average hitting, fourth outfielder. He had a card as an Expo in 1969, but he was <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=manny+mota+1969+card&es_sm=93&tbm=isch&imgil=iYRka51Ctq3HAM%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcSbaHfLPUuFLm_LUqH3quSs5ZJPYUaEXPIRVT_OAolZRxRAsYB8%253B276%253B386%253B7cnyj86itUplrM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.vintagecardprices.com%25252Fcard-profile%25252F166199%25252F1969-Topps-Manny-Mota-236-Baseball-Card-Value-Prices.htm&source=iu&usg=__we4CJMfE2_XgcsbbPKD2PPkYPLE%3D&sa=X&ei=SRfIU863FtajyATUyIK4Ag&ved=0CCEQ9QEwAA&biw=1366&bih=677#facrc=_&imgrc=iYRka51Ctq3HAM%253A%3B7cnyj86itUplrM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.vintagecardprices.com%252Fpics%252F1838%252F166199.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.vintagecardprices.com%252Fcard-profile%252F166199%252F1969-Topps-Manny-Mota-236-Baseball-Card-Value-Prices.htm%3B276%3B386">badly airbrushed</a> on that one. The Expos only held on to him for a few months in 1969 before he was traded to the Dodgers for Ron Fairly and Paul Popovich (Popovich was traded later in the day to the Cubs for Adolfo Phillips and Jack Lamabe). Here Mota's <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=1970+card+manny+mota&es_sm=93&tbm=isch&imgil=ItF_rHJCU3V9SM%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcSMSgYL29nYULXQ70I_PnH7jHYQs3lf76NZkk55s57sRTasanI-%253B530%253B730%253BuYEmlLN3jSagRM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fgarveyceyrusselllopes.blogspot.com%25252F2010%25252F04%25252Fsome-cranky-dodger-cards-to-assist-my.html&source=iu&usg=___dem6l4YjrbMB88QwpLyB0ZHldw%3D&sa=X&ei=dxjIU63uGZSnyASIsoG4BQ&ved=0CB8Q9QEwAA&biw=1366&bih=677#facrc=_&imgrc=ItF_rHJCU3V9SM%253A%3BuYEmlLN3jSagRM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252F4.bp.blogspot.com%252F_W2Ncx2XIww4%252FS7ew4fehVgI%252FAAAAAAAAF9Y%252FI9bDPXTHSSY%252Fs1600%252F1970_opc_mota.JPG%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fgarveyceyrusselllopes.blogspot.com%252F2010%252F04%252Fsome-cranky-dodger-cards-to-assist-my.html%3B530%3B730">1970</a> card, his first with the Dodgers.</span></div>
</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-67447642762833721012014-07-15T23:08:00.002-05:002014-07-15T23:08:43.907-05:00#420 Von Hayes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNRG7g_Dc0LLPAPUc6WtVRXjkvaijt7ufrnJYbxNMfPRkZ9IrLyX9DE40g-36CDfYuwa2mlfctRYEaeCWcmcyotNjy2A9Y7E3-JuSHEjqoNPJnlfNDsHc0TB4tLauHj7hwOhjmxPtpPQ/s1600/420.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNRG7g_Dc0LLPAPUc6WtVRXjkvaijt7ufrnJYbxNMfPRkZ9IrLyX9DE40g-36CDfYuwa2mlfctRYEaeCWcmcyotNjy2A9Y7E3-JuSHEjqoNPJnlfNDsHc0TB4tLauHj7hwOhjmxPtpPQ/s1600/420.jpeg" height="320" width="232" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Card
thoughts:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> This would be the last season for
awhile that Hayes would be a full time outfielder. He would move to first in
1986. Also, Von Hayes, seems like a last name in search of a first name. “Von”,
or “Van” were often appended to famility names in Germanic speaking countries
(much like “De” or “Di” in Romantic speaking countries) to denote aristocratic
origins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
player:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I always thought that Von Hayes was
going to be a superstar. But other than the 1986 season, he never seemed to
translate his awesome hitting skills into consistent results. I was probably
blinded by wishful thinking: On my favorite cards was his </span><a href="http://www.comc.com/Cards/Baseball/1982/Topps/141/Chris_Bando_Tom_Brennan_Von_Hayes/1880287"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">rookie
card</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
and I hoped it would go up in value.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hayes was one of the few, good young hitters the
Indians got rid of in the 80s . . . but the Indians got five players in
exchange (conversely, Hayes was one of the few, good young hitters the Phillies
acquired instead off shipping off to the Cubs).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After coming in 7th in the Rookie of the
Year balloting in 1982, Hayes was considered one of the best young hitters in
the game. He could hit with some power, take a walk, and steal a base. He had
yet to be able to do that consistently, however, as his OPS was just average.
The Phillies coveted him, however, and were willing to give up five major
leaguers, including useful veteran Manny Trillo, future starting right fielder
George Vukovich, catcher <a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2012/11/273-jerry-willard.html">#273 Jerry Willard, </a>and future star <a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2014/02/391-julio-franco.html">#391 Julio Franco.</a><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At first, the trade looked like a bust. Phillies
fans, appalled by the cost of the Hayes trade and turned off by his aloof
demeanor, never really liked him. Expecting a superstar, they cringed as he
drove in just 32 runs in 124 games in 1983. He bounced back in ’84 and ’85,
where his production was solid, but not spectacular. 1985 did see Hayes hit a
remarkable two home runs the first inning (including a grand slam) in a 26-7
slaughter of the Mets. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He really shone, however, in 1986, when the promise
seemed to finally be fulfilled. Moved into the middle of the lineup, Hayes
reached career highs in runs (107-led the league); hits (186); doubles (46-also
led the league); RBIs (98); and batting average (.305). Despite being top ten
in the MVP vote, Hayes didn’t make the all-star team. Perhaps his shoddy
defense at first was the answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hayes would finally make the all-star team in 1989,
after having a year that modern sabermetricians salivate over (5.1 WAR, 15%
walk rate, 28 steals with a 80% success rate, an OPS+ of 140). Another good
season would follow, but in 1991, Tom Browning broke his arm with a pitch,
causing to miss much of the season (and hit a career low .225). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">After a trade to the Angels, Hayes </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">couldn't</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> return
to form. The broken arm was still troubling him (he hit another .225), thus
leading to conclusion that the broken bone took about 40 points off his career
average.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After retiring, Hayes managed in the Diamondbacks
and A’s organizations (he led three straight teams to first place finishes).
His last gigs were with Independent League teams. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He’s also inspired the name of a </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt1YnMAh2Jghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt1YnMAh2Jg"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">decent
indie rock band</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, who appear to play mid 90s east coast
style indie rock (here’s </span><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=pearlman/080829"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">the
story</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> of the choosing of the name – no word if they ever
met Von Hayes).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TEJ4t_RPYaLtlu9OqzUEaxG9E7S89VzH0MKe_LAAmzgI87gVGez0jAWXH7bBxwmHWeN84NBlCoFq_BNFyQvW1wmtfIbqT2b2cL3Dgs-bXwC327k2CQ-SM1LUR2sptHOxicOa3E2OZMo/s1600/420back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TEJ4t_RPYaLtlu9OqzUEaxG9E7S89VzH0MKe_LAAmzgI87gVGez0jAWXH7bBxwmHWeN84NBlCoFq_BNFyQvW1wmtfIbqT2b2cL3Dgs-bXwC327k2CQ-SM1LUR2sptHOxicOa3E2OZMo/s1600/420back.jpeg" height="221" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><u>Card thoughts:</u></b> I linked to Hayes rookie card earlier in the post. It was a "Rookie Stars" card: Chris Bando, was the much younger brother of Sal Bando. He has a card in this set, where his career will be explored in greater depth. Pitcher Tom Brennan was hardly a prospect, as he was 28 before he made it to the majors. Maybe Topps took pity on him because he had been drafted in the first round in 1974.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Larry Bowa hit a lot of triples, mostly of the hustle varierty. In fact, he reached double digits in triples three times. Here's his <a href="http://www.tradingcarddb.com/ViewCard.cfm/sid/72/cid/16924/1972-Topps-520-Larry-Bowa">1972 card</a>.</span></div>
</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-73700598916928316312014-07-12T18:03:00.001-05:002014-07-12T18:03:57.357-05:00#419 Frank Wills<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZ2uAspFgk0KOzKwlKJoYUmtK89AcHohyfEHOLBCc5ajRCG_FkTavQKx3qiE1LwB3_o0c7qiUleaRJXgv-h2_sBJZOw8E6YdyAMLMhxrqoeyfrzjzIY67vDA7C5KHaWm6npGATQFe4ck/s1600/419front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZ2uAspFgk0KOzKwlKJoYUmtK89AcHohyfEHOLBCc5ajRCG_FkTavQKx3qiE1LwB3_o0c7qiUleaRJXgv-h2_sBJZOw8E6YdyAMLMhxrqoeyfrzjzIY67vDA7C5KHaWm6npGATQFe4ck/s1600/419front.jpeg" height="320" width="230" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Card
thoughts:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The photo in the dusk. The five-a-clock
shadow. The lowering, thick black eyebrows. The man looks like a mechanic. It
is worth noting that this does not look like any of the other card photos of
Wills, where he sports a mustache and is considerably </span><a href="http://www.comc.com/Cards/Baseball/1990/Topps_Traded_/129T/Frank_Wills/1964728"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">less
beady-eyed and swarthy</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Perhaps this odd photo can be attributed to the fact
that Willis is obviously airbrushed into a Mariners uniform, as he spent spring
training with the Mets in 1985.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
player:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Not to be confused with the security
guard who discovered the Watergate break-in, Wills was emblematic of the awful
starting pitching the Mariners had had pretty much from their inception. A
talented star in both baseball and football at Tulane University, he led the
team to their first ever NCAA title, and was the punter on the football team
that went to the Liberty Bowl (1979).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wills was drafted in the first round by the Royals
in 1980, but his college success did not translate to pro ball. As a starter in
the minors, Willis struggled with his control, and eventually was moved to a
swingman role in AAA, a spot usually reserved for “organization” men. But he
was a first round pick, and the Royals presumably wanted to prove he wasn’t a
bust, so he was called up early in the 1983 season, when he started the year
5-2 at Jacksonville (Southern League). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the majors, Wills averaged 6 innings per start,
and pitched decently enough (2-1 with a 4.15 ERA overall, including 4 starts).
But it was soon back to the minors for Wills, where he struggled once again at
AAA. Another brief call up for 10 games in 1984 (half in relief, half starting)
led to a 5.11 ERA, and a loss in confidence that their former first round pick
would ever pan out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In an insanely complicated four-team team between
the Mets, Royals, Rangers, and Brewers, players were flying everywhere. The
Royals eventually ended up with Jim Sundberg, and Wills made it to the Mets,
where he was DFA’d after spring training and eventually sent to the Mariners
for forgettable Midwest League pitcher Wray Bergendahl (another former first
round pick).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With the Mariners being thin on pitching, Willis
finally got a chance to prove himself, but he only proved the Royals were right
in letting him go. A 5-11 record with a 6.00 ERA wasn’t going to cut it, even
with the lowly Mariners. Released at the end of the season, he hooked on with
the Indians, where he wound up as their closer during the end of the 1986
season (4 saves in 6 opportunities).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Willis would have his best seasons with the Blue
Jays, with whom he spent four years, two of them as a serviceable middle
reliever in 1989 and 1990. He was not
used in the 1989 post-season, however.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Apparently, Wills was working as a limousine driver
when he died at age 53, after complaining about feeling ill a week earlier.
Despite not being very successful in the majors, he remains a legend in New
Orleans for both his high school and college exploits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjKzWQLY8agZnPajpH3_0ls90T-CyADKe5d3z83wmBLerB-MgwUDF3vdaBv8dc3ZIFCHqWJdsHmbF3r0OdHgxoWq40HfzVsF9o3UNsS0mU5PTvfB9x5UqvsEr1Dv9zvVoTofHdpdjWXE/s1600/419back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjKzWQLY8agZnPajpH3_0ls90T-CyADKe5d3z83wmBLerB-MgwUDF3vdaBv8dc3ZIFCHqWJdsHmbF3r0OdHgxoWq40HfzVsF9o3UNsS0mU5PTvfB9x5UqvsEr1Dv9zvVoTofHdpdjWXE/s1600/419back.jpeg" height="232" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><u>Rear guard:</u></b> Wills first win was against the Twins and he was fairly effective, giving up just 1 run and striking out 3.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-13739198861474622872014-06-30T22:56:00.001-05:002014-06-30T22:56:43.774-05:00#418 Alan Knicely<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcG1XFBx4EV49vC_XYrUfRoDDPxmuFLySZdYdcXVcafvDtjExM_EJizPRQCXbd3tO7zuO_M3uGGgi9CgbULFdhy0MkdwjwRpzyFtIuU013OOvFKk21ABaAAuD-bnCDNXRcsv3_QydvSY/s1600/418front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcG1XFBx4EV49vC_XYrUfRoDDPxmuFLySZdYdcXVcafvDtjExM_EJizPRQCXbd3tO7zuO_M3uGGgi9CgbULFdhy0MkdwjwRpzyFtIuU013OOvFKk21ABaAAuD-bnCDNXRcsv3_QydvSY/s1600/418front.jpeg" height="320" width="227" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Card
thoughts: </span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Knicely looks pretty glum. He had just
been traded to the Phillies when this photo was taken, and it looks like he
knows this would be his last Topps card.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
player:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The classic 4A player, Knicely could
hit, and hit with power, all through the minors. But his lack of defensive
prowess at catcher meant he would never play much there in the majors. Luckily,
Knicely played in an era when carrying three catchers was commonplace, so it
ensured he did get some playing time up top.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Knicely didn’t really blossom until he was in this
third season at AA in the Astros system. Drafted as a pitcher, Knicely posted
average ERAs is his first three minor league seasons, while struggling to stay
healthy (he started in the field each of those years as well, mainly at first).
After beginning the 1977 season 1-5 with a 5.14 ERA, Knicely switched to the
outfield, and hit .264. The next year, along with teammate Danny Heep, he was
named the Southern League MVP after slugging .950 with 33 home runs. This was
also his first year as a full time catcher. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But Knicely’s catching, like his fielding at third
and in the outfield, left much to be desired. This not prevent him from
starting at that position for two straight AAA season, where he hit over .300,
and slugged over .500 each year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Despite his destruction of minor league pitching,
Knicely was only granted a year long stay with the Astros in 1982. Backing up
superior defenders <a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2013/05/331-alan-ashby.html">#331 Alan Ashby </a>and Luis Pujols, he only caught 23 games
(2 passed balls, a league average caught stealing percentage), and spent most
of his time as a pinch hitter or in the outfielder. Unfortunately, the only
reason Knicely was in the majors was his powerful right handed bat, and he hit
just .188.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Reds, with veteran Johnny Bench at the end of
his career, were panicking and stockpiling all the young catchers they could in
the hopes that one of them would be an adequate replacement. Knicely shared
about equal playing time with<u> </u><a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2012/09/253-dann-bilardello.html">#253 Dann Bilardello</a> and Alex Trevino, but none
of them could hit, although Alan raised his average above the Mendoza Line
(.224).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Back to the minors once again in 1984, Knicely
showed he had nothing to prove down there, as he obliterated AAA pitching while
starting at first base for Wichita. He
hit 33 home runs and drove in 126 for the team, while garnering 190 hits and 94
runs. For his efforts, he was named the American Association’s MVP.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This was enough to bring him back to the majors,
this time as a second string catchers. Although he finally hit decently in the
majors (.727 OPS, good for a catcher), the Reds ended up shipping him to the
Phillies near the end of the season for far superior catcher Bo Diaz. Topps
really got lucky to get a picture a Knicely in a Phillies uniform, as he only
had 7 hitless at bats for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Knicely was released after the season, picked up by
the Cardinals, and used as the starting first baseman after </span></span><a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2013/08/350-jack-clark.html" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">#350 Jack Clark</a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> went on
the DL in 1986. But it was the same old story: he hit just .195, and found
himself back in his true home, AAA. Perhaps discouraged that all that minor
league hitting </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">wasn't</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> working in the majors,
Knicely retired at age 32, after one last try in the Rangers
organization.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6zfr0tY0bZbH1vfy5HTI9euc1GkrWI2njg-hDMqKZQ946Ep6ny_SuQmGjkxMwdJEsaA_jcb8t2VGl3LTg3PBgM0YEoTr8luGffA13qKlehUO9S_Rbgf5RiJMbH5ml4rd7FozZ4oooF8/s1600/418back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6zfr0tY0bZbH1vfy5HTI9euc1GkrWI2njg-hDMqKZQ946Ep6ny_SuQmGjkxMwdJEsaA_jcb8t2VGl3LTg3PBgM0YEoTr8luGffA13qKlehUO9S_Rbgf5RiJMbH5ml4rd7FozZ4oooF8/s1600/418back.jpeg" height="225" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><u><b>Rear guard:</b></u> Knicely really didn't get much of a chance early in his career. But he did manage to get a hit in one of the 3 games he played in 1981.And it was in his first at bat of the year, pinch hitting for Terry Puhl.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-49062649749074458502014-06-28T17:32:00.002-05:002014-06-29T10:15:24.153-05:00#417 R.J. Reynolds<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsxEjDC2auPICDQvYkpPGipBWoBqWNbNtSr9cQ-TllL7g53tgBa2ynv2MLR9hTGylGDET7A_4934R3sSc9QpZTSjJGJFy4Znz8_Dk0NtZqGDDuTjXeOyWhP0fuFVi-FMvvXiS4teDRGo/s1600/417front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsxEjDC2auPICDQvYkpPGipBWoBqWNbNtSr9cQ-TllL7g53tgBa2ynv2MLR9hTGylGDET7A_4934R3sSc9QpZTSjJGJFy4Znz8_Dk0NtZqGDDuTjXeOyWhP0fuFVi-FMvvXiS4teDRGo/s1600/417front.jpeg" height="320" width="230" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<u><b>Card thoughts:</b></u> One of a long line of product placements/ball players including Coco Crisp and Milton Bradley. His real first name is Robert. <br />
<br />
<u><b>The player: </b></u>Reynolds broke in with the Dodgers at the end of the 1983 season, and a suicide squeeze in the bottom of the ninth helped the Dodgers win an important game against Atlanta. The next two seasons, Reynolds courted anonymity as a reserve outfielder. However, in a deal that helped both teams, the Pirates acquired him late in the 1985 season with Sid Bream and Cecil Espy for Bill Madlock.<br />
<br />
Although still a reserve outfielder, Reynolds got a lot more playing time with the far inferior Pirates. He consistently got over 300 at bats from 1986-1989 and ended up playing in every game in the 1990 NLCS.<br />
<br />
After that season, he went over to Japan and played for three seasons where he hit for good power Taiyo and Kinetsu. He never returned to the majors, and retired at age 34.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXO_nsXf_6cPReInKWhHk3R1mUifrNZlP-bSxLuUirPn0CAvlh29Uqu00DUPzMM7t3HV-lCFnZRVROGdcgXweAWrz1QNo_OmMUPhigfmp1vt3hUf9xa2b6qHySfJ-jTJEEVieWgEfRbY/s1600/417back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXO_nsXf_6cPReInKWhHk3R1mUifrNZlP-bSxLuUirPn0CAvlh29Uqu00DUPzMM7t3HV-lCFnZRVROGdcgXweAWrz1QNo_OmMUPhigfmp1vt3hUf9xa2b6qHySfJ-jTJEEVieWgEfRbY/s1600/417back.jpeg" height="232" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<u><b>Rear guard:</b></u> Reynolds' first hit was a three run homer as a pinch hitter off <a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2011/04/15-eddie-whitson.html">#15 Ed Whitson</a>.<br />
<br />
Glenn Wright drove in over 100 runs four times, but injuries affected his career, and he barely played after age 32.</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-27761467138128140512014-06-20T22:11:00.001-05:002014-06-20T22:11:26.127-05:00#416 Denny Martinez<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYri2VNR6zRubznNCrwkkFah7tLQ0yAlqAMEKC0Czo2vOtBm3QslAEONP1SEvbUDq5Y3-I_SdVG0fU5DRjTpltYUh6YS4nori6qXbFd4J-LI9PFYlt9GgTdXGpGBnepZd02g1hjKmNYU/s1600/416front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYri2VNR6zRubznNCrwkkFah7tLQ0yAlqAMEKC0Czo2vOtBm3QslAEONP1SEvbUDq5Y3-I_SdVG0fU5DRjTpltYUh6YS4nori6qXbFd4J-LI9PFYlt9GgTdXGpGBnepZd02g1hjKmNYU/s1600/416front.jpeg" height="320" width="231" /></a></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Card
thoughts:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Denny” is better known as “Dennis.”
And that is a beautiful thick head of hair! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
player: </span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Up until this point, Martinez was an
inconsistent starter, whose high win totals were more of a function of his
durability (lots of innings pitched, hence lots of decisions) and the Orioles
team success, rather than his ERAs (consistently average or below). That all
changed later in his career – he was much more effective in his mid-30s once he
came to the National League.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The first Nicaraguan to pitch in the majors,
Martinez came from a relatively wealthy family (his parents owned a farm). But
his father drank, and his son was a “baseball” bum. Baseball was not unknown in
the country (there was a winter league there in the 60s), but there were no
professional teams by the time Dennis was playing. Instead, he pitched for an
amateur league, and was noticed by scouts after going 13-2 and leading the
Nicaraguan national team to the title in the 1972 amateur World Series.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Signed (secretly) by the Orioles after the 1973
series (to enable him to continue playing as an “amateur” in Nicaragua),
Martinez made it to the States in 1975. Due to his experience pitching under
pressure for the Nicaraguan team, Martinez wasn’t cowed by the minors. He
excelled at every stop, jumping quickly from Miami (15-6, 2.06 ERA) to
Rochester, where he led the league in wins (14), strikeouts (140) and ERA
(2.50) in 1976. There were also reports that Martinez<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>partied a lot, which would nearly derail his
career later.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Like most young pitchers in that era, Martinez
apprenticed as a “swing man” with the Orioles in 1977, but he managed to win 14
games in that role (13 starts, 29 relief appearances). He was finally made a
full time starter in 1978, where he used his curve and change to set up his
fastball. But he only achieved modest success that year (16-11), and the next
(15-16). Martinez was durable, however. In each of the years, he pitched over
275 innings, leading the league in starts (39), complete games (18), and innings
pitched (291.2) in the latter year.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Part of his poor performance in 1979 was that he was
tipping his pitches. Apparently, the combination of chewing gum and chaw
Martinez routinely used contributed to distinct facial expressions, depending
on what pitch was going to be thrown. Whatever the reason, the Orioles had a
deep staff that year, and Martinez only started one World Series game, getting
knocked out of the box in the second inning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A sore shoulder limited him in 1980, but he led the
league in wins during the strike shortened 1981 season (14). This led to a
large contract after the season. However, personal problems began to intrude on
Martinez’ baseball life. His father was killed while drunk at the end of 1982
season. And Dennis began drinking more and more as well. An abysmal 1983 season
(7-16, and ERA well above 5), followed by a drunk driving arrest in the off
season, convinced Martinez to quit drinking. Even so, it would take many years
for Martinez to return to form.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Injured for the first part of the 1986 season,
Martinez was traded to Expos for Rene Gonzales. But he found it hard to crack
the Expos rotation, and he spent part of the year in the minors. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he pitched in the majors, Dennis was
mediocre, and he considered retiring. He was even more down in the dumps in
1987, when he was a free agent, and no one picked him up (of course, this was
the height of collusion). Instead, he had to wait until May to resign with the
Expos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But somehow, Martinez was about
to begin the best stretch of his career at age 33. In the next six years, he
would win 97 games, win the ERA title in 1991, and became to oldest player to
debut in an all star game in 1990. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The secret was that old adage: Martinez had become a
pitcher, rather than a thrower. Relying on guile rather than speed, he would
set up hitters better than he had in his youth, and work on their weaknesses.
It helped that Martinez’ command improved: He rarely walked more than 2 batters
per 9 innings. That control helped him pitch a </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWo7oC_BbTM"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">perfect game</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
in 1992.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After the 1993 season, despite being 38, he signed a
good contract with the Indians, and up and coming team at the time. Martinez’
veteran presence helped stabilize the locker room, and the rotation. Pitching
less often, he still won at least 9 games every year he was with the Indians,
and never lost more than he won.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A sore elbow led to him pitching sparingly in 1997
(just 9 starts with the Mariners). Martinez ended his career at age 44 for the
Braves, where he actually pitched in a career high 53 games. His 245 career
wins is the most ever by a Latino pitcher.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In retirement, Martinez worked to promote tourism to
Nicaragua and coached in the minors with the Cardinals, Orioles and in the
majors with the Astros. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPG-5G6OcS4aEQHS1auKmYBkGykmQJCbbI39oJq6HUbefbUTZ4__dxtDEAHSou9F_7sK2lb5nDRygEfSxCyzVnS2HOkI2YzUDvnJGx_ioeVAL2yRU_6jXtXIWNCyeoC_CtFK4MCrxHQE/s1600/416back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPG-5G6OcS4aEQHS1auKmYBkGykmQJCbbI39oJq6HUbefbUTZ4__dxtDEAHSou9F_7sK2lb5nDRygEfSxCyzVnS2HOkI2YzUDvnJGx_ioeVAL2yRU_6jXtXIWNCyeoC_CtFK4MCrxHQE/s1600/416back.jpeg" height="223" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><u><b>Rear guard:</b></u> You wouldn't have known from these stats (.537 winning percentage; 4.15 ERA), that Martinez would soon become one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Less than 4,000 fans saw Martinez pitch a starters worth of relief innings (5 2/3), beating the Tigers when the Orioles roared back from an early 6-0 deficit.</span></div>
</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-18756939912181056042014-06-13T10:10:00.001-05:002014-06-13T10:11:00.033-05:00#415 Hal McRae<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWxNLTWj_srVUZ56mYtx5QtUSQzCVHcvVLaqRG5dkps8EMogBaFs5gO-22UjD8AfX3B2j9IS38ZGm9gbooqqD0z31JTMxJpAR5SbU0iiKiQCimYeoxq681-o7bgZYvWTyhAk5h1x38zs/s1600/420front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWxNLTWj_srVUZ56mYtx5QtUSQzCVHcvVLaqRG5dkps8EMogBaFs5gO-22UjD8AfX3B2j9IS38ZGm9gbooqqD0z31JTMxJpAR5SbU0iiKiQCimYeoxq681-o7bgZYvWTyhAk5h1x38zs/s1600/420front.jpeg" height="320" width="232" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOB03x_gx4IAueNCQMSVkCwMEYW_lkAD_gouqyb6sJKRfwHYcbYz8gi9Yt_j1SMur1KvZhBqhk7vPj2vIBTL6JBPoOE4QovIXv-NgicjhIW-BjuEOwtDsqcbHasSJ2KNllGlDKV7rkKL8/s1600/420front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Card
thoughts:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> McRae generally has a happy smile on
his cards, although he’s been known to get a little surly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
player: </span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Big Red Machine had so many great
hitters in the 70s, even their rejects became stars for other teams.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">McRae started out as a second baseman, but a broken
leg in winter ball sent him to the outfield. Formerly a speedster, he was now
just adequate in the outfield. The injury leads to a story where his manager,
Dave Bristol, shamed McRae by pointing out that Harry Carey was doing his job
(across the field, interviewing players), despite getting hit by a car in the
off season, while McRae was still in a cast.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Despite motivating McRae to get back on the field
quicker, he still could not break into the starting lineup. His continual moaning
about a lack of playing time got him a trade to the Royals after the 1972
season, which turned out to be his salvation. The Royals at the time were a
down-and-out former expansion team with plenty of opportunities for a player
like McRae. Especially since the American League had just instituted the DH
rule.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">An aggressive player, McRae ran hard on every hit,
perhaps making up for the speed he was robbed of by the broken leg. He would go
so hard into second, that a new rule requiring players to slide into second
base on a double play attempt was instituted because of him. Also, McRae’s
defensive shortcomings were masked in the American League, as he spent most of
his time DHing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">McRae first really big year was 1976, when <a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2013/01/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html">#300 George Brett </a>barely edged him out for the batting title. He still ended up leading
the league in on base percentage (.407) and OPS (.868). But there was some
controversy on how Brett won the title. The hit that edged him out was an
inside-the-park home run Twins outfielder Steve Brye misplayed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>McRae began making obscene gestures to the
Twins dugout, accusing them of intentionally giving Brett the title because
they were racist.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">McRae sacrificed some his batting average for power,
and he slugged above .500 for the first time the following year, on the
strength of his league leading 54 doubles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With McRae a constant force in the middle of the
lineup, the Royals went to the World Series in 1980 and 1985, and the ALCS from
1976-1978, 1980, and 1984. But it was 1982, one of the rare years the Royals
didn’t advance to the post season, where McRae would have his only MVP caliber
season. He led in doubles with 46, and RBIs with 133. He also reached career
highs in home runs (27) and OPS (.910).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Although he would have another good season in 1983,
McRae was aging, and by the time this picture was taken, he was splitting DH
duties with a similarly ancient Jorge Orta. Although he started in the ALCS at
the end of the 1985 season, in the World Series the DH wasn’t being used that year
(it used to alternate every other year), so he was hitless in three pinch hit
at bats.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">McRae finished his career as perhaps the best
all-time designated hitter up that point—at least until Edgar Martinez came
around. He appeared in the third most games all time in that role, and ended up
hitting .294. And all of his DHing prepared him to be a hitting coach with the
Expos, Reds, Phillies, and Cardinals. He also managed the Royals (1991-1994),
where he had one winning season, finishing third in 1993, the year of
this </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kamDqL-AGzI"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">famous
rant</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.
McRae went on to replace original Devil Rays manager Larry Rothchild for two
seasons (2000-2001), when that club was perpetually in last place.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">McRae's son, Brian, was a solid major league player for over a decade. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrSgZhyibjrx5O1U4oJfn7SVDKg-LANQPxnoA80No7gCT6UrqN4JBx0kfjAqGkAu1NsWe270c96AQ1mVVaPd3LcERsL81645n4zjum9b-mZkKbdY30i4-7dh85yz2Ub5osbAHm2sIcGg/s1600/415back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrSgZhyibjrx5O1U4oJfn7SVDKg-LANQPxnoA80No7gCT6UrqN4JBx0kfjAqGkAu1NsWe270c96AQ1mVVaPd3LcERsL81645n4zjum9b-mZkKbdY30i4-7dh85yz2Ub5osbAHm2sIcGg/s1600/415back.jpeg" height="229" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><u><b>Rear guard:</b></u> McRae's first grand slam came off of Astros starter Jerry Reuss. He was pinch hitting for pitcher Ed Sprague and it drove in a litany or Reds stars: <a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2012/04/195-dave-concepcion.html">#195 Dave Concepcion</a>, <a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2011/09/85-tony-perez.html">#85 Tony Perez</a>, and Dennis Menke.</span></div>
</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-69347317784046286502014-06-04T23:22:00.001-05:002014-06-04T23:30:48.539-05:00#414 Tom Gorman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAF5V25rRxaW30hpS1dbDs8gA-qvxsBuNLSMY8YzWI7A9RxkvLxDxO_AjvlFzkSWAd79Ntj8-BNP9QFrp0sjDSNw1UN0r0-iTye-Go0XIscT0tXBBCNDl5XQgTlJvLA_8Bn9CyXoCcVAg/s1600/414front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAF5V25rRxaW30hpS1dbDs8gA-qvxsBuNLSMY8YzWI7A9RxkvLxDxO_AjvlFzkSWAd79Ntj8-BNP9QFrp0sjDSNw1UN0r0-iTye-Go0XIscT0tXBBCNDl5XQgTlJvLA_8Bn9CyXoCcVAg/s1600/414front.jpeg" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Card
thoughts: </span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There have been three major league
players named Tom Gorman, all pitchers.
This one was nicknamed Gorfax (note: short for Goose Koufax, even more
inexplicable) for some reason. This is his last Topps card.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
player: </span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Although Gorman wasn’t a big winner for
the Mets, he figured in several memorable games.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gorman had yet to establish himself other than a
“generic struggling lefty” before being traded from the Expos to the Mets for <a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2012/03/177-joel-youngblood.html">#177 Joel Youngblood</a>. He ended up winning eight straight decisions, mostly in relief,
for the Mets between 1983 and 1985, including a win on Opening Day the latter
year (which he had predicted to Davey Johnson earlier that day). Despite the wins, Gorman only really had one good
year, 1984, when he was undefeated (6-0) with a 2.97 ERA. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By 1985, he was used mainly in a mop-up role, where
he was the winner in the marathon 19-inning Mets-Braves game which
light-hitting pitcher <a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2013/03/319-rick-camp.html">#419 Rick Camp </a>famously tied with a home run (that came
off Gorman). He also was the winner in an 18 inning game against the Pirates that
occurred a few weeks before. And finally, Gorman was the losing pitcher in a
26-7 blowout against the Phillies. Gorman, an emergency starter, gave up 6 runs
in 1/3 of an inning. <a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2012/05/210-calvin-schiraldi.html">#210 Calvin Schiraldi</a>, who followed him to the mound,
gave up 10 runs in an inning and a half.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With the Mets having a stacked bullpen in 1986,
Gorman was cut on the last day of spring training. A few remaining games for
the Phillies and Padres the following two years, and stops in the Twins and A’s
minor league systems finished off his career. Gorman now </span><a href="http://www.pamplinmedia.com/wbi/155-sports/199212-woodburn-great-tom-gorman-knows-a-thing-or-two-about-the-world-series"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">coaches
baseball</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> in Oregon City, OR, and is a high school sales rep
for Nike.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADufyxSJ4H8rBAg3eFX1BjvSVBI2L4EDcv4k6hX3fEeVekOw96f7fuDKsryua1v0INpTSnfGAwlA2oVUbVd0A3MO-XWtNnb6JeQxXE_QskQ4rCSoe3oUExJsTQcNw03wsOwcw-o3NtSI/s1600/414back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADufyxSJ4H8rBAg3eFX1BjvSVBI2L4EDcv4k6hX3fEeVekOw96f7fuDKsryua1v0INpTSnfGAwlA2oVUbVd0A3MO-XWtNnb6JeQxXE_QskQ4rCSoe3oUExJsTQcNw03wsOwcw-o3NtSI/s1600/414back.jpeg" height="232" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><u>Rear guard: </u></b>Gorman's first win came as the fourth reliever in an 8-7 win over the Padres. He struck out three and gave up two hits.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"Clouted": an awkward verb. Cleon Jones was a decent hitter for the late 60s/early 70s Mets, but the most home runs he ever hit was 14. Here's his <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.comc.com/Cards/Baseball/1972/Topps/31/Cleon_Jones/18418">1972 card</a>.</span></div>
</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-60758649249213666532014-06-01T21:38:00.002-05:002014-06-01T21:38:57.952-05:00#413 Tim Flannery<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUM60gbG1l-d9nfu3ywBTeQdSvHqGEuReKsqdBDLp6zziFLUVeIFxSPW5llzLzwQb0BnBOtCrmQdwoFpD34vPxltVSNIcMWRNYXSc8VQsbYz3-ZFah4CnkBaa_CnMas7hAkCYvlBMNME/s1600/419front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUM60gbG1l-d9nfu3ywBTeQdSvHqGEuReKsqdBDLp6zziFLUVeIFxSPW5llzLzwQb0BnBOtCrmQdwoFpD34vPxltVSNIcMWRNYXSc8VQsbYz3-ZFah4CnkBaa_CnMas7hAkCYvlBMNME/s1600/419front.jpeg" height="320" width="230" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Card
thoughts: </span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tim Flannery: The “Augie Ojeda” of San
Diego. There’s something about light hitting utility infielders that makes them
the perennial “fan favorite.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
player:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The legend of Flannery in San Diego
probably stems from the fact that he hit the ball Leon Durham booted to allow
the tying run to score in Game 5 of the 1984 NLCS. It certainly wasn’t his
hitting prowess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Flannery, although a poor major league hitter, feasted
on minor league pitching. He hit .350, .345, and .346 his first three years in
the minors. He finally called up for good in 1982, where he became the Padres
starting second baseman, hitting .240 with little power (.646 OPS). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Padres wanted more offense out of the second
base position, so for the next few years they tried Juan Bonilla (.605 OPS) and
Alan Wiggins (.671 OPS, but with 70 steals) there. Flannery spent 1983 and 1984
backing these guys up, as well as <a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2011/10/103-luis-salazar.html">#103 Luis Salazar</a> (who was a good hitter
but poor fielder at third).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Flannery did get some backup action in the NLCS,
where he scored 2 runs in three plate appearances. With the departure of Wiggins in 1985 (mainly due to drug problems), Flannery once again became the
starting second baseman, a position he held until 1988. His OPS during
1985-1986 actually was better than the league average, but he slumped badly in
1987 (a .228/.332/.254 line).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was back to riding the pines for the rest of his
Padre career, a fact that did not make him any less endearing to the local fans.
Flannery would come to the plate to the strains of <i>The Ride of the Valkyries</i>, and his final game in 1989 caused a
prolonged standing ovation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In retirement, Flannery managed in the Padres
system, and has become Bruce Bochy’s right hand man, coaching third for him
with the Padres and Giants. Flannery also plays music leading a hardcore band
called Flannery’s Flannel. You may have heard their angry stomper “The Raging
Circle”, or caught their infamous You Tube video where they burst a water pipe
at a basement show in Little Village . . . naw, just kidding. Flannery plays
generic, </span><a href="http://timflannery.com/index.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MOR
music</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> that, while not offensive or without talent, is
certainly not too challenging.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZgaYMns-uqIPuP37VAiPLrgr-5u54gME_OOQ_Pnv9ISDgA77AGmvSxjL_1Oj2oWcpOXuIaXLM1MNela-kwStIAIMeImtTjP_sQPcvWbWe3TqTlXQ2peGeV-QfdstsgZri2m_-eOWZ50/s1600/413back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZgaYMns-uqIPuP37VAiPLrgr-5u54gME_OOQ_Pnv9ISDgA77AGmvSxjL_1Oj2oWcpOXuIaXLM1MNela-kwStIAIMeImtTjP_sQPcvWbWe3TqTlXQ2peGeV-QfdstsgZri2m_-eOWZ50/s1600/413back.jpeg" height="223" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><u>Rear guard:</u></b> Here's Flannery's <a href="http://www.comc.com/Cards/Baseball/1980/Topps/685/Tim_Flannery_RCBrian_Greer_RCJim_Wilhelm_RC/1870464">first Topps card</a>. As for the other guys on this card, Brian Greer was a former #1 draft pick who played just 5 major league games. Amazing he got to the majors at all. Greer struck out an astronomical amount, leading the Texas League in 1979 with 153 while hitting just .229. Jim Wilhelm got in 39 games in 1979, his last year as a pro. Some prospects.</span></div>
</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-79495793857899232702014-05-18T22:19:00.001-05:002014-05-19T08:00:29.382-05:00#412 Jim Clancy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbv8vQhsWRP_F63-eVeYTErrvzyTCDa3c6GF4WeGmrI2MGKkx1BeC-hLMikTiD4sVyuv9uE3G2kKUCm40stGcdhbdkg6q45Vjzv4k1I-zdMZbdZGtFIdm18r5XnlFgpmnhtUpOk6scU8/s1600/412front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbv8vQhsWRP_F63-eVeYTErrvzyTCDa3c6GF4WeGmrI2MGKkx1BeC-hLMikTiD4sVyuv9uE3G2kKUCm40stGcdhbdkg6q45Vjzv4k1I-zdMZbdZGtFIdm18r5XnlFgpmnhtUpOk6scU8/s1600/412front.jpeg" height="320" width="231" /></a></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Card
thoughts: </span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Oh boy, am I bored with these
interchangeable Blue Jay head shots of indistinguishable white pitchers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
player: </span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With a long career as a high-ERA innings
eater, it seemed the Blue Jays were always waiting for Clancy’s raw stuff (one
of the best sliders in the game, an overpowering fastball) to translate into a
consistently winning season. Every year, however, Clancy would get himself
involved in a bunch of a blow outs that raised his ERA a bunch, which belied
his effectiveness in other starts. Edwin Jackson of the Cubs comes to mind as a
similarly frustrating pitcher.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">An original Blue Jay, he was selected from the
Rangers minor league system in the expansion draft, despite pitching
consistently poorly there. He made it to the majors later in 1977, but his
first full time season was in ’78, where he had a typical season for him: a
near .500 record, with an ERAs north of 4.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After a few more inconsistent years, mostly marred
by injury, Clancy had an great campaign in 1982, starting a league high 40
games (I guess the thought was then the injuries allowed a pitcher to “rest”
his arm), and pitching the fourth inning of the all star game. Clancy ended the
year 16-14 and a career high 266 innings pitched. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another good season followed in 1983 (15-11), but in
1984, he was pretty terrible (13-15, 5.16 ERA). Despite this, he was still run
out there all the time, and led the league once in again in games started.
Clancy was injured much of the season shown on this card (only 23 starts), so he
wasn’t much of a factor in the playoffs (1 inning pitched, 1 run given up). But
the next three seasons were typical Clancy: Lots of decisions, leading to both
double digit wins and losses, high ERAs (for the time), and lots of innings
pitched. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Astros signed him as a starter for the 1988
season, but he was very hittable (9.5 hits per nine innings), before being
demoted to the bullpen. The same thing happened the following season, where his
bloated 6.51 ERA got him exiled for a time to Tuscon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By 1991, he was no longer a starter. Traded midway
through the season to Atlanta, after he posted a 2.78 ERA in 55 innings (with 5
saves) with the Astros, he pitched poorly down the stretch, but was kept on the
post-season roster. He ended his career by pitching 4+ innings in the World
Series.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYOSs9ULqK7NFZlXg1woJLUj7IX83beqoe3l8eSz2nOTOYsdzu9G-uhZwYERMOJsWRzr9qrv-J9INJtJN80TtNtsV9Q7YrtUF_Znohb7QFQ6EhaTbVDZsfwLSFtQIVOR3CRvl-mDK2ws/s1600/412back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYOSs9ULqK7NFZlXg1woJLUj7IX83beqoe3l8eSz2nOTOYsdzu9G-uhZwYERMOJsWRzr9qrv-J9INJtJN80TtNtsV9Q7YrtUF_Znohb7QFQ6EhaTbVDZsfwLSFtQIVOR3CRvl-mDK2ws/s1600/412back.jpeg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><u><b>Rear guard:</b></u> Clancy's first win came against the Brewers and it was a complete game. By giving up just 2 runs in 9 innings, he lowered his ERA from his ghastly major league debut (22.50) where he gave up 5 runs in 2 innings. </span></div>
</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-17463835139917003242014-05-12T23:15:00.001-05:002014-05-13T23:32:55.359-05:00#411 Sparky Anderson<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvgZIJ6YULTHcgvRwccvkvNkSp7GJmDvQcZAbrE2cNCG2k5SuFVOTjBYkjgZuv256tucKZmIIlM-SyKArpMPz7h8JWFJyHL4Xpx_GEGyRZYxjyPMfnXjmDwmuE7y8NNtrctHVasEw2q0/s1600/%23411+Sparky+Anderson.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvgZIJ6YULTHcgvRwccvkvNkSp7GJmDvQcZAbrE2cNCG2k5SuFVOTjBYkjgZuv256tucKZmIIlM-SyKArpMPz7h8JWFJyHL4Xpx_GEGyRZYxjyPMfnXjmDwmuE7y8NNtrctHVasEw2q0/s1600/%23411+Sparky+Anderson.jpeg" height="320" width="230" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Card
thoughts:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sparky Anderson seems about a million
years old in this picture (he is only 51!). A lifetime of sun and no sunblock
will do that to you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><u>The player/manager: </u></b>Like most managers, Anderson was
no great shakes as a player. Strangely enough, he played just one season in the
majors, but that was as the Phillies staring second baseman. In 152 Games in
1959, he hit .218, and then he never played another major league game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But as a manager, Anderson was much more successful,
although he tended to be a tad too boastful. He was hired at age 36 to be the
Reds manager, and guided that team to two World Series wins and four pennants.
One of his first acts as the Reds manager was install #1 Pete Rose as the team
captain. He also made sure the team was disciplined, on and off the field. I n
a time when spring training was still seen as a way too slowly gear up for the
season after an off-season of lying about, Anderson insisted on organizing
drills and having curfew times. Players were also required to be clean cut, and
wear suits while travelling. In exchange, Anderson preferred to run the club as
a type of extended Socratic dialogue, as players were encouraged to question
his methods and actions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One innovation Anderson introduced was pulling
starters early. I’ll bet you’d be hard pressed to name a dominant pitcher on
any of those Big Red Machine teams, but their relief corps was always top notch. Anderson was nicknamed “Captain Hook” for this
tendency, which was notable in an age when starters were expected to finish
games.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Eventually, in the late 70s the Reds hit a rough
patch as their team aged. Anderson was fired after the 1978 season, and was
about to sign a long contract with the Cubs (!) (oh what might have been!),
when the Tigers hired him. The Tigers had a great core of young players, and
Anderson disciplined them to become winners. He predicted they’d win a World
Series in five years, which basically came true (they on after being in first
wire-to-wire in 1984).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After being successful for years on teams that were
“expected” to win, Anderson won with an overachieving Tigers team in 1987,
winning the Manager of the Year award in the process. But his work ethic was
taking a toll on him, and he was sent home for exhaustion for a few days in
1989. He ended up managing until 1995, but the Tigers teams he managed were
uniformly terrible. He was elected into the Hal of Fame in 2000, having won the
fifth most games all-time (2194 wins), having only lost 1834 (a .545 winning
percentage).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibDLl4BICoR9yrUYRWWeqQdYvrv5vZ5et6H7K2AyEl4lyTiC0JnpFno65xoBnSltP_HdzKMp1MvVjdjM0EsT_vDk7BfCOuw10u-pbal8ZFDkD2MEXIVSCX4xXfyiniSStrhPFefly5EE/s1600/411back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibDLl4BICoR9yrUYRWWeqQdYvrv5vZ5et6H7K2AyEl4lyTiC0JnpFno65xoBnSltP_HdzKMp1MvVjdjM0EsT_vDk7BfCOuw10u-pbal8ZFDkD2MEXIVSCX4xXfyiniSStrhPFefly5EE/s1600/411back.jpeg" height="226" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><u>Rear guard:</u></b> No glaring omissions. No doubt Topps wanted to make sure they completely covered the reigning world champs.</span></div>
<br /></div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-27194095719558699442014-04-24T21:29:00.001-05:002014-04-24T21:34:39.121-05:00#410 Dave Kingman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6sPon8J3tw9WoIi41zIbNriRpaTF-ManLVFWvEcmymwASjmUIOE754cus2wykh4qcqW3OzPXP0zyT2JojwlwBwUpO8oGaP9aeHBUIkytMVGPejMBmuREIDtWgvVY3B-C_PXhll3gMhg/s1600/410front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6sPon8J3tw9WoIi41zIbNriRpaTF-ManLVFWvEcmymwASjmUIOE754cus2wykh4qcqW3OzPXP0zyT2JojwlwBwUpO8oGaP9aeHBUIkytMVGPejMBmuREIDtWgvVY3B-C_PXhll3gMhg/s1600/410front.jpeg" height="320" width="229" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Card
thoughts:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Dave Kingman was not known for his
sunny demeanor, so I’m guessing that is a smirk and not a smile on his face.
Kingman, along with Bill Buckner, were my “Favorite” players as a five year
old. So says the vague mist of my Bruner Street memories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
player: </span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kingman was nicknamed “Kong” because his
titanic home runs, especially at Wrigley Field. He legendarily hit a ball out
of the stadium 550 feet, landing on a porch three doors down from Waveland on
Kenmore Avenue. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A tall, gangly man, Kingman was not much of a
fielder, runner, or hitter, other than home runs. With a long, looping,
uppercut swing, Kingman generally would only hit home runs or singles, but he
often struck out too, which led to low RBI countsand batting averages, despite
the home runs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As a kid, Kingman moved around a lot, as the family
followed the patriarch in his career as a United Airlines executive, eventually
ending up in Chicago. In high school (not surprising due to his lean, tall
frame) Kingman lettered in basketball, but was not known as a baseball player
(although he did play American Legion ball). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At USC, he began as a pitcher in 1969, but switched
to the outfield a year later, hitting .355 and slugging .702. This led to him
being drafted in the first round by the Giants. Assigned to AA Amarillo, </span><a href="http://davekingmanfan.com/70amari1.jpg"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kingman</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
slugged 15 home runs in just 210 at bats. Moving up to Phoenix the next year,
he apparently got the nickname “The Hammer” while leading the PCL in home runs
with 29.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Believe it or not, the lanky Kingman began his major
league career as a third baseman. Called
up near the end of ’71 season, he hit his first “moon shot” off of a parked car
in the lot outside Shea Stadium. He also suffered through a bout of
appendicitis, leading to emergency surgery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In 1972, he started at third, but his fielding was
so atrocious, Steve Ontiveros had to take over after about 60 games. Reduced a
utility role the following season, Kingman continued to hit for low average,
and field terribly. The only tool her really had was his power . . . but that
was mega-plus tool, as his slugging percentage was consistently 200 points
higher than his batting average.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The power wasn’t enough for the Giants however, and
he was sold to the Mets in 1974. This is where Kingman really blossomed,
hitting 36 home runs in 1975, and another 39 in 1976, where he was named the starting
rightfielder in the All-Star game. In 1977, everything fell apart for Kingman,
as he eventually played for four teams (the Mets, Padres, Angels, and Yankees).
Among all the stops, Kingman managed to hit 26 home runs and drive in 78.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kingman became a star again for the Cubs in 1978,
where he would have his best seasons. Kingman and Wrigley Field was a match
made in heaven, especially when the wind was blowing out. Kingman hit above
.250 for the first time all three years he spent with the Cubs, which led to
his monstrous 1979 season, where he led the majors in home runs (48) and
slugging percentage. He also twice hit three home runs in a game, and hit five
home runs in two games. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kingman once again went from hero to goat in 1980,
as he was injured most of the year, and he dumped a bucket of ice on a
reporter. Perhaps Kingman was jealous. His nearly unreadable (ghost-written) column
ran for a time in the Chicago Tribune, prompting famous writer Mike Royko to
write a parody column with the byline “Dave Dingdong.” A private person,
Kingman asked his teammates not to comment on his private life, and stated he
didn’t think about baseball after the game was over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Cubs tired of his surly attitude, and he was
sent back to the Mets for Steve Henderson. New owner Nelson Doubleday was
reacquiring all of the stars they traded away in the 70s (unfortunately, all
were well past their prime). Kingman proved to be unpopular in his return, and
dubiously led the league in home runs in 1982 while hitting just .204, less
than Cy Young award winner <a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2011/11/120-steve-carlton.html">#</a></span><a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2011/11/120-steve-carlton.html"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">120 </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Steve Carlton</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With the arrival of Keith Hernandez, Kingman played
sparingly at the end of 1983. He was gone to the American League by 1984, in
his Natural role as designated hitter, one he would fill the rest of his career
with Oakland. He hit over 30 home runs each of the three years he played with
the A’s, his best season being 1984 when he hit .268 with 35 home runs and 118
RBIs. 1987 was his last year, despite hitting 35 home runs and driving in 94
(but hitting .210).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With a career total of 442 home runs, Kingman was the first person with over 400 home runs not to make the Hall of Fame (steroid-era
players will probably break that mark). Part of the problem was his 1800 or so
strikeouts, fourth all time when he retired, and .236 career average. His home
run total, however, is really impressive when you consider he played in a low
home run era.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKzHeOvf5sRZnokiAJryTHpYo0gnK403TgtXdpzZ6xmWhyzn5nDhMP6qSGFHm92OKgYukOuVOwpEcFUxTvfZoNxwGHgrgmSTtnsMuv58aaGOlzkbNZeqQts-2wkGUkQUkP6A7nVsjX0s/s1600/410back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKzHeOvf5sRZnokiAJryTHpYo0gnK403TgtXdpzZ6xmWhyzn5nDhMP6qSGFHm92OKgYukOuVOwpEcFUxTvfZoNxwGHgrgmSTtnsMuv58aaGOlzkbNZeqQts-2wkGUkQUkP6A7nVsjX0s/s1600/410back.jpeg" height="223" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><b><u>Rear guard:</u></b> Miscut! Highlights of Kingman's 1985 season include hitting his 400th home run on August 10th against Seattle. The blast came off of Matt Young.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-37783645710744738842014-04-08T22:40:00.001-05:002014-04-08T22:40:24.512-05:00#409 Paul Runge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDv3DPcySuwXrA5yD6J70DSoLZPJ2TFx7Hd1qmIhsOE-z3l4sZgcyaOb6RNGboSq6ECFN9-zrt_G-E4lsqiAkcLpjssIbMhjQbXhoPaE1LHSg68-VY-LPUExh74DG9_Z0quFRv-v70zig/s1600/409front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDv3DPcySuwXrA5yD6J70DSoLZPJ2TFx7Hd1qmIhsOE-z3l4sZgcyaOb6RNGboSq6ECFN9-zrt_G-E4lsqiAkcLpjssIbMhjQbXhoPaE1LHSg68-VY-LPUExh74DG9_Z0quFRv-v70zig/s1600/409front.jpeg" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Card
thoughts:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Remember that Seinfeld episode when
Elaine was dating a guy named Joel Rifkin, who apparently was also the name of some
famous serial killer in New York City? Pity Paul Runge, who has the similar
fate. His namesake killed 7 people in the Chicago area. He is also NOT the same
person as major league umpire Paul Runge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Otherwise, I love it when Topps gives a forgettable
player (if not name) a great action shot on his card. Honestly, whether a star
like Nolan Ryan is just sitting there, with his boring head filling the card,
doesn’t matter to a kid. I mean, you’ve got a Nolan Ryan card! But this Paul
Runge card is a joy to own, simply because of the artistry. On a cloudy spring
training day, Runge, playing short, forces Hubie Brooks out at second in an
attempt to complete a double play. Was he successful? Who knows? Only the first
part of the play is immortalized for all time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
player: </span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Runge is that most “common” baseball player,
the utility infielder (maybe the third string catcher comes close). Unlike most
guys like this that make the majors, he was a more offensively than defensively
gifted player. After piling up the errors at short, Runge was moved to second
base by his second year of AAA. His best year in the minors came at Richmond,
where he scored 106 runs, and had an .836 OPS. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">While he would get small pieces of action in the
majors from 1981-1984, the season shown on this card was the first in which he
stayed the whole year on the club. Mostly playing as a backup to third baseman
Ken Oberkfell, he hit just .218 in 110 at bats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Runge was back in the minors most of the next
season, as <a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2011/10/107-rafael-ramirez.html">#107 Rafael Ramirez </a>and Andres Thomas gobbled up most of the
middle infield action. Runge was once again up for an entire season in 1988, once
again playing mostly at third, but the results were similar to ’85.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After a few more years as a veteran presence at AAA
with the Padres and Blue Jays organizations, Runge went into the minor league
managing game, managing various Braves teams, mostly the short-season Danville
Braves where he won two league championships. He’s now the minor league infield
coordinator for the Astros organization. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jYHKS3OoJF2pXp0-DXD3QWKgeZEOfts59OFUSykJoPfNJWcscmLoVXWWDhYWb8dZMJReOXWKLmmu6Sxd8nHWJmTDVYFm_u9DgN9y3NWGRRn-bQwlHWOPZ8gWWUweQvsPkRl5LTr_uIg/s1600/409back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jYHKS3OoJF2pXp0-DXD3QWKgeZEOfts59OFUSykJoPfNJWcscmLoVXWWDhYWb8dZMJReOXWKLmmu6Sxd8nHWJmTDVYFm_u9DgN9y3NWGRRn-bQwlHWOPZ8gWWUweQvsPkRl5LTr_uIg/s1600/409back.jpeg" height="227" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><u>Rear guard:</u></b> Amazingly, three of Runge's four career homers came in just 54 at bats during the 1987 season. His other, and first, homer came off Phillies pitcher Jerry Koosman.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ralph Garr was a great line drive hitter as a young man, but never had much power. With just 9 home runs in 1971, almost a quarter of his home runs came in the 10th and 12th innings of that game on May 17th. Here's <a href="http://www.comc.com/Cards/Baseball/1972/O-Pee-Chee/260/Ralph_Garr/1840870">Garr's card</a> representing that season.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-83697040475078068552014-04-07T18:30:00.000-05:002014-04-07T21:24:01.163-05:00#408 Dave Smith<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKg5kNfArqKayANZfvUSA3jD-xIczeXSw0lGPeWpWgaHJXB5vYg2ZcejLISLmfQUCzO4Jr48zpptOTEFsDk8MlttHTIFPBn01ndMnnccKihs-zH5lGbSh_WVpSOX7eUoyhQtLvC0nZC4/s1600/408front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKg5kNfArqKayANZfvUSA3jD-xIczeXSw0lGPeWpWgaHJXB5vYg2ZcejLISLmfQUCzO4Jr48zpptOTEFsDk8MlttHTIFPBn01ndMnnccKihs-zH5lGbSh_WVpSOX7eUoyhQtLvC0nZC4/s1600/408front.jpeg" height="320" width="227" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Card
thoughts:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> When the Cubs were bad, boring, and
flailing in the early 90s, one of the mistakes they made over and over again
was paying too much money to over the hill closers. This is one of their worst
signings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>The
player:</u> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There was no indication (other than age)
that Smith would bomb with the Cubs. For 11 years, Smith was an awesome reliever</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">,
and still holds the Astros all time record for appearances, wins in relief,
relief innings, and games finished.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Smith came up to the Astros in the days when closer
duties were shared. With Frank LaCorte and Joe Sambito also closing, rookie
Smith’s 1.93 ERA was the best of the trio. His out pitch was the changeup, said
to be unhittable even when batters knew it was coming. In the playoffs that year and the next, he was
inconsistent in middle relief.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Smith would pitch mostly in middle relief from
1981-1984 with the Astros rotating through the likes of <a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2011/05/26-frank-dipino.html">#26 Frank DiPino</a> and
Bill Dawley as closers. By 1985, he was closing most games, and saved over 20
games for the first time in his career.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Off the field, Smith was known as a laid-back
“California dude” who tipped generously and was a mentor to younger pitchers.
His change-up was well suited to the spacious Astrodome, where flyballs went to
die. Smith would not have an ERA above 3 from 1984 to 1990, and he made the all
star team after saving 33 games in 1986, and 23 in 1990.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Cubs ignored Smith’s age (35 at the time) and
the fact that his home field (and division) aided his pitching when they signed him to a
lucrative 2-year contract in the 1990 offseason (it was a horrible off-season for
the Cubs—they also signed Danny Jackson (29) and <a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2013/06/338-jorge-bell.html">#338 George Bell</a> (31) well past
their primes). After going 4 for 4 in save opportunities in April, Smith
promptly started blowing saves left and right in May. He righted himself a bit
in June then lost the closer’s job to Paul Assenmacher in July. Mercifully,
Smith was shut down with an injury soon after (how he managed to save 17 games
with an ERA north of 6, I’ll never know).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He would pitch well in briefly 1991, but was once
again limited by injury, effectively ending his career. In retirement, Smith
was the pitching coach for a time for the Padres. He died at the relatively
young age of 53 of a heart attack in 2008.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkpmRCMfFbO36Foo7hoaaNSiytJtBE8IAu5HoENgXTdclvUnDXwD7hZq7a8Jl_hReLu9xZP44jJHWCfVgEmfdRAW7xtp6J3WoVY2yDSiE_EFXoJ6J66EEIuM5HYl5k3kUCq-UJeZ5sdg/s1600/408back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkpmRCMfFbO36Foo7hoaaNSiytJtBE8IAu5HoENgXTdclvUnDXwD7hZq7a8Jl_hReLu9xZP44jJHWCfVgEmfdRAW7xtp6J3WoVY2yDSiE_EFXoJ6J66EEIuM5HYl5k3kUCq-UJeZ5sdg/s1600/408back.jpeg" height="227" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><u><b>Rear guard:</b></u> Bob Watson later became the vice president of major league baseball. He scored 802 runs in his career, 640 with the Astros. </span></div>
</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-16518404103296419182014-04-06T10:24:00.001-05:002014-04-06T10:24:10.169-05:00#407 Sal Butera<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeE2THNqxUiJ1oRax4mKRPvE3mHQ4Hr3U3b9rwXWxc0-CdUwGYHO2XcntQ6Y6EIa9rKuxZoTcC10arMW61mQSqsDzOVNGr4divRsGrIKhY2ojmyw5BqNrXR2kAd6P9zghXFao8eU7NG1c/s1600/407front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeE2THNqxUiJ1oRax4mKRPvE3mHQ4Hr3U3b9rwXWxc0-CdUwGYHO2XcntQ6Y6EIa9rKuxZoTcC10arMW61mQSqsDzOVNGr4divRsGrIKhY2ojmyw5BqNrXR2kAd6P9zghXFao8eU7NG1c/s1600/407front.jpeg" height="320" width="229" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>Card
thoughts:</u></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I hate the T-Shirt look. Along with the casual way
Butera is swinging his bat, I feel like I’m witnessing a beer-league softball
game. This is Butera’s first Topps card since the 1983 set.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
player:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The classic backup catcher, Butera
moved around a lot in an era when that wasn’t as common as today. Despite only
playing 9 years in the majors, Butera played with 5 different teams. Butera was
signed by the Twins in 1972 as an undrafted free agent, although it appears he
was loaned to both the White Sox and Yankees his first two pro years. At any
rate, Butera couldn’t hit, and often backed up better prospects in the minors
including John Lochnar and Ray Smith.
But despite this, Butera had a better career than both of these guys and 8 years
after he was signed, he finally made his major league debut in 1980.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Butera was the starting catcher in 1981, but <a href="http://1986topps.blogspot.com/2012/03/184-tim-laudner.html">#184 Tim Laudner </a>was coming on strong in the minors, so he was relegated to a backup
role once again in 1982, where he hit .254 with a .617 OPS.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Twins found themselves with a surplus of
catchers in 1983, with Dave Engle shifting there from the outfield. So Butera
was shipped to the Tigers for the unforgettably named Stine Poole. He only
played 4 major league games with the Tigers before he was released. Once again,
he played mostly in the minors for the Expos, his new team, before catching on
with the big club as the third catcher for the 1985 season. In his full-time
return to the majors, Butera hit just .200.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As part of a big deal after the season, Butera was
sent to the Reds where he hit a little better (.239 in 56 games). After just 5
games the following year, he was released, which fortuitous for Sal, as the
team that signed him (the Twins, once gain) won the World Series that year.
Butera started one game in the ALCS going 2 for 3, and came in as a defensive
replacement for Tim Laudner in Game 4.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After not being able to make up their mind on
whether to keep Butera (he was resigned but released before the 1988 season),
his career ended with a whimper, as he hit just .233 in 23 games with Toronto.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After his playing days Butera, like many other good
field no hit catchers, went into managing. He helmed several Astros minor
league clubs and spent his final year managing the Twins AA club, going 65-77.
His son, Drew Butera, has caught in the majors for the Twins and the Dodgers
and is an even worse hitter than his dad (career OPS: .491). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxB5QPCvY-x602WW6Wv30jxkyAeT890FxW0cCW9b5RkWdeJH2aSLrJHzDtHt-fFqvbFt-NCSDyaQtAucU9ta6-P0hN7jL7juaxXJRtDl5-rrXGtijCf8mhUDn9SQHn84rzLMLvE2LhqA/s1600/407back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxB5QPCvY-x602WW6Wv30jxkyAeT890FxW0cCW9b5RkWdeJH2aSLrJHzDtHt-fFqvbFt-NCSDyaQtAucU9ta6-P0hN7jL7juaxXJRtDl5-rrXGtijCf8mhUDn9SQHn84rzLMLvE2LhqA/s1600/407back.jpeg" height="225" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><u>Rear guard:</u></b> Ron LeFlore was famously signed out of prison by the Tigers. He was one of the best base stealers in the game before Rickey Henderson emerged in the late 70s. He stole 97 bases in 1980, but after being signed by the White Sox the next season, his career went into rapid decline (perhaps because he had lied about his age . . . he always claimed to be 4 years younger than he was). Here's <a href="http://www.comc.com/Cards/Baseball/1981/Topps/710/Ron_LeFlore/1876465">LeFlore's 1981 card</a>.</span></div>
</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-37998044541799204532014-04-04T11:49:00.001-05:002014-04-04T11:49:26.130-05:00#406 Scott Sanderson<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn33seE0fKqMeVoS3NJ65mrOh2TnZwNaLxengoPDAGW-gcIJkXSkjFU2LCVk08swETKNd701C-VYBMKNEHAPXN-HKWoYSUQ4uf04uf8OpzRx4V8XSwfkG4AaVS9S_3k9w9SbQy2wLUgnQ/s1600/406front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn33seE0fKqMeVoS3NJ65mrOh2TnZwNaLxengoPDAGW-gcIJkXSkjFU2LCVk08swETKNd701C-VYBMKNEHAPXN-HKWoYSUQ4uf04uf8OpzRx4V8XSwfkG4AaVS9S_3k9w9SbQy2wLUgnQ/s1600/406front.jpeg" height="320" width="227" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Card
thoughts:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Scott Sanderson was always one of my
favorite Cubs. I remember this season, when he was perhaps the only effective
Cubs starter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
player:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> A local boy (in terms of the Cubs), as
an amateur he pitched for the United States nation team, especially excelling
the 1975 International Cup (ERA 0.60). After just one full season in the
minors, Sanderson was called up to the Expos mid way into the 1978 season. His
4-2 record and 2.51 ERA augured great things for the young Sanderson. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But the next season, he lost his starting job for a
bit, and was sent to the bullpen—a pattern that would repeat itself for the
rest of his career. In 1980, with the Expos challenging the Phillies for the
division title, Sanderson went 16-11 with a 3.11 ERA. He continued his strong
pitching in the strike-shortened 1981 season (9-7 with a career best 2.95 ERA),
but stamina was always an issue with Scott, and he tended to fade down the
stretch. He also tended to give up home runs, and in 1982 he gave them up to
three consecutive Giants on July 11th. Somewhat redeeming himself, he later hit
a grand slam at Wrigley Field.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A collision with Bill Buckner at first (again, with
a Cub), wrecked his knee in ’83, and began several injury filled years. But the
Cubs didn’t know that at the time, and they sent their top third base prospect
(Fritz Connally), first base prospect (<u>Carmelo Martinez</u>), and a
serviceable reliever (Craig Lefferts) to the Padres as a part of a three team
deal to acquire him. Sanderson spent great portions of 1984 and 1985 on the DL,
but when he started, he was effective. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Finally healthy in 1986, he was not as effective
with more exposure, and he was bounced from the rotation after going 7-11 with
a 4.47 ERA. In relief, he was much more effective, putting up a 2-0 record with
a 1.23 ERA. In 1987, 1988, 1989, the same story prevailed: Effective as a
starter at first, then injury, then, losing his spot in the rotation. Even with
an 11-9 record in 1989, Sanderson wasn’t allowed to start any games in the
NLCS, reduced to a two inning relief stint in Game 4.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was clear Sanderson needed a change of scenery.
He left as a free agent in 1989, signed with Oakland, and started a three year
renaissance in the American League. With the powerful A’s backing him,
Sanderson won a career high 17 games, despite having 3.88 ERA while pitching in
pitcher-friendly Oakland Coliseum. Despite being the #3 starter during the
season, Sanderson would not get to start in either the ALCS or World Series
that year, as Tony LaRussa elected to go with Matt Moore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Seeing his options limited in Oakland, Sanderson next
signed with the Yankees. Once again, a powerful offense masked some of
his ineffectiveness. Despite going 16-10, and making the all-star team,
Sanderson was still a pitcher with a high ERA, and a tendency to give up gopher balls.
This was dramatically shown in 1992, when he gave up four straight home runs to
Kent Hrbek, Shane Mack, <u>Kirby Puckett</u>, and <u>Randy Bush</u> to tie a
major league record.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With a 4.93 ERA in 1992, and a long injury history,
Sanderson found it hard to latch onto a club in 1993, but finally signed with
the Angels, going 7-11 with a 4.46 ERA. The Giants picked him up late in the
season after he was released, and he pitched better for them (4-2, 3.51 ERA in
11 starts), but his manager Dusty Baker seemingly had no confidence in him, as
he was passed over as a starter on the final day of the season with the
playoffs on the line in favor of rookie Salmon Torres.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Signing with the White Sox in 1994, he had an 8-4
record and a 5.06 ERA when the season ended early by the strike. Signing with
the Angels, he was ineffective and injured in 1995 and 1996, his last two
seasons. Sanderson managed to have a 19 year career, and won more (163) than he
lost. In retirement, he has mostly worked as a sports agent, representing Frank
Thomas, Josh Beckett, and Lance Berkman, among others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSG2witOF4k8RkFr_a2eSSekfT8FKvNjCsmkm19kn7SqDSk7iepJ3s0Czl8zm5E1TpYS5UBDgkYOloyK2D8spyTD6HWgqzf9g1VKPJppk-5ElF_CSOUhl3nFY2LRlUdmyFTMvXU8Oo92c/s1600/406back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSG2witOF4k8RkFr_a2eSSekfT8FKvNjCsmkm19kn7SqDSk7iepJ3s0Czl8zm5E1TpYS5UBDgkYOloyK2D8spyTD6HWgqzf9g1VKPJppk-5ElF_CSOUhl3nFY2LRlUdmyFTMvXU8Oo92c/s1600/406back.jpeg" height="226" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><u>Rear guard:</u></b> Vic Saier was considered a slugger by 1910s standards. But by 1916, injuries had begun limiting his effectiveness (he was out of baseball at age 28 after suffering a bad leg injury). Wrigley Field was used (and built by) by the Chicago Whales before the Cubs moved in in 1916. Saier's RBI came on a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning off Al Schulz. It was the Cubs home opener at Wrigley that year. Coincidentally, the Cubs will be playing their 98th home opener there later this afternoon.</span></div>
</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8112562502076815845.post-51236198768498757082014-04-02T22:23:00.003-05:002014-04-02T22:24:45.970-05:00#405 Turn Back the Clock: 1961<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlYm2EsDBBA5OFVJI2zHZhrV1dcXkkGy8Yd8SRtzWdH-pNfmT0Zduy50kc19_6-gaoGv5ok_yaAodtJVCFcRS3DMYgzfM6w_kp0VgFEcIZ3_AClBXZfRd11TudbHuynjB7_2QdOZWqOI/s1600/405front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlYm2EsDBBA5OFVJI2zHZhrV1dcXkkGy8Yd8SRtzWdH-pNfmT0Zduy50kc19_6-gaoGv5ok_yaAodtJVCFcRS3DMYgzfM6w_kp0VgFEcIZ3_AClBXZfRd11TudbHuynjB7_2QdOZWqOI/s1600/405front.jpeg" height="320" width="232" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Card
thoughts: </span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> For years, Maris had an “asterix” affixed to
his 61 home runs, because they came in 162 games, rather than 154, like Babe
Ruth’s 60. ‘Course with Barry Bonds,
Sammy Sosa, and Mark McGwire all surpassing that single season record
with the aid of steroids, such a big caveat has been added to the single season
home run record to almost render it meaningless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoPpJ6KO1O5022q9PpC8oC5MinVJHRB3rgJXj9_U6qXMt-w4efmG5qT0IP5ruukvhTX5D6vm_nRov4AAIT02d3DG2kO1OmsPTeBJivWZOpSu3lZUw_916R8zxmp1EkyR39e7nJ1rwJgc/s1600/405back.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoPpJ6KO1O5022q9PpC8oC5MinVJHRB3rgJXj9_U6qXMt-w4efmG5qT0IP5ruukvhTX5D6vm_nRov4AAIT02d3DG2kO1OmsPTeBJivWZOpSu3lZUw_916R8zxmp1EkyR39e7nJ1rwJgc/s1600/405back.jpeg" height="320" width="229" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rear
guard:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> More home runs were hit in 1961 than any season
ever. Previously in the 50s, the league generally averaged about 2000 home runs
a season; in 1961, it was 2730, only partially because of expansion (only the
AL played 162 games that year; the NL still played 154). The record was
surpassed the next year, with over 3000 home runs hit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It wasn’t just the big time sluggers who were
whacking the ball out of the park. The Yankees, who hit a major league best 240
home runs (mostly because Maris hit 61, and Mickey Mantle hit 54), also had
Bill Skowhorn (28), Elston Howard (21), Yogi Berra (22) and Johnny Blanchard
(21) hit over 20 home runs.</span></div>
</div>
Jets Break Jawshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08414196340141030297noreply@blogger.com0