tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846804641085428142024-02-07T20:00:43.215-05:00The Hopeful ChaseAfter years of the easy life in Florida, a Baltimore Orioles fan moves to the Big City - Chicago.Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.comBlogger596125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-84604700189670156932022-06-10T15:29:00.003-04:002022-06-10T15:29:15.256-04:002022 Topps Heritage Blaster - One Pack a Day "Break" - Day IV<p> Now we're in the groove. I'm currently writing this up at a Starbucks in the greater Tampa Bay area because I needed to get out of the house for a little bit. Visiting family is great, but there is only so long that you can stare at the walls. </p><p>It's kind of funny that everyone around me seems to be working on some serious stuff. Lots of school books out on tables for the middle of June. Then you have me, sitting alone and taking crappy cell phone photos of baseball cards (yes I wiped the table down first). Gotta love being a low-paid blogger some days. Here we go with today's pack.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGcJMTFWMpwnlxb9LbRa0lGSM5aC3k89zU7VnBAX6bsAZBCAHfLa3jb8m26JlpWkTQXm8-8RsImzspg0sgx8J3Gdh_1e1_PAEJpxrcyF1lH3H5665dDw2K0hiC8FSSOwXUhqGuHuNwF0o2_-CFn0OPsgBQ2mTvjx7AFpCz6WXfRbn-hOjuPbQKMsr/s4032/PXL_20220609_173301383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGcJMTFWMpwnlxb9LbRa0lGSM5aC3k89zU7VnBAX6bsAZBCAHfLa3jb8m26JlpWkTQXm8-8RsImzspg0sgx8J3Gdh_1e1_PAEJpxrcyF1lH3H5665dDw2K0hiC8FSSOwXUhqGuHuNwF0o2_-CFn0OPsgBQ2mTvjx7AFpCz6WXfRbn-hOjuPbQKMsr/s320/PXL_20220609_173301383.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>#362 D.J. Stewart</b></p><p>Back-to-back Orioles! Well, kind of. Mullins was the final card of the last pack and Stewart was the first of this one. The only problem, Stewart isn't currently on the 40-man roster. It was a bit of a surprise this spring when Baltimore DFA'd him, but unfortunately there is a glut of outfielders in the organization and the emergence of Anthony Santander kind of crowded him out. He is is still with organization and recently returned from the injured list in Norfolk.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkk3wrcZHNbMK7C6mrvcWqvEKNcolkP47CHO-hTOPG89tZO9WhgaNILkWVeulK4FbFT0sAJf19wkBuWJJwX0HwglaYGp9AJkpAArTCbNnMn7n2TKjVx2Me5cvoA8cUUh4d2QR73u79cAlcDK3cBco0i5qREzA3b0HKkld_SkhxjlL1NtGCSxtpM7F/s4032/PXL_20220609_173307748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkk3wrcZHNbMK7C6mrvcWqvEKNcolkP47CHO-hTOPG89tZO9WhgaNILkWVeulK4FbFT0sAJf19wkBuWJJwX0HwglaYGp9AJkpAArTCbNnMn7n2TKjVx2Me5cvoA8cUUh4d2QR73u79cAlcDK3cBco0i5qREzA3b0HKkld_SkhxjlL1NtGCSxtpM7F/s320/PXL_20220609_173307748.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>#241 Tim Anderson</b></p><p>As they say, you don't walk out of Tuscaloosa and Andersen has seen very few pitches he doesn't think he can't hit. With a lifetime batting average of .290 and an on-base of .318 you can tell he doesn't take many free passes. His career walk rate is just 3.5% which is awesome. Go up their and hack, kid. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGazKVFK9s51nZ6IsDczl_h14kYhnKO2E2kS941FYLEkYiUrI7IolyAw7LScRVy9kYu_s0EXYgAvNax02mcvkSGKVim13ObJqKknt2_VLUDv-gJLp4fpzfgMJTzKwNHTbi26V6KaRUJwN2BvxvWniJgrWW5YsZwwBNZD8Vt-R13C39JWxYUSTuQZnt/s4032/PXL_20220609_173314048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGazKVFK9s51nZ6IsDczl_h14kYhnKO2E2kS941FYLEkYiUrI7IolyAw7LScRVy9kYu_s0EXYgAvNax02mcvkSGKVim13ObJqKknt2_VLUDv-gJLp4fpzfgMJTzKwNHTbi26V6KaRUJwN2BvxvWniJgrWW5YsZwwBNZD8Vt-R13C39JWxYUSTuQZnt/s320/PXL_20220609_173314048.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><b>#264 Jurikson Profar</b></p><p>Another player that you wonder what could have been if injuries hadn't slowed him down at various points in his career, Profar has settle into a defense-first, play anywhere in the field kind of guy. After debuting as a middle-infielder with Texas he's spent most of the last few years in the outfield playing more than 20 games in left, center, right, and first base in 2021. He even chipped in 10 games at second base last season. He had some pop at points in his career with back-to-back 20 HR seasons.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVQIAuxWlMT5YGazYFxbpyQ5zqYegW-caZ3yKCC-Gz7UWIsrkErkc-BNrnO0x0UVih8cJQXxqpHv3Z2dJqQwQy4yfs5rAS05u2yfq1ISxGgEDG5QogkOpXFVasafBMNAizbG-9n9Kq9infoT-RrwVGygW82p3I-BpHb5a6paCtmvMC7RqguhYTis3/s4032/PXL_20220609_173320179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVQIAuxWlMT5YGazYFxbpyQ5zqYegW-caZ3yKCC-Gz7UWIsrkErkc-BNrnO0x0UVih8cJQXxqpHv3Z2dJqQwQy4yfs5rAS05u2yfq1ISxGgEDG5QogkOpXFVasafBMNAizbG-9n9Kq9infoT-RrwVGygW82p3I-BpHb5a6paCtmvMC7RqguhYTis3/s320/PXL_20220609_173320179.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>#343 Luis Torrens</b></p><p>Another member of the young group of players in Seattle, Torrens has just 563 at-bats over five seasons in the majors. He's still only 26-years-old and showed decently in 2021, the one year he saw somewhat regular action. In 378 plate appearances he slashed .243/.299/.431 with 15 home runs. He hasn't found the seats yet this season in 93 PA, so that's a bit concerning.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtf1qt4fNXSxvnpWhsycYQDmC3yTvAv7JWTKnp9rMcOqZigwtaeRoNIbcUUX-_n9aOXO6_AQxHLS0qGO7rWd9EcrkZ3fBm2pOqlwgwI4MD4nQTi-qtcIV1_QDOBf48mUNrMYE1MuXJQzSGXBQ6vbEaboQQizmzbsMYI-1fEdnap3_vGFrNdrioJHD/s4032/PXL_20220609_173326866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtf1qt4fNXSxvnpWhsycYQDmC3yTvAv7JWTKnp9rMcOqZigwtaeRoNIbcUUX-_n9aOXO6_AQxHLS0qGO7rWd9EcrkZ3fBm2pOqlwgwI4MD4nQTi-qtcIV1_QDOBf48mUNrMYE1MuXJQzSGXBQ6vbEaboQQizmzbsMYI-1fEdnap3_vGFrNdrioJHD/s320/PXL_20220609_173326866.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>#394 Emmanuel Clase</b> </p><p>A Topps All-Star Rookie trophy card! Probably my favorite reoccurring subset in Topps sets. Clase throws 101 and has a 94-mph slider. Seriously, how does anyone hit major league pitching.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoegrXMvQWB3ZMPcSL7wFqCxDhMM1i0Bx9CYndcYYOTZ4ZuvX4vFbwezkoA1txm32fjdi42nrj3C5Ldu4eC2sgf5xPgZCou1XN791rlZpjbKRjpEos9pChCuE3s64u5xyplYlgSWFZX8OruYEKNVOV2n1G8rikOeH1C6KT8iCS1PQ77GXrul8oRIS/s4032/PXL_20220609_173331874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoegrXMvQWB3ZMPcSL7wFqCxDhMM1i0Bx9CYndcYYOTZ4ZuvX4vFbwezkoA1txm32fjdi42nrj3C5Ldu4eC2sgf5xPgZCou1XN791rlZpjbKRjpEos9pChCuE3s64u5xyplYlgSWFZX8OruYEKNVOV2n1G8rikOeH1C6KT8iCS1PQ77GXrul8oRIS/s320/PXL_20220609_173331874.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>#68 Home Run Leaders</b></p><p>The nice thing about these leaders cards is that it's a cheap way to get a card with some legends on it. I can get a 1965 Topps Mantle for $40 raw or I can get a 1965 HR Leaders card that has his face along with Harmon Killerbrew and Boog Powell on it for just $12.50. As a cheap person I'm going $12.50 all day long. Plus, BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGGGGG</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImzXQ3GjZEgl5qna-7nznMeg9uHCzlUvIJTcehEDnxnUBGngeOWDhIKRq9CG-HHeaYLdFfgN5rqkPGC3UMI7U2DUKjE62TlJqZcvf_dIclBKkTYJy4LzjS_N2D41BNsHVjb-uaWxPT6JzLlsxwncZE1AwDtb0LVxIS8KOJ53QsdUL8EgX0gMfivXr/s4032/PXL_20220609_173337336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImzXQ3GjZEgl5qna-7nznMeg9uHCzlUvIJTcehEDnxnUBGngeOWDhIKRq9CG-HHeaYLdFfgN5rqkPGC3UMI7U2DUKjE62TlJqZcvf_dIclBKkTYJy4LzjS_N2D41BNsHVjb-uaWxPT6JzLlsxwncZE1AwDtb0LVxIS8KOJ53QsdUL8EgX0gMfivXr/s320/PXL_20220609_173337336.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>#273 Hoy Park - RC</b></p><p>Pirates rookie card! Get your next Yankees star cheap. Okay, that may not be the case with Park as the 25-year-old doesn't crack the Pirates top prospects list. Also, he was already with the Yankees as he signed with them as a free agent in 2014 before heading to the Pittsburgh organization in a 2021 deal for Clay Holmes. Park was called up last week when Ben Gamel went on the IR, but sent down the next day later after the Pirates acquired Yu Chang from the Guardians.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDKT2kUOHnmXQkk4mAXRFY-KE4kuYeTmjjwMZDkBB2tbErmXozMQ27JP32TLzkZ9l0pHpWKU2GEZZtnN2TKD2EoXboVbIEccra2fVqBZeNT-uvfzpTUbeEscQtBeWDthq9vpwQhW_kwa5zzKr9U62Q9trkKDJmgcxhcrwdq2a7mlVy1A_8nq7BHAV/s4032/PXL_20220609_173342542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDKT2kUOHnmXQkk4mAXRFY-KE4kuYeTmjjwMZDkBB2tbErmXozMQ27JP32TLzkZ9l0pHpWKU2GEZZtnN2TKD2EoXboVbIEccra2fVqBZeNT-uvfzpTUbeEscQtBeWDthq9vpwQhW_kwa5zzKr9U62Q9trkKDJmgcxhcrwdq2a7mlVy1A_8nq7BHAV/s320/PXL_20220609_173342542.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>#138 C.J. Cron</b></p><p>Hit bombs. That's pretty much Cron's approach to baseball. It's worked well for him as he's hit 160 HRs in 3054 at-bats for a 4.8% career HR%, well above the league average of 3.0%. He's done it without striking out that much. The University of Utah product strikes out in 22.7% of his at-bats, just above the league average of 21.8%. Not a bad way to earn an estimated $23 million in salary over a 9-year period.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrRJ96CtK3Tchitizm4c10kjDiqXIwoOCwKUyRanLN1H1uA56U8ZllIn5bxdIlQDkPvezhSJsZs8yN_EmGEc4xZazOPFbZyUs7RCccnoYvJ_TM3Mlwfi5oa5R1dQzw4b4U0tgiRIprg1xQgY4pv4ZC-2DwNWiszXvmKDm-rgtVHndPqWHVbEvNv0M/s4032/PXL_20220609_173347130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrRJ96CtK3Tchitizm4c10kjDiqXIwoOCwKUyRanLN1H1uA56U8ZllIn5bxdIlQDkPvezhSJsZs8yN_EmGEc4xZazOPFbZyUs7RCccnoYvJ_TM3Mlwfi5oa5R1dQzw4b4U0tgiRIprg1xQgY4pv4ZC-2DwNWiszXvmKDm-rgtVHndPqWHVbEvNv0M/s320/PXL_20220609_173347130.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>#165 Rodolfo Castro - RC</b></p><p>A Pirates rookie hot pack. Sweet! Castro had 5 home runs last season. They also happened to be the first five hits of his major league career. In case you were wondering, yes that is a record. Here's how his career started:</p><p>SO - swinging</p><p>GO to first</p><p>GO to third</p><p>Walk</p><p>SO - swinging</p><p><b>HR!</b></p><p>PO to first</p><p>SO - swinging</p><p>SO - looking</p><p>GO to second</p><p>GO to short (double play)</p><p><b>HR!</b></p><p><b>HR!</b></p><p>Walk</p><p>GO to second</p><p>SO - swinging</p><p>GO to short</p><p>FO to center</p><p>FO to center</p><p>GO to second</p><p>FO to center</p><p><b>HR!</b></p><p><b>HR!</b></p><p>That's an interesting first nine games. At that point he had a .238/.269/.833 slash line with 5 HRs and 7 RBI. His first non-HR hit came a few days later and it was a ground-rule double. His first hit that actually stayed in the park came a few days after that and was a ground ball single up the middle. So far this season he has 14 hits and just one of those is a HR.</p><p><br /></p><p>Running count through four packs</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Inserts - 1 (Baseball Flashback)</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Parallels - 1 (Chrome Refractor)</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Short Prints - 1</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Wander's - 0</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Orioles - 2 (Cedric Mullins, DJ Stewart)</p>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-91918400138906405662022-06-09T10:16:00.001-04:002022-06-09T10:16:21.555-04:002022 Topps Heritage Blaster - One Pack a Day "Break" Day Three<p>We're back with the third pack of the break and we pick up an insert and an Oriole! Not a bad pack for a retail blaster. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKkcjRwSn02nnpay8tUsPWnX5zoh3r8qEa2aGwWnxXt0ijnsUUkuZzKLu6Zvf7do-3hHEOQmaungMdOBCwFjBchdUsaH8W5YZBNhas_UsNJwCmhp2RkLUQ75Oz2kyAH9vvjVkpQP3e-QS07Yuzgb1mpxAfv4xeQO71NltNDlBqqowumffB0azfZLT/s4032/PXL_20220609_140816024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKkcjRwSn02nnpay8tUsPWnX5zoh3r8qEa2aGwWnxXt0ijnsUUkuZzKLu6Zvf7do-3hHEOQmaungMdOBCwFjBchdUsaH8W5YZBNhas_UsNJwCmhp2RkLUQ75Oz2kyAH9vvjVkpQP3e-QS07Yuzgb1mpxAfv4xeQO71NltNDlBqqowumffB0azfZLT/s320/PXL_20220609_140816024.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>#142 Logan Gilbert</b></p><p>We ended the last pack with a Mariner and we start this one with one. Logan Gilbert with the sneaky double first name name. He's off to a nice start in his second season in Seattle with a 5-2 record, 3.09 FIP, and 167 ERA+. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmIU003vYpTj8gHPCETCoSVN89st3BbcQDPGp58Rxnpyc95dEHfYCKPC04e4Ogn3RYUkrXNrpeuosWaAx1BZlmLMB3KByMCZCOgfj6X8VFGTOxClLYAIblsH65n8ZGQE8lz1uicXSyZzDIphVCFH8Jv0fmLyW6xdaixy11ytVewryyE7I-9kxG4n8/s4032/PXL_20220609_140824050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmIU003vYpTj8gHPCETCoSVN89st3BbcQDPGp58Rxnpyc95dEHfYCKPC04e4Ogn3RYUkrXNrpeuosWaAx1BZlmLMB3KByMCZCOgfj6X8VFGTOxClLYAIblsH65n8ZGQE8lz1uicXSyZzDIphVCFH8Jv0fmLyW6xdaixy11ytVewryyE7I-9kxG4n8/s320/PXL_20220609_140824050.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>#26 Charlie Blackmon</b></p><p>Blackmon is a member of the three-time draft club having been picked by the Marlins in the 28th round of the 28th round of the 2004 draft, the Red Sox in the 20th round of the 2005 draft, and finally the Rockies in the 2nd round of the 2008 draft. He's now in the 12th season of his MLB career and is two hits shy of 1500 for his career. While he's definitely enjoyed a Coors Field bump, his road stats are still respectable at .262/.318/.426 with 85 of his 200 career home runs.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLQl6ikBZ0Jk01cpGITiRY3fGYjtlaGXxptumBPGl-RkvEDRIiwKKsUO4p_alGzL5ajGYuG4Zmp5NtcncAgZhWrmHra6Dw4nE9uqUMPmGPqKQiYHj5jFUqEi7771nMAevMn24PR3L_l09wRR1_c5DEUazqJUEYy-GrPXvkDocoU8si6S--uxEdHBw/s4032/PXL_20220609_140829828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLQl6ikBZ0Jk01cpGITiRY3fGYjtlaGXxptumBPGl-RkvEDRIiwKKsUO4p_alGzL5ajGYuG4Zmp5NtcncAgZhWrmHra6Dw4nE9uqUMPmGPqKQiYHj5jFUqEi7771nMAevMn24PR3L_l09wRR1_c5DEUazqJUEYy-GrPXvkDocoU8si6S--uxEdHBw/s320/PXL_20220609_140829828.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>#199 Ryan Zimmerman</b></p><p>Another recently retired player, Zimmerman made his debut for the Nationals in 2005, their inaugural season in the nation's capital. He struck out as a pinch hitter against Atlanta's Jim Brower. A mere 1,799 games later he retired after the 2021 season as the franchise leader in games played, at-bats, plate appearances, runs scored, hits, total bases, doubles, home runs, RBI, strikeouts, runs created, extra base hits, and times on base. He may not be a hall of famer, but he'll definitely have his number 11 retired by the organization.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIE4ie9FQ1-8_EFus5zsDKzufPC2qCQHkc91rkB7CG5GOL1SNQv6hUsFKHPgmuVWFkZ27xvsrH1JuAifoVHMhitlDFYZXp7gaIuU14atjhpJZYIjOyz5S-u4O5ALVGhYbhx5RMHDxDbfFur2vzlVqBpJsoYDPW8fPtGdtwgMPod_S0QuGx8dg9dcis/s4032/PXL_20220609_140837308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIE4ie9FQ1-8_EFus5zsDKzufPC2qCQHkc91rkB7CG5GOL1SNQv6hUsFKHPgmuVWFkZ27xvsrH1JuAifoVHMhitlDFYZXp7gaIuU14atjhpJZYIjOyz5S-u4O5ALVGhYbhx5RMHDxDbfFur2vzlVqBpJsoYDPW8fPtGdtwgMPod_S0QuGx8dg9dcis/s320/PXL_20220609_140837308.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>#332 Jason Heyward</b></p><p>The first round draft pick of the Braves burst onto the scene in 2010 with an all-star season where he hit 18 home runs, slashed .277/.393/.456 and posted a 6.4 WAR as a 20-year-old. Not too shabby. After five seasons with Atlanta he would be traded to St. Louis in the ill-fated Shelby Miller deal as they knew they wouldn't be able to afford his big free agent contract. Heyward signed that big deal with the Chicago Cubs - 8 years, $184 million. </p><p>He never quite lived up to that big money, posting just 9.2 WAR during his 7 years with the Cubs and it's looking more and more like he won't make it to the end of the contract (which expires after next season). </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FWU6tPeCpT3AIIfDhGQGp16GmDrnLJW-3Dev14XsFE-c5lBpYqDztc52I821Vy0V4ajiL9_Ackc9DQYI292-H1wMrIC1a01v5l7HTzyhL7mNuCyLrr9AuFz0nsbgAc_FgW5q1Ew00x6YXwJeMnYIUbKQe_ndJeKS86ASTCMPDbBP1k8Bp94Iy-OY/s4032/PXL_20220609_140842544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FWU6tPeCpT3AIIfDhGQGp16GmDrnLJW-3Dev14XsFE-c5lBpYqDztc52I821Vy0V4ajiL9_Ackc9DQYI292-H1wMrIC1a01v5l7HTzyhL7mNuCyLrr9AuFz0nsbgAc_FgW5q1Ew00x6YXwJeMnYIUbKQe_ndJeKS86ASTCMPDbBP1k8Bp94Iy-OY/s320/PXL_20220609_140842544.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>#364 Franmil Reyes</b></p><p>It looked like Reyes had his breakout season last year as the then 25-year-old belted 30 HRs, knocked in 85, his highest totals since 2019 when he racked up 37 home runs between San Diego and Cleveland. Injuries have slowed him a bit to start this season as he's struck out 57 times in 145 plate appearances with just 3 bombs. The 39.3% SO% is well over his career 30.3% number. If he can come back healthy, the Guardians could make a run at the NL Central. They may be 25-26, but they are only 4 games back of Minnesota.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6k8oAHMU9fdjlnGLbrJT66vbBek46k-oTY5UFzyueUQfQ7QG_xzNvUVun6h8MBwtr_ZZDfejU3DPYSjIGf2VMlDdl9n6HKN7VIfyoDtsSJXLWYKXOWOc9Z1YlHuDIAgteDCf1fzbf6J-feqLpk7kv29BUSRyg9ftShoq5b2bJEZa9UGd_EwWrLAu/s4032/PXL_20220609_140849049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6k8oAHMU9fdjlnGLbrJT66vbBek46k-oTY5UFzyueUQfQ7QG_xzNvUVun6h8MBwtr_ZZDfejU3DPYSjIGf2VMlDdl9n6HKN7VIfyoDtsSJXLWYKXOWOc9Z1YlHuDIAgteDCf1fzbf6J-feqLpk7kv29BUSRyg9ftShoq5b2bJEZa9UGd_EwWrLAu/s320/PXL_20220609_140849049.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>#13 Buster Posey</b></p><p>The recently retired parade continues with a possible Hall of Famer. Buster Posey (who I still think of a 24-year-old prospect and not a 34-year-old veteran) hung up the tools of ignorance after a 12-year career with the San Francisco Giants. With 1500 hits, a MVP, 3 World Series, rookie of the year, a batting title, and a five-time silver slugger award his numbers make for a borderline Hall of Fame career. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUoRhQDMMCdxMKQ5HFUVGB2Vk3tpy86ZBummmX02u1_JI8l2duCdEPabmDpQ8DUH9CBJ3dEi8hkIZu669_Xm15qiZDHNA6xphEuG6rzAN7pmkvcVei_WdkmryXD2SASyqwI5gxL3z4zDPGzc6waOjAd6b-PvVaJsdnVv4ww-w32-041V_cwbZDVtf/s4032/PXL_20220609_140854491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUoRhQDMMCdxMKQ5HFUVGB2Vk3tpy86ZBummmX02u1_JI8l2duCdEPabmDpQ8DUH9CBJ3dEi8hkIZu669_Xm15qiZDHNA6xphEuG6rzAN7pmkvcVei_WdkmryXD2SASyqwI5gxL3z4zDPGzc6waOjAd6b-PvVaJsdnVv4ww-w32-041V_cwbZDVtf/s320/PXL_20220609_140854491.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>#BF-5 Bench Hammers Three Homers off Carlton</b> <b>(1:18 packs)</b></p><p>This insert takes us back to May 9th, 1973 (I was -3 years old). The sideburns are long, the pants are tight and checkered. Watergate is in the news, Columbo is on the TV and Johnny Bench is socking dingers for the Cincinnati Reds. On this day he belted 3 home runs off of some lefty named Steve Carlton to give the Reds a 9-7 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. After homering in his last at-bat the night before, Bench was credited with 4 home runs in 4 at bats, which tied the National League record. With a chance to set the record in his final at-bat, he grounded out. </p><p>When asked about it after the game, he told the <i>Cincinnati Enquirer, </i>"I couldn't help thinking about Roberto Clemente. He hit three homers and drove in eight runs against us and the Pirates still lost the game."</p><p>It wasn't the first time he'd gone deep three times in a game, either. On July 26th, 1970 he went yard a trio of times against the St. Louis Cardinals. The guy on the mound that day - some lefty names Steve Carlton. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Nb4l7Ok5cnyNnvjFu2YKKZI94sZmwklu3RkfrUBWbH4JXK35qY0yLzrUfAE6ZXrB80p1LatbvhYqH-gy51ECp2clCSJ-gSR9oSndSxUPeFWRSYKax5xtWg5YZbLCKlAalZzc-lr1OmaXnYCAOL0vgc69qNKknQqHfUUuTzfsZWn5N_b3Tjrnkr1-/s4032/PXL_20220609_140900324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Nb4l7Ok5cnyNnvjFu2YKKZI94sZmwklu3RkfrUBWbH4JXK35qY0yLzrUfAE6ZXrB80p1LatbvhYqH-gy51ECp2clCSJ-gSR9oSndSxUPeFWRSYKax5xtWg5YZbLCKlAalZzc-lr1OmaXnYCAOL0vgc69qNKknQqHfUUuTzfsZWn5N_b3Tjrnkr1-/s320/PXL_20220609_140900324.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>#143 Tommy Edman</b></p><p>The back of the card highlights an unusual play from last season. The Cardinals had runners on second and third against the Brewers when Edman drilled a 2-0 change-up to deep centerfield. Lorenzo Cain (hey, we got his card in yesterday's pack!) made a nice leaping play to catch the ball and quickly flipped it to Avisail Garcia. It wasn't fast enough to prevent Harrison Bader from tagging up at second and following Edmundo Sosa across the plate for the rare <a href="https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/video/brett-anderson-in-play-out-s-to-tommy-edman-jesnxl" target="_blank">2-run sacrifice fly</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4R39cdGvJhUhuFqO22zUjaQhrwIm2UAeNVOAANEPCCDcwZyqn5_3HAx50Q_j7d_3FyZNLwUIRrSjznsUs1cCZjOqOKSt4cnKd_8BTVNZEbBHu60hUFOXZgFr0d2HjqXTGv0TqbTTvKW5sZx1_DuvDFDzaBi28bc1GmqAcdXSeUxrNw0GW5NU0rtj/s4032/PXL_20220609_140907831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4R39cdGvJhUhuFqO22zUjaQhrwIm2UAeNVOAANEPCCDcwZyqn5_3HAx50Q_j7d_3FyZNLwUIRrSjznsUs1cCZjOqOKSt4cnKd_8BTVNZEbBHu60hUFOXZgFr0d2HjqXTGv0TqbTTvKW5sZx1_DuvDFDzaBi28bc1GmqAcdXSeUxrNw0GW5NU0rtj/s320/PXL_20220609_140907831.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><b>#232 Cedric Mullins</b><p></p><p>Our first Oriole! In a bleak season for the Birds, Mullins was a shining beacon as he became the first player in Orioles history to post a 30/30 season. He also showed that the COVID-shortened 2020 wasn't a fluke and that his decision to drop switch-hitting was the right one. He slashed .277/.337/.451 off of lefties after spending his entire professional career hitting from the right side against them. Also, this is an uncorrected error card as they have his name listed as Cedric Boyce Mullins on the back and according to Baseball Reference it should be Boyce Cedric Mullins. </p><p><br /></p><p>Inserts - 1 (Baseball Flashback)</p><p>Parallels - 1 (Chrome Refractor)</p><p>Short Prints - 1</p><p>Wander's - 0</p><p>Orioles - 1 (Cedric Mullins)</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-71551808767569683352022-06-08T11:56:00.001-04:002022-06-08T11:56:32.862-04:002022 Topps Heritage Blaster Box - One Pack a Day "Break" Day 2<p> Wow, just the second day into this thing and I'm already a day behind. I'll blame the fact that I am on vacation and that time is just a construct instead of the actual reason - laziness. That being said I did have a nice little day and enjoyed some of random things I like to do when I'm back in the area - Cuban sandwich and spicy gumbo from Tampa Cuban, drive down Alt-19 and see the water, over to Tampa and stop at a museum (<a href="https://www.fmopa.org/" target="_blank">Florida Museum of Photography</a> this time) and a nice stroll along the Riverwalk before heading to a hockey game.</p><p>The Lightning won and a good time was had by all (except all of the Rangers fans that came down here to get sunburned and watch their team lose back-to-back games). Enough about me, though. You're here for the cards. Let's get right to it.</p><p><br /></p><p>Pack #2</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYU5e2GEheh9x_oNMqv9PpuGHuW5KwdhAtR4kOzYg1nSXtax8WI0aL0gDRgnyxriAPc7R9NKEQGGYLIg9LyR5lFZ-LN1iyDPlyxYwPTTiPsE5_RfxDckiA51yUAfG1C3RveXn6G7QPiS_vp0BNqqgO5LdUajaCXplBtMw_NKJeEN3DSRp974iCvFYi/s4032/PXL_20220608_145457828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYU5e2GEheh9x_oNMqv9PpuGHuW5KwdhAtR4kOzYg1nSXtax8WI0aL0gDRgnyxriAPc7R9NKEQGGYLIg9LyR5lFZ-LN1iyDPlyxYwPTTiPsE5_RfxDckiA51yUAfG1C3RveXn6G7QPiS_vp0BNqqgO5LdUajaCXplBtMw_NKJeEN3DSRp974iCvFYi/s320/PXL_20220608_145457828.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><b>#90 Vidal Brujan - RC</b></p><p>We kick things off with another Tampa Bay Ray! It's the other Ray Rookie folks were excited about last year. Currently the 4th ranked prospect in the organization according to MLB.com, Brujan has scuffled a bit at the plate so far in his major league career with a .115/.163/.146 slash line in 34 career games.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXJHp9HWyVjKr1Uq1hDmcPtZgvv_fD5yBLozahtB1FI8NObUN9MBMRHKkwPz0C7OPDSJK032ctZgxQH-sYosa6mSBzDRFp0IPhlMV_kehWot27YPgCAWMlUk-10lA6jeSW1isZDSlOGz78sW6W1uPu5Oej1joke1xnUXSTEkmBkmUI6Eb4tHxPzXd/s4032/PXL_20220608_145504262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXJHp9HWyVjKr1Uq1hDmcPtZgvv_fD5yBLozahtB1FI8NObUN9MBMRHKkwPz0C7OPDSJK032ctZgxQH-sYosa6mSBzDRFp0IPhlMV_kehWot27YPgCAWMlUk-10lA6jeSW1isZDSlOGz78sW6W1uPu5Oej1joke1xnUXSTEkmBkmUI6Eb4tHxPzXd/s320/PXL_20220608_145504262.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><b><br /></b></div><b>#174 Lorenzo Cain</b><br /><p>Here we have Cain pictured reflecting on his long (12 seasons) career. Now in the final season of his 5-year. $80 million deal it's likely that things are near the end for one of the best defensive outfielders of his generation. He's now in that unenviable position of seeing his playing time reduced as the Brewers look to the future in the outfield, still it sounds like he's willing to accept that role and see what the future holds.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Rt5J-4Ag7kpwodhw-W0cnPK5YYy2bd5drWAbcrJrTbff50pH7RWgVBZhXH7A7hE0pF7wJXE6PPRRpOaGOoRqwVmYMrLuDhHaSvFEKU-m4k4ZuZ8ILG46-q2UQrjFH6i9mpdfXEW21eeqCHWhVUTCy7pW-d5sZKpiCKNCbYrMuRHVbWQgfqUs2y43/s4032/PXL_20220608_145512087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Rt5J-4Ag7kpwodhw-W0cnPK5YYy2bd5drWAbcrJrTbff50pH7RWgVBZhXH7A7hE0pF7wJXE6PPRRpOaGOoRqwVmYMrLuDhHaSvFEKU-m4k4ZuZ8ILG46-q2UQrjFH6i9mpdfXEW21eeqCHWhVUTCy7pW-d5sZKpiCKNCbYrMuRHVbWQgfqUs2y43/s320/PXL_20220608_145512087.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b>#150 Shohei Ohtani</b><div><br /></div><div>Hey, hey it's Shohei! The beauty of Heritage is that there are SEVEN different versions of this card. Alas, this is just the regular base as far as I can tell, but it's still cool to have the card of the reigning MVP.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZVzwZq3u_aGlUUN1hXDmqZia445axmYcaO7N_ht6Zvcpb4sDCE-e9vfdOtrBdIUDJGtxsWUJv3lS-5tOfbyUSrX8RtXR-wVnO023MiFexFPOj0fYe6Fs0pMV7AVQsjuOcWPjDSVW5dcRXtpA95VepM-lwOd_Pf4oSobGJP3JhElRRgXsBbSSzolB/s4032/PXL_20220608_145520372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZVzwZq3u_aGlUUN1hXDmqZia445axmYcaO7N_ht6Zvcpb4sDCE-e9vfdOtrBdIUDJGtxsWUJv3lS-5tOfbyUSrX8RtXR-wVnO023MiFexFPOj0fYe6Fs0pMV7AVQsjuOcWPjDSVW5dcRXtpA95VepM-lwOd_Pf4oSobGJP3JhElRRgXsBbSSzolB/s320/PXL_20220608_145520372.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>#234 Mark Melancon</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Are we sure Melancon isn't a left-handed reliever? He's put together a Jesse Orosco-esque career that has now spanned 14 years and and 9 teams. Coming off of a 2021 where he saved 39 games for the San Diego Padres, Melancon has scuffled a bit in his first season as the Diamondbacks closer but still has 11 saves (despite a 1.800 WHIP).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwJzgS3KVNE6YF-9AxHiPs798cjOkJjGBJ-ijl2MoSi-ZU-z1G25ACQgBAE-5_IZyK8mi_sydKzUhLadRdw32_AbcLtOhB-J8UQb-U2XTNri4nudnvClrUeraIooeRR6vqx_9h8ZkGgq2Jq9ngp9BQkVN8LCVueKFBlwgAxAkFsA5Dyq7z25wSoFw/s4032/PXL_20220608_145529572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwJzgS3KVNE6YF-9AxHiPs798cjOkJjGBJ-ijl2MoSi-ZU-z1G25ACQgBAE-5_IZyK8mi_sydKzUhLadRdw32_AbcLtOhB-J8UQb-U2XTNri4nudnvClrUeraIooeRR6vqx_9h8ZkGgq2Jq9ngp9BQkVN8LCVueKFBlwgAxAkFsA5Dyq7z25wSoFw/s320/PXL_20220608_145529572.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><b><div><b><br /></b></div>#66 2021 Saves Leaders</b><div><br /></div><div>It's a Mark Melancon hot pack! Here he is smiling away in his Padres uniform with an equally happy Liam Hendricks. Gotta love those league leaders cards.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93JggVCmxGY6z4La7Q1y_D-S96JUtOyflGIxz0b_LoI5B-OsLHtK8ld1i98URpRolCehZnF9gImHVwRwzN_xp-v5aQOestY8SdoOGro712O8tJGf7o7MxRdisDwapWYlvQng4nD4OxB0LuaeKNv_uOaVzDFKWTgRf2PdFMhS1UYHvK0NH_etjwIdf/s4032/PXL_20220608_145542828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93JggVCmxGY6z4La7Q1y_D-S96JUtOyflGIxz0b_LoI5B-OsLHtK8ld1i98URpRolCehZnF9gImHVwRwzN_xp-v5aQOestY8SdoOGro712O8tJGf7o7MxRdisDwapWYlvQng4nD4OxB0LuaeKNv_uOaVzDFKWTgRf2PdFMhS1UYHvK0NH_etjwIdf/s320/PXL_20220608_145542828.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><b>#367 Cal Raleigh - RC</b></div><div><br /></div><div>It's a rookie card. Quick. Slab It and Flip It! Or, you know, just go ahead and throw it in a box and wait for a Mariners collector to trade/sell it to. Raliegh may not be hitting for average (.163), but he does have a little pop in his bat (6 HRs in 95 plate appearances this year) so he's your typical modern day baseball player, I guess. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ohhhhh.... the next card was backwards in the back!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BhpWJUe0Z6BoWoRzSquIao1m5GYmi44HCj4aLbB1ivWXUSyo4uurta420zpwZRKnxDBGU9uHENMKODOeLOZ2elyJN2hPTTX8pA6gLPGpMdxPqB14WMHGlFTlBx7qqkuZtQU6uhzNTB0Nqu-YusNvt3YhP4yCg3bD9SJkb_ldJ8u8ULNZQ-yrjck_/s4032/PXL_20220608_145552277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BhpWJUe0Z6BoWoRzSquIao1m5GYmi44HCj4aLbB1ivWXUSyo4uurta420zpwZRKnxDBGU9uHENMKODOeLOZ2elyJN2hPTTX8pA6gLPGpMdxPqB14WMHGlFTlBx7qqkuZtQU6uhzNTB0Nqu-YusNvt3YhP4yCg3bD9SJkb_ldJ8u8ULNZQ-yrjck_/s320/PXL_20220608_145552277.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Variation? Chrome? Auto?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEHT3Vs1STGCCAUseAQUckcLOhOBZ0-EVnOq5R5V5tTBqlqP-3TuKeTn3mAjmepuhGK_Rj_FNnRgrdiIMC8mG57Ad7IJgTWSHt0DuwRkmEB4ok5xpXOXkZtxMzrgvafazZrgjkYB9NZ_W5zPRDMnqQWdfieWvY7LJxbCal5RWukzqLIloHgMvWXrt/s4032/PXL_20220608_145600217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEHT3Vs1STGCCAUseAQUckcLOhOBZ0-EVnOq5R5V5tTBqlqP-3TuKeTn3mAjmepuhGK_Rj_FNnRgrdiIMC8mG57Ad7IJgTWSHt0DuwRkmEB4ok5xpXOXkZtxMzrgvafazZrgjkYB9NZ_W5zPRDMnqQWdfieWvY7LJxbCal5RWukzqLIloHgMvWXrt/s320/PXL_20220608_145600217.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>#458 Johnny Cueto - SP</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Nope, nothing uber-special. It was just the standard short print for cards numbered 401 and above. Cueto is with the White Sox this season for his 15th season in the big leagues.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrrMykXHbcdZsU9gL02utJpyioXuHweO1HWnVGczSRt36R-01h0inAaKphTA3bplx2O-gAB8agpNUFu-NSjP6AEEub49qMMSkBTQvw3vkJGtYMf5XN7XNoXyM93oHkaflr9To1lFdPARRQFE78HKPMN9G0lyAj_d-djB0AgPgyGhw50PLoP3bYG33/s4032/PXL_20220608_145609469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrrMykXHbcdZsU9gL02utJpyioXuHweO1HWnVGczSRt36R-01h0inAaKphTA3bplx2O-gAB8agpNUFu-NSjP6AEEub49qMMSkBTQvw3vkJGtYMf5XN7XNoXyM93oHkaflr9To1lFdPARRQFE78HKPMN9G0lyAj_d-djB0AgPgyGhw50PLoP3bYG33/s320/PXL_20220608_145609469.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b>#126 Taijuan Walker</b><div><br /></div><div>It's been almost a decade since Walker was a can't-miss prospect with the Seattle Mariners. Injuries have sent his career on a different path, one that has led to the Mets and a decent (but healthy) start to this season. He's 3-2 with a 3.28 ERA in 9 games.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYJB9u_q601vqNZrwYJqln9AT-6-DFOdphAxzpyTEZS_UzB4DjkZXUQG3UlPpYwWdbmU0kVSEBkUcP7t5ZzCBeDW2zKpExa0lJAwwzXAowZZQoagggEmcK7MLu2V10xCyuMTXpnUxYXjJnLA0sjNNFmetHhTTRxa63joZcFErq1MwoMNRI61z2WfW/s4032/PXL_20220608_145615548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYJB9u_q601vqNZrwYJqln9AT-6-DFOdphAxzpyTEZS_UzB4DjkZXUQG3UlPpYwWdbmU0kVSEBkUcP7t5ZzCBeDW2zKpExa0lJAwwzXAowZZQoagggEmcK7MLu2V10xCyuMTXpnUxYXjJnLA0sjNNFmetHhTTRxa63joZcFErq1MwoMNRI61z2WfW/s320/PXL_20220608_145615548.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><b>#281 Colton Welker - RC</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Welker had his first taste of the major leagues in 2021 with 37 plate appearances. It might have been more if didn't have to serve an 80-game suspension for PED use as well. Injuries have also hampered the progress of the former 4th-round pick. Just last week it was announced that he would be undergoing shoulder surgery. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Running count through two packs:</div><div><br /></div><div>Inserts - 0</div><div>Parallels - 1 (Chrome Refractor)</div><div>Short Prints - 1</div><div>Wandar's - 0</div><div>Orioles - 0<br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><p><b><br /></b></p></div></div></div>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-13720131146812509092022-06-06T15:43:00.005-04:002022-06-06T15:43:53.588-04:002022 Topps Heritage Blaster Box - One Pack a Day "Break"<p> I'm currently on vacation in Florida. Hanging out with some family and have a ticket to Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers. Other than the fact that I forgot how much fun it is to do anything in humidity, it's a nice relaxing break from my, well, not so stressful regular life.</p><p>While on some errands we stopped at a Wal-Greens and they happened to have some cards behind the counter. So, on a whim, I picked up a blaster of 2022 Topps Heritage. I have no plans of collecting this set. I wasn't even going to go out of my way to get the Orioles out of the set (already grabbed one of the Ryan Mountcastle relic cards from a dollar box). So consider all of these cards available for sale (unless of course I pull something that I really, really want). </p><p><br /></p><p>Let's see how we did with Pack Number 1</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFa_viWpHFQMh0gapigy9PA9it03bLxPm5Em4GW0JnC8Ejyt4xL8TtBPomBraoLhjLJ1yoIiwR140Q0j5F9hvIKYDnOAXN4c5nAK4bXKnbuSpxJokD36WIOPAp8XsfgEna86DiE6pT56Vp945ObUUjQTjNvPwNMDcCAq6iX1xGwvXkQ04cPIjaEaGy/s4032/PXL_20220606_185102682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFa_viWpHFQMh0gapigy9PA9it03bLxPm5Em4GW0JnC8Ejyt4xL8TtBPomBraoLhjLJ1yoIiwR140Q0j5F9hvIKYDnOAXN4c5nAK4bXKnbuSpxJokD36WIOPAp8XsfgEna86DiE6pT56Vp945ObUUjQTjNvPwNMDcCAq6iX1xGwvXkQ04cPIjaEaGy/w240-h241/PXL_20220606_185102682.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><b>#363 Yandy Diaz</b></p><p>How appropriate. I'm in the Tampa area and the first card pulled is a Ray. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskLAGZTr20aQ7n5m-CkvovoBqSonZLCspSYH8t41842IcnpLOOyX9SfibbvHJZFovAkuuhZhllfOwNSKrg8X9kbu3fy1QYfvqYIOBn8Y0VayHkp0OKfJRqoaLAbOVHZTi240iyENTf64wrsr6p5dz8yGF80KLSUOuiVY4F36DMGII9vPToeB2Ixp3/s4032/PXL_20220606_185112633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskLAGZTr20aQ7n5m-CkvovoBqSonZLCspSYH8t41842IcnpLOOyX9SfibbvHJZFovAkuuhZhllfOwNSKrg8X9kbu3fy1QYfvqYIOBn8Y0VayHkp0OKfJRqoaLAbOVHZTi240iyENTf64wrsr6p5dz8yGF80KLSUOuiVY4F36DMGII9vPToeB2Ixp3/s320/PXL_20220606_185112633.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><b>#59 Matt Chapman</b></p><p>In the grand tradition of Heritage as an early season release, Chapman is pictured as an Oakland A. He was traded to the Blue Jays on March 16th, so there is an outside chance he is pictured in his Toronto uniform in the extended series release.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3k2TFwbjO7BVSxJBzqCLMV_CUoJEaU_fPHAJ4BcIuFq31NYT-iiYkYhMnjhFs2xcMTbMZA3hxi3cwzncTgb-4cczuJA9h7w1xAu1UFmd5CAWy-YU3moD8bLYEVs7FCK7tBr3eBYyaWB0zTY5nu3oACR5Kd7ESaMk7TEQ-PFYEZJ-WeCOsEDSDTldr/s4032/PXL_20220606_185122332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3k2TFwbjO7BVSxJBzqCLMV_CUoJEaU_fPHAJ4BcIuFq31NYT-iiYkYhMnjhFs2xcMTbMZA3hxi3cwzncTgb-4cczuJA9h7w1xAu1UFmd5CAWy-YU3moD8bLYEVs7FCK7tBr3eBYyaWB0zTY5nu3oACR5Kd7ESaMk7TEQ-PFYEZJ-WeCOsEDSDTldr/s320/PXL_20220606_185122332.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><b>#111 Tucker Banhart</b></p><p>Barnhart joined the Tigers in a November 2021 trade and is scuffling along with a .226/.258/.252 slash line.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlFVwdEovtMMTTSoH8FEbOjfgNCYXUMMQgwM2izv6pJ0oVLpjpTk93mQppNvdMafbol5LkQ-Vs93f97g_kLdSrrFHa1nWgV12ADSK6VRuwcqS3EW4FHkcLtkMQiyPyNmdeaDjGpfRVhGVAji5lhdwANaWV3iTJ9MtE85GWWHUE1JrdKzphS5azyr5/s4032/PXL_20220606_185137442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlFVwdEovtMMTTSoH8FEbOjfgNCYXUMMQgwM2izv6pJ0oVLpjpTk93mQppNvdMafbol5LkQ-Vs93f97g_kLdSrrFHa1nWgV12ADSK6VRuwcqS3EW4FHkcLtkMQiyPyNmdeaDjGpfRVhGVAji5lhdwANaWV3iTJ9MtE85GWWHUE1JrdKzphS5azyr5/s320/PXL_20220606_185137442.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><b>#233 Josh Harrison</b></p><p>Harrison had a brief stay in Oakland as he was part of a deadline deal between the Nationals and A's. He finished out the season there before signing with the Chicago White Sox in the off-season. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDhw-dVZs3_lDUTKYzAkidWCV6y7Z5mUY1AMIHrCmOc0RvVzbwcc-9YWs5mY3Z9t9l6OpeEV9T8G5FdZng1hDqkV6Z9hKAFk6gB-Z1dIkKLlY-DlgiXEj_b_1tlnzQVBsrUPrVnSxwjrMQnCINcznTH86XqqLUKzGGoppJn42hm20VnMC9h7pSt2Z/s4032/PXL_20220606_185147524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDhw-dVZs3_lDUTKYzAkidWCV6y7Z5mUY1AMIHrCmOc0RvVzbwcc-9YWs5mY3Z9t9l6OpeEV9T8G5FdZng1hDqkV6Z9hKAFk6gB-Z1dIkKLlY-DlgiXEj_b_1tlnzQVBsrUPrVnSxwjrMQnCINcznTH86XqqLUKzGGoppJn42hm20VnMC9h7pSt2Z/s320/PXL_20220606_185147524.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>#6 Liam Hendricks</b></p><p>Speaking of the Southsiders, Liam Hendricks is next up. Unlike some of the previous players in this pack, Hendricks is off to a strong start in 2022 with a league-leading 16 saves. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMC8W94ZC942D15G_MVAPBihZP0C0n57VS1lb_YjSjJHuZ1nBcwYpLqCsEE2rSH81qebwOiC7imwZJvenNJxcdhnX6su29oX__pmhJ4IOTdpTU_PzeakvlNQrRsup32QBiTeR0ddHtF2Z_eKMaZBil8k5pMj_9t1V0O8CJgL0L3LyAToF0u3Txg4o/s4032/PXL_20220606_185201788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMC8W94ZC942D15G_MVAPBihZP0C0n57VS1lb_YjSjJHuZ1nBcwYpLqCsEE2rSH81qebwOiC7imwZJvenNJxcdhnX6su29oX__pmhJ4IOTdpTU_PzeakvlNQrRsup32QBiTeR0ddHtF2Z_eKMaZBil8k5pMj_9t1V0O8CJgL0L3LyAToF0u3Txg4o/s320/PXL_20220606_185201788.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>#47 Yasmini Grandal</b></p><p>White Sox hot pack! We're back on the struggle bus. Grandal is slashing .163/.274/.213, but he does have 2 home runs!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOk2-zz5ajRdPYWXokX-XkOrP70FbZCEGWZ6Pz9W3OG5WagyJZhHwOpheaPKWPMs9-Mu38XUvdPP3KsT9QkZ5h5kOykEI1u0y8WXWNosWkI1_0ARNk87kFGEFY8wWL21rb3XFZV04C_6bHZocxDv7xDcl4kdUxPi5HBsnymDh--s4hnk-ay_U65Li/s4032/PXL_20220606_185218790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOk2-zz5ajRdPYWXokX-XkOrP70FbZCEGWZ6Pz9W3OG5WagyJZhHwOpheaPKWPMs9-Mu38XUvdPP3KsT9QkZ5h5kOykEI1u0y8WXWNosWkI1_0ARNk87kFGEFY8wWL21rb3XFZV04C_6bHZocxDv7xDcl4kdUxPi5HBsnymDh--s4hnk-ay_U65Li/s320/PXL_20220606_185218790.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>#334 Bryan De La Cruz RC - Chrome Refractor #92/673</b></p><p>Hey now, a retail hit! According to the back of the wrapper these refractors come 1:176 per pack in the blasters. It ain't sexy, but I'll take it. Love me some shiny cards. In his second year with the Marlins, De La Cruz is playing part time, but has put up 8 stolen bases in 37 games. After working his way up through the Astros organization De La Cruz was traded to the Marlins in 2021 and had a pretty decent rookie campaign.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfS4HuDJ37pWbcMAHpL1B6gyz1vJtBMUER8REKYgF7ED5IcQjfw0vpDVn1nlXN-z0ZF801i2AGms3VnRRgPsLEVc-BTbFcqPSbKFelbsykLZ9mtLT3TspLx3iqDxWsBUakGmEciJTAqkopGv9GYm1jdylVK7QqJDPMgNumX5OO6pti67Fcg3X9h_M/s4032/PXL_20220606_185230005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfS4HuDJ37pWbcMAHpL1B6gyz1vJtBMUER8REKYgF7ED5IcQjfw0vpDVn1nlXN-z0ZF801i2AGms3VnRRgPsLEVc-BTbFcqPSbKFelbsykLZ9mtLT3TspLx3iqDxWsBUakGmEciJTAqkopGv9GYm1jdylVK7QqJDPMgNumX5OO6pti67Fcg3X9h_M/s320/PXL_20220606_185230005.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>#374 Kyle Seager</b></p><p>We follow that card up with our first retired player card. Seager announced his retirement in December of 2021 after an 11-season career with the Seattle Mariners. In nine of those seasons he posted 20+ homeuns and finished with 242 in his career. A nice solid career.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqzlZzuieAO0obnlWkkTKL2YWOAv81EkPkzj-yjX64SI99vPYa3VTSkJ_cAC-W8Y4sU4aHGf45Gbs7TwbJrEpDSU4bCUtR_zZ-Gio5K49daQ63in3KdkfxHqE_n5K9tqYe20OmI5tmxHvNf2AuayEa9KSNLCWD3y0PRC0RVBD4QTgydUUEW2TOwx8/s4032/PXL_20220606_185237404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqzlZzuieAO0obnlWkkTKL2YWOAv81EkPkzj-yjX64SI99vPYa3VTSkJ_cAC-W8Y4sU4aHGf45Gbs7TwbJrEpDSU4bCUtR_zZ-Gio5K49daQ63in3KdkfxHqE_n5K9tqYe20OmI5tmxHvNf2AuayEa9KSNLCWD3y0PRC0RVBD4QTgydUUEW2TOwx8/s320/PXL_20220606_185237404.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>#89 Whit Merrifield</b></p><p>I'm pretty sure Merrifield is the active leader in trade rumors per season in the league. It seems every summer the Royals infielder is involved in speculation that has him getting moved to a contender. As of now he hasn't moved and continues to be a steady performer in the middle of the field for Kansas City. Not sure if you know this, but he's led the American League in stolen bases three times in his career and is currently ranked 14th among active players with 166. </p><p>That's pack number one. We'll be back tomorrow with the next one. If you see anything you like, hit me up in the comments. </p>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-33050449244343788562022-02-27T07:00:00.001-05:002022-02-27T07:00:00.192-05:00The backs of cards and other things<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhw71F0ZG_XXThTtHaEKyNJdQudkHQCcEi55VKIWH11Yv56f1BCeWJkUOgUWLfeUFuo5y_WpmZv847q1aozIwbJt1NfmrP7bvrC7eFXWCxYfivuKFb0KV_Nu1wgfuf6MnsqIObgN93sLWc5xR4K5yrkzWGGmgWHFCE8BpxK6TFfJewZXNgmj5s-7zRB=s1050" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="1050" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhw71F0ZG_XXThTtHaEKyNJdQudkHQCcEi55VKIWH11Yv56f1BCeWJkUOgUWLfeUFuo5y_WpmZv847q1aozIwbJt1NfmrP7bvrC7eFXWCxYfivuKFb0KV_Nu1wgfuf6MnsqIObgN93sLWc5xR4K5yrkzWGGmgWHFCE8BpxK6TFfJewZXNgmj5s-7zRB=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>While at work earlier this week I noticed that the flags at the convention center across the way were at half-mast. I found it a little odd since, despite the unending amount of terrible news flung at us on a daily basis, there didn't seem to be anything that warranted the President needing to order the flags lowered. I also dragged myself away from my desk long enough to peek up at our flags to see that they were ratcheted all the way to the top. So, that led to me to think this was a state ordered decision.</p><p>In fact, it was. The Governor had ordered the flags at half-mast for all state-run buildings, which apparently the convention center is, to honor Col. Gail S. Halvorson. It wasn't a name I recognized, nor would I expect anyone else to know who this Salt Lake-native was. Luckily, I had some free time and access to Wikipedia so that led to a quick run down a rabbit hole.</p><p>Col. Halvorson passed away on February 16th at the distinguished age of 101. While that alone is commendable, it's what he did as a relative young age of 28 that led to the honor dispatched to him by the man at the top of the chain in Utah. If you do the math, you can figure out that Col. Halvorson was part of the so-called greatest generation, one of those that was in his twenties during World War II and like so many others volunteered for military service. He ended up flying C-54's for the U.S. Air Force right after the war and was part of the Berlin Airlift.</p><p>If you're not familiar with the Berlin Airlift, imagine a fleet of airplanes supplying an entire city with it's daily needs of food and fuel. Your quick history lesson. After World War II, Berlin was divided among the conquerors. East Berlin, West Berlin, the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, all that stuff. From June of 1948 to May of 1949 the Soviets blockaded all the land routes into the portion of Berlin controlled by the Western Allies.</p><p>In order to make sure the people living in those areas didn't starve to death, the U.S., England, and Australia flew in the supplies needed on a daily basis. It's estimated that over 2.3 million tons of supplies (mostly coal) were delivered by air during that time. Our friend, Col. Halvorson was one of the pilots flying the cargo planes dropping off those items.</p><p>While he on the ground in Berlin, the Utah-native would walk the city taking photographs and noticed some children watching the planes take off and land from the airport. He also noticed that those kids had next to nothing so he provided some gum to them. When he saw how they reacted to the small treat he was inspired to do more. So he told them that the next time he was flying over to make a cargo drop he would also drop some candy to them. They would recognize his plane because he would wiggle his wings as he flew over. </p><p>So he did. With home-made parachutes made out of handkerchiefs, Col. Halvorson dropped candy and treats that he had pooled together with some of the other members of his squadron. Just like that "Operation Little Vittles" (a takeoff of the official "Operation Vittles" name for the Berlin Airlift) was born. As an unofficial operation at first, he made the drops about once a week. However, as word of it spread, it received official endorsement by the military and by the time it ended in May of 1949 over 23 tons of sweetness had floated from the skies, buoyed by over 250,000 tiny parachutes.</p><p>Col. Halvorson was dubbed Berlin Candy Bomber, among other nicknames, for his humanitarian efforts. When he returned to the States he married his college sweetheart, Alta Jolley, and continued his service in the Air Force while attending Brigham Young University. He had a long career working in the technical and research side of things helping to design, among other things, plans for manned reusable spacecraft.</p><p>The candy drops he inspired continued well after World War II as Col. Halvorson helped organize similar efforts in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Guam, Japan, and Baghdad. Among other honors he was a centerpiece of the Congressional Gold Medal.</p><p>So what does all of this have to do with baseball cards, the subject this often neglected blog is supposed to be about? Col. Halvorson's story is one of those fascinating little facets of history, often neglected by traditional learning institutions, woven into larger tapestries of well-known events. This is why I love history and majored in it in college (sorry for the waste of money, parents). It's also why I always loved the little factoids on the back of baseball cards.</p><p>Yes, the stats were always nice to see, especially when Topps would list out the entire career of a 20-year veteran in type so small even a 12-year-old would need seemingly need a magnifying glass to read. As much fun as it was to see how many hits Marty Barrett had in 1987 (164) it was the random factoids that interested me much more. Remember, as a child of the 1980s I didn't have the internet. Any baseball knowledge I accumulated came from magazines like <i>Baseball Digest, Sports Illustrated, </i>or <i>Inside Sports</i> (or if I had saved enough money for the game and didn't blow it on a flat coke, maybe a team media guide). </p><p>There were also the tales our elders told us, but many of those, while making for good stories, probably weren't true or distorted to the point of legend instead of actual fact. What did we know, again we didn't have the internet to fact check the stories.</p><p>So, a lot of little pockets of knowledge, most of it mundane (from his 1991 Topps - Bob Walk led the Eastern League with 135 strikeouts in 1970), but every once in a while there would be something that sticks out. Kind of like on the back of Joc Pederson's card above.</p><p>Who doesn't like a story about waffles? A quick internet search of "Ian Happ waffles" generates plenty of results so it isn't like this fact is new, but back in the day, outside of a passing mention by a broadcaster on TV or radio, reading about the waffle maker on the back of a card would have added some character to the card and player.</p><p>Much like the story of The Berlin Candy Bomber adds a human dimension to the story of the Berlin Airlift, these little anonymous factoids on the backs of cards add a little something other than just numbers. </p>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-64016194647778318842021-05-21T13:43:00.007-04:002021-05-21T13:43:53.062-04:00Orioles Victory Card Number 17: The Struggles of a Rookie<p> Baltimore Orioles Victory #17: 10-6 over the New York Yankees</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXuLLY-7pL_0BAhAt6lBw0b35Sv5w23NFpvNbSJgZRlGZMcDLNcraflZyk5nuo0bsxGJippeyWXgJjriv4G2ZhSa8HgzXVTXbRuRSNonVxMVzbSy1Zf7vw8ckN8Npqejv7y-p8n_nB_A/s1056/IMG_20210521_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="1056" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXuLLY-7pL_0BAhAt6lBw0b35Sv5w23NFpvNbSJgZRlGZMcDLNcraflZyk5nuo0bsxGJippeyWXgJjriv4G2ZhSa8HgzXVTXbRuRSNonVxMVzbSy1Zf7vw8ckN8Npqejv7y-p8n_nB_A/s320/IMG_20210521_0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2021 Topps Heritage Ryan Mountcastle/ Bobby Dalbec Rookie Stars<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The O's are currently riding a three-game losing streak thanks to a beating put on their pitching staff by the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays, conjuring the ghosts of the '27 Yankees who got into shape just down the street from Tropicana Field, mashed out 32 runs in the three-game series against a Baltimore pitching staff that has careened directly into beleaguered status.</p><p>Overall they haven't won back-to-back games in almost three weeks and have just four wins in their last sixteen match-ups. I guess we should have been expecting this at some point. The pitching staff was patched together (to be kind) and the reliance on the bullpen early in the season has taken a toll on the bullpen. The chances of things improving are pretty remote, but hopefully they stabilize a bit over the next couple of weeks. </p><p>The offense hasn't been able to cover for the mistakes of the pitchers, but it hasn't been a total train wreck. They are mired in the lower third of the league and the .231 batting average isn't pretty (neither is the .297 on-base percentage) but they aren't the worst in the league. They haven't been no-hit yet either, and with the way those have been handed out so far this year, it's kind of a surprise.</p><p>Part of the struggles can be tied to the heart of the order. While Trey Mancini has righted his season (currently slashing .274/.341/.518 with 39 RBI) his fellow "M" brother, Ryan Mountcasetle is still scuffling along. There were high hopes for the second-year rookie after his scorching debut last season.</p><p>So far, it's been a struggle for the youngster. He's riding a .214/.239/.325 slash line with 3 HRs, 16 RBI, and 3 stolen bases. The kid can run, which is nice. Mountcastle has played roughly the same amount of games this year than he had last year and the difference in numbers is quite drastic. The number that stands out to me is his 30.7% K-rate. It's the highest number he's posted in his professional career by a pretty wide margin (except for a brief 10-game stint at Aberdeen) and well above the 21.4% he posted last year.</p><p>Watching his at-bats this season it looks like he's struggling with pitch recognition a bit. There are times when it seems he is guessing at a pitch and letting it rip. When he's right, he's making solid contact, but more often than not he's wrong and swinging through the pitch. It seems like the numbers are baring that out a bit as well. He's swinging at more pitches out of the strike zone (40.7% vs. 38.1%) and taking more called strikes (12.9% vs. 9.2%). </p><p>The good news is that when he does make contact he is hitting the ball harder than he did last year as his line-drive percentage, average exit velocity, and barreled-up percentage are all up this year. He just has to find a way to make more contact. </p><p>There has been some talk of possibly sending him down to the minors to get his confidence back a little, especially with the outfield getting a little crowded with Anthony Santander's return scheduled for this weekend. It might help him get in the right head space if he goes down and mashes some AAA pitching, but it doesn't fix the overall issue of recognizing and reacting to major league pitching.</p><p>Playing and seeing more pitches is the only way Mountcastle is going to get better at that. And that means playing him. This is a lost season. Having him getting at bats isn't going to keep this team from making a playoff run. It might be a good idea to keep him out of the outfield for a little as his defensive numbers haven't been great. Still, he can DH and mix in at first base a little with Mancini while he works on his hitting.</p><p>Perhaps we got a little too excited with his debut last year, but his early struggles shouldn't dampen our enthusiasm for his future. Repetition will help him recognize how pitchers are working him during his plate appearances. As that improves, so will his numbers and he'll get back to driving the ball all around the yard. </p><p><br /></p>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-20181065907932716432021-05-16T12:58:00.001-04:002021-05-16T12:58:34.598-04:00Orioles Victory Card Number 16: An early look at the Orioles MVP race<p> Baltimore Orioles Victory Number 16: 4-1 over the Boston Red Sox</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBX3YgAt1rkTksApr-_BL1Z_ikmMKfbekc3pBNkOq6Y1kIxPVInlHdS6FICrMvMmNbbGVWqUuJ6d4At7Z1MEekjZccaBZnY0KOSLg0ETdG1WIw1LSA9r2Zg7fxSgoGhIqvcXW_nToRcro/s1065/IMG_20210511_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="745" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBX3YgAt1rkTksApr-_BL1Z_ikmMKfbekc3pBNkOq6Y1kIxPVInlHdS6FICrMvMmNbbGVWqUuJ6d4At7Z1MEekjZccaBZnY0KOSLg0ETdG1WIw1LSA9r2Zg7fxSgoGhIqvcXW_nToRcro/s320/IMG_20210511_0001.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2019 Bowman Platinum Cedric Mullins</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I can't help but feel the O's have been waiting for me to post before they win their next game. Their last victory was literally a week ago and I haven't updated the site since then. That's on me. Sorry about that O's fans. It hasn't helped that they've run into a couple of pretty good teams from New York. The Mets swept them in a short two-game series and now the Yankees are on the brink of a three-game weekend sweep of the Birds.</p><p>The O's have come close. In the first game against the Mets they led 2-1 heading into the ninth after another strong start by John Means. Unfortunately, the normally reliave Cesar Valdez couldn't lock it down and they lost on a walk-off fielder's choice by Patrick Mazeika who accomplished their rare feat of garnering two game-winning RBI before before picking up his first major league hit.</p><p>Just the other night, they once again led late in the game, this time the seventh inning at home. The victim was Travis Lakins who left a pitch out over the plate and pinch hitter Gio Urshela deposited a three-run homer in the stands to turn a 4-2 lead for the Orioles into a 5-4 defeat. Bummer.</p><p>They are still struggling to hit consistently, although Trey Mancini is rounding into 2019 shape. The starting pitching outside of Means is wildly unreliable and the bullpen is starting to show some wear after heavy usage through the first 39 games of the season. Still, there have been some bright spots in the line-up, and despite it being less than a third of the way through the season, I figured it's time to highlight some of the early contenders for MVP for the ballclub.</p><p>1. John Means: 4-0, 1.21 ERA, 53 K, 10 BB, 52 IP, 351 ERA+, 2.91 FIP, .712 WHIP</p><p>He has been the definition of an ace pitcher. What's an ace? It's the pitcher that goes out and gives the team a chance to win no matter what the circumstances are or who the opponent is. That's exactly what Means has done this year. He's made 8 starts this year and has surrendered more than two runs only once, three in five innings against the Mariners on April 13th, while giving up one or zero runs in six of his starts. </p><p>He has gone at least six innings in six of his starts, including his last five in a row. Four times he's pitched seven innings or more and he's been fairly efficient with his pitches, topping out over 100 only twice, with one of those being the 113-pitch no-hitter against the Mariners.</p><p>Coach Brandon Hyde skipped him in the rotation this week in order to manage his innings a bit, why burn him out early or risk an injury this year? With a little more offensive support, the O's have scored three or fewer runs in five of his starts, he could be flirting with the idea of a 20-win season. That would be something.</p><p>The weird thing is, that his underlying numbers aren't that far off from his career averages, which indicates he could sustain this a bit longer. His strikeout rate (28%) is a little higher than his career average (21.6%) but as far as batted ball rate his line drives/flyballs/groundballs rates are all in line with what he'd done over parts of four seasons. He most likely won't maintain a .152 batting average against, but his career mark of .218 is still below major league average. </p><p><br /></p><p>2. Cedric Mullins: .316/.379/.520 6 HR, 12 RBI, 1.9 WAR</p><p>The most surprising part of of Mullins' bounceback season is the .352/.407/.537 he is slashing against left-handed pitching. Formerly a switch-hitter, Mullins abandoned hitting from the right due to a lack of success at the major league level (.147/.250/.189). It was a switch he had contemplated for some time due to the effort it took to work on his right-handed swings. After finally committing to it in the off-season, the payoff has been tremendous.</p><p>With a short compact swing, he's able to stay on the ball and drive it against southpaws and righties alike. Other teams have to wary about shifting on him too much due to his bunting ability and it's opened up some holes for him. He's been making solid contact all season (with career highs in average exit velocity (87.6 MPH) and line drive percentage (40.7%). Mullins has also already set career highs in hits (48), doubles (11), home runs (6) and RBI (12). </p><p>The fact that he is hitting left-handers so well allows Coach Hyde to keep him and his defense in centerfield every day and shift Austin Hayes over to left field. That puts two pretty good defensive outfielders in the game at the same time which should have a positive effect on the pitching staff. Mullins defense approaches the elite level, he is currently second in range factor as a center fielder (Oakland's Ramon Laureano is first) and first in defensive putouts.</p><p><br /></p><p>3. Adam Plutko: 1-0, 1.27 ERA, 21.1 IP, 14 K, 9 BB, 339 ERA+, 2.68 FIP, 15 games</p><p>For a pick-up that came at the tailend of Spring Training, Plutko has been a savior for the Orioles bullpen. With non-Means starters routinely struggling to get through the fifth inning the O's have needed someone to step in and work the middle innings effectively. Plutko has been that reliever. His 15 appearances is third on the team, trailing only lefties Tanner Scott and Paul Fry, but his 21.1 innings pitched leads all relievers by a comfortable margin. </p><p>He's allowed just one earned run over his last eleven appearances and just three runs total over the seasons. His inherited runners scored rate is a little lofty at 47%, but he's been put in some tight spots. In seven appearances he's come into the game with two or more runners on base. Three times he's wiggled out of those jams without allowing a run at all. </p><p>A lot of his success can be pointed to the fact that he is getting opponents to hit the ball on the ground. Throughout his career roughly 30% of the balls put into play off of his pitches were grounders. This season his ground ball rate is 42.4%. Needless to say that plays well in Camden Yards. Less fly balls mean less home runs and his HR rate is 1.2% this year compared to 5.0% over his career. </p><p>Could the O's move him into the starting rotation due to his success? Possibly. He does have a starter's pedigree where he worked out of the rotation for most of his time in Cleveland. Doing so, however, would remove a vital piece of the bullpen from Coach Hyde. It's more likely Plutko will get dealt to a contender sometime this summer if he keeps up his success. </p>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-14012467035234872172021-05-07T15:29:00.003-04:002021-05-07T15:29:50.496-04:00Orioles Victory Card Number 15: It's perfect in my eyes<p> Baltimore Orioles Victory #15: 6-0 over the Seattle Mariners</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwjjo28JQMpgIdkrPyatJoYMJKjIyPaVndFucUIfYxPyRwbMhrxVa-YVFd26-YsAd-tC00Bn4mmoz0_xEceEvLL9tig87fo5X8UYRsuwmnWNks_J164EOi3dfsJZqUFfwFTF_gKk2TRk/s1056/IMG_20210507_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwjjo28JQMpgIdkrPyatJoYMJKjIyPaVndFucUIfYxPyRwbMhrxVa-YVFd26-YsAd-tC00Bn4mmoz0_xEceEvLL9tig87fo5X8UYRsuwmnWNks_J164EOi3dfsJZqUFfwFTF_gKk2TRk/s320/IMG_20210507_0001.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2021 Topps Heritage John Means</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>Are we shocked that John Means is the featured card for this victory? C'mon, the first Orioles no-hitter since 1991, and the first solo pitcher no-hitter for the O's since my dad was a young man? Means was absolutely filthy against the Mariners, pumping in strikes (79 strikes out of 113 pitches including 26 first-pitch strikes, working fast, and keeping the hitters off balance with his power change-up. </p><p><br /></p><p>It was an impressive no-hitter as Means struck out 12 hitters, and he was a wild pitch away from a perfect game. Of course, that meant a brief but intense online debate on if it should still be considered a perfect game since there was no error charged or walk issued. Personally, I really don't care. I'd rather it be a no-hitter with a historical quirk. In this case, it's the only non-perfect game no-hitter that didn't feature a walk, error, or hit by pitch. That's way cooler than a random perfect game of which their have been 23 of. </p><p>I picked up the game around the fifth inning and in my forty-plus years walking this earth I have never seen a better game pitched at a professional level (in high school, my friend Mike pitched a perfect game that is still the epitome of domination in my book). Mike Mussina and his multiple 1-hitters have been pushed aside.</p><p>Means has established himself as the ace of this staff in picking up his fourth win of the season. Every time he takes the mound he gives the Orioles a chance to win no matter who they are playing. To me, that's the definition of an ace. Now, is he pitching his way out of the organization? Possibly. Hopefully not, at 28 he's still young enough to be part of the Orioles rebuild and it's always nice to have one name that the fans can rely on seeing on the roster every year.</p><p>Still, if a contending team like Los Angeles or Boston dangles a ton of prospects in exchange for the lefty, it will be hard for Mike Elias to break away from his rebuild mentality and turn the deal down. That, however, is a topic for another day. For now, lets just celebrate how great the outing was.</p><p><br /></p>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-61219489830892221662021-05-05T17:45:00.001-04:002021-05-05T17:45:14.186-04:00Orioles Victory Cards 13 and 14: Just playing catch-up at this point<p> Baltimore Orioles Victory #13: 8-4 over the Oakland Athletics</p><p>Baltimore Orioles Victory #14: 5-3 over the Seattle Mariners</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMqP22x4wYcadRtkYhzOfKJofQGuA1t0In1pbGWdSNU4-Kke-EAlYWcqPnic0zAYQJha_Ev5qagUSx3S86AkSVHqhi8UFlmiw_WjT0BLxlF0LIiHpKQd-zb-fxSkpSARH-hk1av7TEvI/s1056/IMG_20210505_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMqP22x4wYcadRtkYhzOfKJofQGuA1t0In1pbGWdSNU4-Kke-EAlYWcqPnic0zAYQJha_Ev5qagUSx3S86AkSVHqhi8UFlmiw_WjT0BLxlF0LIiHpKQd-zb-fxSkpSARH-hk1av7TEvI/s320/IMG_20210505_0001.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1999 Upper Deck Ovation Mike Mussina</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnrPBZTiDtsbOWMS7_Yv8nV6u2qvR74DSW24xq8K3itc28xZv6fY6jjTK85668XI_i_5ix4UJ66U4micNJpk_KS5pzbWbjnq3cn88y91Dfo0tRrZSGJI8ornv4tpk6l5wJiATQWifFPA/s1056/IMG_20210505_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="1056" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnrPBZTiDtsbOWMS7_Yv8nV6u2qvR74DSW24xq8K3itc28xZv6fY6jjTK85668XI_i_5ix4UJ66U4micNJpk_KS5pzbWbjnq3cn88y91Dfo0tRrZSGJI8ornv4tpk6l5wJiATQWifFPA/s320/IMG_20210505_0002.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2020 Topps Opening Day John Means<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Posting this while watching the Wednesday matinee game between the Orioles and the Mariners. Mr. Means, the staff ace for the Orioles, has a little something special going on. How he's doing it is a testament to a former Baltimore Orioles coach (who should have a statue right next to Earl Weaver) that just passed away this week.<div><br /></div><div>Ray Miller died at age 76 and is a member of the Orioles Hall of Fame. While he managed them in 1998 and 1999, he was best known as their pitching coach during the last days of their dynasty that ran from 1966 to 1983. He presided over the pitchers from 1979 to 1985 and oversaw five 20 game winners (Jim Palmer, Mike Flanagan, Steve Stone, Scott McGregor, and Mike Boddicker). Flanagan (1979) and Stone (1980) would win Cy Young awards while Boddicker is the last Oriole to win 20 games. Miller came back to coach the pitchers in 1997 (where Mussina went 15-8, went to the All Star game and finished 6th in Cy Young voting) and then again in 2004 and 2005. </div><div><br /></div><div>He had a brief tenure as manager of the Twins in 1985 and 1986 before heading over to Pittsburgh where he was Jim Leyland's pitching coach where he oversaw a third Cy Young winner, Doug Drabek, in 1990. </div><div><br /></div><div>Miller was known for a rather simple philosophy: "Work fast, throw strikes, and change speeds." It's a philosophy that holds up today, even if it's not practiced quite so much with the modern game's reliance on raw velocity and spin rates. </div><div><br /></div><div>He'd be really happy to see what Means is doing in Seattle on Wednesday afternoon.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-75337990183705982842021-05-01T21:45:00.001-04:002021-05-01T21:45:31.309-04:00Orioles Victory Cards 10, 11, 12: Some guys who were O's that were famous somewhere else<p>Baltimore Orioles Victory Number 10: 4-2 over the New York Yankees</p><p>Baltimore Orioles Victory Number 11: 4-3 over the New York Yankees</p><p>Baltimore Orioles Victory Number 12: 3-2 over the Oakland A's </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8i7iEBEKq0nQDpjnlDZpT6l31OZDUZgx9wLW-rhDikqD9qiy3Cmod7UmYr3HQDViDNvIL6cX5O043qoqXK374s9j5ePke0fu6EZrlbyvOvFOckhJpIioa26_MZiZH6-8xi_N1GgUOU6Q/s1040/IMG_20210501_0001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8i7iEBEKq0nQDpjnlDZpT6l31OZDUZgx9wLW-rhDikqD9qiy3Cmod7UmYr3HQDViDNvIL6cX5O043qoqXK374s9j5ePke0fu6EZrlbyvOvFOckhJpIioa26_MZiZH6-8xi_N1GgUOU6Q/s320/IMG_20210501_0001.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1997 Bowman Jayson Werth</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Wow, I managed to get a little behind didn't I? For the first time in the vaunted history of this series I missed a few wins. Oh, well, life happens and we move on. After intense discussions with the editor (me) and the writing staff (also me) we've decided to just make one post covering all three wins as opposed to flooding folks' time lines with multiple posts. Also, it's the easiest solution. That's what we like. Easy solutions. <div><br /></div><div>We do have a bit of a theme in today's trio of cards. They feature three players who wore the Orioles uniform (at least in Spring Training) but had the bulk of their career and fame elsewhere in the league. </div><div><br /></div><div>First up: Jayson Werth. Yup, before he transformed into a doppelganger of the <a href="http://www.resemblog.com/2011/07/nationals-outfielder-jayson-werth-and.html">Rated R superstar,</a> Werth was 1st round pick of the Baltimore Orioles in 1997. He made it up to AA ball in Bowie with the Orioles before they traded him to Toronto for the less-than-memorable lefty John Bale. You would be forgiven for forgetting that deal since it happened at the same time Alex Rodriguez signed with the Texas Rangers for $252 million. It wasn't even the biggest news for the Orioles that day. In the following day's <i>Baltimore Sun</i> there was more ink dedicated to the O's selecting Jay Gibbons in the Rule V draft than the Werth/Dale trade, which garnered a few paragraphs in a larger story about the team's larger offseason plans.</div><div><br /></div><div>It would be a few more years till Werth made his major league debut with the Blue Jays in 2002. He scuffled around up North for awhile before heading to the Dodgers for a few season. It wasn't until signed as a free agent in Philly before the 2007 season that his career took off.</div><div><br /></div><div>Werth ended up playing for 15 seasons slashing .267/.360/.455 with 229 HRs, 700 RBI, and an even 300 doubles. Bale, well he pitched in 14 games out of the bullpen for the Orioles in 2001, went 1-0 with a 3.04 ERA and a 1.313 WHIP. The O's traded him in April of 2002 for Little Sarge, Gary Matthews, Jr. <br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinydSK0h7vK-zdrvffw6BvsYOSP7jNmKjYlxglvYxLYYiLBBbbSDGY-M3mFGZlM7Vkh8nu6IzKZieH5F98my-1KtM326sb6AAiO_CiAUVcZhclpKJM7HtjVBEVe8rj3s8AiGDkYT09Q_Q/s1056/IMG_20210501_0002.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinydSK0h7vK-zdrvffw6BvsYOSP7jNmKjYlxglvYxLYYiLBBbbSDGY-M3mFGZlM7Vkh8nu6IzKZieH5F98my-1KtM326sb6AAiO_CiAUVcZhclpKJM7HtjVBEVe8rj3s8AiGDkYT09Q_Q/s320/IMG_20210501_0002.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2008 Bowman Draft Picks and Prospects Gold Jake Arrieta</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Ahh Jake Arrieta. Good times. One of the all time bad deals in hindsight trades in franchise history. Unlike Werth, Arrieta did make it to the majors with Baltimore, even starting an Opening Day game for them. He was supposed to be one of the anchors of the pitching staff as the O's moved into a new era of competitive play in the AL East. </div><div><br /></div><div>He never seemed to harness his potential (or the strike zone) in Charm City and was sent to the Chicago Cubs in a 2013 deadline deal with Pedro Strop for Steve Clevenger and Scott Feldman. The O's were trying to make the playoffs for the second season in a row and felt that Feldman, who had pitched for manager Buck Showalter in Texas, would bring "more stable starting pitching". </div><div><br /></div><div>Feldman went 5-6 down the stretch as the O's weren't able to keep pace with the Yankees and Rays, ending the season in third place. His tenure in Baltimore didn't last past the season as he signed with Houston in the winter. Clevenger, who grew up in Baltimore and attended Mount St. Joseph's high school, kicked around the organization as a back-up catcher for two more seasons before being dealt to Seattle in 2015 for C.J. Riefenhauser and Mark Trumbo.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think we all know what Arrieta turned into in Chicago - a Cy Young winner and World Series Champion. He threw two no-hitters in a Cubs uniform and seemed to have no-hit stuff every time he took to the mound for a couple of seasons (I remember going to see back-to-back starts in Wrigley where he took no-hitters past the fifth inning). He became a strike throwing machine, the complete opposite of his time in Baltimore.</div><div><br /></div><div>Baltimore (4 seasons): 1.472 WHIP, 9.3 hits per 9 innings, 4.0 walks per 9 innings, 4.72 ERA</div><div>Chicago (6 seasons): 1.044 WHIP, 6.6 hits per 9 innings, 2.8 walks per 9 innings, 3.22 ERA</div><div><br /></div><div>Pretty sure there was a clear winner in that deal.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-akrcnoozHgqZxuqgOuJrS32sH9KgAKF4nhtN0LKEF8HlXPY32ToUHxngbfAUk2c4uVq1sY2NcPfBSpmkwm40SlgbcDA9K6Xjv9H4MeQ8rgOzChhKTE0y7_Orvps_uThZyGMXAGT_ic/s1056/IMG_20210501_0003.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-akrcnoozHgqZxuqgOuJrS32sH9KgAKF4nhtN0LKEF8HlXPY32ToUHxngbfAUk2c4uVq1sY2NcPfBSpmkwm40SlgbcDA9K6Xjv9H4MeQ8rgOzChhKTE0y7_Orvps_uThZyGMXAGT_ic/s320/IMG_20210501_0003.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2000 Topps Power Players Albert Belle</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Unlike the previous two players, Albert Belle came to the Orioles in the prime of his career. Starting in 1991 he became one of the most feared right-handed sluggers in the American League. For seven years in a row he contributed at least 30 home runs and 100 RBI. The previous season with the White Sox he slashed .328/.399/.655 with 49 home runs and 152 RBI. He led he league in games played (163), slugging (.655), OPS (1.055) and sacrifice flies (15). </p><p>It was a risk the Orioles felt they had to take. After consecutive appearances in the ALCS in 1996 and 1997, they had taken a step back in 1998, finishing in fourth place with a 79-83 record. They lost Rafael Palmeiro, Roberto Alomar, and Eric Davis from their line-up. They needed a little power, and Belle was the best bat available. He signed a five-year, $65 million deal on December 1st, 1998, the largest contract in franchise history at the time. </p><p>Unfortunately, he didn't last all five years in an Orioles uniform. It started well as he slashed .297/.400/.541 with 37 HRs and 117 RBI. Not quite as lofty as the previous year, but still pretty impressive. The O's struggled to win games and finished with a 78-84 record, well out of the race for the AL East title. </p><p>Part of the justification for signing Belle to a large deal was his durability. He was the active leader in consecutive games played when he signed with the O's and he ran that streak to a respectable 392 games before Orioles manager Ray Miller benched him in June of 1999. The flip side of Belle's intensity was his boorishness with other players, coaches, and fans. Miller had enough after the two were arguing in a game against Florida. </p><p>While the argument garnered attention, his production was slipping a bit as well due to a hip injury. Still, it wasn't a horrible season as he ended up at .281/.342/.474 with 23 HRs and 103 RBI in just 141 games. That same injury would force him to retire the following spring at just the age of 34. The media in Baltimore didn't seem to broken up about his departure, </p><p> </p></div>
<a href="https://www.newspapers.com/clip/76861632/the-baltimore-sun/" style="display: block; text-decoration: none;" target="_parent"><img alt="" src="https://img.newspapers.com/img/img?clippingId=76861632&width=700&height=1436&ts=1607535806" style="max-width: 100%;" /></a><span style="color: #747474; display: block; font: 13px helvetica, sans-serif; max-width: 700px; padding: 4px 0px;"><strong></strong> 08 Mar 2001, Thu <em>The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland)</em> Newspapers.com</span><span style="color: #747474; display: block; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; max-width: 700px; padding: 4px 0px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #747474; display: block; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; max-width: 700px; padding: 4px 0px;"><br /></span><span style="display: block; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; max-width: 700px; padding: 4px 0px;"><span style="display: block; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; max-width: 700px; padding: 4px 0px;">That was <i>Baltimore Sun</i> columnist John Eisenberg on the day it was announced that Belle wouldn't be able to play baseball any longer. </span><span style="display: block; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; max-width: 700px; padding: 4px 0px;">Well, they didn't lose 100 games that season, only 98. Chris Richard and Jay Gibbons led the team with 15 home runs while Jeff Conine had the team lead with 97 RBI. Belle was a complicated person who battled his own demons, but publishing a column like that on the same day it was announced that a hall-of-fame career was cut short seems a little, to use Eisenberg's own words, "mean-spirited". </span><span style="display: block; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; max-width: 700px; padding: 4px 0px;"><br /></span><span style="display: block; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; max-width: 700px; padding: 4px 0px;">Belle hasn't had much to do with baseball since his forced retirement with his name only popping up occasionally in regards to some legal issues.</span><span style="display: block; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; max-width: 700px; padding: 4px 0px;"><br /></span><span style="display: block; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; max-width: 700px; padding: 4px 0px;">There ya go. Three players who wore the Orioles uniform. I was caught up with the wins when I started this column and see now that I am once again behind. The 2021 O's are hot, baby!</span></span>
Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-39580402225525825752021-04-27T16:48:00.001-04:002021-04-27T16:48:24.224-04:00Orioles Victory Card #9: Update on the Card Collection<p> Baltimore Orioles Victory Number 9: 8-1 over the Oakland A's</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFtTQHRG_tY6XBsWmsV4bspBIMK9SCd3KjLWVmXfmDSlhrcGu8frjDExVM4rhfgb_3empIaE5OrCNqmJXxn6ndfX4pwy6ryR4T1pSVDG80VyfS-XxuQNiEbZuWKRRsi0HlwFQQ8vnH-Q/s1048/IMG_20210427_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFtTQHRG_tY6XBsWmsV4bspBIMK9SCd3KjLWVmXfmDSlhrcGu8frjDExVM4rhfgb_3empIaE5OrCNqmJXxn6ndfX4pwy6ryR4T1pSVDG80VyfS-XxuQNiEbZuWKRRsi0HlwFQQ8vnH-Q/s320/IMG_20210427_0001.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2005 Topps Rookie Cup Red Davey Johnson # 389/499<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Slipped a little behind in these posts. The O's really need to stop winning on Sunday's and Monday's when I'm working. John Means pitched the O's to victory on Sunday as they snapped Oakland's long winning streak. Good for Means who is pitching like a true ace this season. He's definitely found the right mix between his 93-94 MPH fastball and his change-up. He can still dial it up to 96 if he needs to, but is so much more effective at 93. </p><p>On Monday, I had a couple of packages in the mail and one of them was from loyal reader Chris, aka hockeydude over at TCDB. He had reached out to help take some cards off of my hands in exchange for some O's and Lightning cards. One of them is the Davey Johnson card above, a nice parallel from a fun set Topps released back in 2005 highlighting all of their Rookie Cup winners. Those cards found their way into a lot of repack blasters back when I was buying those.</p><p>He also included a nice Steven Stamkos card</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6m1ql83GgoN31AIk7upXINYys61F1pWURvKEtaJiaDXiixKVAkNLsJmPmrFzuNdTUNlk8VoJwXm72-faVtRQKH8aoBoH_ZrLwBEg3H588-JzQJtXQaTknM8z5AupehwcweO2H7RuveU0/s1046/IMG_20210427_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1046" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6m1ql83GgoN31AIk7upXINYys61F1pWURvKEtaJiaDXiixKVAkNLsJmPmrFzuNdTUNlk8VoJwXm72-faVtRQKH8aoBoH_ZrLwBEg3H588-JzQJtXQaTknM8z5AupehwcweO2H7RuveU0/s320/IMG_20210427_0003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>That may be the first memorabilia/relic card I've picked up through a TCDB trade. The serial number (8) also ties in nicely with my daily post over at <a href="https://www.rawcharge.com/2021/4/27/22403863/lightning-round-fun-with-the-number-8-nhl-tnt-tv-contract" target="_blank">Raw Charge</a> today. Many thanks to Chris, check his blog out over at <a href="https://thepedestriancollector.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Collector</a>. </p><p>Along with the padded envelope from Chris, there was another one chock full of Lightning and Orioles cards/stickers. It was a rather large trade that knocked out some cards on my Eddie Murray and Vincent Lecavalier collections so I figured it would be a good time to see how all of my so-called collecting goals are going.</p><p>According to TCDB (in which I have about 98% of my cards currently logged) it looks like I have 109,762 cards jammed into the bedroom closet. That's not too bad. I figure I've added about 1,315 cards this year so far so the collection isn't growing that fast, but is redistributing rather nicely. </p><p>It looks like I am up to 6,044 unique Orioles cards with 366 Eddie Murray cards. That is roughly 7.4% of the Murray cards in the database and puts me 11th among collectors on the site among the Murray rankings. I'm only 7 cards away from cracking the top 10 at the moment and hopefully with a little focus I can hit it in the next month or so.</p><p>Despite being one of my top PC players, he's not the number one Oriole on my list. That belongs to Cal Ripken, Jr, currently sitting at 493 cards. Part of the reason is that Ripken has a few box sets out there that I've picked up over the past year. Also, he was part of the Project 2020 series from Topps last year and I acquired roughly half of those cards so far. </p><p>Over all I am 16th in regards to O's cards with a shot at moving up a few spots once a couple of trades come through.</p><p>On the hockey side I have 2,675 Lightning cards (with the Crunch second on the list at 50 cards). That's good for 6th on TCDB's ranking page. While I might not overtake the lead this year I do want to get close to 3,000. I just moved the collecting to a 3,200 count box so it would be great to fill that up. </p><p>Lecavalier is the leader in my collection with 339 unique cards (Steven Stamkos is second at 169). I'm at 8.7% of the cards listed for Vinny4 which means there is plenty of opportunity to find cards in trades. I am second on the website in regards to Lecavalier cards, currently trailing the leader by 35 cards. I really have to buckle down and find trades for him for the rest of the year.</p><p>So that's where I'm at right now. Thank you to Chris and everyone else who has sent me their unwanted Lightning and Oriole cards!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-66404799734239218512021-04-22T14:56:00.003-04:002021-04-22T14:56:14.426-04:00Orioles Victory Card #8: I got nothing<p> Baltimore Orioles Victory Number 8: 7-5 over the Miami Marlins</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxwg5AMMpBzc9Yuu_55sdCbnC6v5KUqq5cbAucMRCKULEH2fo8cl3K7MYuR2qK2ne5baT8Cfk72Rzy9HCDmz66KplkTKL4luuds_hxfT1kCmC5wkSkbLJWtVreAMiZTQpCfRkRRuMlws/s1056/IMG_20210421_0001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxwg5AMMpBzc9Yuu_55sdCbnC6v5KUqq5cbAucMRCKULEH2fo8cl3K7MYuR2qK2ne5baT8Cfk72Rzy9HCDmz66KplkTKL4luuds_hxfT1kCmC5wkSkbLJWtVreAMiZTQpCfRkRRuMlws/s320/IMG_20210421_0001.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2011 Bowman Chrome Prospects Mychal Givens<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Well, this post is two days (and one loss) late. Wish is was because I was crafting something excellent for you to read. Unfortunately, it's not. I do like this card, though. It's always fun to see prospect cards for a player listed at a position they ended up switching from. As you may recall Mychal Givens did not make it to the Orioles as a shortstop. Rather he sent 5 1/2 seasons as a reliever that was occasionally dominant and occasionally extremely hittable. <p></p><div>Last year he was traded to the Rockies at the deadline for Tyler Nevin, Terrin Vavra, and Mishael Deson. That could be a sneaky good trade for the O's on the road to a rebuild. Nevin and Vavra are ranked in the Orioles <a href="https://www.mlb.com/prospects/2020/orioles/" target="_blank">Top 30 prospects</a> by MLB with Vavra coming in at 13th and Nevin at 23rd. Deson is a bit more of a project as he is only 18-years-old and has yet to appear in a game in the U.S. as he spent 2019 playing in the Dominican Summer League.</div><div><br /></div><div>After a rough (I originally typed "rocky" but didn't want to go the pun route so early in the season) start for Colorado last season, Givens is back to throwing strikes in the National League. He has worked 8 innings, walked two (one intentionally), and struck out eight. He has allowed two home runs already (both at home) which is interesting because his flyball rate (14%) is way below his career average of 23.9%. If he puts together a strong year, he'll probably be on the move again this summer as Colorado is struggling in the standings (last place in the NL West).</div><div><br /></div><div>The Orioles are hanging around in the AL East and have run their record back to 8-10 as their starters have done...okay. Their rotation was a huge question mark heading into the season, but they've probably gotten more than they've expected so far. The one major drawback is that, outside of John Means, the other starters haven't worked deep into ballgames, taxing a bullpen that features two Rule V picks.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the other hand, that does give the team an opportunity to showcase a few arms to other teams that might be willing to add Paul Fry, Scott Armstrong, or Tanner Scott at the deadline. If Mike Elias and his staff can orchestrate a deal similar to the Givens trade, that will give them a few more lottery tickets in the system.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-88783531150425596302021-04-18T14:44:00.005-04:002021-04-18T14:44:49.120-04:00Orioles Victory Card #7: Slow start for Trey<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Baltimore Orioles Victory Number 7: 6-1 over the Texas Rangers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvq9RjQIYEPcS71Dvvm8QovLnmfe0idYeBkswZ8u81QEbI1NO4Q_bT8DKeSXSG5mhtt-Ay8iR3T0k3S_XjNei-UOAdvZWNVeDKf4VjBP5IFJfZC0ZIyNX62s44WzQMxo7acc5mom_xcQ/s1056/IMG_20210417_0001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvq9RjQIYEPcS71Dvvm8QovLnmfe0idYeBkswZ8u81QEbI1NO4Q_bT8DKeSXSG5mhtt-Ay8iR3T0k3S_XjNei-UOAdvZWNVeDKf4VjBP5IFJfZC0ZIyNX62s44WzQMxo7acc5mom_xcQ/s320/IMG_20210417_0001.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2019 Topps Gold Trey Mancini</td></tr></tbody></table><br />For the second game in a row the Baltimore Orioles found a little bit of offense to support a decent, but short, start from their pitching staff. It took a little while, as Dane Dunning shut them out over the first five innings, but once the Rangers bullpen became involved, the runs started flowing for the O's.<div><br /></div><div>One of the key hits was an eighth inning double by Trey Mancini that broke a 1-1 tie. With DJ Stewart on second and Maikel Franco on first, the veteran outfield ripped a shot into left field that plated Stewart and the O's didn't look back from there.</div><div><br /></div><div>For Mancini it was only his 10th hit of the season and 3rd double of 2021. He finished the game with a slash line of .172/.234/.379 with 3 home runs and 11 runs batted in. Yes, those numbers are well off his usual numbers, but it's early in the season and a lot of players are scuffling through April. And not all of them missed an entire year due to a battle with colon cancer.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm pretty sure that even if his numbers don't improve (they will) he's a sure fire lock to win the American League Comeback Player of the Year, an award that no Oriole has won in it's brief, 17-year existence (now is the point where I'm a little sad that 2005 was sixteen years ago). </div><div><br /></div><div>As Andrea SK at <a href="https://www.camdenchat.com/2021/4/16/22386915/the-orioles-offense-will-get-better-because-itd-be-hard-for-it-to-get-much-worse" target="_blank">Camden Chat</a> pointed out in a larger piece on the overall struggles of the O's offense prior to the Texas series, some of Mancini's peripheral stats aren't that bad.</div><div><br /></div><div>"If you’re secretly wondering if maybe Mancini isn’t quite “back” from Stage 3 colon cancer, his peripherals—especially hard-hit percentage, barrel percentage, and max exit velocity, all top two-thirds of the league—should put those worries to rest. A better explanation for his struggles might be that he’s seeing fewer pitches in the zone (41.3%, compared, say, to 49.5 in 2018), and chasing more. The good news is: there’s nothing wrong with Boom Boom’s strength."</div><div><br /></div><div>At this point the best thing for Mancini is to get reps. It's hard enough as it is to hit major league pitching, now imagine trying to do it after missing a year. It'll take awhile for him to get back to recognizing pitches and locations. As Andrea pointed out, when he barrels it up, things are just fine. He's just not at the point where he's getting a lot of solid contact.</div><div><br /></div><div>According to his Baseball Reference page, his batting average on balls in play (BAbip) is only .189. His career mark of .316 is well above the league average of .298. When Mancini is in the groove he is rocketing line drives, mostly to right-center. He's hitting way more ground balls than he has in his career (60% vs. 51.3% career) and pulling it way more (45% vs. 24% through his five years with the Orioles). With the increase in ground balls he's already hit into a league-leading 5 double plays. At least players are getting on base ahead of him.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm pretty confident that as he sees more pitches throughout the season those numbers will move back to normal for him. It's early in the season and with two or three multi-hit games like he had on Saturday his numbers will skyrocket back up. Mancini is never going to be a guy challenging for the batting average title, but I won't be shocked if he ends up around .275/.325/.850 with 20-25 home runs and a ton of doubles by the time September rolls around.</div><div><br />He's getting a day off on Sunday, which with the entire time being off on Monday, gives him a nice little break to clear his head and make sure he doesn't get into too many bad habits by pressing. At some point the entire Orioles offense will come around and I'm pretty sure Trey Mancini will be a key part of it. </div><div><p></p></div>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-9443087433654486252021-04-18T01:10:00.000-04:002021-04-18T01:10:11.658-04:00Orioles Victory Card # 6: Still in the trade game<p> Baltimore Orioles Victory Number 6: 5-2 over the Texas Rangers</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLg3oU5dFClvxszOQ-B0M5wrIzon1hhNLGU75VJVJ76hfhgyZCFKhHPWdrpJkYdrqjHQFV5-NFd5dKNeeFmu26FfIauBXRjPmHGMRK8RHQfiMd2iMZG85U7iJyUOv8Pn7ZCPdIp4t-ADo/s1039/IMG_20210417_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1039" data-original-width="733" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLg3oU5dFClvxszOQ-B0M5wrIzon1hhNLGU75VJVJ76hfhgyZCFKhHPWdrpJkYdrqjHQFV5-NFd5dKNeeFmu26FfIauBXRjPmHGMRK8RHQfiMd2iMZG85U7iJyUOv8Pn7ZCPdIp4t-ADo/s320/IMG_20210417_0002.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1991 O-Pee-Chee Ben McDonald<br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The O's managed to keep the losing streak to just two games (and only a day!) as they dropped a double-header to the Mariners. They had passable pitching in both games as Matt Harvey and Bruce Zimmerman pitched well enough to pick up some victories but the Baltimore offense couldn't come through against Seattle.<div><br /></div><div>They did bounce back in the first game against the Texas Rangers as they managed to put up five runs (two more than they did in fourteen innings on Thursday). Cedric Mullins picked up two more hits and D.J. Stewart hit his first home run of the year. Good times!</div><div><br /></div><div>As for me, I had a couple of trades come in through the mail. While everyone is jumping into the sports card market and dropping thousands of dollars on boxes they have no intention of ever opening, I've been plugging away picking up cheap Orioles cards through trades. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not going to lie, after getting furloughed at the beginning of the pandemic last spring, trading cards with strangers online was one of the few things that helped get me though the days (that and Porch Beers with The Wife). Putting together trades, pulling cards, and walking to the post office was a great way to kill a couple of hours every day. So that was nice. I'm not sure how many trades I made last year, but it was quite a bit. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Orioles collection has grown while the duplicates of other random players has dwindled. Yes, I have managed to sell a few cards along the way. Not enough to cover what I've spent already (I'm lucky to have a pretty good local card store) but, enough to fund a few decent single card purchases here and there. </div><div><br /></div><div>Oh yeah, that reminds me about my quest from last year where I wanted to give away 2,000 cards more than I took in over the year. Did that happen? Nope. I believe I ended up about even, but the dream of reducing the collection by one entire shoe box went by the way side. No, quests this year, but I am tracking the ins and outs to see how many I add. (So far the number is +1212).</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the cards that came in a recent trade is pictured above. It's a 1991 (an underrated set) O-Pee-Chee Ben McDonald. But, wait you say, how do you know it's an OPC? It says "Topps" on the front. Well, I know because it came from a Canadian collector and he had labeled it as such. If I had seen this card in the wild, I wouldn't have noticed because the only way to tell is to look at the back of the card.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZL50jKvm_InyWa6zIMJ3Q782i96ObYMd45wcfP4oyvf5gze7S1Jwm2cpBwXugegJglkXOIqbHuPHWpjcTAwKehXYdvaYHqhq4x1KR_kssCacFC_K-lvNaO9MLtCEsOlvM88vNK-K3UU/s1056/IMG_20210417_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="1056" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZL50jKvm_InyWa6zIMJ3Q782i96ObYMd45wcfP4oyvf5gze7S1Jwm2cpBwXugegJglkXOIqbHuPHWpjcTAwKehXYdvaYHqhq4x1KR_kssCacFC_K-lvNaO9MLtCEsOlvM88vNK-K3UU/s320/IMG_20210417_0003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>There is the tell-tale sign - French. Also, down in the bottom right corner is the OPC information. I'm slowly putting together the O's team set from these cards (along with all of the other Orioles cards in existence). It's a cool little variant (and another Eddie Murray to track down). </p><p>Ben is filling in as the color commentator on some of the O's games this year as well as calling SEC baseball. One of the neat things is that he will, at some point, get to talk about his nephew, Mac Sceroler. The big right-hander was picked up by the Orioles via the Rule V draft from the Cincinnati Reds. He, along with Tyler Wells, are a couple of Rule V kids trying to stick with the ball club all year long.</p><p>Sceroler went to college in Louisiana like his uncle, not LSU but Southeastern Louisiana University (alma mater of former O, Wade Miley) before being drafted in the 5th round by the Reds. He made it all the way up to A ball in 2018 and 2019. It'll be tough for him to make the jump all the way up to the majors, but the O's are going to try and work him into low-leverage situations. With their starting rotation there will be plenty of chances for innings.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here is Uncle Ben talking about Mac prior to the season (Ben's segment starts at about the 4:30 mark). McDonald is a pretty fun voice to have in the booth. With his easy going nature and Southern drawl it's just a treat to listen to him break down baseball (and say "Orioles"). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NEjfobc2hek" width="320" youtube-src-id="NEjfobc2hek"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-56092408292451066702021-04-14T15:00:00.001-04:002021-04-14T15:00:12.838-04:00Orioles Victory Card #5: Checking in on an ex-O<p> Baltimore Orioles Victory Number 5: 8-7 over the Seattle Mariners</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwteWBEnilMzmIEGr2AahDfN-XS3iO31ZtJhP88bq5djNeCTyv83rAlt0dyoEEszCfrge0GspjNucjmW2mFImrwEYuL4dgRqGYI3Y5z3-lbhFnplG4ja1iACH9aRHrviP8GzqL7gTxAo/s1056/IMG_20210414_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="758" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwteWBEnilMzmIEGr2AahDfN-XS3iO31ZtJhP88bq5djNeCTyv83rAlt0dyoEEszCfrge0GspjNucjmW2mFImrwEYuL4dgRqGYI3Y5z3-lbhFnplG4ja1iACH9aRHrviP8GzqL7gTxAo/s320/IMG_20210414_0001.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2020 Topps Gypsy Queen Hanser Alberto</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>After a sweep by the Red Sox, the Orioles managed to right the ship with a walk-off win against the Seattle Mariners in the second game of a double header. They had battled back to send the first game into extra innings, but couldn't pull off the victory. In the second game they battled back from a four-run deficit, blew a two-run lead, and then won in the bottom of the 7th when Ramon Urias lined a single back up the middle that plated Rio Ruiz with the winning run.<div><br /></div><div>Currently, Urias is the only reserve infielder on the roster. That's the joys of having a 14-player pitching staff along with 5 outfielders currently. It'll be interesting to see if that changes throughout the season, or when Austin Hayes returns. Ryan McKenna is most likely to go back to the alternate site once Hayes is healthy, but it's also possible that DJ Stewart may go back down as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the reasons that Urias is on the roster at all is because the organization opted to let Hanser Alberto walk in the off-season. The amiable infielder went through a waiver journey prior to the 2019 season where he was claimed four times, twice by the Orioles.</div><div><br /></div><div>He rewarded them with a fantastic season slashing .305/.329/.422 in 139 games while playing second, third, left field, and right field. He also tossed an inning of relief. All together he posted a 3.6 WAR, not bad for a waiver-wire pick up making $578,000.</div><div><br /></div><div>That was good enough to bump his salary in 2020 to $1.65 million, a figure he agreed to with the Orioles prior to going to arbitration. He justified the raise in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season as he slashed .283/.306/.393. While the numbers weren't as gaudy as what he posted in 2019, he absolutely destroyed left-handed pitching with a .375/.396/.521 slash line. For much of the season he was hitting well over .400 against lefties. The numbers are slightly more impressive when you realize that he doesn't walk, like ever. He posted 2.9% and 2.2% walk rates in his two seasons with the Birds.</div><div><br /></div><div>In a sense, he's the opposite of the modern day hitter, and a throwback player that was more prevalent in the 1970's and 80's. He doesn't hit the ball hard (82.3 MPH average exit velocity), but he doesn't strike out a lot either carrying a 12.3 K rate over his career. He sprays the ball all over the field, pulling the ball just 36.6% of the time over his career. </div><div><br /></div><div>Another good season on a bad team meant he was looking at another raise in the off-season, to the tune of over $2 million. The Orioles decided they didn't want to pay that and non-tendered him. At the end of January the Kansas City Royals signed him to a minor-league deal that would guarantee $1.65 million if he made the roster and another $350k in potential bonuses.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was kind of odd that all he could garner was a minor-league deal, but teams might have been concerned about his low walk rate and tendency to swing at anything vaguely resembling a strike. Well, their loss is the Royals gain. With a strong spring training he earned a spot as a back-up infielder. While he's not going to unseat Whitt Merrifield as Kansas City's starting second baseman, he should find plenty of playing time backing up Merrifield, Nicky Lopez at short, and Hunter Dozier at third. </div><div><br /></div><div>So far in 2021 he's appeared in seven games and started four. Early on his bat is taking time to warm up: .222/.222/.389. In the limited sample size, he's actually hitting better against righties (.235) than lefties (.200), but he's only had five plate appearances against southpaws so far. That number will go up as the season moves on.</div><div><br /></div><div>Not only is he a useful ballplayer, he has fun on the field and his teammates really seem to enjoy playing with him. </div><div><br /></div><div>I can understand why the Orioles would let him go this season. He isn't going to be part of the next contending team and they wanted to do as much as possible to slash their payroll, but it really sucks that he's not playing in front of fans in Camden Yards. It's players like him that help make a long season tolerable. Hopefully they appreciate him in Kansas City and he gets a shot at the post season.</div><div><p><br /></p></div>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-72329101564133758452021-04-08T15:50:00.004-04:002021-04-08T15:50:48.625-04:00Orioles 2021 Victory Card #4: Streak Breaker<p> Baltimore Orioles Victory #4: 4-3 over the New York Yankees</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LjxDascoobmC2tG5iWjoMK9ofdBHejcCFUnSm5LsTXD4n0Mnmrfp_Cr6dmDbQ5OPid1aaIOlZH2wpTY_4AaJ0CG-N_qZcE-TfQjAYajoVRxAFn1UmtZkZEzL7YlaA3Mn_OJRjbFPoLY/s1056/IMG_20210408_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LjxDascoobmC2tG5iWjoMK9ofdBHejcCFUnSm5LsTXD4n0Mnmrfp_Cr6dmDbQ5OPid1aaIOlZH2wpTY_4AaJ0CG-N_qZcE-TfQjAYajoVRxAFn1UmtZkZEzL7YlaA3Mn_OJRjbFPoLY/s320/IMG_20210408_0001.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2021 Panini Donruss Anthony Santander<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It took a couple of extra innings, but the O's finally beat the New York Yankees in Yankee Stadium. They had lost their previous twelve games in New York so it was nice to finally get one. It was Anthony Santander that played the hero as he homered and threw out the tying run at home plate in the 11th inning.</p><p>To celebrate I picked up a box of 2021 Panini Donruss. Did I pay too much for a product that doesn't have a MLB license? Probably, but it was still a fun rip. There are a ton of parallels, some numbered, some not, and each box has, on average, three autographs or memorabilia cards. I pulled two autos and a Kirby Puckett jersey card. The base cards are fairly nice with a simple design. </p><p>They do take variations to a new level with nickname versions of the player (Jose Altuve is "Gigante") and the city (St. Louis is "The Lou"). I think there are mask variations as well. </p><p>If this was priced below $100 it would be a perfect box to rip. Will I buy more? Depends on what else is available. </p><p><br /></p>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-65868761194906249642021-04-05T17:27:00.002-04:002021-04-05T17:27:33.266-04:00Orioles 2021 Victory Card #3: Sweeeeepppp<p> Baltimore Orioles Victory Number 3: 11-3 over the Boston Red Sox</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUfCvMnh2CA23CufFoNLXYBJSwe2fERafCRC8RDQSQN-N4JsV5kzpp-hVzWVA13OZ07Pk-xZMoixK_zN97ClvZ0iXSDZPP76npp7Cse1MdwkKx13rwxIzvw8kUY8xhd8EoH2iaTfvHuA/s1056/IMG_20210405_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="848" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUfCvMnh2CA23CufFoNLXYBJSwe2fERafCRC8RDQSQN-N4JsV5kzpp-hVzWVA13OZ07Pk-xZMoixK_zN97ClvZ0iXSDZPP76npp7Cse1MdwkKx13rwxIzvw8kUY8xhd8EoH2iaTfvHuA/s320/IMG_20210405_0001.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2006 Upper Deck SP Legendary Cuts Cal Ripken</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I'm not going to lie. I wasn't sure I was going to resurrect this series this year, waiting until literally the last minute to start writing about the O's. So, it's not a surprise that I wasn't expecting them to win three games in a row. The good news is that I do have plenty of new Orioles cards to post, just not sure what to write about.</p><p>So, it'll be a short one today. The O's took the Red Sox to the woodshed on Sunday to complete the sweep while getting decent starting pitching from Bruce Zimmerman. Seeing the offense click was nice as well and gives me some hope that at least a portion of the wins will keep coming throughout the season. Austin Hayes getting hurt was a bummer, but Cedric Mullins raking through an entire weekend softens the blow a bit.</p><p>Now the Yankees loom large, and they aren't in a great mood having dropped two out of three to the Blue Jays. A couple of wins over the next few days will really get people talking about the Birds.</p>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-57486872405853714092021-04-04T11:55:00.003-04:002021-04-04T11:55:28.590-04:00Orioles 2021 Victory Card Post #2: The New Guys help out<p> Baltimore Orioles Victory #2: 4-2 over the Boston Red Sox</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBOQBSYlOOrQlDuVymwlQxkDZ_8iGQua1fXE0tuxERRUH9VWND37XVgKoOs1mqoRGr8xZDlyCmo4nmOi40sLSJkfZYnfLbq8h-CTIp6Ae16appd0ZAhUeinzC2XswMeWgMcOJl6eiyX4/s1056/IMG_20210404_0001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBOQBSYlOOrQlDuVymwlQxkDZ_8iGQua1fXE0tuxERRUH9VWND37XVgKoOs1mqoRGr8xZDlyCmo4nmOi40sLSJkfZYnfLbq8h-CTIp6Ae16appd0ZAhUeinzC2XswMeWgMcOJl6eiyX4/s320/IMG_20210404_0001.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1991 Leaf Ernie Whitt<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table>While the future of the organization is heavily reliant on home-grown talent, the present needs some help from outside of the organization. On Saturday, it was three guys brought in from other organizations that helped key the win. <div><br /></div><div>First it was reclamation project Matt Harvey getting the nod as the starting pitcher. "The Dark Knight" made it into the fifth inning while allowing only two runs. It wasn't a dominating start as he scattered six hits in his 4.2 innings of work, but he only walked one and touched 94 mph with his fastball a couple of times. It'll be interesting to see how he progresses throughout the season as the number two pitcher on the staff. The best case scenario for the Orioles is that he continues to make solid starts and some teams in contention come calling and the O's can move him for some more prospect depth.</div><div><br /></div><div>Following Harvey in the game was Adam Plutko, a reliever that Baltimore picked up in a trade at the end of Spring Training. He worked out of the jam he inherited from Harvey and pitched 2.1 innings of shutout ball to pick up the win. Plutko is one of many bullpen arms that is expected to work multiple innings in games throughout the season as the young starters get used to the major leagues. There are going to be days when the starter doesn't get out of the third or fourth inning and the bullpen is going to have to stretch it out. </div><div><br /></div><div>On the offensive side it was Maikel Franco providing the big hit with a two-run single. Another late addition to the roster, Franco is in the same boat as Harvey. A solid start to the season with the O's could lead to a trade to a contender later this summer. In the meantime he fills a hole in the line-up at third base.</div><div><br /></div><div>This season is going to be a nice mix of young prospects and veterans looking to rebuild their career. Is that a formula built for a successful playoff run? Not really, but based on just two games it looks like the O's are at least going to be a bit frisky early on and teams won't be able to take them lightly. <br /><br /><p><br /></p></div>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-85695472128153175872021-04-03T12:34:00.000-04:002021-04-03T12:34:09.148-04:00Orioles 2021 Victory Card Post #1: Not a bad way to kick off a season<p> Baltimore Orioles Victory Number 1: 3-0 over the Boston Red Sox</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMU9fOb6roYysmyXmGMyLlbCY_OPzGELHQDoYJ_ZzHxjj8Go8l70pV-IMpNV1yF6nUs9DjvrD2STQVg3T-7VzvIF60OfdoOnUILXQ8vaXie1PnApcDdGT5gCm1m3UqGO6VERARZKol_Y/s1040/IMG_20210403_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="1040" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMU9fOb6roYysmyXmGMyLlbCY_OPzGELHQDoYJ_ZzHxjj8Go8l70pV-IMpNV1yF6nUs9DjvrD2STQVg3T-7VzvIF60OfdoOnUILXQ8vaXie1PnApcDdGT5gCm1m3UqGO6VERARZKol_Y/s320/IMG_20210403_0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2020 Topps John Means</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first win is out of the way, that means there will be no 0-21 start! It's the little things in life that matter when you root for a team that realistically has no shot at making the playoffs. So, it's always nice to start the season with a win. That goes doubly so when the win comes at the expense of the Boston Red Sox.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As for the game itself, John Means looked like the ace of the staff. Rookie Ryan Mountcastle had the big hit. The bullpen locked it down and Rio Ruiz is apparently the second coming of Roberto Alomar at second base. It was also nice to see the other team make a crucial fielding error that led to extra outs and runs for the Orioles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Means was dealing in his first career opening day start and really seemed to have figured out the fine line between throwing heat and mixing in his most effective pitch, his change-up. Last season when he returned from injury throwing 94-95, he seemed to get away from using his change-up to get hitters out and tried to over power them which led to some not so pretty results. Against the Red Sox he backed it down a bit and took a little more off the offspeed, which kept the hitters way off balance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As for Mountcastle, it looked like he was going to greet his first opening day with a grand slam but the Green Monster (and perhaps the slightly deadened 2021 baseballs) turned it into a double. Still, it was an excellent at-bat for the rookie as he turned on a pitch well inside and muscled it onto the wall. He probably won't sustain the crazy .398 BABIP he put up in his truncated season last year, but it looks like he's still driving the ball when he makes contact.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't have many expectations for the O's this season. Try not to lose 100 games, get some quality looks at young pitchers like Dean Kramer and Keegan Aikin. Hopefully Austin Hayes is healthy for the entire season and Cedric Mullins rakes as a pure left-handed hitter. The payoff for the rebuild is still two years away at least (although they could be a frisky young team next season). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The best part is that baseball is back and on schedule to play a full 162 games. Settle in for a long, hopefully enjoyable, season. </div><br /><p><br /></p>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-18073823463418557962020-09-02T16:34:00.005-04:002020-09-02T16:40:59.717-04:00Hey. Welcome back readers - How about a 2020 Topps Error Card?<p> It's been awhile around these parts. Since the last post, 2020 baseball began, the Baltimore Orioles flirted with a playoff spot and are still on pace to hit the over in their win total, and the Tampa Bay Lightning made it back to the Eastern Conference Final. Guess which one of those is occupying most of my time?</p><p><br /></p><p>On the baseball card front, things are still moving forward. Lots of trades (sitting at a -780 trade differential), a little bit of retail purchasing, and just one box of cards purchased. Most of the 2020 cards I've picked up this year have been through trades and a couple of group breaks. One of those was a 2020 Topps Series II half'-case break which led to me having quite a few Orioles cards.</p><p>When they came in a couple of months ago I logged them and set them aside. They're still sitting on the desk ready to be put away along with some other random cards. The life of a card collector - the sorting is never done. For once, it's a good thing because another card I picked up today sent me back to that pile to verify something. </p><p>As far as I can tell, Topps made a mistake in their base set that no one has written about other than a few <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=topps%20severino%20santander&src=typed_query&f=live" target="_blank">Twitter users</a>, at least that I'm aware of after searching on the internet for roughly five minutes. Can you spot the error?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhP3lRzTccSe-n9TBYfHBl9Y-NjF83DtZfZ8Ru7pNWAOmNPH_Ge6ZPTipvX5KecdcRlE6uwTWDGTKdSDBTGIMpD9jA9fsQgc30GA_tIXwfAL-MkdEN-OOipmbVd0XVX_eby5gttDhk3o/s1056/IMG_20200902_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="748" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhP3lRzTccSe-n9TBYfHBl9Y-NjF83DtZfZ8Ru7pNWAOmNPH_Ge6ZPTipvX5KecdcRlE6uwTWDGTKdSDBTGIMpD9jA9fsQgc30GA_tIXwfAL-MkdEN-OOipmbVd0XVX_eby5gttDhk3o/s640/IMG_20200902_0001.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yeah, that's not Pedro Severino. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Did I, a life-long Orioles fan, notice it when I first received the card? Nope. It wasn't until today, when I broke open a Topps Orioles team set that I noticed the mistake. Yes, the team set, which is basically all of the Orioles cards from the flagship with a different numbering system, has the same error. A quick check of his <a href="https://www.tcdb.com/ViewCard.cfm/sid/210800/cid/14298937/2020-Topps-Heritage-95-Pedro-Severino" target="_blank">2020 Topps Heritage</a> card shows that they used the correct photo. So at least he can show his grandkids that card.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Imagine working all your life to get your picture on a baseball card and when it comes out - it's not you. Granted, it's card manufacturing in the 21st century so luckily Severino, who didn't play consistently until last year, still has 250+ other cards that most likely have his face on it, but if you only knew him from this card you would think he was a left-handed hitter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As far as I can tell (again 5 minutes of research) that is a photo of Anthony Santander, the switch-hitting, former Rule V draft pick, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/08/05/little-known-orioles-outfielder-has-new-fan-club-thanks-scouts-uk/" target="_blank">internationally known</a> star, who had a breakout 2019 season that has rolled over to 2020.</div><div><br /></div>Good for Santander to find a way to get an extra card in the series. His base card features the awesome flag jersey that the O's wore last year:<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXk-7-mQjS4XNNgrtVEQp2odeNRFFJG9G_R_uzGmTQkCGC1_0MhHB-yd5VOuPHHRTTEcLVNUD-ZosRNK4h255Eh7RUfYJ7dEuSiz3He8jY51a9VD1Nvd1TQRuEPLuYdntdr9DbT5rcEro/s1040/IMG_20200902_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXk-7-mQjS4XNNgrtVEQp2odeNRFFJG9G_R_uzGmTQkCGC1_0MhHB-yd5VOuPHHRTTEcLVNUD-ZosRNK4h255Eh7RUfYJ7dEuSiz3He8jY51a9VD1Nvd1TQRuEPLuYdntdr9DbT5rcEro/s640/IMG_20200902_0002.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It also highlights one of the fun parts of figuring out who is who (who is whom? whom is whom? whom is who) on cards. As you can notice on the Severino card, Santander is wearing orange batting gloves. In his actual card the right-fielder is wearing black batting gloves. There are also photos of him from last year wearing grey gloves.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He also used a couple of different bats last season. One was a black bat with a brown handle. That's not the bat seen on the Severino card. A few minutes of paging through <a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/baltimore-orioles-right-fielder-anthony-santander-bats-in-news-photo/1160088627?adppopup=true">Getty Photos</a> ensured that he used the combo of the orange gloves, black-handle/light barrel bat without long sleeves. Yes, this is how I spend my hours these days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course, this wouldn't be the first time the wrong photo has been used for a player, most notably is probably the <a href="https://www.piratesprospects.com/2020/05/card-of-the-day-1987-donruss-opening-day-barry-bonds-johnny-ray-error.html" target="_blank">1987 Donruss Opening Day</a> Barry Bonds card that had a photo of Johnny Ray. Unlike the Bonds card, there is no known correction to the Severino card. And since Severino isn't quite a Bondsian figure in baseball, this error isn't going to go for big bucks on the secondary market.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It'll linger on checklists and price guides with the dubious (UER) tag indicating it's an uncorrected error, you know like half of the early Donruss cards. Hopefully, if fans are ever allowed to interact with players ever again someone will get both players to sign a version of the card and it'll make the rounds as a nice little novelty. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I suppose it would only be fair that Topps flip the roles in 2021 and release a Santander card featuring Severino on the front.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-38604545749635002872020-07-02T17:05:00.002-04:002020-07-02T17:05:37.396-04:00Update on the state of the blog...So, last week I was planning on getting all caught up with the 1987 season, and like most of my plans around here, it went sailing out the window. In fact, I am announcing today that the Orioles Victory Card (1987 Season Edition) is officially on hiatus. <div><br /></div><div>The reason revolves around a good reason. Over at the other place that I write at - Raw Charge - I've accepted the position of Interim Managing Editor. After a couple of seasons as Associate Manager I've stepped into a slightly higher position that will require a little more time on my part and I just can't be sure that I'll have the time to catch up with the posts around here.</div><div><br /></div><div>I do have a couple of posts that are almost completed here so I'm not entirely abandoning The Hopeful Chase. Card trades are also still happening on almost a daily basis so I'll post about those as well. With 2020 baseball hopefully around the corner I'll be sharing my thoughts on the Orioles quest to win more than 10 games as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the meantime, feel free to head over to <a href="https://www.rawcharge.com/" target="_blank">Raw Charge</a> to check out the work of our excellent team. I will be using the little power I've accumulated to slide more hockey card coverage than any non-sports card site should ever even think about. </div>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-62205324253684707482020-06-25T18:39:00.002-04:002020-06-26T14:26:25.051-04:00Orioles Victory Card Number Twenty-Seven (1987 Season Edition): Getting behind and trying to catch upBaltimore Orioles Victory #27: 9-2 over the Oakland A's<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CQbv3z_FA1nfFSXkTD0lRJN8SNteasfOm70hqcMvUxJmNHuaguEUh66K8U3SIKtisrWbFnNiQB3yhMknoBgyewu_088oNYOXGs6_N_8RYYsLdQO9vnkfZksmTUus_1e3_dM2wvGCxEY/s1034/1992+Donruss+Triple+Play+Ripken.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1034" data-original-width="746" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CQbv3z_FA1nfFSXkTD0lRJN8SNteasfOm70hqcMvUxJmNHuaguEUh66K8U3SIKtisrWbFnNiQB3yhMknoBgyewu_088oNYOXGs6_N_8RYYsLdQO9vnkfZksmTUus_1e3_dM2wvGCxEY/s320/1992+Donruss+Triple+Play+Ripken.jpg" /></a></div><div>1992 Donruss Triple Play Cal Ripken Jr. Little Hotshots</div><div><br /></div><div><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">With the sporting world on hold due to the novel coronavirus shutting down the world for a few months we here at The Hopeful Chase are going to our rain delay programming. For the last two seasons we've posted a baseball card following every Baltimore Orioles victory (I know, talk about the minimum commitment required). It's fun and keeps us writing about baseball and collecting. Rather than sit back and stare forlornly at the outside world we've decided to continue the series with a season from the past. The season of choice - 1987. Please enjoy.</i></div><div><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></i></div><div><font color="#222222" face=""><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;">Welcome to the return of the lazy blogger. It's hard to believe that June is almost over and I've only posted a few times here. Well, today's post is going to be short as I try to catch up (based on the O's record in June of 1987 it won't be hard).</span></font></div><div><font color="#222222" face=""><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></font></div><div><font color="#222222" face=""><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;">Let's update this post a little with how the 1987 Orioles are doing on their current homestand (at least by this timeline). The answer - not great. Despite finishing up May with a record number of home runs - 58 - their pitching has abandoned them after the West Coast trip.</span></font></div><div><font color="#222222" face=""><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></font></div><div><font color="#222222"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;">Before Mike Boddicker (who else) stepped up to stop the losing streak, the Orioles starters a 9.00 ERA in the previous six games at home. Not a single starter made it out of the sixth inning and the staff as a whole had surrendered 49 runs in those six games while allowing opposing hitters a lofty .347 batting average. </span></font></div><div><font color="#222222"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></font></div><div><font color="#222222"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;">Scott McGregor, who had been booed off the mound after only lasting 2/3 of inning in his latest start, was the most glaring example of the Orioles pitching futility, drawing the ire of his General Manager: "I'm concerned about that guy out there tonight." Hank Peters was quoted as saying following McGregor's sub-par outing. In his last three starts the veteran lefty had compiled an ERA over 14.00 in just 8 1/3 innings. Not great.</span></font></div><div><font color="#222222"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></font></div><div><font color="#222222"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;">The rookies (John Habyan, Eric Bell, and Jeff Ballard) all had rocky starts as well as they continued to learn their job at the highest level. Peters was working the phones looking for help since Rochester had been bled dry by the call-ups. Mike Flanagan was dealing with a sore arm and was weeks away from returning. It had gotten to the point that manager Cal Ripken, Sr. started entertaining the idea of having Dave Schmidt join the rotation. </span></font></div><div><font color="#222222"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></font></div><div><font color="#222222"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;">As the ERAs soared, the O's spot in the standings was dropping. Milwaukee leapfrogged them in the standings placing the Os in fourth place, now five games back of the Yankees. Things aren't going to get better.</span></font></div>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-85742158041559231982020-06-16T09:00:00.001-04:002020-06-25T18:40:22.211-04:00Orioles Victory Card Number Twenty-Six: The high mark of the seasonBaltimore Orioles Victory Number 26: 8-7 over the California Angels<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_m5-aKypztEYNF3mG3gdJKrmiByVndej7J-8oXbsxMokisZ8F_BjCCMTKrsLqoWKD4H1k7MKq0gMcDfaDcqMi7Niwyrv2gdmSETTDraEctmP-gIHUPOQ4wxj5o9mtlg2bqZEcFj0P5oE/s1032/IMG_20200615_0001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="742" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_m5-aKypztEYNF3mG3gdJKrmiByVndej7J-8oXbsxMokisZ8F_BjCCMTKrsLqoWKD4H1k7MKq0gMcDfaDcqMi7Niwyrv2gdmSETTDraEctmP-gIHUPOQ4wxj5o9mtlg2bqZEcFj0P5oE/s320/IMG_20200615_0001.jpg" /></a></div><div>1991 Topps Desert Shield Mark Williamson</div><div><br /></div><div><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">With the sporting world on hold due to the novel coronavirus shutting down the world for a few months we here at The Hopeful Chase are going to our rain delay programming. For the last two seasons we've posted a baseball card following every Baltimore Orioles victory (I know, talk about the minimum commitment required). It's fun and keeps us writing about baseball and collecting. Rather than sit back and stare forlornly at the outside world we've decided to continue the series with a season from the past. The season of choice - 1987. Please enjoy.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>I hate to ruin the ending for you, but the 1987 Baltimore Orioles did not win the World Series. I'll give you a moment to recover... Not only that, but by the time August rolled around they wouldn't even be in contention. June is not a very good month for them (hence the reason I've dragged out the last few victories). However, on this night in May of 1987 it seemed all things were possible, and perhaps after a few years of laying dormant Orioles Magic had returned to Memorial Stadium.</div><div><br /></div><div>This game started out nice enough for the Orioles, a few home runs early built a 5-1 lead and with Mike Boddicker on the hill, it should have been all over. Unfortunately, the Orioles ace faltered and wasn't able to make it out of the sixth inning. The Angels chipped away at the lead and tied it in the top of the ninth with a home run by Wally Joyner off of Ken Dixon who failed to pick up his sixth save of the season.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dixon was almost tagged as the loser in the tenth when he surrendered a run-scoring single to Gary Pettis. However, Mike Young, who had been scuffling since returning from the injured list earlier in the month, led off the Orioles half of the inning with his first home run of the year. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the twelfth inning, the recently recalled Mark Williamson was able to entice Pettis into hitting a one-out ground ball to second base with two runners on. Instead of turning a conventional double play by throwing to shortstop Cal Ripken, Jr, Rick Burleson tried to tag the runner heading from first to second. That didn't work and the Angels scored a run while the O's were trying to catch Dick Schofield in a rundown. </div><div><br /></div><div>Poor execution of a routine play should lead to a loss. For the O's, who had been skating out of tough situations for the last two weeks, they had a little bit of luck left. Lee Lacy led off the bottom of the twelfth with a walk. Down 7-6, Mike Young stepped up to the plate and tried to lay down a bunt on the first pitch. He failed. Same thing on the second pitch. Another failure. Down 0-2, Young tried a different approach - he hit a walk-off home run. </div><div><br /></div><div>For the O's it was their sixth home run of the game and their 56th in the month of May (a Major League record) and they had their sixth win in a row as well as their fifth straight come-from-behind victory. They moved into a virtual tie with the Blue Jays for second place, just four games behind the Yankees. </div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, this would be the high-water mark of the season for the team. Six games over .500 (26-20) would be the best record they would sport for the rest of the season. Within ten days they would be at .500. By the end of June they would be a remarkable 15 games UNDER .500 and 17 games behind. In the days before the wild card, their season was all but over. </div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, no one knew that at the time. For now, the future was looking good, the home runs would never stop and the pitching, patchwork as it might be, would be enough to keep them in contention (pay no attention to the fact that they had three rookies in the rotation and their current set of relievers had blown 14 of 24 save opportunities. Nah, that wasn't a giant red flag at all. </div>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-31372372705347003192020-06-10T17:23:00.001-04:002020-06-10T17:23:46.352-04:00Orioles Victory Card Number Twenty-Five (1987 Season Edition): Catching up on the seasonBaltimore Orioles Victory #25: 8-6 over the California Angels<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiects63z_oRK01Phcc_rPLTvBs3GoO5IEAc1ewHt0jvyg8Vt7FrWNydNup0R5x15_KawmkWDvxG6KeKevnsELOXm9702QAh-jn0XC6MuDNnlMrXliBG1TEt2EClmXl0HMBNQPfebZHiZ8/s1056/IMG_20200602_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiects63z_oRK01Phcc_rPLTvBs3GoO5IEAc1ewHt0jvyg8Vt7FrWNydNup0R5x15_KawmkWDvxG6KeKevnsELOXm9702QAh-jn0XC6MuDNnlMrXliBG1TEt2EClmXl0HMBNQPfebZHiZ8/s320/IMG_20200602_0001.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>2009 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions Nick Markakis Autograph</div><div><br /></div><div><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">With the sporting world on hold due to the novel coronavirus shutting down the world for a few months we here at The Hopeful Chase are going to our rain delay programming. For the last two seasons we've posted a baseball card following every Baltimore Orioles victory (I know, talk about the minimum commitment required). It's fun and keeps us writing about baseball and collecting. Rather than sit back and stare forlornly at the outside world we've decided to continue the series with a season from the past. The season of choice - 1987. Please enjoy.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's been a little while since we've checked in with the 1987 Orioles to see how they're doing. Since the last check, they've kept winning. Back-to-back 4-3 wins over the Oakland A's finished off the sweep and led to A's manager Tony LaRusa tossing a chair following the last one. It finished off a West Coast trip that saw the Orioles go 8-2 and raise their road record to a league-best 18-9.</div><div><br /></div><div>They returned home and picked up another victory as they beat the Angels 8-6. So things are running smoothly, right? After clawing their way back into the AL East race (following the win they were in third place, one game behind Toronto and four games behind the Yankees everything should be sunshine and roses. Not so much.</div><div><br /></div><div>There were several indicators that the winning streak might be a bit misleading. For one thing, the bullpen was still a mess. Don Aase's shoulder wasn't getting any better, in fact he would go back on the DL prior to the win against California (welcome back Mark Williamson, hope you didn't unpack your bags in Rochester). The new guy, Tom Niedenfuer was struggling. Despite picking up a save against the Angels, his stat line wasn't great: 3 games, 4.2 innings, 6 hits, 3 earned runs, and 7 walks. </div><div><br /></div><div>That left Ken Dixon as the only reliable arm at the end of the day. Surprisingly, it's a role he adapted to quite well. After posting an 8.53 ERA and allowing 7 HR's in 19 innings as a starter he blossomed in the bullpen. In 12 appearances he posted a 2-1 record, picked up 5 saves and posted a 3.86 ERA. In the Sunday 4-3 win against Oakland all he did was strike out Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, and Luis Polonia with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. Not bad.</div><div><br /></div><div>Despite the success he wasn't happy in the role. He wanted to be in the rotation ("The saves are nice, but its victories I want"). Since his reassignment to the bullpen he saw the organization bring in two rookies (Jeff Ballard and John Habyan) to fill spots in the rotation and give no indication that Dixon would get a chance to rejoin the starters. Manager Ripken's philosophy was "why fix what's working?" and reinforced the fact that Dixon would be a reliever for the foreseeable future.</div><div><br /></div><div>The rotation did get one of the veterans back as Scott McGregor started the game against California, but didn't make it out of the fourth inning (Habyan actually picked up the win, marking it three straight wins for Orioles rookies). Mike Flanagan was still on the sidelines dealing with his sore elbow. A soft-toss session went well, but it was still looking like weeks before he would join the team again.</div><div><br /></div><div>Offensively things were still going well. Most of the order was still hitting (even Rick Burleson finally got in on the home run act, hitting his first against the Angels). During the historic home run streak there was one notable name missing - Cal Ripken, Jr.</div><div><br /></div><div>After carrying the team offensively for most of the beginning of the year, the Iron Man had a horrible road trip. Hit hit 0 home runs on the trip, drove in only 3 runs and finished it in a 2-for-24 slump driving his average down from .324 to .294. As the season wore on he wouldn't recapture the magic he had over the first two months. He would finish with respectable power numbers 27 home runs and 98 RBI while slashing .252/.333/.436. Perhaps the consecutive innings streak was taking a toll on him, I wonder if anyone would do something about that (FORESHADOWING!)?</div><div><br /></div><div>So that's where the Orioles are at as of their 25th win of the season. Could this be the high point of the season?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1584680464108542814.post-43031574340175994392020-06-06T17:11:00.001-04:002020-06-06T17:11:26.938-04:00Orioles Victory Card Number Twenty-Four (1987 Season Edition): Eddie Murray hitches a ride around the stadiumBaltimore Orioles Victory #24: 4-3 over the Oakland A's<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvrad6fw8NH1xmYjddyZeQ_ixjXFTNraxJsZBr1p7iybG1QnIJQUxMT-VH44MWnn-lwMFUYoo-ZAnbrTEUJTgVuO2CPT5-9fJR0w-c4EChZO2BbpQgRKKjlklTFX8PnKhRbkoTOVMZ2g/s1088/IMG_20200606_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="1088" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvrad6fw8NH1xmYjddyZeQ_ixjXFTNraxJsZBr1p7iybG1QnIJQUxMT-VH44MWnn-lwMFUYoo-ZAnbrTEUJTgVuO2CPT5-9fJR0w-c4EChZO2BbpQgRKKjlklTFX8PnKhRbkoTOVMZ2g/s320/IMG_20200606_0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>2019 Topps Update Eddie Murray Short Print Variation</div><div><br /></div><div><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">With the sporting world on hold due to the novel coronavirus shutting down the world for a few months we here at The Hopeful Chase are going to our rain delay programming. For the last two seasons we've posted a baseball card following every Baltimore Orioles victory (I know, talk about the minimum commitment required). It's fun and keeps us writing about baseball and collecting. Rather than sit back and stare forlornly at the outside world we've decided to continue the series with a season from the past. The season of choice - 1987. Please enjoy.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Ahh, short print variations. Love them or hate them, they are probably going to be cropping up for the foreseeable future in Topps flagship product and update series. Like a of things in this industry I can take or leave them. Usually, if I pull one they're on eBay before the pack wrapper is in the trash. Mr. Murray has a few scattered among the recent sets and I picked this one up off of eBay for a really good price the other day.</span></div><div><font face="arial" size="2"><br /></font></div><div><font face="arial" size="2">It features a rare smile of Murray smiling in Baltimore. It's based on a <a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/eddie-murray-has-his-jersey-number-33-retired-by-the-news-photo/453474699?adppopup=true" target="_blank">Getty Images photo</a> that was taken on June 7th, 1998 prior to a game against the Atlanta Braves. A year after he played his final game in the MLB and two seasons after he last suited up to play for the Orioles (he was in uniform in 1998, serving as a bench coach for Ray Miller) Murray finally had his number retired by the ballclub.</font></div><div><font face="arial" size="2"><br /></font></div><div><font face="arial" size="2">Why do I say finally? Well, because the ball club announced in 1989 that they would retire the number 33. That's right, with nine seasons left in his career the Orioles had already signaled that he would be remembered among the greats of the organization. If that wasn't awkward enough, the announcement came roughly three months after the Birds had traded his contract to the Dodgers for the slightly underwhelming return of Brian Holton, Juan Bell, and Ken Howell. </font></div><div><font face="arial" size="2"><br /></font></div><div><font face="arial" size="2">The initial announcement wasn't handled well. John Steadman, longtime columnist for <i>The Baltimore Sun</i>, lambasted the decision calling it a "sham and an insult to players, past and present, who hold a deep affection for the city". He then made a case for the club retiring the number of Willie Miranda before Murray's 33. Murray, for his part, seemed indifferent at the announcement, offering up a "what do you want me to say?" when informed about it. The parting, as you can see, was a bit contentious.</font></div><div><font face="arial" size="2"><br /></font></div><div><font face="arial" size="2">Time heals almost all wounds, so by the time this photo was taken, past insults were forgotten. A 1996 trade had brought him back to Charm City for the stretch run and in time to hit his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lVPfKHHMLA" target="_blank">500th home run</a> in an Orioles home run. So it was all smiles and "Ed-die, Ed-die" chants that day as he toured the permiter of the field in a 1998 silver Corvette.</font></div><div><font face="arial" size="2"><br /></font></div><div><font face="arial" size="2">I would love to say that the 1998 Orioles showed Eddie Murray a tremendous outpouring of respect and prevailed against the Braves that day. They did not. Fellow Hall-of-Famer Greg Maddux put on one of his clinics as he twirled a 4-hit shutout, facing just 30 hitters (with 20 of them hitting groundballs). It was the first time in 129 games the Os had been shut out and Maddux made it look easy. Doug Drabek, starting for the Orioles, made it look difficult as he gave up five runs in three innings. The Orioles would drop the game 9-0 in a somewhat quick-paced 2:25.</font></div><div><font face="arial" size="2"><br /></font></div><div><font face="arial" size="2">There was just a bit of star power in Camden Yards that day.. Five Hall-of-Famers (Maddux, Chipper Jones, Cal Ripken, Jr., Harold Baines, and Roberto Alomar) played in the game. Three more hallowed members (Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Bobby Cox) sat on the bench for the Braves while the Orioles had Mike Mussina and his future Hall-of-Fame self on the bench. Both GMs - John Schuerholz for Atlanta and Pat Gillick for the O's - have their names in the Pioneer/Builders wing in Cooperstown as well.</font></div><div><font face="arial" size="2"><br /></font></div><div><font face="arial" size="2">Eleven total future members had some hand in the game while already enshrined members Jim Palmer, Earl Weaver, and Frank Robinson took part in the pre-game ceremony (Brooks Robinson sent a video tribute). Including Murray, that makes fifteen (!) Hall-of-Famers at the Yard that day. Not too shabby for a random day in June.</font></div><div><font face="arial" size="2"><br /></font></div><div><br /></div><div><font face="arial" size="2">For those wondering what's going on in the 1987 Orioles season - we'll get back to that with the next post. I realize that we are way off when it comes to dates (the Orioles 24th victory took place on May 25th) but trust me it'll all work out. There is a bit of a swoon coming up so I figured it would be better to spread things out a bit. Since it doesn't look like there will be 2020 baseball any time soon we'll be sticking to the 1987 season for a little while longer.</font></div><div><font face="arial" size="2"><br /></font></div><div><font face="arial" size="2"><br /></font></div>Justin G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07242355189588967971noreply@blogger.com0