tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51298258173589078052024-03-13T01:51:54.215-04:001980 Topps BaseballA card-by-card account of the 1980 Topps Baseball card set.Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.comBlogger456125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-8478502642184030652016-08-01T20:31:00.000-04:002016-08-01T20:43:00.988-04:00#387 Fred Stanley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBAAbipj5IZdcFBZk4cVVTTn4jdsQ3zYclNgP6LKzF5mfLvMlTFMYD5CNO-KYah0NTT7ca9C_4cxuofnv2bkvQiEWIDcm6HXYeAhWm2dPBOMD9a7BT4iFlpH8145mzPX6D3ASp0gKWIlp/s1600/topps1980-387F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBAAbipj5IZdcFBZk4cVVTTn4jdsQ3zYclNgP6LKzF5mfLvMlTFMYD5CNO-KYah0NTT7ca9C_4cxuofnv2bkvQiEWIDcm6HXYeAhWm2dPBOMD9a7BT4iFlpH8145mzPX6D3ASp0gKWIlp/s320/topps1980-387F.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezFYe9wMiToFuaL7dk8LMKJuDvxmVicfMBkN3c_99sztQCyg82BDZNet48-Yk_nzvyteby969VY9rYZPaV2fASvd-4jHV8ofLOi7Br0kuEayC6Da2z1ZnybsmNjsU3ei00W0A-oTydd0l/s1600/topps1980-387B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezFYe9wMiToFuaL7dk8LMKJuDvxmVicfMBkN3c_99sztQCyg82BDZNet48-Yk_nzvyteby969VY9rYZPaV2fASvd-4jHV8ofLOi7Br0kuEayC6Da2z1ZnybsmNjsU3ei00W0A-oTydd0l/s320/topps1980-387B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Who is this player?</b><br />
Fred Stanley, infielder, New York Yankees<br />
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Widely known as a <a href="http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1980/7/18/chicken-little-pthey-call-him-the/">defensive specialist, by 1980</a> Fred Stanley had seen his playing time decrease for the third consecutive year in the Bronx. It was unfortunate timing for Stanley, seeing that incumbent Bucky Dent was out of the lineup due to injuries. Mainly <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1916&dat=19800724&id=lOcgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=N24FAAAAIBAJ&pg=3617,4197925&hl=en">hampered by injuries</a> himself, Stanley saw much of his <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19800630&id=9BNPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=owIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5911,2254758&hl=en">playing time usurped</a> by both Brian Doyle and Joe Lefebvre. This made Fred expendable and Stanley was not included on the postseason roster of the AL East Champion Yankees. New York was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAHyDzQUljI">swept by the Kansas City Royals</a> in the ALCS. Before the calendar would turn to 1981, Stanley's time in Gotham was over, as <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19801105&id=mK0cAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2WcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6589,2434992&hl=en">he was traded to the Oakland A's</a> on November 4, 1980.<br />
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Today, Fred Stanley is commonly referred to as a "baseball lifer." A respected judge of talent Stanley most recently helped architect the rise of the San Francisco Giants, serving as the director of player development <a href="http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/giants-farm-director-fred-stanley-stepping-down">from 2008-2013</a> and prior to that was the Giants coordinator of minor league instruction. Players such as Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Pablo Sandoval and Tim Lincecum were all under Stanley's watch as the Giants won three World Championships in the past decade. Presently he serves as a <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ex-yankee-chicken-stanley-giants-special-assistant-article-1.2237441">special assistant</a> to the Giants.<br />
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But prior to his long and successful career developing major league talent, Fred Stanley was a boy from Farhamville, Iowa with major league aspirations. Like most players of this era, Stanley was a high school star, which resulting in a selection by the Houston Astros in the early days of the amateur draft. Houston sold him to the Seattle Pilots in their first and only season, where he made his major league debut in 1969. In time, Stanley would be the last active Seattle Pilot in the major leagues. During this era, the position of shortstop was seen as a defensive one, and anything a player could contribute with the bat was additional, but not primary.<br />
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Nicknamed forevermore "Chicken" <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ex-yankee-chicken-stanley-giants-special-assistant-article-1.2237441">in the minors due to youthful</a> exuberance of young men, Stanley provided that "good glove," but he was often moved from team to team early in his career, from Seattle to Milwaukee to Cleveland and then to San Diego. To help himself with the bat, Stanley batted from both sides of the plate during the first few years of his career before giving it up and staying a right-handed hitter. When Fred was traded to the New York Yankees prior to the 1973 season, it would begin the longest association in which he is most remembered.<br />
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Fred Stanley was present as the Yankees were purchased by George Steinbrenner and began their ascent in the standings. He was present when Billy Martin was named manager and for two seasons, was the everyday shortstop. He was the starter as the Yankees won their first pennant and played in their first World Series in 12 years. Stanley would play a major role that season, batting .238 and finishing as the runner up in his league in fielding at his position. And <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1291&dat=19770318&id=rC9UAAAAIBAJ&sjid=U40DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7114,2753913&hl=en">perhaps unfairly</a>, was singled out by his owner as a primary reason that the Bombers did not win that year. This was the error that ended up costing the Yanks Game Two, but lost to history was Stanley's role in starting the late rally that tied up the game in the first place.<br />
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Stanley would spend three more years in the Bronx Zoo, winning two championship rings before following manager Martin to Oakland where he would finish his 14-year major league career. A memorable part of Stanley's A's stint came in 1982, when he was <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1291&dat=19820908&id=iBZUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=94wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7078,2107657&hl=en">fined over getting picked off</a> second base. It was <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1320&dat=19820825&id=kD9WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kOkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3256,7340875&hl=en">contended at the time</a> that Stanley did so intentionally to give Rickey Henderson an opportunity to set the single-season stolen base mark in front of the home fans. A picture is below:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDD48i7i8SjrAhWUYgIG3wi-UbYay0OlrlypF1N83-oYQCTJzwGyGtW0OQ-PuRpcTM834IOB4YxQClg1vldENEQ4bkbCNlc1R49dXfNNNL0rEJgmwwoaOq9-LeRL5rYMVTWePSMJQzj9iC/s1600/7-26-2016+9-02-10+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDD48i7i8SjrAhWUYgIG3wi-UbYay0OlrlypF1N83-oYQCTJzwGyGtW0OQ-PuRpcTM834IOB4YxQClg1vldENEQ4bkbCNlc1R49dXfNNNL0rEJgmwwoaOq9-LeRL5rYMVTWePSMJQzj9iC/s400/7-26-2016+9-02-10+AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Why I love this card</b><br />
I knew absolutely nothing about the Seattle Pilots when I first saw the back of this card. Even though it was only 11 years after their only season, it was like discovering life on Mars. Totally mind-blowing. My dad filled in the gaps, although he didn't recall many of the players, except for a certain knuckleball pitcher that once pitched for the Yankees. It would begin a life-long fascination that I would have with the Pilots, accentuated by <i>Ball Four</i> that I read in high school and a Pilots hat I purchased in Cooperstown in 1989. I still have the book, but wish I still had the hat.<br />
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<b>Something else...</b><br />
An alternate printing of the Stanley card with a yellow hue in his name is one of the few "error" cards from this set. I knew nothing about that at this time either as those cards never filtered down to the plebeians getting their cards from Collie Drugs and Jerry & Goldie's Party Shoppe. If you can find one, it can fetch you a little scratch, but that's about it. A PSA 9 grade of this card (I assume that's good) is currently listed for $1,100 on ebay. Here's a shot of it:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLsIqFiJ2mxN9Tz9g8NqXAHbQ-4ArvbDtO6aOBSrMk9uAuWwVMcYhvXOEn9yB44BEEPG7bIqOC36kLsAs7eokrD-w4kVAKM9sH9oa9TIw4AVOJ5VVwDsJgUSL96SsD4-k2UWaojSPjYgO/s1600/s-l1600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLsIqFiJ2mxN9Tz9g8NqXAHbQ-4ArvbDtO6aOBSrMk9uAuWwVMcYhvXOEn9yB44BEEPG7bIqOC36kLsAs7eokrD-w4kVAKM9sH9oa9TIw4AVOJ5VVwDsJgUSL96SsD4-k2UWaojSPjYgO/s320/s-l1600.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
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Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-70522755307468321202016-07-28T23:01:00.000-04:002016-07-29T07:27:39.249-04:00#386 Darrell Jackson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK72k8Wk4V_T8dR0bMWH1PF6Q30EtmWXUz8RhkqlbBHH6C9a-YdUksmor9vLKqmnZ4KuiwwACeXUldbe8iSXkqdW50_INraJB_9ygcZpW1MoSx_99hjbAdloGvuQDXf3w3RI2RXyd6hVar/s1600/topps1980-386F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK72k8Wk4V_T8dR0bMWH1PF6Q30EtmWXUz8RhkqlbBHH6C9a-YdUksmor9vLKqmnZ4KuiwwACeXUldbe8iSXkqdW50_INraJB_9ygcZpW1MoSx_99hjbAdloGvuQDXf3w3RI2RXyd6hVar/s320/topps1980-386F.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLDsXRNmrGO_GVlO-9J807c0wdJ_YspRCni34m-W7BF8gAoFq6EKuP5-1LmXKc4pSrn6e3QJMhTaS-RlnmQNqbLGcWNX4GxBcarLryhz3VZORFSr5DfOigsH-SHjN0mdAex4HrQB8hEgy/s1600/topps1980-386B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLDsXRNmrGO_GVlO-9J807c0wdJ_YspRCni34m-W7BF8gAoFq6EKuP5-1LmXKc4pSrn6e3QJMhTaS-RlnmQNqbLGcWNX4GxBcarLryhz3VZORFSr5DfOigsH-SHjN0mdAex4HrQB8hEgy/s320/topps1980-386B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Who is this player?</b><br />
Darrell Jackson, starting pitcher, Minnesota Twins<br />
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As the 1980 season began for the Twins, Darrell Jackson was originally not in the starting rotation, narrowly losing out the #5 spot to Terry Felton. Felton's early struggles led to an opportunity for Jackson and he responded with a solid first half of the season, highlighted by a 5-1 mark in June. Jackson's first victory was a season highlight and came courtesy of a 10-inning performance against New York at Yankee Stadium on May 10th. While he struggled a bit over the summer, Jackson finished the season strongly, finishing 1980 with a 9-9 record and a claim on one of the spots in the Twins starting rotation. Below is the 10th inning of the aforementioned game at Yankee Stadium:<br />
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Darrell Jackson is a success story.<br />
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Not because he was part of a cradle of baseball excellence in Southern California and was high school teammates with future Hall of Famers Ozzie Smith and Eddie Murray.<br />
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Not because he was a member of a loaded College World Series championship team in 1977 at Arizona State University. Several members of this team would become major league players, including future All Stars Bob Horner and Hubie Brooks.<br />
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Not because of his minor league performances which saw him pitch 9 innings of no-hit ball in his first professional start and quickly move his way through the Twins system, making his major league debut at 22 years old.<br />
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Not because of his success at the major league level which saw the lefthander win 20 games in his short five year career, out-dueling future All Stars such as <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2016/06/371-jack-morris_22.html">Jack Morris</a>, <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2009/07/77-dave-stieb_08.html">Dave Stieb</a> and Mark Fidrych.<br />
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And not because he very publicly entered an <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2519&dat=19810224&id=ZPJdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Xl8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1147,4307355&hl=en">alcohol rehab program</a> in early 1981 and gained assistance from former major league pitcher Don Newcombe.<br />
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Darrell Jackson is a success story because after a shoulder injury along with substance issues hastened his exit from the game, Jackson has spent the remainder of his <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1991-02-26/local/me-1958_1_darrell-jackson">life giving back,</a> providing education and guiding others to a better path.<br />
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Today, Jackson provides the benefit of an example to the youth of his hometown over the course of the last three decades. Clean and sober for 30 years, Jackson went from using marijuana and drinking regularly to creating the <a href="http://1020clubinc.org/about-us">10-20 Club Inc</a>. Using the mission statement: <i>Helping Youths Help Themselves, </i>the Club provides <a href="http://1020clubinc.org/programs">a series of programs</a> all designed to make a difference. A generation of youth owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Jackson and his efforts in making the world a better place.<br />
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<b>Why I love this card</b><br />
I have mentioned numerous times my preference for action shots and Jackson's card fits the bill. I'm pretty sure that this shot is from Yankee Stadium. Jackson pitched in day games at there in both 1978 and 1979, but with Topps tendency to use text from the player's 1978 season over 1979, I'll assume that this shot is <a href="http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1978/B07290NYA1978.htm">from this game</a>.<br />
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<b>Something else...</b><br />
Jackson went 10 innings not once in 1980 but twice. On the second occasion, Jackson hooked up with Mike Norris of the <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2009/07/96-jim-marshall-oakland-as-team-card.html">Oakland A's</a> in a pitcher's duel. Norris was in the middle of his finest season and defeated Jackson in <a href="http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1980/B08140MIN1980.htm">11 innings by a score of 2-1</a>. Norris went all 11 innings and Jackson went 10. Norris was 25 years old and Jackson was 24. I can't imagine in this day and age, any pitcher, let alone a young pitcher, being allowed to log that kind of work load during a regular season game.Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-1643161098012533332016-07-26T23:49:00.000-04:002016-07-27T07:06:37.138-04:00#385 Enos Cabell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUdPy48l8I3xACVBzKLM-OpdjiNT_pReRSPV8oQeCY4czkPjkcHD98r9WmniB0lHSatQmZEQOV67mfHntLm50C83ITA-_GnUcJSZ-yv1iOJWbeApAr9MYRutQNTP6n5qHrA0CI5uJKTsq/s1600/topps1980-385F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUdPy48l8I3xACVBzKLM-OpdjiNT_pReRSPV8oQeCY4czkPjkcHD98r9WmniB0lHSatQmZEQOV67mfHntLm50C83ITA-_GnUcJSZ-yv1iOJWbeApAr9MYRutQNTP6n5qHrA0CI5uJKTsq/s320/topps1980-385F.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaw5kWRTsxIHSZrIBlWoTTs72hyLqcrk8VumJ4HTeEHa_T98O__eFn9jVEuaIz6tP8g8vRvP8QE_daO9kUMk6jpYcolVOLR_xUkOmy3O3SQwonXUL_DCEwsuw0p0yTetnFY4d2NKT9c9FH/s1600/topps1980-385B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaw5kWRTsxIHSZrIBlWoTTs72hyLqcrk8VumJ4HTeEHa_T98O__eFn9jVEuaIz6tP8g8vRvP8QE_daO9kUMk6jpYcolVOLR_xUkOmy3O3SQwonXUL_DCEwsuw0p0yTetnFY4d2NKT9c9FH/s320/topps1980-385B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Who is this player?</b><br />
Enos Cabell, third baseman, Houston Astros<br />
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As the Houston Astros were making their run to their first divisional championship, Enos Cabell was the team's everyday third baseman. By 1980, Cabell was pretty much a fixture in Houston and began the season as the sixth place hitter in the order. As the summer wore on and the Astros found themselves in a pennant race for the NL West flag, manager Bill Virdon moved Cabell to the second spot in the batting order. While he did provide a consistent bat in the lineup, Enos did lead all National League third basemen in errors, sometimes at crucial junctures. However, he often responded when his team needed him most, as he did during the one-game playoff for the division title against the Dodgers.<br />
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Much is already on the web in regards to Cabell's career. Two excellent articles can be <a href="https://www.detroitathletic.com/blog/2016/06/17/enos-cabell/">found here </a> and <a href="http://whattheheckbobby.blogspot.com/2014/02/an-interview-with-astros-special.html">here</a>. There is even substantive <a href="https://cardboardgods.net/2010/06/07/enos-cabell/">coverage given</a> to Cabell's brief appearance in "Bad News Bears in Breaking Training."<br />
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Rather than repeat what has already been documented, for this post we would include a couple of items surrounding Cabell that may not be as immediately apparent.<br />
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The first came on Friday, May 14, 1982. Cabell by this time had moved on to the Detroit Tigers and was playing regularly if not at a set position. On this evening, he was the Tigers' #2 hitter and third baseman. The Tigers and Minnesota Twins were involved in a very tense game that would see two bench clearing brawls, multiple ejections and a game-winning home run in the bottom of the 11th by Kirk Gibson. Cabell was was brushed back in the bottom of the 11th igniting the second brawl of the game that saw some wild haymakers by Larry Herndon, Sparky Anderson get knocked to the ground and Dave Rozema be stretchered out when he attempted to karate kick a Twin and his knee gave way. Luckily, footage of this brawl exists:<br />
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After Cabell left Detroit, his name would be among those accused in the Pittsburgh Drug Trials of 1985. Cabell <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19850907&id=_L8zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=w-UFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5216,1244260&hl=en">testified</a> that his usage decreased after being confronted by Anderson. To his credit, Cabell admitted his wrong doings, estimating that he used cocaine 100 times between 1978-1984 and saying through his testimony he was "embarrassed" and "figured it was time to pay"<br />
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In his retirement, Cabell has become a fixture in the Houston area working as a special assistant to the general manager since 2004. Also, he has worked with the <a href="http://www.joeniekrofoundation.com/">Joe Niekro Foundation</a>. Neikro, Cabell's former teammate died of a brain aneurysm as did Cabell's wife. The foundation's purpose to support patients and families effected, providing education, and also helping fund research. Here is a story that appeared with Cabell and Joe's daughter Natalie, who created the Foundation:<br />
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<b>Why I love this card</b><br />
The mesh backing of Cabell's hat. This was similar, if not exact, to the replica hats that you would by at the souvenir stands at the ballpark. Also, every Little League hat in existence had a mesh backing, along with the plastic adjustable straps. If you weren't careful and pulled that strap too hard, you might bust the tiny plastic tabs that would hold your hat in place. And then that would be a disaster that could ruin your whole season. To know that Cabell, just might, have the same problem? Made the major leagues that much more reachable.<br />
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<b>Something else...</b><br />
Cabell also had a card in the Burger King Pitch, Hit and Run set. A curious selection since Cabell had never appeared in an All Star Game or any of the "key" stats of the day. Maybe he was included for the "run" portion of the contest since he had 238 stolen bases in his 15-year career with the Orioles, Astros, Giants, Dodgers and Tigers.<br />
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The Cabell card is very similar to the 1980 base card with the exception that the photo is shifted a bit to the right to include a complete view of Cabell's hands on the bat.<br />
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Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-67621732224179018432016-07-24T23:40:00.000-04:002016-07-25T06:49:58.584-04:00#384 Joey McLaughlin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYDT363M48QFDbGtDjqXv1hg1xcoBLzuvOSket318lXRyAI7f7hZzrXWDWN805XfwhZIlNc5mpDfMnjEb2zID47QCC7tCa21CSEcfhWu84lojA_rpuW05YQF0frxJTIBAssUuYe_1Pmlv/s1600/topps1980-384F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSYDT363M48QFDbGtDjqXv1hg1xcoBLzuvOSket318lXRyAI7f7hZzrXWDWN805XfwhZIlNc5mpDfMnjEb2zID47QCC7tCa21CSEcfhWu84lojA_rpuW05YQF0frxJTIBAssUuYe_1Pmlv/s320/topps1980-384F.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGd2CvMypiHutI5GeRnQfK0nuHQMB3TGwsomIQ_xSRhFxBtt3VScY4FMusJwy1RRhMYkB_Df8sa5dxlV5C-D5boqTxSvWmZ8qhxLVW6ztve1E5kb1_crYCXpc7VzVK0Yzomg0oOGwdqcy_/s1600/topps1980-384B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGd2CvMypiHutI5GeRnQfK0nuHQMB3TGwsomIQ_xSRhFxBtt3VScY4FMusJwy1RRhMYkB_Df8sa5dxlV5C-D5boqTxSvWmZ8qhxLVW6ztve1E5kb1_crYCXpc7VzVK0Yzomg0oOGwdqcy_/s320/topps1980-384B.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<b>Who is this player?</b><br />
Joey McLaughlin, relief pitcher, Atlanta Braves<br />
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Coming to a team that had the worst bullpen in the majors the previous season, anticipation was high when Joey McLaughlin arrived in Toronto for the 1980 season. Seen as the <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=860&dat=19791206&id=lHhUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Zo8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3876,5065561&hl=en">key piece to the Chris Chambliss trade</a>, McLaughlin earned this acclaim by way of his solid rookie season with the Atlanta Braves in 1979. The Blue Jays, however, were a terrible team at this point, losing 95 games and finishing last in the AL East. McLaughlin had a difficult year, primarily due to control issues, with his best stretch coming in during June that saw him lower his ERA by nearly a run and a half. He was moved to the starting rotation near the end of the season, which saw him split his four decisions.<br />
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A right-handed high school star pitcher and football player out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, McLaughlin was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1974. He was tabbed by <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19770304&id=xlQdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IVcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5722,759901&hl=en">former major league hurler Bob Veale as "the Braves future"</a> as he worked his way up the Braves ladder. He would make his major league debut in 1979. Here is a video of him a month into his major league career, pitching against the Cubs on July 10, 1979:<br />
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After a rough 1980 season, McLaughlin settled in the Jays bullpen as the team slowly started to improve. He led the team in saves with 10 in 1981, and transitioned into more of a situational specialist when Bobby Cox took over the team. He in time established himself as a dependable, if not excitable relief pitcher that relied on his out-pitch, the knuckle curve.<br />
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Here is a clip of McLaughlin talking about the pitch on Opening Day, 1983:<br />
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However, 1983 would be a frustrating season for McLaughlin and the Jays and he was perhaps <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19840403&id=9AowAAAAIBAJ&sjid=j6UFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2643,524376&hl=en">unfairly singled out by the boo-bird fans</a> for the Jays late-summer fade. Nonetheless, the Jays made a move to obtain Dennis Lamp in their bullpen and McLaughlin's time in Toronto was coming to an end.<br />
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Toronto released Joey in May of 1984 but within a week he caught on with the Texas Rangers for the rest of the season. Although he would spend three more years in the minor leagues waiting for a call to return, 1984 would be the final major league season of McLaughlin's seven year major league career. He would earn 29 wins, 36 saves and appear in 250 major league games.<br />
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Since he left the majors, McLaughlin has enjoyed his retirement, <a href="http://newsok.com/article/1930392">assisting in the careers</a> of his son's who followed a baseball path and as a <a href="http://www.sapulpachieftainbaseball.com/kindred/Coaches.html">coach in youth baseball</a>. These days, he enjoys the company of his family and grandchildren in the Oklahoma area.<br />
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<b>Why I love this card</b><br />
Any player sporting sunglasses on a baseball card has to be cool. Nothing more.<br />
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<b>Something else...</b><br />
For no other reason than it is out there, here is a photo of the fun-loving McLaughlin during Spring Training 1984 getting his eyes tested for depth perception. Granted, not as cool as the sunglasses, but still...<br />
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Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-63597765753865392792016-07-21T20:51:00.000-04:002016-07-21T21:48:20.844-04:00#383 Ed Ott<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<b>Who is this player?</b><br />
Ed Ott, catcher, Pittsburgh Pirates<br />
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Coming off a World Championship season, Ed Ott was the primary receiver for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1980. The veteran catcher started approximated two-thirds of the Bucs games and he appeared in a career-high 120 games. His production dropped slightly from years past, but that was primarily due to a foot injury that Ott played through. It cost him nearly 50 points off of his batting average (.307 on August 1st) to finish the season at .260. However, he was an acknowledged team leader, sometimes getting ejected from games in the process. He saved his most stinging criticism for umpire Jerry Crawford, who had issues with Pittsburgh all season. After an <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19800909&id=vjMyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qaQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4062,3378670&hl=en">ejection on September 8th</a>, Ott said that the second-generation umpire said the National League had to "protect daddy's little boy." Here is a 1980 interview with Ott from late in the season:<br />
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Ott's path to the majors was an unusual one, in the the did not play baseball in high school as his school did not have a team. Instead, Ott made his mark as an athlete in wrestling and football, where he made the<a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19850404&id=mHYdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TmIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1858,946410&hl=en"> finals of the state wrestling tournament with a broken hand</a>. For his prowess, he was offered a scholarship to Arizona State University. Despite this, he was drafter by the Pirates in 1970 as an outfielder. He would lead his league in outfield assists, but in time, the Pirates converted him to a catcher and send him back to the minors to learn the position.<br />
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When he made it to the major leagues for good in 1977, he found himself sharing the position with Duffy Dyer and later, Manny Sanguillen. He did make himself known that season for his role in a brawl with Mets' infielder Felix Millan. In a <a href="http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=millafe01">brawl at second base</a>, Ott slammed Millan to the ground after Milan punched Ott with the ball in his hand. Millan would suffer a broken collarbone and dislocated shoulder and <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2519&dat=19770822&id=EuJdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EV8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2743,3123762&hl=en">would never play in the majors</a> again. Ott <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19780526&id=BMtRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TW0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4186,4090758&hl=en">would also suffer an injury </a>in the fracas, a torn shoulder muscle that would effect his defensive play well into the 1978 season. Here is what seems to be the only recorded image of the brawl:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLuh41AzESgEdqdZlFkyKjDKiwnO8cGB-zVKEYl2K5TBa0WCuRdWgtUDL1wY4QA46ZX5Epi9zqT69-40yGBbnIxNV5d__2yvZaD0AQEYmtXn9SCISj_-fwtdNwLOf3dBkqLKEgBRQo6x9/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252815%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLuh41AzESgEdqdZlFkyKjDKiwnO8cGB-zVKEYl2K5TBa0WCuRdWgtUDL1wY4QA46ZX5Epi9zqT69-40yGBbnIxNV5d__2yvZaD0AQEYmtXn9SCISj_-fwtdNwLOf3dBkqLKEgBRQo6x9/s400/FullSizeRender+%252815%2529.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIyh-aIk7O8C2-hpPISH4CEeqhubD_plH1Lo9IIWmquT1gTHml9eE2iOwsHWTDvJ-ZECZY5T0OpykPBHAg3By6FUIM5A_uM7ub3PJqvfRSLi8qUzVGISsPgB6H8g_z20VwxPSIycNDexir/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252816%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>
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Over time, Ott would become a key member of the "Lumber Company" that would end up winning the 1979 World Series in come-from-behind fashion. However, by the end of 1980, Ed would be very disgruntled with Pirate management in regards to his contract negotiations, even going so far <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2002&dat=19810313&id=IGQuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CtoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4842,2919550&hl=en">to tell the press</a> that he would not play if he was not 100% physically. That, along with the emergence of Tony Pena, led the Bucs to trade him before the 1981 season for Jason Thompson. Here is Ott in the glory days of his Pirate tenure:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ytbeaxMHx4A/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ytbeaxMHx4A?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
1981 in Anaheim would be the final season of Ott's eight year major league career, despite attempts to return by spending time in the minor leagues. By the mid-1980s, he embarked on his second career as coach and manager at the minor league and major league level.<br />
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On incident, widely misidentified, occurred during the 1992 season. Ott by now was coaching with the Houston Astros. The team had a history with Rob Dibble and Cincinnati Reds going back to the previous season when Dibble threw behind batters. When the Astros <a href="http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1992/B06240CIN1992.htm">retaliated on June 24, 1992</a>, Dibble and Ott found themselves in the middle of the fracas. According <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19920627&id=AYZQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4hIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4235,6499154&hl=en">to reports at the time</a>, Ott told the media:<br />
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I watched him turn red; I watched him turn purple; I watched him turn blue. Then I let him up. Maybe now he'll value life. He doesn't know how much damage he can do throwing a 100 mile per hour fastball at somebody. I could have given him another 45 seconds and let him turn black, but I let him go. </blockquote>
Ott ended his long coaching career in 2015, where his number was retired by the New Jersey Jackals, a team that he coached for many years in the 2000s.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OvqSEK20hV8/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OvqSEK20hV8?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<b>Why I love this card</b><br />
The series of things going on in the background. The wooden bleachers, the random tree and of course the ladder that leads to who knows where. Either way, Ott doesn't seem to pleased with his surroundings either. That and the fact that with five letters, Ott has the shortest name in major league history.<br />
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For a couple seasons, Ott was often featured in Sports Illustrated subscription cards and advertisements. Ott's hook slide avoiding Rick Dempsey's tag during the 1979 World Series would continually remind me of first favorite team and elevate Ott in my mind as a upper tier player. After all, only stars would be featured in a manner like this, right?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIyh-aIk7O8C2-hpPISH4CEeqhubD_plH1Lo9IIWmquT1gTHml9eE2iOwsHWTDvJ-ZECZY5T0OpykPBHAg3By6FUIM5A_uM7ub3PJqvfRSLi8qUzVGISsPgB6H8g_z20VwxPSIycNDexir/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252816%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIyh-aIk7O8C2-hpPISH4CEeqhubD_plH1Lo9IIWmquT1gTHml9eE2iOwsHWTDvJ-ZECZY5T0OpykPBHAg3By6FUIM5A_uM7ub3PJqvfRSLi8qUzVGISsPgB6H8g_z20VwxPSIycNDexir/s320/FullSizeRender+%252816%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-30351921483029651782016-07-20T20:22:00.000-04:002016-07-20T20:30:20.371-04:00#382 Dave Freisleben<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKeou839Pni7wqGSAtNMMHy8IiDjtWcSnK9ID4RRpPaPSDBuz95T_Jj2OmX9CUvVyUYY_iPVH0KZBWX56G1TLoUCYPBwdZJ6vzm6dUFLP2ucNbR8l2N4gQrUgoHD69ZcLSP7pK6Yf-jrP/s1600/scan0046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKeou839Pni7wqGSAtNMMHy8IiDjtWcSnK9ID4RRpPaPSDBuz95T_Jj2OmX9CUvVyUYY_iPVH0KZBWX56G1TLoUCYPBwdZJ6vzm6dUFLP2ucNbR8l2N4gQrUgoHD69ZcLSP7pK6Yf-jrP/s320/scan0046.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqscis40mtrcALq9vnc8GoKIx_Np4u5uOFeKWSuAkz0Vdzm7WxX0iTwkPrpVc_8vqqsfYPczIpRM2ssFkIXi3KAkZUZIPvFlmXUrToeVItmnkPKe0fVpvGlovEkvbWBBt2Hya-45B45Fw/s1600/topps1980-382B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqscis40mtrcALq9vnc8GoKIx_Np4u5uOFeKWSuAkz0Vdzm7WxX0iTwkPrpVc_8vqqsfYPczIpRM2ssFkIXi3KAkZUZIPvFlmXUrToeVItmnkPKe0fVpvGlovEkvbWBBt2Hya-45B45Fw/s320/topps1980-382B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Who is this player?</b></div>
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Dave Freisleben, relief pitcher, Toronto Blue Jays</div>
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By the time this card was being pulled from packs in the 1980 season, Dave Freisleben had already appeared in his final major league game. Dave had already moved on from Toronto and had signed a contract with the California Angels. The Angels, however, released him shortly before Spring Training had ended and he was unable to catch on with another team. He did pitch for the Monterrey Sultanes in the Mexican League that year, but his six year major league career had come to an end. </div>
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First, its pronounced FREEZE-Leb-En. </div>
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Today, when you Google the name Dave Freisleben, two bits of trivia are the most prominent. The first was arguably the best pitching performance of his major league career, a <a href="http://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/august-4-1974-freisleben-throws-13-shutout-innings">13 inning shutout</a> against the Cincinnati Reds on August 4, 1974. It was ultimately a 14 inning game and despite his excellent outing, Freisleben did not get the decision. </div>
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The second is that his photograph wearing the potential road uniforms of the National League club in Washington pending the <a href="http://ghostsofdc.org/2012/05/07/washington-padres-baseball-1974/">transfer of the San Diego Padres</a> to D.C. for the 1974 season.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-lcUdlhqCo3QOZM7Iad0LvpRNGnoKwKTv351gYm38AgYRcX6bE0V6iCSF73pFT8Jf8pBtDX8t_hrWG99eq8H5XzIgg4VQ9Rb1hgHBbpuTQQfMoHRrGdVBVrLD4NLJTdIwzUjWcx8qJB6/s1600/16858387531_a266a5f785_h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-lcUdlhqCo3QOZM7Iad0LvpRNGnoKwKTv351gYm38AgYRcX6bE0V6iCSF73pFT8Jf8pBtDX8t_hrWG99eq8H5XzIgg4VQ9Rb1hgHBbpuTQQfMoHRrGdVBVrLD4NLJTdIwzUjWcx8qJB6/s320/16858387531_a266a5f785_h.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A prep star from Pasadena, Texas, Dave was drafted by the Padres in 1971 and immediately led the Texas League in shutouts. The following year, he led the Texas League in wins (17), ERA (2.32) and innings pitched (190). By the time he was 22 years old, Freisleben was in the major leagues.</div>
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He started his big league career quickly, winning two complete-game efforts to start the 1974 season and then defeating future Hall of Famer <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2009/12/210-steve-carlton.html">Steve Carlton</a> in his third start. However, the league would eventually catch up with Freileben. He struggled with his control, walking over 100 batters, and finishing in the top five in wild pitches and hit batsmen. Nonetheless, he was named by San Diego sportswriters the Padres' rookie pitcher of the year.</div>
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Freisleben would be a mainstay in the Padres' starting rotation for the next three seasons (1975-1977), with a highlight coming in 1976 when he was named Player of the Week for his two shutouts on May 24 and May 29th. </div>
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Injuries began to befall Dave, and his spot in the rotation was lost. He tried working his way back, but struggled before the Padres traded him to the Cleveland Indians in 1978. At the end of the season, he was traded again, this time to the Toronto Blue Jays where he would spend his final major league summer in 1979.</div>
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In retirement, he <a href="http://www.comc.com/Cards/Baseball/1989/Sport_Pro_Billings_Mustangs/30/Dave_Freisleben/3050106">coached in the minor leagues</a>, but also had a long career in law enforcement. He was <a href="https://www1.pasadenaisd.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=80772&pageId=3025365">honored by his high school</a> and even spent some time playing golf professionally. Today residing in his native Texas, he his active on Facebook and Twitter and working as a Galveston Bay Fishing Guide.</div>
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<b>Why I love this card</b></div>
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Often times, the kids in the neighborhood had trouble pronouncing certain players names. <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2011/07/339-john-dacquisto.html">John D'Acquisto</a>, Ivan DeJesus, Gary Rajsich. Dave Freisleben was one of those players. It got to the point that there was no consensus on how to pronounce his name and everyone had their own variation. So much so, that it ended up delving into calling Dave "Funky Winkerbean," off of a comic character in the newspaper at the time. Apparently, that was all we could agree on as 10 year olds. </div>
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For reference (and for those who may not recall), here was the comic we were referencing. It had nothing to do with baseball and none of the characters had any common ground, it was just a silly word association that I can recall 36 summers later. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauYDPtW68Hz-268NdC7XZVoSDCChyFz1fGFvO7PM0Bll02xPjBDr3-TdjEhMk_HQYTq2Jfyw10VBJCyYd5yt1-wJGLRd9OGpmb6Mudo2rwaM24l6Spz4QxBDAehwtesiyqmNbGU7kp29W/s1600/14a1810992eb7037eb9db00d09708239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauYDPtW68Hz-268NdC7XZVoSDCChyFz1fGFvO7PM0Bll02xPjBDr3-TdjEhMk_HQYTq2Jfyw10VBJCyYd5yt1-wJGLRd9OGpmb6Mudo2rwaM24l6Spz4QxBDAehwtesiyqmNbGU7kp29W/s320/14a1810992eb7037eb9db00d09708239.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuq4sCBJm9eeLmY7Sc15BeLCAipeUIjw6AjJM8ARtkMxg4cLuDzeJ7oDbsF7fd4mpO581nhmHapCe54eMDMcLLZ3fOycb_xvOTTi4NqxHIFChWQapcjtm_Dg1LT5Rp4o-xRNe4rSkjSH6/s1600/clip_image0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuq4sCBJm9eeLmY7Sc15BeLCAipeUIjw6AjJM8ARtkMxg4cLuDzeJ7oDbsF7fd4mpO581nhmHapCe54eMDMcLLZ3fOycb_xvOTTi4NqxHIFChWQapcjtm_Dg1LT5Rp4o-xRNe4rSkjSH6/s320/clip_image0021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-89434465625083424122016-07-18T21:26:00.000-04:002016-07-18T21:41:55.619-04:00#381 Preston Gomez Chicago Cubs Team Card<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7Rdg16dLyBL5JZOVuE9fGLgVbhN8gNFZug8tWaCF0RHJQyP7fjSeM1OVrRXT1CX1Ym3Umic-jqjOBS1IU3CyHmcEBmFu3i-YnRwWa6NTYLY3q3ExjBjzJ8WHyDh2UcrQAd9P8UJ9MndR/s1600/scan0045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7Rdg16dLyBL5JZOVuE9fGLgVbhN8gNFZug8tWaCF0RHJQyP7fjSeM1OVrRXT1CX1Ym3Umic-jqjOBS1IU3CyHmcEBmFu3i-YnRwWa6NTYLY3q3ExjBjzJ8WHyDh2UcrQAd9P8UJ9MndR/s320/scan0045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qP7wdAdP6-Wluy8U-JEcwCVyH1oG-058_R6s73GGDv4JwGTG2FryYDZ1bLiTb4JRHJPD3dqDMHLsD_FT5K9fFtMwDuqqx0N1rzZ6Vq842bMXsGeY5tvNajUnWIyfqvuKXZLXzxaL-zk_/s1600/scan0048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qP7wdAdP6-Wluy8U-JEcwCVyH1oG-058_R6s73GGDv4JwGTG2FryYDZ1bLiTb4JRHJPD3dqDMHLsD_FT5K9fFtMwDuqqx0N1rzZ6Vq842bMXsGeY5tvNajUnWIyfqvuKXZLXzxaL-zk_/s320/scan0048.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<b>What is this card?</b></div>
Team Card, Chicago Cubs, Preston Gomez Manager<br />
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Not much was expected out of the Chicago Cubs and they didn't disappoint during the 1980 season. Or then again, maybe they did. Preston Gomez was named manager prior to the season and it would turn out to be the final managerial position of Gomez' career. </div>
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Like all Cub seasons 1980 began with the hope and promise of Opening Day. The Cubs had a decent April, even spending a little time in first place. Their bullpen was a strength as was <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2010/02/240-dave-kingman.html">Dave Kingman</a>, who would win Player of the Month honors for April, batting .345, swatting 6 home runs and driving home 16 teammates. Jerry Martin also started the season hot, batting .368 for the month.</div>
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Briefly, some Cub highlights from April, what would be their only winning month of 1980:</div>
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May began optimistically, but reality began to set in, as did injuries and gaping holes in center field and third base. By mid-month, the Cubs had slipped to the .500 level with no realistic prospects of returning to the first division:</div>
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By summer, the Cubbies had lost 8 out of 9 and were sinking fast. Cliff Johnson was added to the roster and rookie like Jesus Figueroa were seeing more playing time. Third base was a revolving door as by this point in the season, five players had seen action at the hot corner. Dave Kingman was also banged up, injuring his shoulder in a home plate collision:</div>
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A highlight came in July as Dave Kingman was named to the NL starting lineup at the All Star Game in Los Angeles, and Bruce Sutter picked up the save in the National League's ninth straight victory. However, Kingman took to complaining about the press coverage he was receiving and Cub management decided that a change was needed and Preston Gomez was fired, replaced by coach Joe Amalfitano:</div>
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As the dog days of August rolled in, the Cubs found themselves 25 games under .500 by the end of the month. 1980 would wind up being the third worst season in club history to that point, as the Cubbies lost 98 games, finishing last, 27 games off the pace. At this point, in the season, the Cubs would take outs any way they could get them:</div>
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By the time September rolled around, the only thing left really for Cub fans was to see if <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2009/09/135-bill-buckner.html">Bill Buckner</a> would win the National League batting crown. He came from behind to win the race, edging out the Cardinals' <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2011/06/321-keith-hernandez.html">Keith Hernandez</a> and <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2009/04/5-1979-highlights-garry-templeton.html">Garry Templeton</a>:</div>
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In the off-season, the Cubs made some moves to improve on their standing for 1981, obtaining third baseman <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2009/11/182-ken-reitz.html">Ken Reitz</a> from the Cardinals in a trade. Reitz had started the All Star Game at third for the NL in 1980 and it was hoped he would bring stability to the position. Also coming from St. Louis was highly touted prospect Leon Durham. However, it cost the Cubs their closer <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2009/04/17-bruce-sutter.html">Bruce Sutter</a>. </div>
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In retrospect, trading a Hall of Famer away seemed like a poor move, but at the time it made sense. The Cubs finished last in fielding in 1980, 41 errors coming from their third basemen. And the Cubs only bright spot in 1980 was their bullpen. In addition to Sutter, Bill Caudill and Dick Tidrow had solid years. Willie Hernandez would be a future MVP and making his major league debut in 1980 was their closer of the future Lee Smith. </div>
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<b>Why I love this card</b></div>
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The uniqueness of the floating heads made the Cubs different. Like no lights in Wrigley, their team card was one that always made you stop and look at it. Of the Cubs pictured on 1980 cards, only two (Miguel Dilone and Ken Holtzman) would not play for the Cubbies that year.</div>
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The video clips above feature a couple of things that we will likely never see again: a game suspended by darkness and a July 4th doubleheader. The game has certainly changed. </div>
Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-37448151109664003002016-07-17T23:27:00.000-04:002016-07-18T07:06:14.762-04:00#380 Garry Maddox<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<b>Who is this player?</b></div>
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Garry Maddox, centerfielder, Philadelphia Phillies</div>
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The 1980 season was one of redemption for the Phillies' Garry Maddox. After failing for three consecutive years in the postseason, Maddox was <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2202&dat=19790402&id=8ysyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9ecFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6663,2780087&hl=en">at times a symbol of that frustration</a>. When the year began, there were some question marks that surrounded the Phillies. While not as solid offensively as years past, Maddox was very reliable in center field and at the plate, especially <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_3Qc9VeM0k">down the stretch</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q19g7BYbzms">in September</a>. Garry earned his sixth Gold Glove award in 1980 as Philadelphia advanced to the World Series for the first time in 30 years, winning their first World Championship. Maddox was instrumental in leading them there, primarily in the NLCS where he was lifted on the shoulders of his teammates. </div>
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Garry Maddox <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNruOYHhEXM">did not take the traditional route</a> to baseball stardom, instead he first served his country in <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19780316&id=OPgLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=e1gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3705,157961&hl=en">US Army in Vietnam</a> after what he termed his "disallusionment" with organized baseball. He returned home after his father suffered three heart attacks and his family (eight siblings) needed assistance. He was allowed out on the condition that he have a job. It was then that Maddox turned back to baseball.</div>
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The Giants, though, held Maddox's rights after his time in the service, and he was given a look. In 1971, he became the only player in California League history to go 6 for 6 in a game twice. That got the attention of the parent club and he was in the Bay Area within a year's time. Named to the 1972 Topps All Rookie team, Maddox was doing very well for a 22-year old that was saddled with the pressure and responsibility of being Willie Mays' replacement in center field for the Giants.</div>
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The following year, he was the third best hitter in the league, with a .319 batting average. Within 18 months, however, the Giants had dismantled much of their young core of talent, shipping away several future All Stars such as Dave Kingman and Gary Mathews. Maddox was traded to the Phillies in May of 1975, where his career and reputation began to blossom. </div>
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He would be known in Philly as the "Secretary of Defense," <a href="http://dickallenhof.blogspot.com/2011/09/secretary-of-defense.html">and that he was responsible</a> for the third of the earth that wasn't covered by water. Garry would quickly become a fan favorite, earning raves for his defensive prowess and explosive bat. He would win eight Gold Gloves in a Phillie uniform and helped lead them to the postseason six times in an eight year period (1976-1983). He was a regular on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrMk4dpMuCw">"This Week in Baseball"</a> for his defensive gems, well before the instant highlight era of today.</div>
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He would have highs and lows throughout, as evidenced in 1980, but he is also known for this; in the 1978 NLCS:</div>
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And this, his home-run in Game 1 of the 1983 World Series that was the Phils only win of the Series:</div>
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And this, his home-run in Game 1 of the 1983 World Series that was the Phils only win of the Series. </div>
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Garry walked away from the game in April 1986, spending 15 seasons in the major leagues, but he had spent <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkggWhMUo8A">several years preparing</a> for the next stage in his life. He has been involved in numerous charitable and civic causes in the City of Brotherly Love, <a href="https://philadelphiafed.org/about-the-fed/directors-and-councils/directors/maddox/">served on the board </a>of the Federal Reserve bank of Philadelphia and is the CEO of <a href="http://www.pomerantz.com/">A. Promerantz & Company,</a> a multi-million dollar furniture company.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Why I love this card</b></span></span></div>
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I knew nothing of the famous Oscar Gamble <a href="http://www.kingmorland.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/oscar-gamble-baseball-card.jpg">card or afro</a> in the summer of 1980. Maddox's card was the next best thing for me. I found his facial hair, afro and huge smile positively compelling. Even now, this card still makes me smile. What I never knew was that exposure to chemicals in Vietnam left his skin highly sensitive, and he has always worn a full beard to protect his face. In fact, the Phillies had to waive their clean-shaven rule to accommodate Maddox. </div>
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I know that this was posted before, but it is too good not be posted again. Here's Maddox as part of a singing quintet with Larry Bowa, Mike Schmidt, Greg Luzinski and Dave Cash.</div>
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<br />Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-71475603361850788702016-07-14T10:00:00.000-04:002016-07-14T10:25:33.745-04:00#379 Kevin Bell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyBCYxW1n1WHPXYVwg-0ZiSJNLqCeBcsaUDH-45xEQTopo4McWJQWRtziUsbrwnX66YE1nHOFZEl_JJoakJCUpMZZv0OhDSvm1jKgHB7TI6lnt0M1kXPmty7x7xDMfCh1HL0ULG3qa-ZE/s1600/scan0043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyBCYxW1n1WHPXYVwg-0ZiSJNLqCeBcsaUDH-45xEQTopo4McWJQWRtziUsbrwnX66YE1nHOFZEl_JJoakJCUpMZZv0OhDSvm1jKgHB7TI6lnt0M1kXPmty7x7xDMfCh1HL0ULG3qa-ZE/s320/scan0043.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMREjLYgroNW7IF2UEdD1XQbgIp_pX7VivsE61Zs6E39Z8f50Jdb52NcUiM7y1fhX9vxDSaA9tJ5ljhMFlkU_uAWEM5nzgOjAJXVGfE3nUnEf8m6IZZvNbhKAP6tFQt9Foz_AeukARauek/s1600/scan0044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMREjLYgroNW7IF2UEdD1XQbgIp_pX7VivsE61Zs6E39Z8f50Jdb52NcUiM7y1fhX9vxDSaA9tJ5ljhMFlkU_uAWEM5nzgOjAJXVGfE3nUnEf8m6IZZvNbhKAP6tFQt9Foz_AeukARauek/s320/scan0044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Who is this player?</b></div>
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Kevin Bell, third baseman, Chicago White Sox</div>
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The Hot Corner was up in the air on the South Side as 1980 began. Despite earning an extended look at the end of the 1979 season, Kevin Bell found himself in a Spring Training <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5129825817358907805#editor/target=post;postID=7147560336185078870;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=0;src=link">competition for the job </a>with Alan Bannister. Ultimately, Bannister was named as Opening Day starter, but Bell ended up starting and appearing in the most games at third for the Pale Hose. His struggles at the plate kept the position opened all season as manager Tony LaRussa started six different players at third in 1980. Bell even went so far <a href="http://www.cardcybermuseum.com/bb/kevin-bell-4">to consult an hypnotist </a>to help him out of his season-long slump. Bell batted only .178 with one home run during the season and was eventually released in December. </div>
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A California native whose father was a minor league player, Kevin Bell was an <a href="http://www.cardcybermuseum.com/bb/kevin-bell">outstanding high school and college player</a> that was a #1 draft pick by the White Sox in 1974. He was sent to Appleton, Wisconsin, which in time would become his home state, meeting his future wife Bonnie, a Wisconsin resident. </div>
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Eventually, he made it to the Major Leagues in 1976, apparently after a trade with the Baltimore Orioles <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1734&dat=19760623&id=mZUbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=glEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2977,4882346&hl=en">to bring Brooks Robinson to Chicago</a> fell through. Given the third base job, Bell would appear in 68 games, the highlight being and <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1917&dat=19760623&id=ebUtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hnIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3031,6044826&hl=en">inside the park grand slam</a> in his seventh major league game. It appeared that Bell would be in the White Sox' long term plans, but the acquisition of Eric Soderholm (<a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2002&dat=19770406&id=ncYuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ENsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3864,1014166&hl=en">along with </a>several <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2512&dat=19761211&id=X_lHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AgANAAAAIBAJ&pg=5128,1783215&hl=en">others that would become</a> the South Side Hit Men) led to Bell starting the year in the minors. When he returned, a devastating knee injury <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19780302&id=_uEbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dWcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3380,816183&hl=en">slowed his progress</a>, taking almost two years to return to his full strength.</div>
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After the 1980 season, the Padres signed him as a free agent, but he did not appear in a Major League game in 1981. Traded to the Oakland A's. before the 1982 season, he appeared in three games in a late September call up before the right handed hitting Bell ended his six year big league career. </div>
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Bell relocated to the Wisconsin area where he has remained since the mid-1980s as a business <a href="http://www.usventure.com/aboutus.htm">consultant for US Venture</a>, in the AutoForce division. In 2001, <a href="http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20070727&content_id=41061584&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t572&sid=t572">he was inducted</a> into the Appleton Hall of Fame.</div>
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<b>What I love about this card</b><br />
When I was in Little League there was only one way to hit a home run: Inside the Park. The fences were way too far away in the parks we played in, so our only chances were to hit one over the outfielders heads (usually the opposite way). It helped if you could run fast and if someone missed the cutoff man (which they usually did). Seeing Bell's greatest feat recognized on the back of is 1980 card gave credibility to all of us Little Leaguers everywhere.<br />
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<b>Something else...</b><br />
The TV announcer for the White Sox during the 1980 season was none other than Harry Caray. More known for his time with the Cubs, Caray began his tradition of singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" on the South Side. The "Nancy" that he refers to in this clip is Nancy Faust, the longtime organist at Comiskey Park. It is also from the game in which Kevin Bell hit his only home run of the season, against the Indians on August 18, 1980:<br />
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Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-44218805616266577762016-07-11T19:54:00.001-04:002016-07-11T19:54:33.344-04:00Forgotten Stories: Disney All Star Extravaganza<br />
Yesterday's post discussed the simplicity of baseball coverage during the regular season of 1980 and how that elevated the prominence of the All Star Game every summer. However, with the game in Los Angeles in 1980, the Hollywood crowd in southern California certainly had a presence although it was much more subdued than it is today.<br />
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Then as is now, Disney was represented mainly, I suppose, because of Disneyland's proximity to Dodger Stadium. However, this was not the same Disney juggernaut that runs the world today. It was a company in transition. Creatively, things were beginning to stall but that did not stop the folks at the Magic Kingdom from trying to put on a good show.<br />
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The cast of characters took the field prior to the start of the game in a series of short songs designed for the viewing audience at home. It culminated in a rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" that was led by Mickey Mouse, in full Dodger regalia:<br />
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As the ABC cameras panned the action on the field, there were several curious observations to be made as apparently all the Disney characters were wearing MLB caps. Some of these characters may not be as immediately recognizable to some younger readers but were stars of some of Disney's most recent efforts. </div>
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There were Bernard and Miss Bianca from "The Rescuers" (1977), in St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirate caps. </div>
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Also shown were Little John and Prince John from 1973's Robin Hood. Little John is featured in a Philadelphia Phillies cap and Prince John is dressed in the emperor's garb from "The Emperor's New Clothes." To accentuate the royal garb they put him in.....a Cleveland Indians cap.</div>
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Also shown were Captain Hook (no, not Sparky Anderson) and Mr. Smee, from the 1953 film "Peter Pan." Not sure when the last time Mr. Smee has been seen at any of the theme parks since as a supporting character such as him likely has been retired. Appropriately, they are wearing Pittsburgh Pirates caps. </div>
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Several other characters appeared on the field, in difficult to determine caps. King Louie and Baloo from "The Jungle Book" appear, but from a distance, it's hard to make out their caps. Same with the Seven Dwarfs and Three Little Pigs. Some, such as Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland and Snow White do not appear with a MLB hat at all. </div>
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One last screen shot encapsulates Disney during this period. Having characters in MLB hats is really, really cool. Yet opportunities are missed. Take for example this shot of Chip. Or Dale. Either way, both were rocking a sweet Montreal Expos hat. And yes, I am glad to revel in its splendor glory. But really you have two chipmunk characters that essentially look alike and don't make them the Minnesota Twins?? Nonetheless, a minor complaint to what was a combined totally awesome and horrendous pregame at the same time. </div>
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Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-70020261278001278542016-07-10T20:05:00.000-04:002016-07-10T20:05:13.394-04:00Forgotten Stories: 1980 Baseball Coverage<br />
The All Star Game is quite possibly my favorite part of the baseball season. As the first half of the 2016 baseball season comes to a close today, I was thinking about All Star Games past, specifically, the 1980 edition that was held at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. It was special because it was the first one that I was able to stay up and watch complete. I was nine years old.<br />
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In those days, there was no Futures Game, no Home Run Derby. It was the game and the game itself. It marked the halfway point for most of us during the summer and at least in my neighborhood it was an truly an event. It was marked by promotions during the spring and summer (via Pitch, Hit and Run and the All Star Ballots) and was a marked event in TV guides (remember those)?<br />
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The 1980 game was broadcast on ABC, then in their fifth season of televising Major League Baseball. It was their third ASG broadcast (the others coming in 1976 and 1978). All the heavy hitters were present: Keith Jackson, Al Michaels, Don Drysdale, Bob Uecker and the irrepressible Howard Cosell. Cosell, of course, was the polarizing figure and voice of Monday Night Football. His impact is largely forgotten today, but his presence at a sporting event definitely made it "must see."<br />
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In the years that have passed since, I have often wondered about how things have changed. The All Star Game has become niche programming, available really for those who want to see it (and judging by the ratings that's debatable).<br />
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I wonder if back then the All Star Game was more special because of the mystery that surrounded it. For clarification, many of these players I did not see regularly, if at all on television. Of course, the technology is almost archaic by comparison, but consider what a baseball fan had as options in 1980:<br />
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NBC carried the Saturday afternoon "Game of the Week"<br />
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ABC carried "Monday Night Baseball" during the summer months and periodically carried "Sunday Afternoon Baseball" in the fall to go head-to-head against the NFL and highlight in-demand pennant race games.<br />
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That's pretty much it. ESPN was not in every home as of yet as it was still new and most folks didn't have cable TV back in 1980. At least I didn't. The extent of our technology was making up games/stats/leagues using this:<br />
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For example, I lived in Detroit. Here is advertisement in the 1980 Tigers Yearbook. I loved this ad with the Tiger eating the logo of the other teams in the American League:<br />
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And this was pretty much their coverage: </div>
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No replays from a hundred angles. No over-analysis. No screen clutter with multiple graphics. </div>
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Today, we are accustomed to seeing every game televised live. If we miss it, we can still see it on-demand, or several other forms of media. In 1980, there were 52 games available and that's it. And we were happy to get that many. If you notice, most were road games, so there was very little coming directly from Tiger Stadium.</div>
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But back to the All Star Game and it's sense of mystery. We saw the stars of the American League, but the National League was foreign territory. We were NL starved. Consider that they won the darn game every year and it made it that much more intriguing. Yes, we read about them and even saw clips on "This Week in Baseball" but that was just about it. </div>
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So while I settle in this week to get my fill and enjoy all of All Star coverage both televised and on the web, there is part of me that will recall another, simpler time that made me appreciate the game as much as I do today.Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-2764417666704940112016-07-09T20:01:00.003-04:002016-07-09T20:01:54.611-04:00The Fourteenth 25: A Roster<br />
As part of a continuing series, every 25 cards or so, we take a brief look back at previous posts as if constructing a fantasy league team. In this case, we will be looking back at cards #352 through #378.<br />
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Manager - <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2012/05/356-jerry-coleman-san-diego-padres-team.html">Jerry Coleman</a><br />
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<b>Starting Lineup:</b><br />
1B - <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2016/06/368-willie-aikens.html">Willie Aikens</a><br />
2B - <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2012/05/358-lou-whitaker.html">Lou Whitaker</a><br />
SS - <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2012/05/354-rick-auerbach.html">Rick Auerbach</a><br />
3B - <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2016/06/363-wayne-gross.html">Wayne Gross</a><br />
OF - <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2016/06/370-cesar-cedeno.html">Cesar Cedeno</a><br />
OF - <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2016/07/378-jerry-mumphrey.html">Jerry Mumphrey</a><br />
OF - <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2012/05/355-gary-matthews.html">Gary Matthews</a><br />
C - <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2012/06/360-darrell-porter.html">Darrell Porter</a><br />
DH - <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2016/06/365-bobby-murcer.html">Bobby Murcer</a><br />
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<u>Glass half full:</u><br />
Pretty solid lineup here. Great speed at the top of the lineup with Mumphrey and Whitaker. Cedeno was still a franchise-type player even if he is slightly past his peak in '80. Aikens is about to break out and Porter and Newman are coming off of All-Star seasons. Matthews is an excellent all around pick at this time as well.<br />
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<u>Glass half empty:</u><br />
Auerbach as the every day shortstop is a bit problematic due to a weak bat. Murcer will likely be platooning as at this point in his career he stopped being an everyday player. While Porter and Newman are coming off of All-Star seasons, they never duplicated their production in the same way as they did in 1979. Also Whitaker was still in the formative stages of his career in 1980, and it was by far not his best season.<br />
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<b>Bench</b>: <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2013/10/362-danny-goodwin.html">Danny Goodwin</a>, <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2016/06/367-billy-smith.html">Billy Smith</a>, <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2016/06/372-joel-youngblood.html">Joel Youngblood,</a> <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2016/06/374-jim-gantner.html">Jim Gantner</a>, <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2016/07/376-gary-allenson.html">Gary Allenson</a>, <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2016/07/377-junior-kennedy.html">Junior Kennedy</a>,<br />
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<u>Glass half full:</u><br />
Youngblood is a super-sub that can play nearly everywhere. Allenson provides some relief behind the plate as does Gantner at several infield positions. Goodwin can spell both Murcer and Aikens at times.<br />
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<u>Glass half empty:</u><br />
Kennedy's best season was 1980 and it will unfortunately be spent on the bench in place of Whitaker. Not much power off the bench from this group.<br />
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<b>Starting Rotation:</b><br />
<a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2016/06/371-jack-morris_22.html">Jack Morris</a><br />
<a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2016/06/373-dan-petry.html">Dan Petry</a><br />
<a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2016/06/364-ray-burris.html">Ray Burris</a><br />
<a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2012/06/361-wayne-garland.html">Wayne Garland</a><br />
<a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2016/06/375-ross-grimsley.html">Ross Grimsley</a><br />
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<u>Glass half full:</u> Morris is the standout as he would be for the rest of the decade. His sidekick Petry is there to back him up and there are veteran arms to round out the rotation.<br />
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<u>Glass half empty</u>: If it was based on 1984 instead of 1980, the Morris-Petry tandem at the top of the rotation would be that much more formidable. Burris is decent as a number three, he will eat innings. Garland and Grimsley are both past their primes and spent most of 1980 on the disabled list.<br />
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<u style="font-weight: bold;">Bullpen:</u> <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2016/06/369-jim-kern.html">Jim Kern</a> (closer), <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2012/05/359-randy-moffitt.html">Randy Moffitt</a>, <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2012/05/353-andy-hassler.html">Andy Hassler</a>, <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2012/05/357-bob-mcclure.html">Bob McClure</a>, <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2016/06/366-rob-dressler.html">Rob Dressler</a><br />
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<u>Glass half full</u>: Kern was a premier closer heading into 1980. McClure is a great pick as a setup man. Hassler also showed considerable effectiveness at times as did Dressler when used in relief.<br />
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<u>Glass half empty:</u> Like some of his teammates in this fantasy, Kern peaked out in 1979 and never had that type of season again. An argument can be made that Hassler was over the hill at this point and Moffitt's best days were similarly behind him. Dressler was inconsistent as a spot starter with a bad Mariners team.<br />
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OVERALL: A solid entry of players submitted here, with some that would stand out well into the decade. The lineup, with the exception of shortstop, has no immediate weakness with the bat, although fielding from the left side may be a concern. Great outfield that combines power and speed. The pitching staff, however, has a series of questions and is susceptible to injury. An untested manager is also a question. Depending on the division that this team would be placed in, it may have an outside chance to contend, if everyone stays healthy. Those are some really, really, big ifs.<br />
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GRADE: BDean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-74049332145591857762016-07-07T10:30:00.000-04:002016-07-07T10:43:40.428-04:00#378 Jerry Mumphrey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkMqD1LjYPfnEjmR7W_pZYXlT30frIHsJwzeVNMUZ-pF40ZlrEZ85w2UMWO-Wma4hhH5UjcfSl7yU_sYjggkX7ke1GcYQu-6n3zf0ueelcylrdcveg7P5pJZRCM017VKb96lRUaBI9sje/s1600/topps1980-378B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkMqD1LjYPfnEjmR7W_pZYXlT30frIHsJwzeVNMUZ-pF40ZlrEZ85w2UMWO-Wma4hhH5UjcfSl7yU_sYjggkX7ke1GcYQu-6n3zf0ueelcylrdcveg7P5pJZRCM017VKb96lRUaBI9sje/s320/topps1980-378B.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<b>Who is this player?</b><br />
Jerry Mumphrey, outfielder, St. Louis Cardinals<br />
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By the time kids were pulling this card from packs in 1980, Jerry Mumphrey had already been traded twice since he was pictured as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. First, he was sent to the Cleveland Indians in December 1979<a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19791208&id=vQYzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EuIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3298,2273399&hl=en"> as part of a trade </a>for Bobby Bonds. Then, shortly before Spring Training began, Mumphrey was <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19800215&id=V2dQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qFgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6296,4304683&hl=en">traded to the Padres</a>. With San Diego, Mumphrey settled in as the Padres' centerfielder, playing in a career-high 160 games and having personal bests in outfield putouts, assists, plate appearances and base hits. He also teamed with Ozzie Smith and Gene Richards as becoming the only three teammates in Major League history to steal 50 or more bases in a single season. Mumphrey in particular was effective with his base running, being caught only five times and placing second in stolen base percentage with 91%<br />
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Jerry Mumphrey was popular during his career with teammates, the media and with fans. Accordingly, much has been written about him over the years, including a <a href="http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/bdc96821">comprehensive biography</a> by the people at SABR. For this post, we decided to include some video of Mumphrey over the years:<br />
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1978: With the Cardinals, earning a walk in the 9th inning of Tom Seaver's no-hitter:<br />
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1981: One of his finest performances on a national stage, Game 2 of the 1981 ALCS, where he had four hits in a 13-3 Yankee victory. Mumphrey's fourth hit set a record at the time for most hits by a team in a LCS game:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz0qiJVx67Dmb_8woGqA03zEI7cqgaIki0__JXWmiEkInahz8AuUKyxmtx3vBtG5wztuclTr06dVgwQ9iMp' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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1984: Representing the Astros in the All Star Game. Mumphrey had been traded to Houston during the 1983 season despite batting over .300 in the previous two seasons as a Yankee.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxzK0Bg472oyEvSl-pAM6CS5GsuMvFt9QDt4I4wRzA4iQEfbxhr5y5nYnAVOjKnBd14UMKacn5r5EcHjnjrxA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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1986: Traded to the Chicago Cubs, Jerry spent the final three seasons of his 15-year major league career in the Windy City:<br />
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In retirement, Jerry returned to his home state of Texas. Any update on what he is doing today would be most appreciated.<br />
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<b>Why I love this card</b><br />
My dad grew up near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. That made me a very impressionable Steelers fan at the time their dynasty was in near it's end. Mumphrey's card indicated his place of birth as Tyler, Texas. Immediately, I thought of (and feared) the great Houston Oilers running back Earl Campbell. To this day, I can still hear John Facenda's voice: "Earl Christian Campbell.....The Tyler Rose." I had always wondered if Mumphrey and Campbell knew each other. What 10-year old sports-obsessed fans think about....<br />
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<b>Something else...</b><br />
When Mumphrey began his professional career, he played rookie ball with a fellow 18-year old catcher/first baseman known as Randy Poffo. Poffo would go on to attain greater fame as professional wrestler, Randy "Macho Man" Savage. I love the baseball reference the Macho Man channels in this clip:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz3b3bQG26Jk6yG7k2kOeiuziVexM9kvD22n4LALMssCA7JiYwSPKjOCHJjHWjKqdTLtZY5nNSt3JaftKWnfg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-73262154881838704682016-07-05T09:16:00.000-04:002016-07-05T09:24:38.113-04:00#377 Junior Kennedy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjYBotQspi6okAVcRuee0JFtNI58qGTyu2Y-0YG8MVncJO8OE4nkfpxyhne7rp6Ogy2ducymz4rq9l4qcFK_SZhgMRlXTbXy1hdBfOV6Tdu5eUkwcplPzrgiwzXDjrZgJkzdHR4jaMsx0/s1600/topps1980-377F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjYBotQspi6okAVcRuee0JFtNI58qGTyu2Y-0YG8MVncJO8OE4nkfpxyhne7rp6Ogy2ducymz4rq9l4qcFK_SZhgMRlXTbXy1hdBfOV6Tdu5eUkwcplPzrgiwzXDjrZgJkzdHR4jaMsx0/s320/topps1980-377F.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUWo8qFNsN7nRh4gwQKNvjgBIswg6D6oQnPZqKunkS26TiFRbuq9X8UI7O7Bb80TEHm7xZoVPjsOvRoB8Y8VcoYQK7ZrNoAC-YkesFYHf-VUvSxbi1jG5W22ZG6ZbhrstrfJKgtz-rfbt/s1600/topps1980-377B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUWo8qFNsN7nRh4gwQKNvjgBIswg6D6oQnPZqKunkS26TiFRbuq9X8UI7O7Bb80TEHm7xZoVPjsOvRoB8Y8VcoYQK7ZrNoAC-YkesFYHf-VUvSxbi1jG5W22ZG6ZbhrstrfJKgtz-rfbt/s320/topps1980-377B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Who is this player</b><br />
Junior Kennedy, second baseman, Cincinnati Reds<br />
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The Joe Morgan era in Cincinnati was over and the Reds were in a period of transition. For the 1980 season, Junior Kennedy would be the primary second baseman, starting the majority of the games but still sharing time with Ron Oester. As the season began, manager John McNamara did not <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19800409&id=n2FQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=n1gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4598,2458029&hl=en">definitively name either man</a> as his everyday player, but Kennedy found his name in the lineup on Opening Day. Batting eighth, <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1873&dat=19800410&id=mVEfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KdIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2813,4414807&hl=en">he contributed</a> a Morgan-esque double, triple and three runs batted in. Kennedy earned his keep after that, batting a steady .261 with some small pop in his bat. The Reds would finish 1980 in third place, 3.5 games behind the division champion Astros. Below is a shot from <a href="http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1980/B04230HOU1980.htm">April 1980</a> that shows both Kennedy and Morgan at a game in the Astrodome.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBag5TypJZf-4SfHEPN1z52Vp10eVgqpetSc94xqIkRosh95LwtXgYP7p8GduRdGlbStntJVe1oWWyTjlZk-YmVtD_f2TF07P54JUVw0-NEzEQ9sDuws9ZntL8y_uJuV5qKZoQmwpEhB1w/s1600/517785110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBag5TypJZf-4SfHEPN1z52Vp10eVgqpetSc94xqIkRosh95LwtXgYP7p8GduRdGlbStntJVe1oWWyTjlZk-YmVtD_f2TF07P54JUVw0-NEzEQ9sDuws9ZntL8y_uJuV5qKZoQmwpEhB1w/s320/517785110.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Junior Raymond Kennedy was his given name. Despite misconceptions, it was not Kennedy's nickname, even with an older brother that had a cup of coffee with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1970. A fantastic athlete, he was the tenth overall pick of the Orioles in the 1968 amateur draft, names like <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2010/02/246-tim-foli.html">Tim Foli</a>, Thurman Munson and <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2009/06/56-bobby-valentine.html">Bobby Valentine</a> taken before him. He would never play for the Orioles, as he was part of the Ross Grimsley trade that sent him to Cincinnati prior to the 1974 season.<br />
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A starring performance in the American Association earned him <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19740806&id=7LxdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=I14NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2553,874206&hl=en">a look by the Reds</a> near the end of 1974, but the incredible depth on one of the all-time greatest teams kept him in the minors for the next few years. The right handed hitting Kennedy finally made the main roster in 1978 and spent the next four season as a reliable infielder both at the plate and in the field, telling reporters how <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1913&dat=19790620&id=Hl4gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NWUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3094,2783136&hl=en">happy he was just to be in the major leagues</a> and fulfill his dream.<br />
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The successes of <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2009/10/174-ray-knight.html">Ray Knight </a>and <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2009/07/73-dave-collins.html">Dave Collins</a> with the Reds in 1979 was instrumental in Kennedy's insertion at second base. Even though Kennedy would tell reporters "I'm no Joe Morgan," fans were hopeful for another success story. In a way, they got one as Kennedy enjoyed his finest season in 1980 before being beaten out by Oester the following year.<br />
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Traded to the Chicago Cubs prior to 1982, he was the understudy for Bump Wills and the next year, Ryne Sandberg. His seven year major league career would end there in July of 1983. Another blog writes about his final days in Chicago, <a href="https://bluebattinghelmet.wordpress.com/2012/07/15/an-inglorious-ending/">here</a>. In 1986, <a href="http://kcsportshalloffame.org/inductees/junior-kennedy/">he would be elected </a>to the Bob Elias Kern County Sports Hall of Fame. Kennedy apparently still lives in the Bakersfield, California area, although not much is written about these days of what he has been up to. Any information on that would be greatly appreciated.<br />
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<b>Why I love this card</b><br />
I have spoken several times about <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2011/06/325-dan-driessen.html">photos of the Reds</a> being taken at Tiger Stadium. This one is another example. The Tigers and Reds would play each other every year on an off-day exhibition to benefit charity. The <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BxZJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hIMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4363,3173418&dq=reds+tigers+exhibition+tiger+stadium&hl=en">1979 game</a> was in Detroit and several Reds made their <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2009/09/149-tom-hume.html">1980 card appearance </a>there. This absolutely fascinated us that summer as Inter-league play was stuff that was only dreamed about. It was for the World Series - ONLY! To see a National League team in an American League park led to all sorts of What If? discussions that entertained 10-year olds for hours. It was a different era.<br />
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<b>Something else...</b><br />
One of Junior Kennedy's best game of the 1980 season came on May 20, 1980 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Kennedy recorded four hits in the Reds 7-6 win in Philadelphia and scored what would be the winning run in the ballgame. Through the miracle of the Internet, audio broadcast of this game exists <a href="http://dvp-potpourri.blogspot.com/2012/11/cincinnati-reds-baseball-may-20-1980.html">here</a>. Marty Brennaman on the call. Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-64087633802351966722016-07-04T07:39:00.000-04:002016-07-04T12:36:22.228-04:00Happy Fourth of July<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Enjoy the holiday everyone! As a special treat from your friends at 1980 Topps, here is our country's national anthem from that summer 36 years ago. </div>
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This is prior to an <a href="http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1980/B08150SLN1980.htm">August 15, 1980</a> game between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals.</div>
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Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-46535796197508305462016-07-02T05:30:00.000-04:002016-07-02T05:51:47.554-04:00#376 Gary Allenson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBtHOPborLZISraJHQTetb-tDSZ65MFWOfKcmzIEWR7U4ypplo-vq2k8vfWHeSuzkttLAe4vIXKic5pIUzrbQC2P98mBhqVX91trvRoIAYAdbHo0Bcy4yOlwGjDT9JRLrMLW4kBTHyRyh/s1600/topps1980-376F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBtHOPborLZISraJHQTetb-tDSZ65MFWOfKcmzIEWR7U4ypplo-vq2k8vfWHeSuzkttLAe4vIXKic5pIUzrbQC2P98mBhqVX91trvRoIAYAdbHo0Bcy4yOlwGjDT9JRLrMLW4kBTHyRyh/s320/topps1980-376F.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kaTN_xrsBnn-pULgupbp9YODjITh6rgIRdU9IUp96tOfx3zmjH7FcvFY1PQkQk7X0l_SLOZmPjWQBfzpri7goCpfQLQNO7yeVFicmT6JcqAvZ9pBLPI86rgwmYJzMfB3jBnRL6ZnbzzI/s1600/topps1980-376B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kaTN_xrsBnn-pULgupbp9YODjITh6rgIRdU9IUp96tOfx3zmjH7FcvFY1PQkQk7X0l_SLOZmPjWQBfzpri7goCpfQLQNO7yeVFicmT6JcqAvZ9pBLPI86rgwmYJzMfB3jBnRL6ZnbzzI/s320/topps1980-376B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Who is this player?</b><br />
Gary Allenson, catcher, Boston Red Sox<br />
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Despite starting 82 games behind the plate in 1979 (primarily due to injury to <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2009/05/40-carlton-fisk.html">Carlton Fisk</a>), Red Sox management was not high on Gary Allenson as 1980 began. Even though he was solid defensively behind the plate, the <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19800324&id=4zYwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JfsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1334,3620992&hl=en">Red Sox were looking</a> for more offense from Fisk's understudy. This, even though Allenson spent the off-season <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19800309&id=iLhMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1foDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6647,3141012&hl=en">playing winter ball</a> in Santurce, Puerto Rico under Frank Robinson. Near the end of Spring Training, Boston <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19800401&id=esksAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RBMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5229,118209&hl=en">landed Dave Rader in a trade</a> with the Philadelphia Phillies. With a healthy Fisk returning and veteran Rader batting .328, Allenson saw limited action in 1980, appearing in only 36 games. A highlight, however, game on <a href="http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1980/B06250NYA1980.htm">June 25th against the rival Yankees</a>, which saw Gary collect two hits and score the game winning run in the 10th inning.<br />
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The man known affectionately as "Muggsy" came to Boston via the campus of Arizona State University and helped lead Team USA to a Silver Medal in the 1975 Pan American Games. After he was named the 1978 International League MVP he debuted as a Red Sox rookie in 1979 where he received a baptism by fire due to Fisk's injury.<br />
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Fisk's departure from Boston (as well as Don Zimmer's) opened the door for Allenson to be the Red Sox Opening Day catcher in 1981. Coincidentally, the Red Sox played the Chicago White Sox on that day - the heralded return of Carlton Fisk. Allenson, however, showed his mettle before the home town fans, homering to give the Sox a short-lived lead:<br />
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Allenson would be Boston's starting catcher for the next three seasons. His defensive abilities were always praised by his teammates and he had a strong and accurate throwing arm. Eventually, however, a harder hitting Rich Gedman would replace him in the starting lineup. He stayed with the Red Sox for one more year and finished his 7-year major league career with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1985.<br />
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Since his playing days, Allenson, like so many of his contemporaries, stayed around the game as a manager and coach, first in the early 1990s with Boston, then with the Brewers, finally with the Orioles, where he last coached in the majors in 2010. In between, he has had a long career managing in the minors where he managed future All-Stars such as Jake Arrieta, Bobby Abreu, Matt Weiters and Brian Roberts. Today he is the manager of the Buffalo Bisons, the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.<br />
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<b>Why I love this card</b><br />
It reminds me of one of my favorite trades that summer. Like most kids, George Brett was huge for me in 1980. And, even though I already had a card of his, I couldn't resist when one was offered to me in a trade. However, my buddy Peter didn't feel that Brett straight up for Steve Garvey was fair so I had to pad the deal. One of the "players to be named later" was Allenson. I think it ended up being a 10 for 1 deal. I only remember Allenson's inclusion because Peter said his helmet reminded him of Dairy Queen.<br />
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<b>Something else...</b><br />
Since everything is recorded these days, Youtube has posted an ejection of Allenson's when he was a manager, in this case with the Norfolk Tide where he spent five seasons. And since those are always fun to watch....enjoy, this one is unique!!<br />
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Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-18604061819675251192016-06-30T10:57:00.000-04:002016-06-30T10:58:08.210-04:00#375 Ross Grimsley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyQy335wTDK1Ipn00SBYVIuu43HWQdWJUqF-snAgI1xt8ksba27705xcDigmVjXbBRszOqhT78cXbcAtuypmEWg2GRf1TvzfK9QtBU-TPtQkqAG0uDSIaI9EsBme1nGpeAmuATF24r6XW/s1600/topps1980-375F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyQy335wTDK1Ipn00SBYVIuu43HWQdWJUqF-snAgI1xt8ksba27705xcDigmVjXbBRszOqhT78cXbcAtuypmEWg2GRf1TvzfK9QtBU-TPtQkqAG0uDSIaI9EsBme1nGpeAmuATF24r6XW/s320/topps1980-375F.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rEB9rdpDsq0NZJMdOg4jOZedWfYPjW8VhFKXkcvVMR8mpb9RnVvK4-7haDI6IxlXbKUY-3YLfH1nuz1ZSF9gVhi8u4oRv15C89OSeNQIrRF1HPqNaQ_lk7JpJz5cIIIugFDgjnWHL4FL/s1600/topps1980-375B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rEB9rdpDsq0NZJMdOg4jOZedWfYPjW8VhFKXkcvVMR8mpb9RnVvK4-7haDI6IxlXbKUY-3YLfH1nuz1ZSF9gVhi8u4oRv15C89OSeNQIrRF1HPqNaQ_lk7JpJz5cIIIugFDgjnWHL4FL/s320/topps1980-375B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Who is this player? </b></div>
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Ross Grimsley, starting pitcher, Montreal Expos</div>
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Just 18 months after becoming the first 20-game winner in the history of the franchise, Ross Grimsley reported to camp angry at the way he was being used by <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2011/07/dick-williams-1929-2011.html">manager Dick Williams</a>. Still <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19800229&id=yBoyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oKQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5287,3668265&hl=en">upset after the way he was used</a> down the stretch in 1979, Grimsley made it known that he would rather be traded. He began the season as the Expos' fifth starter and often went long periods of time without being used in a game. Grimsley took to taping a <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19800712&id=oDkyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=o6QFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5121,702895&hl=en">number on his locker</a> to indicate how many days he went being appearances, similar to the Iran Hostage Crisis. By the middle of June, he was moved out of the rotation, with a 2-4 record and 6.29 ERA. Ross did not do much better in the bullpen and within a month was traded to the Indians for what he called <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19800712&id=oDkyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=o6QFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5121,702895&hl=en">"a bag of bats and a couple boxes of Fruit Loops."</a> Despite winning his first three decisions with the Tribe, Grimsley was hit hard and finished 1980 with a 6-9 record and a 6.59 ERA.</div>
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The son of a <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grimsro01.shtml">major leaguer</a> with the same name, Ross Jr, was raised in Tennessee and drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 1969. Despite his considerable talent, Grimsley became more well known as a metaphor for the flaky, unpredictable nature of left-handed pitchers during this era. To wit:</div>
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* One of the primary reasons for his <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19740310&id=kUg0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=32YEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4196,4032669&hl=en">trade from the Reds</a>, perhaps the most conservative team of this era was due to his resistance of the team's strict <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2519&dat=19750326&id=2GVfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UF8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=3050,4961582&hl=en">grooming policies</a> (Grimsley was traded to Baltimore after the 1972 season at age 23 despite being a major part of their rotation).</div>
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* While with the Reds, manager Sparky Anderson asked him to stop corresponding with a "witch" who was sending him good luck charms in the mail. Grimsley reportedly refused. He clarified this in a <a href="http://hallofverygood.com/2013-articles/talkin-baseball-finally-with-ross-grimsley.html">2013 interview here</a>. </div>
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* He was often <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2194&dat=19800621&id=LqMyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=g-4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=4152,561109&hl=en">accused</a> of <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=860&dat=19780616&id=_29UAAAAIBAJ&sjid=N48DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3748,5122569&hl=en">doctoring the ball</a>, primarily throwing a spitball. Many sites on the net attribute Billy Martin as being a primary critic of Grimsley using grease from his hair to doctor the ball. While this accusation is out there (see the links) I have been unable to find a definitive source that cites Martin in 1977. If anyone can pass along, please let me know. </div>
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* With the Orioles in 1975, Grimsley, while warming up in the Orioles bullpen, responded to a Boston fan's heckling by throwing a ball into the right field bleachers. The ball passed through a protective netting, striking a fan. Grimsley was later sued over the issue.</div>
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The Indians sent him to the minors at the end of Spring Training 1981 and he did not appear in a major league game that season. He returned to the Orioles in 1982, where he finished his 11-year major league career.</div>
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Former Reds teammate Bill Plummer asked Ross to coach with him in the Seattle organization shortly thereafter. From there, he began a long second career as a widely respected pitching instructor and coach. He earned three World Championship rings with the Giants this decade as he was instrumental in the development of several of the Giants' pitchers such as Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner. Today, the longtime Baltimore resident <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hrry63FAV0I">provides analysis on the Orioles </a>radio and television broadcasts. </div>
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<b>Why I love this card. </b></div>
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Just look at it. Very few cards from this set look cooler. If I have to pick something else about it, however, I would say the cartoon on the back makes Ross Sr.<a href="http://www.allwrestlingsuperstars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/King-Kong-Bundy-Giving-Poss.jpg"> look like King Kong Bundy</a>.</div>
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As much as I loved this card in 1980, Grimsley's 1981 card positively terrified me. I had not known at the time that his nickname was "Crazy Eyes" but I wouldn't have had to be told twice. This card was never, ever, at the top of any pile of cards I owned that season.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWliKWJ37pEBVeaL0m3bZA56Q6sucbfB1Ww2aY_zbGr532a8wZsTLTqOlRIgjj2s1ik3syOqAj1RQxJyq8dYNhALYkKlYK8eD8pUj8fyCw1XCIztlQ5VGEadbV6Ry5Dd27KymLfyTE0xaH/s1600/topps1981-170F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWliKWJ37pEBVeaL0m3bZA56Q6sucbfB1Ww2aY_zbGr532a8wZsTLTqOlRIgjj2s1ik3syOqAj1RQxJyq8dYNhALYkKlYK8eD8pUj8fyCw1XCIztlQ5VGEadbV6Ry5Dd27KymLfyTE0xaH/s320/topps1981-170F.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-50351101550025903432016-06-28T19:55:00.000-04:002016-06-28T20:07:29.310-04:00#374 Jim Gantner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPkJynGJdSWaM8k9a8_SQBf7ckJw3IgEKqUWyiU5Gt-5oatcZVwEmD5I1DIpKaartyNMTEp3lyALdKIlsQ4Idkty4gdsRmt2AEXv74cQqzLe4lExhmCHImYMM7wBLJZvRtlPhxT7S9Cig/s1600/scan0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPkJynGJdSWaM8k9a8_SQBf7ckJw3IgEKqUWyiU5Gt-5oatcZVwEmD5I1DIpKaartyNMTEp3lyALdKIlsQ4Idkty4gdsRmt2AEXv74cQqzLe4lExhmCHImYMM7wBLJZvRtlPhxT7S9Cig/s320/scan0032.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QeZqLybHckLrTuiGsh95pOCMFxVmr0d-cb0yQTYb3j-ON4c1b6NVZoDkB0zHXMU3iAzav4JlzjmVN8rImAurdWeq2pXOW829nDmeHHhwc5yQmcvLPAyYiyYRJzk2sdSMCpRIFWzmfSqt/s1600/scan0036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QeZqLybHckLrTuiGsh95pOCMFxVmr0d-cb0yQTYb3j-ON4c1b6NVZoDkB0zHXMU3iAzav4JlzjmVN8rImAurdWeq2pXOW829nDmeHHhwc5yQmcvLPAyYiyYRJzk2sdSMCpRIFWzmfSqt/s320/scan0036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Who is this player?</b></div>
Jim Gantner, third baseman, Milwaukee Brewers<br />
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Although the front of his card indicates Jim Gantner as a third baseman, he started more games in 1980 at second base as he did at third. This was mainly due to an injury to Paul Molitor who missed a month and an half during the summer and the fact that veterans Don Money and Sal Bando could also play third. He put in a very solid season batting .282 and establishing his career-long reputation as a dependable and reliable player regardless of where he was on the field or where he was batting in the lineup. </div>
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Perhaps it was fate that the Wisconsin native would spend every day of his 17-year career as a member of the hometown team, with only Hall of Famer <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2010/04/265-robin-yount.html">Robin Yount</a> spending more time in a Brewer uniform. Growing up in nearby Eden, Gantner starred in high school and in college again choosing a school close to home, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. </div>
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He made his major league debut at the end of the 1976 season and was teammates with the immortal Henry Aaron, <a href="http://www.foxsports.com/wisconsin/story/hank-aaron-82nd-birthday-milwaukee-braves-milwaukee-brewers-020516">whom he pinch-ran for</a> in the legend's final game on the final day of the season. </div>
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He is fondly remembered as a member of the famed "Harvey's Wallbangers" <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQSrlo6jgv4">1982 American League champions</a>. Appearing mostly as a second baseman, this team is the most beloved in Brewers history as the only team to reach the World Series. He appeared in all seven games of the Fall Classic, batting .333 (8-24) with five extra base hits. </div>
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Along with Yount and Paul Molitor, Gantner would share a record for most season three players spent as teammates (15) a streak that would end with Gantner's retirement and Molitor's free agent signing with the Toronto Blue Jays.</div>
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In retirement, Gantner coached and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHRysdE4roY">managed</a> and was honored by the state of Wisconsin and <a href="http://www.uwoshkoshtitans.com/news/2014-15/2015WIACHallofFame">his college</a> with inductions to their <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRygeli0N_M">Halls of Fame</a>. He also had a variety of interests; <a href="http://journaltimes.com/news/state-and-regional/life-after-baseball-perks-along-for-jim-gantner/article_61b6bf20-13bf-5214-b881-e7f0dcfb90f9.html">he opened a coffee shop</a>, was instrumental in the <a href="http://onmilwaukee.com/visitors/articles/edenhotel.html">revitalization of a downtown Milwaukee hotel</a> and owns a <a href="http://www.haleparkauto.com/">auto-repair business</a> in Hales Corners, Wisconsin.</div>
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Recently, Gantner, who had his ACL torn twice with take-out slides, offered his opinion of the recent <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/former-brewers-great-jim-gantner-no-fan-of-chase-utley-rule-b99706114z1-375977581.html">"Chase Utley rule.</a>"</div>
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<b>Why I love this card</b></div>
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Guys like Ganter would typically have their minor league records on the back. I loved this since it gave me a glimpse of all the other places baseball was played throughout the country. In 1980, there were no minor league teams in Michigan, so seeing other cities intrigued me. </div>
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Some cities, like Newark, I already knew. Others, like Spokane, my dad would help me, often times with an atlas for a visual point of reference. Gantner's card, though provided a conundrum - where in the world was Thetf'd Mines?? It was the only place that my father didn't know or we couldn't find in an atlas. It it wasn't in an atlas, where did Gantner play? Overseas? The Moon? It bugged me the whole summer whenever I came across Gantner's card. </div>
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Today, the internet makes everything so easy....Gantner played in <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=780b4e38">Thetford-Mines, Quebec</a> for the appropriately named Miners. Since my dad's atlas was of the United States, no wonder we never found it. Gantner would be on the last MLB-affiliated team to play in that town.</div>
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<b>Something else...</b></div>
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Thetford Mines population is roughly 25,000 people and about two and a half hours east of Montreal. Not surprisingly, they have a hockey team interestingly named the Thetford-Mines Isothermic. </div>
Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-25212659164563695482016-06-27T07:00:00.000-04:002016-06-27T08:08:35.524-04:00#373 Dan Petry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIrJ8wguKmLgWbAUQtaJ6yBiouSiODM3hyphenhyphenQaxE5OsGu10j70CIU6gBuiEPVKf3myXhKr1mtT5UgJdaXtjs3c6gfL4F0zMq9M7uKBxdcW6FSTBn8u3ovh8yEX8eBSLLfbESE5_ZZ7_lVHu/s1600/topps1980-373F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIrJ8wguKmLgWbAUQtaJ6yBiouSiODM3hyphenhyphenQaxE5OsGu10j70CIU6gBuiEPVKf3myXhKr1mtT5UgJdaXtjs3c6gfL4F0zMq9M7uKBxdcW6FSTBn8u3ovh8yEX8eBSLLfbESE5_ZZ7_lVHu/s320/topps1980-373F.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlc4mh12zske5a193tGqh9pObXhgGIawh0xMo3mOZycvDWdLivLwD8ujd6EG22OqnC48Ev-Lb1qqqY5WeRC9Bu965Zk-hH1IMaO9daV8sW0rVMHiqaVlQTNVIWw8kJ7ouWAtugJX7RFdoj/s1600/topps1980-373B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlc4mh12zske5a193tGqh9pObXhgGIawh0xMo3mOZycvDWdLivLwD8ujd6EG22OqnC48Ev-Lb1qqqY5WeRC9Bu965Zk-hH1IMaO9daV8sW0rVMHiqaVlQTNVIWw8kJ7ouWAtugJX7RFdoj/s320/topps1980-373B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Who is this player?</b><br />
Dan Petry, starting pitcher, Detroit Tigers<br />
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When Spring Training 1980 ended, Dan Petry was not on the Detroit Tigers roster as camp broke. It was not, however, due to Petry's performance, <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19800328&id=5zYwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JfsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3455,5071012&hl=en">rather, the schedule</a>. The first month of the season, off-days allowed manager Sparky Anderson to use a four-man rotation. Rather than have Petry sit out April in the Tiger bullpen, he was sent to Triple-A Evansville where he could get regular work. He was <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19800513&id=fdEvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5PoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4916,5150881&hl=en">called up</a> the first week in May and would go on to stay in the Tigers rotation for the next eight seasons.<br />
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There is a very comprehensive SABR biography of Petry that can be found <a href="http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/4109e23d">here</a>. Additionally, there is a 30-minute interview with Petry on Youtube that can be <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aphxwi4-lI">viewed here</a>. Like many of his contemporaries, many modern-era ballplayers have had their histories extensively covered and/or blogged about and Petry is no exception. A couple of fast facts:<br />
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* Considered the #2 starter in the 1984 World Champion Detroit Tigers rotation. He was 18-8 that season, and finished 5th in the Cy Young voting. This comes a year after he won 19 games (a career high) and led the AL with 38 games started. His pitching coach Roger Craig claimed that Petry had the best slider in the American League and he came <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1979&dat=19840426&id=F5IiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=A64FAAAAIBAJ&pg=4744,10531577&hl=en">close to a no-hitter</a> against the Cleveland Indians.<br />
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* Arm surgery in 1986 essentially ended his career as a top-tier starting pitcher. He was traded to the California Angels before the 1988 season. In the Detroit-area, there was some intrigue surrounding a May Tigers-Angels game as Jack Morris would be facing off against Petry. While it may have been an ordinary game on the schedule, it was exciting for Tiger fans who <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19880505&id=UmkaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yCoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7035,5899949&hl=en">were treated to a pitching duel </a>between the former teammates.<br />
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* He had an offer to extend his 13-year career in 1992 by playing in Italy, but he instead decided to retire. He worked for 16 years as a salesman and also with the Detroit Lions. Today, he appears often on Fox 2 Detroit for special events such as Opening Day and/or postseason appearances as an analyst. He also is an assistant baseball coach for his son Matt, who is the head baseball coach at Orchard Lake St. Mary in Orchard Lake Michigan. Another son, <a href="http://oilers.nhl.com/club/player.htm?id=8473507">Jeff, is currently playing in the NHL</a> with the Montreal Canadiens.<br />
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<b>Why I love this card</b><br />
Petry looks so young in this card. While he would later grow a mustache, and to me look much older, he was still very young during his best years and was 25 in 1984. While 25 may seem like an old man to a 10 year old collecting baseball cards, looking back it makes me shake my head.<br />
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<b>Something else....</b><br />
I met Dan Petry once at the Macomb Mall in Roseville, Michigan where he was making an appearance. I handed him this card (below) a 1986 over sized All Star card. It represented all the players named to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70DGyeGbXoc">1985 All Star Game</a>. Being nervous and a dumb kid, I muttered something along the line of "sorry it wasn't the best of games for you." Petry walked the bases loaded in the game and gave up two runs. Rather brusquely, and rightfully so, Petry said "at least I was there." I didn't have any other response than "thank you" and moved on. I am still embarrassed about it to this day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPjrEACMBZpASVD5DNQKoajOVmyLoOtG3b5stXNoflIDLvv4jw3VcHWOz7ILpG2FTyWPjrWwiGFSxJACkDw5D5ld8Wyi9wdSIbtkoRfkJus-vXykvPI36ZmjT7YWebJ1eJzXn5jqMJP3G/s1600/Petrt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPjrEACMBZpASVD5DNQKoajOVmyLoOtG3b5stXNoflIDLvv4jw3VcHWOz7ILpG2FTyWPjrWwiGFSxJACkDw5D5ld8Wyi9wdSIbtkoRfkJus-vXykvPI36ZmjT7YWebJ1eJzXn5jqMJP3G/s320/Petrt.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
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Oh, and one card separates Detroit Tiger teammates? Not sure what Topps was thinking in 1980 in terms of distribution but one card between Morris and Petry represents the shortest difference between teammates in the 1980 set.Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-79611068911392945162016-06-24T07:18:00.004-04:002016-06-24T07:18:59.391-04:00#372 Joel Youngblood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynidpHmLN-ZJzAW5H8VJ59YUTTmweqw697uSFE2eLK8kHec0qEeNMFuoUvp9utJDK-W8iAQibzZkSQ0RP3HqXt46zXHYcWyfzz3J5-AVe9vAhiHN9cDVEoYF0oSH3FMYkyidvwNoUL852/s1600/topps1980-372F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynidpHmLN-ZJzAW5H8VJ59YUTTmweqw697uSFE2eLK8kHec0qEeNMFuoUvp9utJDK-W8iAQibzZkSQ0RP3HqXt46zXHYcWyfzz3J5-AVe9vAhiHN9cDVEoYF0oSH3FMYkyidvwNoUL852/s320/topps1980-372F.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6z4iA2oY5WJU7PtFB45-l6lAxjq9YBnb0o1Te_65NMUai5KzKkc_t-cyWnJEmQXNmIg9UXBa8Ol150zJ4xIqHNtMsIkqBJVJNSt8vaJWdmQTprUOmXAxRI66BhvF-hMQ3wvLU-Xn6NX7/s1600/topps1980-372B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6z4iA2oY5WJU7PtFB45-l6lAxjq9YBnb0o1Te_65NMUai5KzKkc_t-cyWnJEmQXNmIg9UXBa8Ol150zJ4xIqHNtMsIkqBJVJNSt8vaJWdmQTprUOmXAxRI66BhvF-hMQ3wvLU-Xn6NX7/s320/topps1980-372B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Who is this player, </b><br />
Joel Youngblood, outfielder, New York Mets<br />
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For the first time in his major league career, Joel Youngblood began 1980 with the aspirations of being a regular. After a breakout 1979 season that saw him emerge as one of the bright spots on a bad New York Mets team, Youngblood was being counted on as the regular right-fielder. In fact, Youngblood said that his greatest thrill as a player came in the 1980 opener when he made a great catch against the Chicago Cubs. Video of that catch is below:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwcmi0h2fMzjlKzNE2EJsSbOV_UmzOwHTH-fLC-tVXyQxHJQEmt0B0nKbhj0GGa0EkkFKI_r-deTiDZmLvypg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Youngblood would play the majority of 1980 in right field, but his versatility eventually saw him moved all across the diamond; in left field, at third base, in center field and at second base. Even when he did not start, the right-hitter fashioned a .538 average (7 for 13) as a pinch-hitter in 1980. Additionally, his 18 outfield assists ranked third in his league. </div>
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Since there are numerous, well written bios already on the web about Youngblood, I won't rehash. You can find some of the better ones <a href="http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/5/16/2173054/the-top-50-mets-of-all-time-48-joel-youngblood">here</a> and <a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-best-on-worst-joel-youngblood.html">here</a>.</div>
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Joel Youngblood, is of course best known for being the only player in Major League history to collect two hits for two teams in two different cities on the same day. This too, has been very well documented. MLB.com has video of the day's events <a href="http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/6479266/v5958155/mlb-network-remembers-joel-youngblood-in-1982">here</a>, and nearly <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/nice-article-1.238085">every article</a> written about him since contains<a href="http://throughthefencebaseball.com/lets-play-two-30th-anniversary-of-joel-youngbloods-famous-trade"> a mention </a>of it. </div>
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During his career, Youngblood represented an interesting dichotomy; is it better to be a bit player on a World Championship team, as he was with the 1976 Cincinnati Reds, or an everyday player on one of the worst teams in the league? As it was, Youngblood's ability to do many things well parlayed into a 14-year major league career with the Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Mets, Montreal Expos and San Francisco Giants. </div>
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Youngblood moved on to <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1683&dat=19980219&id=0qcaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ty4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6770,4273418&hl=en">coach </a>in the majors with the Reds, Brewers and Orioles and managed in the minor leagues during the 1990s. He left baseball for a while to work in sales and returned to baseball earlier this decade as coach with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where today he is a minor league coordinator. A short interview with him last summer is located below.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8BRgczuUqkE/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8BRgczuUqkE?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<b>Why I love this card</b></div>
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Joel Youngblood was named to the 1981 All Star team, primarily due to the fact that he was leading the NL in batting at the time the Player's Strike hit. One of the things that I did during the broadcast was organize all the cards of the players in the game. The only problem was, I did not have a 1981 Youngblood card. The card above had to do as it was the only one that I had and the fact that he was an All-Star, never mind the reason, he was a cut above. Guys who made the All Star teams during this era, remained a cut above in my mind for years to come by the basis of that. Now I know that they shouldn't have, but that didn't matter at the time.</div>
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<b>Something else...</b></div>
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Topps 1983 stickers memorialized the Two Hits in a Day thing with a two-part sticker layout. I hated the Youngblood card, because no matter what, the cut on the stickers had to be off as I could never, I mean ever, get the neck in his jersey to line up perfectly. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzspRKACpvB64wDGDJC8AsDKhBkfcFn8EQ5h4deqBbEVg04doxySr5mA3bHWXiXeXVmewbSH8RzdpF8SVV2XLndicGRMEqG2q_ryy0Mh7xcDnQiWb0bLuAO2VWBZ1b_sE4J8J2WbQd2wf/s1600/Topps-Baseball-Sticker-Album-1983-Joel-Youngblood%25C2%25A0RBMontreal-Expos-143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzspRKACpvB64wDGDJC8AsDKhBkfcFn8EQ5h4deqBbEVg04doxySr5mA3bHWXiXeXVmewbSH8RzdpF8SVV2XLndicGRMEqG2q_ryy0Mh7xcDnQiWb0bLuAO2VWBZ1b_sE4J8J2WbQd2wf/s320/Topps-Baseball-Sticker-Album-1983-Joel-Youngblood%25C2%25A0RBMontreal-Expos-143.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHQhZXBjpT8o5nntpdm7h81ffnvgPV3MEj6nRaQzA0d-dXKZqTv6Fo0tfGKbsvXVtcIE-4BNd19XzsqPvdRYzYwvpZml7P1DfAA2XlEvLBESn6LRlKkNRdG0OK_rRgzLeWNOTIliAIl0Y/s1600/Topps-Baseball-Sticker-Album-1983-Joel-Youngblood%25C2%25A0RBMontreal-Expos-144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHQhZXBjpT8o5nntpdm7h81ffnvgPV3MEj6nRaQzA0d-dXKZqTv6Fo0tfGKbsvXVtcIE-4BNd19XzsqPvdRYzYwvpZml7P1DfAA2XlEvLBESn6LRlKkNRdG0OK_rRgzLeWNOTIliAIl0Y/s320/Topps-Baseball-Sticker-Album-1983-Joel-Youngblood%25C2%25A0RBMontreal-Expos-144.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Secondly, this is Youngblood's second appearance on a 1980 Topps Card. His first came on Tim Foli's issue, <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2010/02/246-tim-foli.html">card #246</a>. Here it is below:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyebfG7YnoCj1hCTTl1jiMWQUUCsU4C1ffEB9P_SogCu-RB_0IAnwOSX-NgI9hLP3puOkvI9UlnM-5FOSTFA0N4NSNeCw3SYrbSR94NYscoz3LC6mkJBWP4t8Y36D9vQqrEtQSZoNdrz8h/s1600/scan0038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyebfG7YnoCj1hCTTl1jiMWQUUCsU4C1ffEB9P_SogCu-RB_0IAnwOSX-NgI9hLP3puOkvI9UlnM-5FOSTFA0N4NSNeCw3SYrbSR94NYscoz3LC6mkJBWP4t8Y36D9vQqrEtQSZoNdrz8h/s320/scan0038.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
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Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-67466910388687272992016-06-22T18:08:00.003-04:002016-06-22T18:12:43.198-04:00#371 Jack Morris<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2v87j9alzRZXChANGH5BozG_dlqidhJ62zoCV8meAgPOshvyfPPPBMSHwGVVMzNTVWgM0wMjRdJlP4Feyeo_7FsiEsa4ZGo4ZTvaJxCuYCyhI1e8R-3pceDUv9t0nwMSecLI-XRQr8puL/s1600/topps1980-371F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2v87j9alzRZXChANGH5BozG_dlqidhJ62zoCV8meAgPOshvyfPPPBMSHwGVVMzNTVWgM0wMjRdJlP4Feyeo_7FsiEsa4ZGo4ZTvaJxCuYCyhI1e8R-3pceDUv9t0nwMSecLI-XRQr8puL/s320/topps1980-371F.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAyq_bRozl8cf7exsswLCob-oYxd_owtPOMt2MDGCWwmclMY3PNuNrO6rnj0ce9QWSjTRXghipwcLbm-pqKvJG41pBrKL4jAQ1oR6vBupqEiZPmC2Ai3cjjxOMGV89xIGz0N29TUrOUJx/s1600/topps1980-371B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAyq_bRozl8cf7exsswLCob-oYxd_owtPOMt2MDGCWwmclMY3PNuNrO6rnj0ce9QWSjTRXghipwcLbm-pqKvJG41pBrKL4jAQ1oR6vBupqEiZPmC2Ai3cjjxOMGV89xIGz0N29TUrOUJx/s320/topps1980-371B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who is this player?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jack Morris, starting pitcher, Detroit Tigers</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jack Morris belongs in the Hall of Fame</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">No, I don’t have a solid, <a href="http://www.billjamesonline.com/a_sabermetric_case_for_jack_morris/">statistical argument</a> to support my case, nor do I care to present one. What I do recall is that I saw Jack Morris pitch often. What I do recall is that for a period of extended time, he was a standout. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But don’t take my word on it. No less of an authority as Bill James <a href="https://thesportsarsenal.com/2014/01/06/bill-james-hall-of-fame-predictions-from-1994/">predicted enshrinement</a> for Morris on a couple of occasions, directly in 1995 as Morris’ career came to an end and indirectly as long ago as 1986, in an <a href="http://www.ronkaplansbaseballbookshelf.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/sporthof.jpg">article for Sport Magazine</a>. Using the formula he developed in that Sport article, Morris should be considered a strong Hall of Fame candidate. The detailed explanation is below. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaqp05nP79kLsefe78Kg8VuOaQINuX4uh5gO4dh9dqcaKXmyJQtjV2L0Kw70gnW_M_AULn3r6cwlAMd1vyabxLJRnlc4mPQ7Ne7ZXB1IsCJ7SrEsgIVbRTSPIrS2XUlur2mvLS62glv0y/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaqp05nP79kLsefe78Kg8VuOaQINuX4uh5gO4dh9dqcaKXmyJQtjV2L0Kw70gnW_M_AULn3r6cwlAMd1vyabxLJRnlc4mPQ7Ne7ZXB1IsCJ7SrEsgIVbRTSPIrS2XUlur2mvLS62glv0y/s400/FullSizeRender+%25287%2529.jpg" width="146" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">James’ lists some of the criterion for the Hall of Fame such as a no-hitter....</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Often times during his career, Morris was seen at the time as a strong Hall of Fame candidate. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoc_V0rvHEnyNRr7HFru8B9XRSoa-q9dACup895Plo12lwF1gArJvT-eXXsyLGGZFK8JP9NiM2nCvjoYJMdedmdqmJiIQXnEA_3-KkH8685ZXpsfCkPN35qkNLiNsk0j1cTHI06u9-mXgz/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoc_V0rvHEnyNRr7HFru8B9XRSoa-q9dACup895Plo12lwF1gArJvT-eXXsyLGGZFK8JP9NiM2nCvjoYJMdedmdqmJiIQXnEA_3-KkH8685ZXpsfCkPN35qkNLiNsk0j1cTHI06u9-mXgz/s320/FullSizeRender+%25286%2529.jpg" width="242" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6_c-IbgHo6N4pr-rHSkLpL3lFw-lRTPZT7-jMEvk2xpOPJdiapoqW2RzJbBC1GTj3gB3VY3x9K0UiAzpMj8NhC_kPYOz-4tmZTJJU13wjOm4N62lvHSydBLSdGkz0-yS5KlNnrW8_tz6/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6_c-IbgHo6N4pr-rHSkLpL3lFw-lRTPZT7-jMEvk2xpOPJdiapoqW2RzJbBC1GTj3gB3VY3x9K0UiAzpMj8NhC_kPYOz-4tmZTJJU13wjOm4N62lvHSydBLSdGkz0-yS5KlNnrW8_tz6/s320/FullSizeRender+%25285%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From 1979 until 1992, Jack Morris was always in the discussion as one of the top pitchers in the majors. Yes, he never won a Cy Young Award as his detractors claim, but many of those that did during this time frame (Fernando Valenzuela, <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2010/06/300-ron-guidry.html">Ron Guidry</a>, Bret Saberhagen, Dwight Gooden, Frank Viola) didn’t have Jack’s longevity and others (John Denny, Steve Bedrosian, Lamarr Hoyt, Mark Davis, Mike Scott, Pete Vuckovich) never matched their top season. Morris was consistently productive and dependable.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He was also the top player on the top team of the 1980s. No team dominated from start to finish like the 1984 Tigers. Ultimately that made them colorless, if not boring. There were no controversies and no drama. Just great baseball every single day. And Morris was at the forefront. And through Morris (and in my opinion <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2010/01/232-alan-trammell.html">Alan Trammell</a> and <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2012/05/358-lou-whitaker.html">Lou Whitaker</a> as well), that team should be recognized in the Hall of Fame.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Was he a perfect candidate? No, I guess not, but how many times do the perfect candidates come around? So much of baseball and it’s history has been subjective, open to debate. Who was the best? Who belongs in? What team was better? The debates go on and on and it is what makes this sport what it is. All attempts to statistically justify a player helps an argument, but it doesn’t settle one. If a player demonstrates over a period of time that he excelled greater than his peers, that do me is noteworthy. Hall of Fame or not. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why I love this card</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few cards in this set can take me back to a direct moment. I'm not sure if it was the end of third grade in the spring or the beginning of fourth grade in the fall, but I can distinctly remember sitting on a cement parking block at St. Peter's school and looking at this card. It was sunny, much like the day Morris was photographed. I can also recall how little we cared about condition at that time. My cards were wrapped tightly with a rubber band and in all likelihood, shoved in a jacket or pants pocket. Sometimes I take a little bit of pride in being the last generation not to get all worked up about card condition. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Something else...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of Morris’ early influences was former <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lawve01.shtml">Cy Young award winner Vern Law</a>, who’s <a href="http://1985topps.blogspot.com/2013/01/137-fatherson-vern-vance-law.html">son Vance</a> was teammates with Morris at BYU. Law’s assistance helped polish Morris into a major league prospect. Similarly, Morris did not learn the split-finger fastball, his trademark pitch from guru Roger Craig. Morris claims it was <a href="http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/7585bcdf">taught to him by teammate Milt Wilcox</a>, who learned the pitch from watching <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2009/04/17-bruce-sutter.html">Bruce Sutter</a> during his days in Chicago.</span></div>
Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-45988820160693367752016-06-21T05:59:00.000-04:002016-06-21T05:59:05.018-04:00#370 Cesar Cedeno<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehreQrEzAMCFjeoCemnq6bC-OkacySz-NpKWvLaLxccHWrJYg5w1-cqDLVVqmMgh8e3Tf72NsLxA_j_QjbFbHkN3_he_ev6YcLCsjDtTfm9wIlq6oIsP5okyun3tCCyCqHA33sMcGv_sR/s1600/topps1980-370F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehreQrEzAMCFjeoCemnq6bC-OkacySz-NpKWvLaLxccHWrJYg5w1-cqDLVVqmMgh8e3Tf72NsLxA_j_QjbFbHkN3_he_ev6YcLCsjDtTfm9wIlq6oIsP5okyun3tCCyCqHA33sMcGv_sR/s320/topps1980-370F.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObm5h5EnNvB7kyD2Fc__H7A82a8wnd0AQU3RfQB0sujEZB8XegeokMr0qlESEMx2cDY5q71c_DoDdkDC3UzvL-bHqOGVrmeHtAeTqZ0_SUal__BL5eEScZy3mbvlCvfm-05isKOwq-Vq9/s1600/topps1980-370B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObm5h5EnNvB7kyD2Fc__H7A82a8wnd0AQU3RfQB0sujEZB8XegeokMr0qlESEMx2cDY5q71c_DoDdkDC3UzvL-bHqOGVrmeHtAeTqZ0_SUal__BL5eEScZy3mbvlCvfm-05isKOwq-Vq9/s320/topps1980-370B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Who is this player?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cesar Cedeno, first baseman, Houston Astros</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the position on this card indicates Cedeno is a first baseman, Cesar Cedeno began 1980 <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1870&dat=19800319&id=AowfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NtMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1263,1919812&hl=en">making sure that there would be no mistake</a> that he is the Houston Astros’ centerfielder. Cesar spent the 1980 season in center helping the Astros to their first ever NL West Championship. Typically batting fourth or fifth, the right-handed hitting Cedeno finished fifth in his league in batting (.309), seventh in slugging percentage and eighth in stolen bases. In the middle of Game 3 of the NLCS against the Phillies, Cedeno <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19801011&id=oO9VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8eEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2049,3128676&hl=en">fractured his ankle</a> trying to beat out a double play. His injury, along with the absence of <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2009/06/50-jr-richard.html">J.R. Richard</a>, was instrumental in the Astros not reaching the World Series. </span></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-ac3c4ccf-3adc-fbda-3682-96617b6fe420" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“He’ll end up with decent statistics, but statistics are for people who don't know anything. He's never been the same hitter since that incident.”</span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An unidentified teammate <a href="http://www.si.com/vault/1977/08/01/621925/cesars-salad-days-are-over">made that remark to Peter Gammons in 1977</a> and in many ways it unfortunately encapsulates the career of Cesar Cedeno. An excellent five-tool player scouted by the Astros at an early age, Cedeno earned comparisons to Roberto Clemente and <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19730315&id=XhpXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=a_oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7291,4564526&hl=en">Willie Mays</a>. By the time Cesar was 25 years old, he was already a four-time All Star, a five time Gold Glove winner and a seemingly unlimited future. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a young boy, it was Cesar's mother who encouraged him to play and even bought him his first glove growing up in Santo Domingo. He was discovered by the Astros at age 16 in 1967 and he quickly worked his way towards stardom. By 1973, he was universally acclaimed as one of the best young players in the league, if not the very best. It was at that point that fate intervened. For most fans of this era, <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19731212&id=eM0wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dxEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4708,2463117&hl=en">what happened next is fairly well known</a>. Alcohol, a handgun, a hotel room. Cedeno was involved in the accidental shooting death of a 19-year old girl, Altagaracia De La Cruz. The 22-year old Cedeno called police and then fled the scene, but turned himself in the next day, with the support of his father and his wife. He was charged with voluntary manslaughter and jailed for a time until his trial. The charge was later changed to involuntary manslaughter (of which he was <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19740116&id=sNFSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=F38DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5817,3546936&hl=en">found guilty</a>) and paid a fine.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It remained a shadow that followed Cedeno, leading many to speculate it affected his play. While that remains speculation, the fact that the Astros changed the dimensions of the Astrodome in the mid-1970’s severely hampred his power numbers and his <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19860513&id=SfgjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0GIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3005,8541166&hl=en">aggressive style of play</a> and his <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19750313&id=52RfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KF4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=3854,2004552&hl=en">temperament</a> was the source of <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19780617&id=siMLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jVEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4284,1465979&hl=en">numerous injuries</a> and <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19780602&id=mfZVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4-EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6740,362375&hl=en">some consternation</a>. He nonetheless was often a fan favorite and was featured in the 1977 movie Bad News Bears in Breaking Training</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczGwhnZiblD8GmD9lrcPlAvH5aJcAuQx1Uq_8P42uaQ6npEVWtxK1gNwLMrcQP7cE4YpnUtg8ixF1ocD6P9yrya0qQSJ-4EU90KPbUWmPSvp7s6H5Sx-5jnOYLd85jxqmruDAwgg83xA0/s1600/fn7jet.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczGwhnZiblD8GmD9lrcPlAvH5aJcAuQx1Uq_8P42uaQ6npEVWtxK1gNwLMrcQP7cE4YpnUtg8ixF1ocD6P9yrya0qQSJ-4EU90KPbUWmPSvp7s6H5Sx-5jnOYLd85jxqmruDAwgg83xA0/s320/fn7jet.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When he fractured his ankle in the 1980 NLCS, he never regained his range in centerfield and the transition into the second half of his career had begun. After years of fan abuse regarding the shooting, Cedeno finally reacted by <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=860&dat=19810909&id=yktPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CY8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4020,5683343&hl=en">confronting a fan in the stands</a> in 1981. After 12 seasons, Houston <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=19811219&id=IGEeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eMgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2639,4403386&hl=en">traded</a> him to the Cincinnati Reds for Ray Knight. He played for the Reds, Cardinals and Dodgers before ending his major league career in 1986.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In retirement, there were still <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1320&dat=19880529&id=dUBWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=H-oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5599,5062780&hl=en">several issues</a> that continued to <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1916&dat=19920929&id=mx9JAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TwYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4715,3728596&hl=en">dog Cedeno</a>, even as he tried to continue his time in the game. Most recently, Cedeno returned to the Astros organization <a href="http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20130415&content_id=44846854&fext=.jsp&sid=t413&vkey=">as hitting coach</a> for the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsZ_t1KhL_s">Greensville Astros</a>. Cedeno set Astros' club records for total bases, slugging percentage and steals in a single season during his Houston tenure. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Why I love this card</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Promise. Optimism. That's what I recall when I see this card today. I knew nothing about the shooting in 1980, but I knew that getting a Cedeno card represented </span><i style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">something</i><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Whether its the promise of a successfully stolen base, the eye-popping color of the Astros' uniforms or the optimism that eventually Cedeno is going home, this card was different than the standard fare. Even if it meant without his helmet or cap, Cedeno is going home. He will score. And everything will be alright. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Something else...</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cedeno was often included in sub-sets throughout the 1970s: Hostess, Kellogg's etc. Not surprisingly, he, along with Nolan Ryan and J.R. Richard were one of the three players to represent the Astros in the 60 card, 1980 Topps Super Set. It is pictured here</span></div>
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Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-15270288609255123872016-06-20T06:25:00.003-04:002016-06-20T06:26:10.735-04:00#369 Jim Kern<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6GlueghUZpLEaKrf_iqq-bmUUgcUF-BftEdnU-Y1akj2fxPTVJGg51sJ7LacHbOo4OzmYgjbG2bO20xI71YZoRhahFp5X6fm4f7No8oNz6hEkaEtNgqiri1x4iOu3touq_n7uDb6za50/s1600/11-6-2013+1-37-09+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6GlueghUZpLEaKrf_iqq-bmUUgcUF-BftEdnU-Y1akj2fxPTVJGg51sJ7LacHbOo4OzmYgjbG2bO20xI71YZoRhahFp5X6fm4f7No8oNz6hEkaEtNgqiri1x4iOu3touq_n7uDb6za50/s320/11-6-2013+1-37-09+PM.png" width="223" /></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jim Kern, closer, Texas Rangers</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you opened a pack of cards during the 1980 season and got this Jim Kern, you had not yet heard the word "closer" yet associated with his position. In an era where the role of relief specialist was still evolving, Kern had averaged 90 innings pitched a season and was making a strong case as one of the premier "firemen" of the day. Kern's heavy workload proved to be problematic in 1980. Despite beginning the season in All-Star form, the hard throwing right hander struggled through elbow and then neck injuries. Perhaps the most bizarre occurrence came in August when Kern was hit in the mouth on a return throw from catcher Jim Sundberg. Apparently, Kern was looking into the crowd when the throw struck him in the mouth, knocking him off the mound resulting in a concussion, temporary amnesia and nine stitches in his mouth. Kern struggles were widely seen, perhaps unfairly, as a major reason for the poor performance of the Rangers in 1980.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Growing up in Gladwin, Michigan, the natural environment of his hometown led a young Jim Kern to be as passionate about the great outdoors just as much as the National Pastime. His path to the majors began in 1967 when he was drafted by the Cleveland Indians with a brief exception in 1969 due to military duty. He would spend seven years in the minor leagues, getting a chance at the majors after going. 17-7 for a 1974 Oklahoma City team that finished 22 games under .500. That would lead to his major league debut near the end of the 1974 season.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Indians of the 1970s were not a good team, but by 1976, there was reason for optimism. Led by many young players, including Kern and under manager Frank Robinson, it appeared that the Indians fortunes could be changing. However, poor management in the dawn of the free agent era led to things never quite coming together in Cleveland and Kern saw his way to Texas, traded for Bobby Bonds despite two straight All Star appearances in 1977 and 1978. Kern famously summed up his time in Cleveland with an <a href="http://www.si.com/vault/1984/07/16/620136/stayin-alive-in-the-temple-of-doom">all-time zinger</a>: </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first thing they do in Cleveland, if you have talent, is trade you for three guys who don't.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Arlington, there was <a href="http://www.si.com/vault/1979/04/09/106773832/the-west">much optimism</a> as the season began as Kern was poised to team with Sparky Lyle in the Rangers bullpen. Indeed, Kern responded with the best season of his career. Appearing in 71 games, Jim won 13, saved an additional 29 and posted a miniscule ERA of 1.57. The 29 saves was the second-best mark in the American League and he finished fourth in the AL Cy Young voting and won the 1979 Rolaids Relief Man of the Year award. He also played an instrumental role in that year’s All Star Game, allowing an eighth inning, game-tying home run to the Mets’ Lee Mazzilli in what was the first pinch-hit home run in All Star history. The NL would win the game 7-6 with Kern taking the loss.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After an injury-plagued 1980, Kern worked out three hours a day six days a week in the off-season, running, exercising, lifting weights, and reported to camp carrying 17 extra pounds of muscle. He told the press: "I'm in the best shape I've been in since I was with the Marine Corps at Parris Island in '69." Despite this promising start, <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1916&dat=19810314&id=0OYgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7G0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5185,2361418&hl=en">injuries</a> and the 1981 Players Strike limited Kern that season, although he pitched very well in a limited role. The Rangers, meanwhile, traded Kern to the Mets in the offseason and before he ever suited up, flipped him in a deal to the Reds that netted New York George Foster.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kern pitched well in Cincinnati, but the team played poorly, prompting public criticism by club officials. This didn’t sit well with the self-dubbed “Emu” and he <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1817&dat=19820824&id=CEogAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5aUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6839,6430631&hl=en">challenged the Reds policy of no-facial hair</a>. Consequently, he was dealt to the Chicago White Sox before the 1982 season was over. Injuries significantly limited his time in Chi-Town and by early 1984, Kern accused the Sox of <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eStHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JXsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5788,271795&dq=&hl=en">ruining his arm</a> during rehab from an injury. Kern was one of several pitchers of this era, who had they pitched today, would have been treated quite differently in regards to their injuries.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Over the last three years of his 13-year major league career, Kern would pitch with the Phillies, Brewers and return to the Indians in 1986. In one of his last games in the majors, with a bad Cleveland ballclub, fans <a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19860513&id=SfgjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0GIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3005,8541166&hl=en">directed their frustrations at him</a> during one particularly ugly loss. Kern, in his irreverent style, tipped his hat to the crowd as he exited the field. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In retirement, he founded and continued to run <a href="http://emuoutfitting.com/">The Emu Outfitting Company</a>, consistent with his love for the outdoors. He also shares his passion for photography at http://www.jimkernphotography.com/</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why I love this card</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ok, I will admit that I love this card more now than I did then. Probably because Jim Kern reminds me of Tommy Benvenuti. Tommy was a year older than me, but he looked like he was four years older than me. Even had facial hair similar to Kern as an 11-year old. Ok, maybe not facial hair. But he threw hard, like Kern, and like the batter in the cartoon on the back of this card, scared me to death. I could totally related with the shivering in fear at the thought of getting plunked by an errant Tommy pitch and was comforted in the fact that maybe, just maybe, professional hitters felt the same way.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Something else…</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The 1980 Texas Rangers, a popular pre-season selection for AL West Champions used 41 players during the season. 15 of them were an All-Star selection at one point or another during their career.</span></div>
Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-5525914316769605082016-06-17T13:33:00.000-04:002016-06-17T17:09:48.634-04:00#368 Willie Aikens<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJCesW_ClCTFVIUEbBi16kwsXjwYM3KRNRyGp4ehKz7XZ5d8gTOj7q1AmHNJaMvcrrSHNFdd3DB_MS1g43DqEEF1yuvmNR0lUmMx2ccQBdyW30sRshWAOmpj2t6c48xyXx71gdj95gzX1/s1600/11-4-2013+8-33-16+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJCesW_ClCTFVIUEbBi16kwsXjwYM3KRNRyGp4ehKz7XZ5d8gTOj7q1AmHNJaMvcrrSHNFdd3DB_MS1g43DqEEF1yuvmNR0lUmMx2ccQBdyW30sRshWAOmpj2t6c48xyXx71gdj95gzX1/s320/11-4-2013+8-33-16+AM.png" width="222" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZj7__sUBse3zXgN3nocxbee-T-E-z34SuEwbqKIme17p6LSdqUcdVKwcZQRRBTJfKOf5zlfGizt4rEmZNjOmXCcHPkp8XVv5TwGl8f-fEfHxxTdJpyAjiRtn7LU0tw5z_YbKT6aTzBRF/s1600/11-4-2013+8-33-51+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZj7__sUBse3zXgN3nocxbee-T-E-z34SuEwbqKIme17p6LSdqUcdVKwcZQRRBTJfKOf5zlfGizt4rEmZNjOmXCcHPkp8XVv5TwGl8f-fEfHxxTdJpyAjiRtn7LU0tw5z_YbKT6aTzBRF/s320/11-4-2013+8-33-51+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Who is this player?</b><br />
Willie Aikens, first baseman, California Angels<br />
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During the summer of 1980, Willie Aikens was now a key member of the <a href="http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2009/06/66-jim-frey-kansas-city-royals-team.html">Kansas City Royals</a>. As the Royals were on their way to another AL Western Division Championship and their first World Series appearance, Aikens was their left-handed slugging first baseman. In his second full season in the major leagues, the 25-year old crashed 20 home runs and plated 98 teammates while batting .278. It was in the postseason, however, where Aikens would make his greatest contribution. He batted .364 in the Royals' three game sweep of the New York Yankees in the ALCS, but made a bigger splash in the World Series, becoming the first player ever to hit two home runs in a World Series game twice, in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDxSWCtX8vk">Game 1</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UquJHv1SwLE">Game 4</a>. Behind the scenes, however, Aikens was at the beginning of a substance abuse problem that would evetually alter his life and career. <a href="http://www.baseballnation.com/2012/5/2/2994198/every-game-i-used-drugs-the-story-of-willie-mays-aikens">He would admit</a> to using cocaine after games, even World Series contests. But at that moment, the future looked bright for the World Series hero, unaware that <a href="http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/05/former-royal-aikens-tells-his-story/">what would unfold</a> was still light years away as the 1980 season came to a close.<br />
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Today, Willie Mays Aikens is predominantly remembered for those World Series home runs and his long substance abuse issues and incarceration. His story is now about redemption, one that he tells in an <a href="http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/wells-baseball/2013/oct/10/exclusive-willie-mays-aikens-careerdrug-use-prison/">autobiography, "Safe At Home." </a> However, there is much more to the man and the ballplayer.<br />
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Rather than write up the traditional player summary that has accompanied these posts, this can be best served by spending some time with this video currently on-line:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx_X-jYzWtgbNfyCM6PAJRkGL4GLlAzApvIKIDFEOCSrcB4eRc1TuOIC9NBsKWtiS7Lo-RFGh2lK-lamAtc6w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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<b>Why I love this card</b><br />
Like most, it has to be the inclusion of his complete name. How can any kid <i>not</i> be infatuated with a player named Willie Mays Aikens. The questions were numerous. Are they related? Is he as good as his namesake? Regardless, it was a cool card to have.<br />
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<b>Something else....</b><br />
Aikens 1981 Topps card discussed the naming issue as well in the cartoon on the reverse:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgTpelQMYWFqIymo6JO3vU2o11w1fJm9c9VzgeFxhAGpEFu8mfyfvyE8Ea_xn1jiQaduUpt2d2ZerFfiFroDTK06aGLS3IEmi8Awyk5XLBQ2Wagf_8tRrMAzVfZU6v2yxtL5DE83nQvrE/s1600/11-4-2013+8-35-35+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="76" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgTpelQMYWFqIymo6JO3vU2o11w1fJm9c9VzgeFxhAGpEFu8mfyfvyE8Ea_xn1jiQaduUpt2d2ZerFfiFroDTK06aGLS3IEmi8Awyk5XLBQ2Wagf_8tRrMAzVfZU6v2yxtL5DE83nQvrE/s400/11-4-2013+8-35-35+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5129825817358907805.post-57987240042842818572016-06-16T14:31:00.003-04:002016-06-16T14:31:49.523-04:00#367 Billy Smith<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXzGSgdhgc09wijsq910jYZ1YHCYw_H4opMyd5L4rR_osgGZw4ZYRHm1SjZgZs2WQSfH4NZEXUMC8J7abWW4bhVpuj2LvMSkT79fneRcaFWzjD7d-1wNYBRvT9LlFZPww5HmiMOof4BLy/s1600/10-29-2013+11-05-19+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXzGSgdhgc09wijsq910jYZ1YHCYw_H4opMyd5L4rR_osgGZw4ZYRHm1SjZgZs2WQSfH4NZEXUMC8J7abWW4bhVpuj2LvMSkT79fneRcaFWzjD7d-1wNYBRvT9LlFZPww5HmiMOof4BLy/s320/10-29-2013+11-05-19+AM.png" width="225" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpJAUxvZJruZfA9_oVPK0WCXNlCVZbcQyRgnPtyQyOmR9lBWaVR0oOOSmStiGI4GxYLG7W4DkDJp9-JStxZXmHzO8emtkbc9NxK595aTqE0KiOcylj1tM-0UvfdQ5D7O1l4XvcfB-TGhL/s1600/10-29-2013+11-05-46+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpJAUxvZJruZfA9_oVPK0WCXNlCVZbcQyRgnPtyQyOmR9lBWaVR0oOOSmStiGI4GxYLG7W4DkDJp9-JStxZXmHzO8emtkbc9NxK595aTqE0KiOcylj1tM-0UvfdQ5D7O1l4XvcfB-TGhL/s320/10-29-2013+11-05-46+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Who is this player?</b><br />
Billy Smith, second baseman, Baltimore Orioles<br />
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Coming off a season as a reserve for the AL Champion Orioles, Billy Smith began the 1980 season looking for a raise in pay. After a season where he posted career highs in home runs and RBI, Billy was looking to more than double his salary of $47,000 at salary arbitration. In those early days of free agency and escalating salaries, negotiations were often times contentious. In what Smith called "the only thing I ever regretted," the arbitration hearing left Smith feeling unappreciated and he took his frustration to the media. He was quoted in the newspapers that if the Orioles didn't value his contributions, he wanted to be traded. His performance in Spring Training was effected and it left him vulnerable. Shortly before Opening Day, the Orioles cut him loose. He was without a job until mid June when he was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phils sent him to Triple-A Oklahoma City where he spent the remainder of the summer. <br />
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A fairly comprehensive biography on Billy Smith currently exists on the SABR website. There is great detail on his early life and prep career in San Antonio, his draft into Major League Baseball and his minor league days. Billy made his major league debut for the California Angels on April 13, 1975 as a pinch runner against the Chicago White Sox. Even though he was thrown out at the plate later that inning, he had a reputation as a speedy switch-hitter with a good glove. While he didn't hit for high average that first season, he appeared in 59 games, but errors in the field proved to he his undoing in Anaheim.<br />
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Billy appeared in only a handful of games the following year, spending the majority of the season in the minor leagues. His career took a turn for the better at the end of the season when he was signed by the Baltimore Orioles. Free agency had taken a toll on the Orioles and there was a opportunity for many young players, including Billy. He took full advantage in April 1977, earning him a starting position for a while and placing among the league leaders. A nice article about this time in Smith's career can be read here. He was a fan favorite with the O's, appearing on a local radio show as a weekly guest.<br />
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Billy spent the next two seasons in Baltimore, primarily as a reserve, and often times as a reserve for second baseman Rich Dauer. He earned national exposure during the 1979 postseason, appearing in four games during the World Series, collecting a couple of hits and scoring a run. Billy returned to the major leagues for his fifth and final season in 1981 as a member of the San Francisco Giants. He struggled with the bat, hitting only .180.<br />
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Shortly after his retirement, Smith was a witness in a drug conspiracy trial of his former agent. Testifying under immunity, Smith indicated that cocaine use was very prevalent among members of he 1979 Orioles and specifically named pitcher Don Stanhouse as a user. Since his career ended, Billy worked in sales and owned his own roofing company. As of 2015, Billy was employed with a roofing wholesaler and participating in youth baseball clinics.<br />
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<b>Why I love this card</b><br />
As a young kid opening packs, some cards just jumped out. All Star cards of course were a natural. So where league leader cards and Hi-light cards. Checklists too, but for the wrong reasons. Sometimes though, your heart would race when you came across a card of a star player. For a millisecond, that happened with me and Billy Smith's card. Why? Because when I first saw this card, I thought it was of reigning Cy Young winner Mike Flanagan. I just thought they looked similar. Here's a side by side:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvK9LSFi2_PP-94WGZDmBCw2h9XkSS41auJHhKtXPq7Zx2wEZkol1tydobjdNdYtQIcxHbBU_PCIFMc38H3zYX614vwi2gRqk9_dacwZVHuhI9qJthnJfyy8GQhPBIoAJ3PTGbbFYC4wd/s1600/11-4-2013+8-39-05+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvK9LSFi2_PP-94WGZDmBCw2h9XkSS41auJHhKtXPq7Zx2wEZkol1tydobjdNdYtQIcxHbBU_PCIFMc38H3zYX614vwi2gRqk9_dacwZVHuhI9qJthnJfyy8GQhPBIoAJ3PTGbbFYC4wd/s200/11-4-2013+8-39-05+AM.png" width="102" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50DV56OcPFBuWr3Z5sedS-dPPUcDIORo_is1NELiSwt1fWtjjC1j8dPXLgacvRTHshe2NnMcCUk9kDrr0USbSOdhEUoXubFa0E45VDgP3s6rYUzGbu2QIThoc988YVVEgAb_Tz-KXbuRy/s1600/11-4-2013+8-39-44+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50DV56OcPFBuWr3Z5sedS-dPPUcDIORo_is1NELiSwt1fWtjjC1j8dPXLgacvRTHshe2NnMcCUk9kDrr0USbSOdhEUoXubFa0E45VDgP3s6rYUzGbu2QIThoc988YVVEgAb_Tz-KXbuRy/s200/11-4-2013+8-39-44+AM.png" width="137" /></a><br />
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<b>Something else....</b><br />
At Jay High School in San Antonio Billy played on the same high school team as two other future major leaguers, Mickey and Rick Mahler.Dean Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09835797943104870803noreply@blogger.com0