1998 Topps All-Star Rookie Outfielder Magglio Ordóñez

The unlikely path that lay before Magglio Ordóñez was that of a 15 year MLB veteran. He was a late bloomer who became a smash hit in two AL Central cities. Magglio joined Mark Kotsay and Ben Grieve in the Topps All-Star Rookie outfield for the 1998 season after being left unprotected in the Rule V Draft the year before. Ordóñez had solid if not spectacular numbers in his rookie season, including 14 homers and 9 stolen bases. 

  Ordóñez was signed as an international free agent by the White Sox out of Caracas, Venezuela - the same hometown as former White Sox great Chico Carrasquel. He would spend 5 mostly uneventful seasons in the minor leagues before having a breakout campaign for AAA Nashville. He was the 1997 MVP of the American Association, thanks to a meaty .329 average and an OPS of .840. He did consistently rise in the minor league ranks each after after 1994, and showed glimpses of the power he'd later display at the big league level. 

Once he made it to the big leagues, Ordóñez was hitting his prime baseball years. With the White Sox, he made it to 4 All-Star games, and clubbed 30+ homers and 110+ RBI in four straight seasons starting in 1999. He earned the first of 3 career Silver Slugger awards in 2000, when he hit .315/.371/.546 with 32 homers, 126 RBI, 102 runs scored and led the AL in sacrifice hits. Things were going great for Ordóñez until a collision with an infielder on a pop up in short right field in 2004, which led to 2 surgeries on his knee. He'd play in just 52 games that season. Following that tough luck season, Ordóñez became a free agent and signed with the rival AL Central doormat, the Detroit Tigers.

Magglio's arrival in the motor city coincided with the team's renaissance from an afterthought to a juggernaut. During his first season in Detroit, he was still rehabbing and recovering from the knee injury that decimated his 2004 campaign. He'd play in 82 games in 2005, and crept back above .300 with a .302 average. This came with a bitter aftertaste - the White Sox would win the 2005 World Series without his bat in the lineup. But 2006 would be a different story. Ordóñez played his first full season since 2003, and helped the Tigers make a deep playoff run of their own, including some heroics in the 2006 ALCS. In game 4 of the series, Ordóñez hit a pair of homers - one to tie the game in the 6th inning and the next to walk off as a winner in the ninth. The Tigers would fall in the World Series to the Cardinals, with Ordóñez hitting just 2-19 with 4 Ks in the five game series. Then in 2007, he had one of the more remarkable offensive seasons in recent memory. He won the AL batting title, for starters, with a .363 average. He had 54 doubles, taking advantage of Comerica Park's spacious outfield alleys, also leading the league. Combined with his 28 homers, he managed to hit the most extra base hits in a season in MLB history without hitting a Triple. It would prove to be his 6th and final All-Star nod, and his 3rd and final Silver Slugger award. 

For his career, Ordóñez slashed .309/.369/.502 for an OPS of .871 and an OPS+ of 125. His 294 career homers trail only Miguel Cabrera and Andres Galarraga for the most by a Venezuelan born player in MLB history. 

Do you have any Magglio memories? I'd love to read them in the comments below. 

Thanks for reading!

1998 Topps All-Star Rookie Catcher A.J. Hinch

A.J. Hinch had all the trappings of a future star - he was a high school superstar, an Olympian, and a college standout. combine that with a quick run through the minors and you get a player ripe for Topps All-Star Rookie status. Of course, it didn't hurt that he was the only rookie catcher to play over 100 games in 1998.

The Oakland A's in 1998 were still looking for their next franchise catcher. Long-time catcher Terry Steinbach, a holdover from the great A's teams of the late 80s, left the team to play for his hometown Twins in 1997. Without him, the A's split their catching duties between 29 year old Brent Mayne, 28 year old switch hitter George Williams, and Izzy Molina (no relation). Williams actually had a pretty good season, with an OPS+ of 111 and an OBP of .397. Of course, Moneyball was still a few seasons away, so the A's were looking for power from the catching position. A.J. Hinch was poised to be the man for the job after a hot season in the minors, in which he hit 24 homers across two levels. 

For the big league club in 1998, Hinch struggled to adjust to major league stuff. He did have 9 homers and added 10 doubles, but slugged just .341 for the season. The big issue, which had not been hinted at in his amateur or minor league career, were the strikeouts. Hinch whiffed 89 times in that first year, good for a K rate of 22.8%. He displayed some decent skills behind the plate, throwing out 35 base stealers and committing just 9 errors in 120 games. 

 

Hinch came of age in Oklahoma, winning the 1992 Gatorade High School Player of the Year. He had starred on the Junior Team USA squad in 1991 and 1992, and he would join the big boys for Team USA in the 1996 Olympics, where he shared in a Bronze medal finish. He was drafted out of high school by the White Sox, but opted instead to retain amateur status with Team USA and his college of choice, Stanford. He stayed in school all 4 years, despite being drafted again following his Junior year, when was named the PAC-10 player of the Year. He would repeat the feat as a Senior, before being drafted a third time, now by the Oakland A's in the 3rd round of the June MLB draft. 
     

                                                            

His rookie season would be his best in terms of games played and several offensive categories. In 2000, Hinch was sent back to Triple-A to try to right the ship after a rough 1999. He was part of the 3 team deal in the 2001 off-season that sent Johnny Damon to Oakland and Ben Grieve to Tampa Bay. Hinch landed in Kansas City, where he would serve as Brent Mayne's backup - the same Brent Mayne he succeeded in Oakland back in 1998. Hinch would bounce around the league for a couple years as a backup in Detroit and Philadelphia, playing a majority of his games in Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre. He retired following the 2005 season, but had already started making plans for his next steps as early as 2003 when he attended the Winter Meetings and met with several General Managers. 

After his retirement, he served with the Diamondbacks as a minor league director of operations, then as the team's director of player development. In 2009, he was given the opportunity to be the team's manager. This learning experience would lead to a scouting gig and assistant general Manager role with the Padres, before the now controversial tenure as manager of the Houston Astros. Taking over for Bo Porter in 2014, Hinch inherited a team that was expected to lose, but more importantly, expected to learn how to win. The team exceeded expectations and made it to the post season for the first time in a decade with a Wild Card berth. The Astros remained competitive in the next few years while gaining experience. The good news is that they did learn to win, the bad news is how they won. The Astros won the 2017 World Series, but later were discovered to have done so with the benefit of an elaborate system for intercepting and relaying the opponent's pitches. For his part, Hinch did express regret and was the first to publicly apologize for the scandal. He listed as his biggest regret that he did not do more to curb the sign stealing when he first became aware of it. 

Hinch has been given another chance to show his integrity - following the retirement of Ron Gardenhire, Hinch was hired to be the manager of the Detroit Tigers for the 2021 season. 

Do you have any A.J. Hinch memories? I'd love to read them in the comments below. Uh... please be civil!

Thanks for reading!

I Love the 80s - 1982 Detroit Tigers

This is a series of posts on a 1980's Frankenset. Each page features a different team, with 9 of my personal favorite cards from that year's team. You might find players repeated, you'll definitely see brands repeated, but hopefully you'll agree that there are some interesting selections from the 1980s!

When Reds legend Sparky Anderson came to the Tigers as Manager in 1979, he made a prediction that the team would win a World Series in 5 years. He nearly exceeded the goal of that prognostication in 1981, as the team remained in postseason contention until the final weekend. They needed to take 2 of 3 from the Milwaukee Brewers, but fell short despite a great pitching performance in the 2nd game from staff ace Jack Morris. They would ultimately finish in 3rd place in the AL East for the season. Their overall record of 60-49 saw the team just barely outscore their opponents, and rely on a young nucleus of talent on offense and on the mound.

  

1982 was a step backwards. An injury to Kirk Gibson derailed what would have been his first full season after his 1980 call up and the strike shortened 81 campaign. The young Tigers had another year to develop under Sparky's tutelage, finishing in 4th place with an 83-79 record. With the bulk of the lineup now entering the prime years of their careers, the future would be bright. A warm up to a rivalry began in 1982 as well between the Tigers and the Twins -- a pair of brawls during a May game would provide fuel for both teams. Rookie Kent Hrbek of the Twins would see his 22 game hitting streak end, but it was rookie catcher Tim Laudner who would be tasked with trying to keep up with Tigers speedster Chet Lemon as Lemon charged the mound following a brushback pitch from Twins' hurler Pete Redfern. Lemon would beat Laudner to the mound handily, though Laudner was able to stem the tide a bit by gathering Lemon up with a bear hug. Tigers catcher Lance Parrish muscled up and pulled Laudner away in a rare moment of positional fraternity before the brawl could engulf him. Kirk Gibson and Twins infielder Jesus Vega had a notable exchange at the fringes of the pile, with Gibson later getting his revenge at the plate with a go ahead 2 run homer that proved to be the decisive blow. The most notable casualty of the 2nd pile-up was the winning pitcher on the day, the Tigers' Dave Rozema. He was well clear of any punches thrown, but slipped on the grass and injured ligaments in his knee attempting to join the fracas. The Tigers were building a brand of toughness and aggressive baseball that would serve them well throughout the 1980s.

The Cards:

Fleer #262 Champ Summers - The 35 year old Summers was the regular DH for the Tigers in 1981. He debuted as a 28 year old rookie for the Oakland A's in 1974 but didn't get his first taste of the post season until a decade later with the Padres in the 1984 NLCS and the World Series against these same Tigers. He was a late bloomer, having signed his first pro contract at the age of 25 for $500. He served in Vietnam before attending college to play basketball. He was "discovered" playing softball by baseball scouts after being kicked off the basketball team for fighting a teammate. Summers came to Detroit in 1979 in a mid season deal for a player to be named later. He followed Sparky Anderson from Cincinnati, having filled a utility role for the Reds in 1977 and 78. Summers final big league game was his lone appearance in the 1984 World Series. His time with the Tigers was the most productive of his career- 40 of his 54 career homers came for Detroit. 

Donruss #107 Jack Morris - "The winningest pitcher of the 1980s" was already well established as the Tigers' #1 starter by 1981, his age 26 season. Morris led the AL in victories in 1981, with 14. He was the American League starter in the All-Star Game, and was certainly the Tigers most valuable arm. Morris would win at least 15 games every season from 1982 until 1989, and was 3-0 for the Tigers in the 1984 post season, including 2 complete game wins in the World Series. Morris would become known for big game heroics, include a 10 inning complete game shutout in the 7th game of the 1991 World Series. The legend of that game, along with three 20 win seasons, five all-star games, and 254 career wins punched his ticket to Cooperstown, with an election by the veteran's committee in 2018. 

Fleer #284 Lou Whitaker - The 1978 AL Rookie of the Year, Whitaker was a star player and key contributor to the Tigers success throughout the 1980s. Whitaker was an All-Star, Silver Slugger, and Gold Glove winner for the 1983, 84, and 85 seasons. He was named to five all-star teams and had four Silver Sluggers overall to go with his three Gold Gloves. Whitaker was a mainstay at the top of the lineup for the Tigers for 19 seasons, during which he accumulated over 75 wins above replacement. Whitaker is still waiting for his call to the Hall of Fame to join his teammates Morris and Alan Trammell.

Fleer #275 Kevin Saucier - The Tigers' closer in 1981, Saucier was another young phenom in the mold of Morris and Dan Petry for the Tigers. He posted a sparkling 1.65 ERA with 13 saves over 38 appearances in '81. The following season saw his fortunes change, as is often the case for bullpen arms. He would relinquish the closer role to a committee of relievers, but saved five games of his own. Saucier's career as an MLB pitcher ended due o a shoulder injury following the 1982 season, missing out on the magical 1984 Tigers run. Fortunately, "Hot Sauce" had already tasted victory as a member of the 1980 Phillies team. His nickname was due to his antics on the mound. The nickname could cause some confusion, however, as his name is pronounced "So-Shay" instead of "saucy-er."

Topps Traded #62T Chet Lemon - Lemon would prove to be one of best acquisitions of the 1982 season, coming over to Detroit after seven seasons on the south side of Chicago. In a swap of 26 year old outfielders, the Tigers gave up slugger Steve Kemp for the on base machine Lemon. Little did they know that Lemon was just getting started and Kemp was near the end of his productive time as a big leaguer. Lemon combined a patient approach with the approach of a patient- he led the AL in hit by pitch 4 times. He finished in the top-ten in OBP three times, and began slugging in earnest for the Tigers in the 80s, averaging over 30 doubles and nearly 20 homers a year. He contributed five hits and stole a pair of bases in the 1984 World Series as well. His career OPS+ of 121  ranks favorably among his peers. 

Topps #475 Alan Trammell - The other half of the Tigers' double play combo with Lou Whitaker, Trammell displayed unexpected power from the Short Stop position while remaining a defensive asset. While not a home run hitter, Trammell was a doubles machine, and hit for average with five top-ten seasons in his career. He was the MVP of the 1984 World Series, hitting a pair of homers and posting a .450 average. He will forever be connected to Lou Whitaker, who debuted with Trammell on the same day in 1978. They got their first major league hits off the same pitcher, and Lou was on base for both of his World Series homers. The pair set a record for games played as teammates, and Trammell ranks 1st in Defensive WAR just ahead of Whitaker in franchise history. When Trammell retired, he ranked ahead of all short stops then in the Hall of Fame in fielding pct and home runs. By the time he was eligible for the Hall of Fame ballot, Robin Yount had been elected and Ozzie Smith was a sure fire first ballot entry as well. While on the ballot, Trammell was joined by greats like Barry Larkin and Cal Ripken Jr. Trammell was not elected to the Hall of Fame by the writers - as the short stop position had been re-invented by sluggers like Alex Rodriguez and Miguel Tejada among others. Trammell's turn came in 2018 with Jack Morris as part of the the veteran's committee.

Fleer #276 George Cappuzzello - Appearing in just 35 MLB games, Cappuzzello left an impression on at least one reammate, who he inspired to commit a little light arson. In his second and final big league season, Cappuzello inherited a bases loaded jam in the 10th inning of a tie game from Frank LaCorte. Cappuzzello was not able to escape without allowing all three runners to score, and LaCorte, who was winless on the season, decided to trash the locker room, pull off his jersey, and light it on fire. Cappuzzello was a serviceable reliever for both the Tigers in 81 and the Astros in 82, going 1-2 with a 3.23 ERA over 53 innings pitched. He was originally drafted by the Tigers in 1972, making a long journey to the big leagues. 

Topps #629 Johnny Wockenfuss - For a couple great posts on Johnny Wockenfuss, I point you to Night Owl's blog and his great conversation with Johnny about his cards and life. The second post was a follow up "Brush with Greatness." Wockenfuss was a swiss army knife for the Tigers, playing primarily as a catcher in his early career, then moving all along the foul lines to play both corner infield and corner outfield positions as well as DH. He was traded just before the 1984 season, missing out on the Tigers World Series win, but was a cornerstone of the team's development into a champion.

Topps #105 Kirk Gibson - The first Tiger to hit 20+ homers and steal 20+ bases in a season, Gibson was a phenomenal prospect when he came to the team as a 22 year old in 1979. Gibson would go on to glory with Tigers in 1984 and the Dodgers in 1988 as a World Series hero. The 1988 NL MVP is probably best remembered for his hobbled jaunt around the bases in game 1 of the 88 World Series, but he was a deceptively fast runner and talented base stealer throughout his career. He fell just 1 homer short of the 30/30 club in 1985 with the Tigers, and over the course of his career stole 284 bases and hit 255 homers. He was the ALCS MVP in 1984, hitting .417 in three games. He is also one of just 5 MVPs to later be named manager of the year, winning in 2011 as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Sparky Anderson called Gibson the "next Mickey Mantle" - unfortunately the early talent and promise was just one of the ways their careers were similar. Like Mantle, Gibson's career was sidelined by a rash of injuries that sapped his speed and productivity. In Gibson's case the injuries were even more frequent. keeping him off the field in his prime years of production. When he was on the field, he was brilliant.

What is your favorite card of a Detroit Tiger from 1982? Doesn't have to be one of these...

Thanks for reading!

1997 Topps All-Star Rookie First Baseman Dmitri Young

"When I was growing up, I used to draw myself on the Donruss Rated-Rookie and the Topps' Future Star cards with the trophies and the cup." Dmitri, you made it! As the Rookie All-Star Squad gets started for another season, we see the trend continue with a prospect with promising stats making the squad. Dmitri Young forced his way up to the big leagues with a gaudy batting average and power potential. While his first season was a bit below his later career totals (just 5 homers in 110 games, and a .258 average), he still gave Cardinals fans a taste of what was to come.

Even before his official rookie season in 1997, Young was given the opportunity to shine. He was placed on the 1996 post season roster for the NLCS, and he hit a respectable .286 in 4 games. His rookie season in 1997, Young was called up when Brian Jordan was lost for the season due to injury. Young came in to play first base, which had been vacated by John Mabry, who was filling in for Jordan in the outfield. When the Cards dealt for Mark McGwire at the deadline, Young moved back to the outfield to make room. While shifting all over the field, Young still had an impact, getting 86 hits and driving in 34 runs.

This is one of Dmitri's least favorite cards, with a photo taken before he got braces.

Young was a first round pick (4th Overall) by the Cardinals in 1991. Young was a USA-Today All-American in high school, hitting .425 for his final amateur season. He had anonther great season in Single A Springfield, hitting 14 homers and stealing 14 bases at the tender age of 18. He was named to the Midwest League All-Star squad, and was called a "Terry Pendleton - type" player by scouts. I mean he played 3rd Base in the Cardinals org, so I guess that is an easy comparison to make...

The 1997 season would be his last in Saint Louis, as the team was getting Brian Jordan back and had a bit of a logjam in the corner outfield and a Big Mac ready to have a real Whopper of a season in 1998. Young was traded to Cincinnati in exchange for Jeff Brantley. Before the season began, it looked like he would be on the move again - The Tampa Bay Devil Rays selected Dmitri from the Reds in the expansion draft, but Cincy was willing to double down and trade for him again. This time, the Reds gave up Mike Kelly, who was a similar rising prospect who had a promising 1997.

The Reds would get the best of that deal with the Devil (Rays). Dmitri Young revealed himself to be a great contact hitter during his days with Cincy, including four straight seasons above .300. He would also hit double digit homers each year, finishing with a then career high 21 in 2001. That number set a Reds' franchise record for home runs by a switch hitter. His slash line with the Reds was .304/.353/.488 from 1998 through 2001. The team flourished initially with Young in the lineup - finishing a close 2nd place in the division in 1998 and 1999. When the team began to struggle again, Young became one of the more valuable trade chips, and would be moved to acquire a pair of younger players as the Reds began another rebuilding process.

Young's first year in Detroit was derailed by injury, playing in just 54 games. Even so, the shortened season featured an 18 game hitting streak. The following season, 2003, would be one of his best. He posted career highs in Hits, Triples, and Homers while hitting an OPS+ of 144. He was named to his first All-Star team. In May of that year, he became the first MLB'er since Willie Mays to have 2 HR and 2 Triples in the same game. He went 5-5 (on Cinco de Mayo, no less!) and had 15 total bases, the most in a game by a Tiger since Ty Cobb in 1925. For the season, his 302 Total bases was another career high. Dmitri's great season came during one of the Tigers' worst - the team lost 119 games. The team would improve the next two seasons, and were in the thick of a playoff run in 2006 when Dmitri was released. The team had signed Rondell White in the off season to take Young's spot in Right field, despite a pair of productive seasons. Now relegated to DH duties, Young would play in just 48 games for Detroit before his release.

Young was not ready to go quietly, and he signed a deal to join the Washington Nationals. He responded with another great season, and was named Comeback Player of the Year, making his 2nd All-Star Game. He hit a career high .320 for the Nats, hitting 13 homers and driving in 74. Young was a fan favorite in Washington, just as he was in Detroit (where he was first given the moniker "D'Meat Hook"), just as he was in Cincinnati.

Young was also notable as one of the more prolific card collectors during his playing days. He sold a large portion of his collection in 2012, which focused on Rookie Cards. Some of the cards in his collection included PSA 10 rookies of Stan Musial, Roberto Clemente, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Pete Rose, Carew, Seaver, Ripken (the '82 Topps Traded version), to name just a few. The proceeds from his sale helped to underwrite a new chapter in his life as the head of the Dmitri D. Young Foundation that is dedicated to helping the youth of Ventura County, California.

Do you have any Dmitri Young stories? I'd love to hear them.  Thanks for reading!

1996 Topps All-Star Rookie First Baseman Tony Clark

Tony the Tiger? He's Gr-r-r-r-reat!

Tony Clark was a prototypical Topps All-Star Rookie Candidate. The Switch hitting slugger was a mid season call-up and made major contributions to his team's offense. Clark also had a great story of making it to the show after possibly having his career derailed before it began. Over just 100 games for the Tigers, Tony crushed 27 home runs, to lead the team.

Tony the Tiger had a mixture of those impressive stats and impressive moments. He had a 2 HR game in September of 1996 - the first blast cleared the roof in Right Field at Tiger Stadium, which was often the benchmark used to measure whether new Tigers sluggers were legit or not. Clark slugged .503 in his rookie season, finishing 3rd in the AL Rookie of the Year voting.

Drafted by the Tigers in the 1st Round in 1990, Clark was a 2-sport star in high school in San Diego. Clark broke a single-season scoring record set by Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton. His senior season he averaged nearly 44 points per game. His pro contract with the Tigers allowed him to play College Basketball and baseball in the summers. At San Diego State University, Clark suffered a back injury falling on a teammate's foot during practice that ended his 1991 baseball season before it began. He would return the following season, but played in just 26 games. He did play well when he was on the field, slashing .306/.372/.588 for low-A Niagra Falls. After another season with just 36 games played, fans may have begun to wonder if  Clark was going to be a bust. He decided to leave San Diego State to focus solely on Baseball. 1994 would be a make or break year for Tony, so he chose making it by way of breaking it - he crushed 23 homers and drove in 99 runs over AA and AAA. He spent most of 1995 in AAA Toledo, where he would again slug the ball hard, and he earned a late season call-up to join the Tigers.

Clark's best MLB seasons came during his time in Detroit. He averaged 31 homers and 98 RBI each year from 1996 through 1999. Injuries would bite him again in 2000, playing in just 60 games, but once again he would bounce back to make his lone All-Star appearance in 2001. He hit 156 homers and had over 500 RBI in his time with the Tigers, and became just the 13th Switch Hitter to rack up 30+ homers in a season in MLB history. His OPS+ during his Tiger tenure was a strong 121.

Clark's career following his time in the motor city was a series of bright starts followed by injury woes and then more comebacks. He hit home runs in his first game played with Boston, the Mets, and the Yankees. At each of those stops along the way, Clark would struggle repeat his Tiger success. Clark was no longer being utilized as an everyday player. It may have just taken time for him to adjust to the new role. After joining the Diamondbacks in 2005,  Clark would surprise everyone by hitting 30 homers, and doing it in just 349 at bats. He had career highs in batting average, slugging, and OPS at age 35. Young players looked to Clark for advice and he was nominated to be the team's player representative for the MLBPA. 

Clark's experience as a player rep got his foot in the door with the MLBPA following his playing career. In 2013, after spending time as the deputy executive director. Clark was promoted to head the union, and has been the Executive Director ever since. Clark is still highly respected by players, rookies and veterans alike think of him as the go to guy for any questions they have about the baseball life, both on the field and as union members.

Clark retired from playing in 2009, with 251 career homers, the 13th highest total among all Switch Hitters. He hit homers from both sides of the plate in the same game 10 times, which ranks favorably compared to the great power hitting switch hitters like Mantle, Murray, Teixeira, and ... uh, Nick Swisher? He also has a unique claim to fame - hitting home runs in Japan in 2004, in Puerto Rico in 2003, and all Continental U.S. time zones in between, he has the All-Time record for most time zones homered in during MLB games.

What are some of your Tony Clark memories? 

1996 Topps All-Star Rookie Third Baseman Joe Randa

Hitting over .300 with 20+ doubles and 10+ steals will get you most of the way towards a spot on the Topps All-Star Rookie roster. throw in some good defense and a successful minor league track record and you are nearly a lock!

 Joe Randa did all of that in his first full MLB season as the Kansas City Royals' primary 3rd baseman. George Brett had now been retired for a few years and long since moved over from 3rd to 1st (and DH), so a new hotshot at the hot corner was a welcome sight indeed. His .303 batting average in 1996 was best on the team among the regular starters.

Randa was drafted first by the Angels out of high school, but Volunteered to go to the University of Tennessee instead. After setting RBI records with the school, the Royals made him an 11th Round pick in 1991. He turned out to be more than ready for professional baseball, becoming the Northwest League Player of the Year, suiting up for the Eugene Emeralds. Throughout his minor league climb, Randa hit for average and flashed speed and power on occasion to go with solid defense at third.

His Royals career spanned 8 seasons, broken up by a pair of years with other organizations in the late 90s. Randa earned the nickname "The Joker" because he was often seen sporting a wry, mischievous grin.  Tony Muser's explanation was that it was just his resting face. Ok Tony. He did have plenty to smile about as a Royal however, including his two most productive MLB seasons in 1999 and 2000. In '99 Randa hit .314 and 16 homers, then followed it up by driving in over 100 runs for the only time in his career. Over 1,000 of his career hits came in a Royals uni. In 2004 he became just the 3rd player in Royals history to get 6 hits in a game. He also ended up scoring 6 runs in the contest.

His career also included a Grover Cleveland-esque non consecutive 2 year stint in Pittsburgh (1997 and 2006), and stops in Detroit, Cincinnati, and San Diego. He was very briefly an Arizona Diamondback (drafted in the expansion draft, then traded to the Tigers for Travis Fryman), and a New York Met (acquired on Dec 4th for Willie Blair, then traded to KC on Dec 10th for Juan LeBron - maybe the Mets confused him for Carlos Beltran just like Topps did?). His Reds tenure was also short lived, but memorable. He hit the first Opening Day walk-off homer in Reds history, and followed that with a 6 RBI encore in game 2 of the opening series in 2005. Between Cincy and San Diego that season, he belted a career high 17 homers. San Diego also provided him with his only playoff experience, hitting .364 in three games. His final stop in Pittsburgh saw his production and playing time decline, so he called it a career following the season. He retired with more base hits than games played, and over 700 career RBI.

Let's hear your Joe Randa stories! 

1995 Topps All-Star Rookie Right Handed Pitcher Hideo Nomo

The Dodgers were no strangers to great pitching (like Koufax), and no strangers to phenoms (like Fernandomania). With Hideo Nomo, they once again found a player that elevated the game. Nomo came to the Los Angeles Dodgers as just the second Japanese-born player in MLB history. And unlike Masanori Murakami in the 1960s, Nomo came to the United States with no contractual restrictions. Nomo was here to stay.

Nomo was the clear favorite for National League Rookie of the Year, and not just because he played for the Dodgers. Following in the footsteps of Karros, Piazza, and Mondesi, Nomo won Rookie of the Year honors leading the National League in Strikeouts and Shutouts. He broke the Dodger rookie record for Ks, and his 11.1 K/9 rate broke Sandy Koufax's team record. The only factor working against him for the award was the debate over whether or not the 26 year old was truly a "rookie" having excelled for years in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.

In Japan, he had been passed over in the 1988 NPB draft due to "poor control," but he would perfect his signature forkball in the Industrial League in Japan, representing Nippon Steel in Osaka. His performance earned him a spot on Team Japan in the 1988 Olympic games, which finally drew the attention of NPB clubs.
Nomo debuted in professional ball in 1990, leading the league in Strikeouts with 287. Over his 5 seasons in the NPB with the Kintetsu Buffaloes, Nomo had 13 shutouts and struck out over 1200 batters in just over 1000 innings pitched. In 1994, Nomo was hurt for much of the year, and pitching for a new coach who believed in pitching through pain. The new coach was an All-Time Great NPB pitcher who commanded a great deal of respect. At the same time, Nomo was eagerly hoping to prove his abilities against a new set of challenges. After consulting with agents in the United States, Nomo opted to retire from the NPB at the age of 26. The rules of the league allowed him to become an unrestricted free agent for any other league. Kintetsu would retain his rights if he returned to pitching in the NPB.

The Dodgers would wring all they could from Nomo's arm, having him toss an average of 200+ innings in his first 4 seasons. Nomo would not reach the dizzying heights of his rookie campaign again, but he would continue to strike out batters at a blistering clip. He joined Dwight Gooden as the only two MLB pitchers to strike out 200+ batters in each of his first 3 seasons. In 1996, Nomo made history again, tossing a no-hitter at Coors Field (this is before the humidor was installed, by the way.). He is still the only pitcher to toss a no-hitter in the rare air of Colorado.

As a hitter? Well, no one would confuse him for Shohei Ohtani, though he would find some power later in his career. He would hit his first MLB home run in 1998, just months before being traded to the New York Mets.

Nomo would bounce around the league after leaving the Dodgers, but he would continue his assault on the all-time strikeout leaderboard. In 1999, Nomo reached 1,000 career strikeouts. He was 3rd fastest to reach the milestone in MLB history. Nomo would also lead the AL in Ks in 2001 pitching for the Red Sox. He would also toss another no hitter, becoming just the 4th pitcher to toss a no-hitter in both leagues. The 2001 No-hitter came at Camden Yards in Baltimore, and he is the only pitcher to toss a no-hitter at that ballpark, too!

Nomo would return to LA beginning in 2002, and he would pitch for 3 more seasons in Southern Califonia. His career in a Dodgers' uniform included an 81-66 record and 1,200 Ks in 1,217 innings.

After being becoming a free agent before the 2005 season, Nomo signed with Tampa Bay and had a less than Nomo-like season, and he was released after 19 starts. That number is significant, as Nomo was due an additional $700,000 if he made 20 starts for the Rays. The Yankees signed him to a minor league deal and he finished out the year at their AAA affiliate. He would spend 2006 with the White Sox organization, but did not get a call-up.

His career appeared to be over, but he would appear in the Venezuelan Winter League pitching for his former catcher, now manager Carlos Hernandez. He signed a minor league deal in 2008 with Kansas City, and would make 3 relief appearances for the Royals before being designated for assignment. He would retire officially in July of 2008, with over 200 victories combined between the NPB and MLB. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.

What are your favorite Hideo Nomo stories?

1995 Topps All-Star Rookie Shortstop Orlando Miller

Orlando Miller of the Houston Astros became the Topps All-Star Rookie Shortstop thanks to 20 doubles and exceptional range in the field. Miller ranked 3rd in the National League in Range Factor / Game as a Shortstop. He formed a keystone combo with future Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, turning 52 double plays in his first full MLB season.

Miller arrived in Houston in 1994, appearing in just 16 games before the season was abruptly ended for the player's strike. He was repeating a year at AAA Tucson when he was called up, but the short stint in the big leagues left a big impression with the team. He crushed a pair of homers at Wrigley Field in his third game, both of which cleared the outfield wall and left the stadium. The 16 game audition featured a .325 batting average, and a 141 OPS+. It was enough to convince the Astros to include their everyday SS from 1994, Andujar Cedeno, to the Padres in the Derek Bell / Ken Caminiti deal. 

Miller was signed as a free agent out of Panama in 1987, making his pro debut for the Sarasota Yankees in 1988 as a 17 year old. He moved up a level each season in the Yankees' system until 1990 when the team traded him to the Houston organization in a 2 for 1 deal. The 2 prospects that came back in the deal did not make the big leagues.

With the Houston organization, he would continue his climb through the minors - in 1990 at High A Asheville had a .313 average and stole a career high 12 bases. He was known to have a strong throwing arm and was able to cover the hole well, so the offensive output was gravy. By 1992, Miller moved up to AA Jackson and topped 100 hits for the Generals. He was rewarded with a AAA stint to close the season, where he would spend all of 1993.

Miller would repeat AAA in 1994, but it was clear that his bat was just as major league ready as the players ahead of him on the depth chart. The season before he hit .304 with 16 homers and 89 RBI. He'd add 10 more for Tucson in 1994 and get that cup of coffee with the Astros.

By 1996, Miller had enjoyed 2 full seasons as the Astros' everyday shortstop, which was just about the shelf life for Houston infielders whose last name doesn't start with a "B." Miller did have a 2-game suspension for an altercation with some fans, but was still considered a steady glove and league average-ish bat. He also hit 15 homers for the Astros in 1995, but the team was looking to deal for starting pitching in the 1995 off-season. Miller would be dealt to Detroit in the deal that sent Todd Jones to the Tigers, and sent Jose Lima, Daryle Ward, and Brad Ausmus to the Astros.

Miller was part of a long list of potential successors to Alan Trammell's throne as the Tigers Shortstop, but ultimately it was not meant to be. Miller would appear in 50 games for the Tigers, the last MLB games he would play. His career would not end there however. He played in the minors for various teams until 2000 with the Dodgers. He then moved to the Mexican league for three seasons, and also spent time in the independent Atlantic league. His final games in pro ball were in 2008 with Edmonton of the Golden Baseball league, where he hit .319 in 37 games.

1994 Topps Rookie All-Star Short Stop Chris Gomez

The 1994 Topps Rookie All-Star squad returns for Labor Day with a player who exemplifies hard work. Chris Gomez played both 2nd and Short for the Tigers in 1994, and makes the Topps Roster as the team's SS.

Gomez was developed as a glove first middle infielder, but it was his unexpected power surge in 1994 that convinced Sparky Anderson to continue to pencil him into the lineup for the Tigers. The team of course had Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker for the umpteenth season in the middle infield, as well as super utility man Tony Phillips to fill in, limiting Gomez to 84 games played.

The Tigers drafted Gomez in the third round of the 1992 draft out of Long Beach State. He originally attended Loyola Marymount after High School in Lakewood California. He was drafted out of high school by the Angels but opted to go to school for an education and to develop his skills. By his senior season, Gomez was an elite defender and capable with the bat, becoming an All-American selection at Short.

Gomez had the tall task of supplanting Alan Trammell as the everyday SS for the Tigers, and the early returns were promising. His defense was predictably solid, and he did hit 11 homers in 1995, but had just a .223 batting average. The Tigers had been spoiled for nearly 2 decades with a perennial All-Star at the position and would end up trading him to San Diego in 1996 in a trade including Brad Ausmus and Andujar Cedeño. 

Gomez would play parts of 5 seasons with the Friars, including a big offensive year in 1998, when he hit a career best 32 doubles. He hit .364 for the 1998 World Series, including a triple. His superlative defense continued as well, leading the NL fielding pct and was second in double plays turned.

Following his Padres' run and a successful season as the Rays' shortstop, Gomez became a valuable utility player for several teams, playing all over the infield for Minnesota, Toronto, Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and almost Philadelphia.

Interesting story - in December of 2004, Baltimore scooped up Chris Gomez from the free agent class just before the Rule V draft. The Orioles didn't have room on the major league roster at the moment as they were exploring trades to possibly net Tim Hudson from the A's. The O's placed Gomez temporarily on the AA Bowie BaySox roster. The Phillies swooped in and opted to use one of their minor league Rule V selections to pick Gomez, and Baltimore nearly lost their free agent to a technicality. The Phillies wanted Gomez as insurance for possibly losing Placido Polanco, but once the Phils reunited with him, they gave the O's a chance to buy back Gomez.

Any Chris Gomez memories to share? Maybe Cleveland fans that recall the playoff push in 2007? Or Padres fans from a decade before?