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!

1998 Topps All-Star Rookie Outfielder Mark Kotsay

 

In College, Mark Kotsay was the Big Man on Campus, starring for the Cal State Fullerton Titans in the 1995 College World Series. In 1998 with the Marlins, he looked like he might be a fish out of water. Young and unproven, Kotsay was given the tall order of taking over Right Field in place of Gary Sheffield. He finished the season with more games played than any other Marlin, and was near the top of the list in most of the team's offensive leaderboards. His 20 outfield assists were the most in the National League. You better believe that was enough to make Mark a member of the 1998 Topps All-Star Rookie team.

Kotsay found success at every level of play - in 1994 he played in the Cape Cod league following his freshman year at baseball powerhouse Cal State Fullerton. 1995 saw him set a record with a .517 average in the 1995 College World Series. His team would win their 3rd straight CWS, and he walked away with the Golden Spikes award. In 1996, he was selected by the Marlins as the #9 Overall pick in the June draft, played on Team USA in the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, and made his pro debut for the Kane County Cougars. By 1997, he had made it all the way up to the big leagues for a two week cup of coffee in July. The Marlins organization had big plans for Kotsay - little did he know that the team would win it all in 1997 - then blow it all up for the next season, totally re-making the outfield from the season before.

Kotsay would play 3 full seasons for the Marlins, playing a combo of Centerfield, Right, and 1st base. He didn't have the power numbers he displayed in college, but he definitely still had the contact skills. Kotsay was used near the top of the lineup and he piled up the hits. In the field, he continued to show off a cannon for an arm, leading the NL in assists in his rookie year and again in 1999. He would be traded to San Diego just before the 2001 season began. 

The Padres made Kotsay their everyday Centerfielder, and he continued to display line drive power to the gaps and excellent contact numbers. His outfield assists dwindled down to just 4 in his first season in San Diego, but that was mostly due to the word getting around that trying to take the extra base against him would usually end in embarrassment for the runner. From 2002 through 2004 he would again lead the league in assists as a Centerfielder, surpassing double digits each year. 2002 would also prove to be one of his best offensive seasons, hitting .292 with 17 homers and a 122 OPS+. Following the 2003 season, Kotsay was on the move again, as the Oakland A's traded Terrance Long and Ramon Hernandez to make him their leadoff man and centerfielder. 

Kotsay responded with a career high 190 hits, which was the most by a lefty in Oakland in more than 40 years. He also set a career high batting average, hitting .314 despite playing half of his games with the huge foul territory in Oakland, known to suppress those stats. One reason he was so successful in Oakland was his ability to limit strikeouts. In 2005 he struck out at a rate of once per 11.4 ABs, which was the 2nd best K rate in the American League. He'd get his first taste of post season play in 2006, hitting a home run against the Twins in the ALDS, and adding 4 more hits in the ALCS in a losing effort against the Tigers. The injury bug bit him in 2007, playing in just 56 games and a career low .214 average over that span. 

Kotsay was on the move again after that lost season, traded to Atlanta in January. He'd have a rare highlight for Atlanta in August of 2008, going 5-5 and hitting for the cycle. With Atlanta uncharacteristically out of post season contention, Kotsay was dealt again mid-season, going to the Red Sox to help their playoff push. Kotsay was happy to join Boston, as he listed playing in a World Series as his few remaining goals. He was quoted as saying after the trade "the respect of your peers is what you play the game for, and nothing else." He was eager for another shot at a championship with a talented team. He provided depth in the outfield and a valuable bat in the post season, hitting .300 in the ALDS and adding 7 more hits in the ALCS, but the Red Sox were bounced out by the Rays. He would be used as a reserve in 2009 by the Red Sox, then was dealt at the trade deadline again to Chicago. With the White Sox, he would spend more time as a DH than at any time in his career, and was no longer the everyday player he once was. His reputation was that of a "grinder / gamer" but at this point his goal was to provide leadership and defense when called upon. He'd get another post season shot in 2011 with Milwaukee reaching the LCS again, but falling just shy of the World Series.

He'd finish out his career back in San Diego, closer to his wife and kids in Southern California. He had been not so subtly hinting at a reunion for the past few years with the Padres, stating in an interview that he would call the team himself and inquire about an opening in the offseason. The veteran leadership would segue perfectly into coaching. He would retire in 2014, then return in 2015 as the Padres new hitting coach. He would move on to Oakland in 2015 as a bench coach, and recently has been one of the top names for managerial jobs in Boston, San Francisco, and Pittsburgh recently. Another spot opened up today on the South Side, could he be in line again for the role?

For his MLB career, Kotsay had 1,784 hits, scored 790 runs and drove in 720 more. He had 123 outfield assists, and was widely regarded as one of the better outfield defenders in the league by his peers. He was named to the Omaha (College World Series) Hall of Fame in 2014, and was named College Baseball's Player of the Decade for the 1990s. 

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

Thanks for reading!

I Love The 80s - 1982 San Diego Padres

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!

In 1981, The Padres were managed by former Senators slugger Frank Howard. They were 10 games below .500 in the first half, then won just 18 games in the 2nd half following the strike, finishing in 6th place. Ozzie Smith was counted upon to lead the team, and he did win a Gold Glove while being the NL leader in Games played and at Bats. His hitting was not yet refined, however, and the team struggled to score runs. The 1981 draft would see the Padres making great moves to fix that, adding Kevin McReynolds in the first round, John Kruk in the secondary phase, Greg Booker in the 10th round, and a local basketball star by the name of Tony Gwynn in the 3rd Round.

By 1982, the stars had gone out - Rollie Fingers was traded to Saint Louis prior to the 1981 season, Dave Winfield left via Free agency to New York, even Frank Howard was sent packing. Then in December of 1981, they swapped shortstops with Saint Louis, ending the Ozzie Smith era. Despite getting an everyday player for the next 9 seasons as a key position, many would say that the Padres lost that trade big time. But the team defied some dire predictions, and accomplished something they did only once with Winfield and never with Ozzie - they finished the season at .500 with an 81-81 record. It was the 2nd best finish in franchise history, in fact, and would start a string of winning seasons. This was certainly due in part to the June debut of Mr. Padre aka Mr. Tony Gwynn. 

The Cards:

Donruss #472 Luis Salazar - 1981 was Salazar's first "full" season, and he was the Padres' team leader with a .303 average and the team's starting 3rd baseman. Salazar was an enigma on the defensive side. In 1982 he led the NL in Range Factor and Double plays turned at 3rd, but also had 26 Errors, the most by any NL 3rd baseman. He would also see some time in the outfield during his career and developed over time into a utility role of sorts. He stepped in for the Cubs in their 1989 playoff run to fill a big hole at the hot corner, and hit .325 down the stretch. in the 1989 NLCS, Salazar hit well again, going 7 for 19 with a triple and a homer. Salazar became a successful minor league manager after his playing days. A freak accident occurred in 2011, when Salazar was struck by a foul ball, causing several fractures in his skull and costing him his left eye. Miraculously he survived and has thrived as a manager in the Atlanta minor league system. He managed the 2017 Arizona Fall League champions.

Fleer #570 Juan Eichelberger - Known for being "effectively wild," Eichelberger was the 1981 team leader in strikeouts and wild pitches. 1982 was a continuation of his struggles with control, and by 1983 he was traded in a package to Cleveland for prospect Ed Whitson, who became one of the more notable parts of the Padres' rotation in the 80s. If you're a fan of the YouTube/Twitter user Jomboy, you may have caught the recent podcast about Juan's near no-hitter which is an fun an interesting listen starting at roughly 5 and a half minutes. The start from 1982 was a 1-hitter, with the hit coming in controversial fashion. Another unique feature of Juan's career was his unique set position. Eichelberger would come to a set position with his knees bent and in a wide stance and the glove resting at his belt. "Eich" would extend his career by pitching in Japan in 1989 for Yakult, and later came back to the states for two seasons in the Senior league. He was a pitching coach for several seasons in the 1990s.

Topps #65 Terry Kennedy - When Winfield and Ozzie Smith left, it was Terry Kennedy that became the de facto "face of the franchise" - at least until Tony Gwynn would arrive later in June. Kennedy had already made an All-Star team in 1981 for the Padres, hitting .301 as the team's primary catcher that year. In 1982, he broke out in a big way to lead the team in homers, having hit only 2 the prior year. His 21 homers and 42 doubles in 1982 would be career highs, but he did reach double digits in homers for 6 straight years. He was the Padres' primary catcher until Benito Santiago was ready to debut in 1987. Kennedy found himself in Baltimore that year in a trade for pitcher Storm Davis. Kennedy would make his 4th and final All-Star squad, now in the American League. He made his way back to the NL in  time to play in his 2nd World Series, now with San Francisco. Kennedy's father Bob was also an MLB player, and Terry's 1984 World Series RBI was the first time both a father and a son had collected an RBI in a World Series game. He became a successful minor league manager and an area scout for several teams. He managed the San Diego Surf Dawgs to a championship in 2005. 

Fleer #585 Rick Wise - Rick Wise was closing the book on a solid and highlight-filled career when he joined the Padres for the 1980 season as a free agent. He was an accomplished hitter during his heyday with the Phillies and Cardinals. He once tossed a no-hitter and homered twice in the same game, becoming the first MLB player to do both. He was so highly regarded as a young pitcher, that he was traded 1 for 1 in 1971 in exchange for a young Steve Carlton. He would be included in another trade later in his career for another HOF hurler, Dennis Eckersley. Wise was also a very good fielder, completing 5 full seasons without recording an error, though we was not awarded a Gold Glove during his career. The 2-time All-Star hit at least one homer every season from 1968 until he was traded to the American League in 1974. When the Padres released him in 1982, his contract was still guaranteed through the 1984 season, so he took the next two years off with his family before returning to baseball as a coach in the minor leagues. He worked for several franchises throughout the majors, minors, and independent leagues until his retirement in 2008.

Topps #95 Ozzie Smith - By the time this card was in packs, Smith had already closed the book on his Padres career. His reputation in  San Diego was a glove first (and glove second, third and fourth) infielder with great range on defense and great speed on the bases (if he could just get there in the first place). In 1981, he made his first All-Star team, having increased his batting average to .259 for the first half (compared with .233 for his career to that point). Smith certainly was fast, stealing 147 bases for the Padres over his first 4 MLB seasons, but his career OPS+ at that point was a paltry 66 (100 being league average.). A young player like Smith was not destined to be a terrible hitter forever, but a poor 2nd half in 1981 must have indicated more struggles than triumphs to come. This prompted a trade that was both short-sighted and mutually beneficial. If you had told the Padres that Gary Templeton was going to be in San Diego for the balance of the 1980s and contribute over 1,100 hits and score 425 runs, they'd take that for Smith in a heartbeat. Just don't tell them that Smith would end up outslugging Templeton over that same period, and score 991 more runs in his career for the Cardinals. I don't think they'd believe it!

Fleer #579 Broderick Perkins - Standing just 5'10" and slugging just .350 for his career, Broderick Perkins was not a prototypical first baseman. He was the Padres everyday first baseman, though, in both 1981 and 1982. Perkins was the other player in the Ed Whitson trade to Cleveland. This was good news, though, as Broderick would later say that Juan Eichelberger was his favorite teammate. In 1980, he played in just 43 games, but he hit .370 for the Padres and showed the kind of potential that made him a regular in 81 and 82. He played a season in Mexico in 1986, and was a very good hitter at the AAA level, hitting .308 with an .817 OPS over 3 seasons. He was a firefighter for a time in San Diego in the 1990s. Broderick was one of the pallbearers at Tony Gwynn's funeral in 2014. Perkins hit righties much better than lefties for his career, with an OPS nearly 150 points higher against right handed pitching.

Topps #764 Steve Swisher - Much like Rick Wise, Swisher's final MLB seasons came with the Padres in 1982. Swisher was a steady reserve catcher for the Cubs, Cardinals, and Padres. The White Sox made him a first round pick in 1973, but was traded to the Cubs who brought him up to the majors within a year of his draft date. His best season came in 1976 with the Cubbies, when he became the primary catcher and even made the All-Star roster, hitting .268 with 3 homers in the first half of the year. He was Ted Simmons' back-up in Saint Louis, then came with young prospect Terry Kennedy from the Cardinals to the Padres in the Rollie Fingers trade. He played in just 42 games over two seasons for San Diego, with his best game coming against Atlanta in July of 1982 when he went 2-3 with a walk and a solo homer. He was a long time minor league manager as well, with stops in Waterloo, Tidewater, and Binghampton. 

Fleer #572 Tim Flannery - Flannery spent his entire MLB career as a member of the Padres, and by the end of his tenure, he had become a fan favorite. The 11 year veteran announced his retirement before his final game in 1989, and was greeted with a long and loud standing ovation. He was a regular on Padres broadcasts after his career, then became a coach for Bruce Bochy in San Diego and later in San Francisco. He was a utility player from the start - 1982 was his first full season, and he split time between second, third, and short. He appeared in 972 games in his career, and totaled 631 hits. He also formed a band called the Lunatic Fringe and released several albums, most of which were sold to promote charitable causes. 

Donruss #220 Juan Bonilla - Bonilla finished 4th in the 1981 NL Rookie of the Year voting, hitting a respectable .290 as the team's starting second baseman. He was even a Topps All-Star Rookie, but the company wasn't putting the trophies on card at the time. He played in just 45 games in 1982, but was on top again in '83, his most productive MLB season. In 152 games, he had a career best 132 hits and ranked 2nd in the NL in fielding pct. Then, inexplicably in 1984, he couldn't find a job. The Padres went with Alan Wiggins at 2nd, and once the game of musical chairs stopped, he was without a contract. He signed a minor league deal in 1985 with the Yankees, the team that had initially drafted him in 1977. He hit .330 in AAA, and that success gave him a new lease on MLB life. He found a reserve role with the Orioles for 1986, and he embraced it. He started wearing a t-shirt under his uniform that simply said "Whenever" meaning he was ready for whatever the team needed, whenever they needed it. The following season he was back in New York, this time fighting for a playoff spot. His career had plenty of ups and downs, but he had found his niche as a role player. 

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! 

I love the 80s : The 1981 San Diego Padres

Just a quick refresher - 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!

The Blog once again travels to Sunny California, here are the cards of the 1981 San Diego Padres. The Padres finished 6th in the NL West in 1980, and did not fare much better in 1981. They managed to slump in the first half with a pre-strike record ten games below .500, only to fall even further after the break with an 18 - 36 record to close the season. 

You might be tempted to ask- how could the Padres have such a tough time with 3 Hall of Famers on their roster? Well, those three - Dave Winfield, Ozzie Smith, and Rollie Fingers - were playing at a Hall of Fame level. Winfield led the team in homers and RBI in 1980, and was top 10 in the NL in several offensive categories, and also was a Gold Glove winner in the outfield. He would leave San Diego for the New York Yankees beginning with the 1981 season. Ozzie Smith did not hit for average with Padres, but he did actually reach base at a respectable clip given his contact struggles. Once on base, he terrorized opposing defenses, stealing  57 bags in 1980, and 22 in the strike shortened 81 Season. Smith would also win his first of 13 straight Gold Gloves at SS in 1980. Rollie Fingers was a tremendous closer on a team that did not have many leads.

The Cards:
Topps #254 Ozzie Smith - The Wizard of Oz was brilliant again for the Padres in 1980, with speed on the basepaths and sterling defense up the middle. In 1981, Smith led the NL in games, at bats, plate appearances. On defense, he was the NL leader in Range Factor, fielding pct., and assists. He is the All-time MLB leader in defensive WAR among shortstops.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in his 1st year of eligibility with 91.7% of the vote.

Topps #72 Barry Evans - There were fewer cards for the Padres than for any other MLB team in 1981, so the pickings were slim. Most of the Topps photos of the hitters were shot from the first base camera well. Evans is swinging hard, but it looks like he might have just rolled over on one. Evans was a utility infielder for San Diego in 1980 and 1981. His batting average climbed nearly 100 points from 80 to 81. In 1979, he refused a demotion to the minors by announcing that he was retiring from baseball to play pro tennis. 

Topps #370 Dave Winfield -  Winfield's San Diego career ended in 1980, after peaking in 1979. He finished 3rd in the NL MVP vote, trailing the co-winners Keith Hernandez and Willie Stargell. He was the NL leader in RBI, Total bases, intentional walks and OPS+. His free agency move to New York proved to be a mixed blessing - while he was a perennial All-Star and went from last place to a World Series team, Winfield had a tumultuous relationship with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. 

Donruss #121 Dave Cash - The 3-time All-Star concluded his MLB career in 1980 with the Padres, hitting just .227 as the team's everyday second baseman. He was a instrumental part of the late 70s Phillies teams, and led the NL in base hits in 1975. He was also the 1970 Topps All-Star Rookie at 2B during his tenure with the Pirates.  

Donruss #2 Rollie Fingers - Fingers converted 23 of 29 save chances in 1980, and sported a 2.80 ERA. He would be traded to Saint Louis, then flipped to Milwaukee before the 1981 season, where he would continue to dominate the back end of games. Fingers led the AL in saves in 1981 with the Brewers with a miniscule 1.04 ERA. 

Donruss #1 Ozzie Smith - The famous knock on Ozzie Smith was that he was all glove and no hit. It is true that he did not hit well early in his career, but he did work and refine and improve as a hitter over the years. His average as a Padre was just .233, but as a Cardinal he hit .272. Add in his clutch post-season homer in the NLCS, and you get a more forgiving story.

Fleer #494 Jerry Mumphrey - The 1980 everyday Center Fielder for the Padres joined Dave Winfield in New York, coming to the Yankees in a a big trade. Mumphrey hit .298 and stole 52 bases in 1980 for the Padres, having come to them via trade that off-season from Cleveland. Mumphrey was traded 5 times between December 1979 and 1985, finally landing in Chicago with the Cubs for 3 seasons. He would make the NL All-Star squad in 1984 as a member of the Houston Astros. 

Fleer Star Stickers #17 Gene Richards - So, Mumphrey stole 52 bases, Ozzie stole 57 . . . and neither one led the team that year. Instead, it was Gene Richards, who swiped 61. He was also the only regular Padres hitter to crack .300 on the season. In 1981 he stole 20 more bags, and led the NL in triples with 12. He'd finish his big league career in 1984 with a season in San Francisco.

Fleer #499 Barry Evans - Evans would also move to the Yankees to join Winfield, arriving a year later. Evans would accept a minor league assignment this time, and would spend a few years in the Yankees, then the Cleveland minor league system. Evans is shown here, possibly wishing he stuck with tennis?  

Any requests for the next team to cover? 

It Ain't Over til It's Over

I'm not going to sugarcoat it - things look bad right now for the Minnesota Twins, facing an 0-2 deficit to the New York Yankees in the ALDS. The first two games could hardly have been much worse, thankfully none of the Twins were injured, save for their pride. HOWEVER! The Yankees haven't won that 3rd game yet, and the series turns to Minnesota tomorrow. It might be unlikely, but why don't we take a look at what unlikely looks like? Why not take a look at some ways that a series can turn around? It might make me feel better, OK? Rays fans, I see you too - hope this helps a bit.

1981 NLDS - Dodgers come back against the Houston Astros

1981 included a Divisional Series because of the strike that split the season into two parts. The Dodgers actually had the home-field advantage, though they lost games 1 and 2 on the road. Not much of an advantage when Houston only had to win one in LA.

But the Dodgers were up to the task, thanks to stalwart starting pitching, including a complete game from Fernando Valenzuela in Game 4, leading to a duel between Jerry Reuss and Nolan Ryan, who was working on regular rest and was Nolan freakin' Ryan. Reuss tossed a shutout, and the Dodgers bats had just enough to win 4-0. Garvey would hit .368 in the series including a game 3 homer that sparked the comeback. The Dodgers did it without Ron Cey, though he would be back in time for the World Series, where he was the MVP.

1982 ALCS - Brewers defeat the California Angels

Don Sutton tossed 7 scoreless innings in Game 3, Ben Oglivie blasted a homer and Cecil Cooper hit a 2-run single in Game 5 to power "Harvey's Wallbangers" to a series victory. The series was so close that the ALCS MVP ended up being Angels OF Fred Lynn in a losing cause. Robin Yount struggled for the Brew Crew in the series, with a .250 average and no extra base hits.

1984 ALCS - Padres defeat the Cubs

Game 4 - Postseason vet with ice in veins, Steve Garvey, blasts a 2 run walkoff homer, setting up a winner-takes-all finale.

Game 5- Carmelo Martinez draws a 4 pitch walk, a bunt moves him to 2nd, then Tim Flannery gets a key hit right through the wickets of Leon Durham. Goose Gossage locks down the win by pitching the last two innings.

1995 ALDS - Seattle Mariners defeat the New York Yankees

Now in the Divisional Series era, the ALCS and NLCS is stretched to 7 games, but the new Division series remains best of five. The Yankees jumped out to an early 2-0 lead against a Seattle team that had already tested their mettle in a tie-breaker game over the Angels.

Back in the Kingdome, the Mariners leaned on Randy Johnson for a gutsy seven innings. He struck out 10, and the Mariners won 6-4. Game 4 was a seesaw game until Edgar Martinez crushed a grand slam in the 8th off John Wetteland.

The Game 5 finale was one of the best games in playoff history. The lead would change hands 6 times, David Cone threw 140 pitches for the Yankees, Randy Johnson came in to relieve in extra innings, but the final rally came in the bottom of the 11th. Joey Cora singles, backed by a Griffey single, and Edgar Martinez was back again to be the hero, lacing a liner down the left field line, scoring both runners in an epic finish.

1999 ALDS - Red Sox defeat Cleveland

The format of the 5 game series was now the current 2-2-1 version by the time this series was played.

Both teams won their home games in decisive fashion, including a ridiculous 23-7 rout in game 4 by the Red Sox, in which John Valentin drove in 7 runs. Nomar hit over .400 for the series.

Game 5 included quite a lot of early offense, including 2 homers by Jim Thome. Troy O'Leary matched Valentin's 7 RBI in the game, but the real story was the relief appearance of Pedro Martinez. Martinez was coming off 4 scoreless innings in Game 1 before leaving due to injury. In Game 5, Martinez came in to an 8-8 tie game, and no-hit Cleveland for 6 relief innings, pitching on fumes but still striking out 8 batters.

2001 ALDS - Yankees beat A's

oh. The Yankees are on this list, too? Do I have to? Fine.

People remember "The Flip" by Derek Jeter, but Mike Mussina out-dueled Barry Zito (When Zito was Zito!) in that game, and the only run came on Jorge Posada's Solo homer.

Mariano Rivera was at his best, closing out a pair of the final three games in his usual dominant fashion.

2003 ALDS - Red Sox over the A's

The Red Sox are free to share some mojo with the Twins this year, I'm sure they won't mind if it means beating the Yankees.

In 2003, it was Jason Varitek with a key block of the plate that started a chain reaction of base running blunders that swung momentum back to the Red Sox in Game 3. David Ortiz had a clutch 2 run double in Game 4, and Pedro dominated in Game 5, with Manny Ramirez providing the offensive production to give the Sox the series win.

2012 NLDS - Giants defeat Reds

Ryan Vogelsong gave the Giants a boost with a gutty performance in Game 3, with the win ultimately going to Sergio Romo in relief. Game 4 had a Pedro-like relief appearance by started Tim Lincecum, and Buster Posey crushed a grand slam in Game 5 that proved to be deciding runs, with Romo coming back to get the save.

The Giants would go on to win the whole thing, taking the World Series crown, just like the Dodgers did in 1981. Twins, take notes, and ask Romo for tips.

2015 ALDS - Toronto defeats the Rangers

At this point the pattern becomes familiar - Marco Estrada comes up big in game 3, with Troy Tulowitski providing a key hit. Game 4 included big offense from the Jays winning 8-4 behind an R.A. Dickey start (and in spite of a disastrous David Price Relief appearance.). Game 5 is remember for Bautista and the bat flip heard round the world, but Marcus Stroman provided 6 strong innings for the Jays to keep the game close.

So! That's encouraging. Never mind that the team going up 2-0 will win the series about 90% of the time. Just need to get something started for Game 3 - a strong start, some timely hitting, and then worry about game 4 after that.

1994 Topps All-Star Rookie Outfielder Ryan Klesko

With Bob Hamelin occupying the 1st Base spot already, Topps had to scramble to find a place for the National League's best rookie 1st Baseman, Ryan Klesko. Fortunately for everyone, Klesko was athletic enough to also dabble in the outfield from time to time, and was named to the 1994 Topps All-Star Rookie Team as one of the three outfielders.

He was a 6th Round selection in 1989, and by the time he reached the majors for good, he had built quite an impressive resume and was riding high on the hype train. His Rookie season included plenty of power (slugging .563) and a decent average (.278) for a rookie. He finished 3rd in the NL in the Rookie of the Year voting.

His professional debut came in 1989 with the rookie league Bradenton Braves, playing out the last half of the year after the June draft and even earning a promotion to the Class A Sumter Braves. He'd get a full season in 199, hitting 10 homers in 63 games with Sumter before being called up to High-A Durham and adding 7 more long balls. His power was his big calling card, but he did show flashes of speed and general athleticism, swiping 23 bases across the 2 levels.

1991 was spent in AA Greenville, where Klesko was not only showing power and speed.  He developed patience at the plate, walking 75 times while striking out only 60. His fine season earned another promotion, and 1992 was spent in AAA Richmond. He'd earn a September call-up in '92 and again in 1993, just as the Braves were kicking their dynasty into high gear. A lesser team might have had a need for Klesko sooner, but it was worth the wait to develop his game.

Klesko had a solid Sophomore season in the bigs in 1995, with career highs in Slugging and batting average. 23 homers and 70 RBI were just the appetizer for the post-season. He had a notoriously bad NLCS going 0 for the series, but he hit .467 in the NLDS against Colorado, and in the World Series he hit homers in 3 straight games, all on the road in Cleveland, helping the Braves capture their crown. The feat of 3 straight games with a road homer in the World Series had never been done before, and it would be a lasting legacy for the young slugger. He'd spend the rest of the 90s with Atlanta, and despite not winning another ring, he was a key part of their offense and helped the team reach the post-season every year of his Braves tenure.

He would return to the West Coast in the 2000s, his college days at Arizona State and his high school in Westminster, CA made San Diego a nice destination when he was traded along with Bret Boone in exchange for Reggie Sanders and Wally Joyner. Klesko would have a successful second half of his career with the Padres, including a return of that early speed (stealing 23 bases each in 2000 and 2001). He would make his first All-Star team in 2001, belting 30 homers to go along with those 23 steals, and slugging .539.

Klesko briefly tried to innovate a new game, Basebat, but it didn't catch on. Just kidding, it was extremely popular. Just kidding, it didn't exist. But what a fun card, yeah? Klesko had a couple more trips to post-season play with the Padres, losing to the Cardinals in the '05 and '06 NLDS. His 7 seasons in San Diego had a nearly identical stat line to his 8 Atlanta campaigns. He had more RBI and stolen bases in SoCal, but more Homers and Triples in Atlanta. Klesko also became very involved in community outreach in San Diego, heading up the team's Make-A-Wish partnership, and being the face behind Klesko's Korner, which provided tickets to families with children battling cancer.

Following a major shoulder injury that cost him much of the 2006 season, Klesko signed as a free agent for 2007 with the Giants. In his final MLB season, he'd get into 116 games as a first baseman, right fielder, and pinch hitter.

There you have his final career stats - 1564 hits, 343 doubles, 278 homers and a nice even .500 slugging percentage.  Share your favorite Ryan Klesko memories below!

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?

1994 Topps All-Star Rookie RHP Joey Hamilton

They're Back! It's the 1994 Topps All-Star Rookie Squad. I'm going to cover the whole team in card number order. First up is the Padres' Right Handed phenom, Starting Pitcher Joey Hamilton.

Born in Georgia, schooled in Georgia. Hamilton set school records at Georgia Southern in games, complete games, shutouts, wins, innings pitched and strikeouts - and that was with just a little over 2 seasons. Early in his Junior year, Hamilton had to undergo elbow surgery that effectively ended his college career. The injury did little to scare off major league teams in the 1991 Draft, however. He was selected ahead of pitchers like Aaron Sele, Justin Thompson, Scott Ruffcorn, and Bobby Jones. In his 2 minor league seasons, he would be promoted 5 times, finishing in AAA by the end of 1993. Padres' scouts were pleased with the big righthander's fastball / change-up combo, going from mid 90s to low 80s.

His MLB debut came the following season in May of 1994, facing off against the Giants. He was unfazed, however, hurling a quality start (6 innings, 3 ER, 3 Ks, 3 walks) and earning his first win. His first loss was another quality start, this time against Marlins knuckleballer Charlie Hough. Topps helpfully pointed out that Hough was pitching in the big leagues before Hamilton was born. More on Charlie later. Joey would make 16 starts as a rookie, 14 of which were quality starts. The highlight was a shutout in late June against the Reds, though he only struck out 1 batter. 

Hamilton was a solid mid-rotation starter for the Padres throughout the 90s, including starts in the postseason in 1996 and 1998. During the '98 World Series he'd appear in one inning of scoreless relief. Had the Padres not been in an 0-3 hole, he may have been the Game 4 starter instead of Kevin Brown. He topped 200 innings 3 times, leading the Padres' staff in victories twice. After his tenure in San Diego, he'd spend 3 seasons with the Blue Jays, and 3 seasons with the Reds, but struggled to stay healthy. He'd finish his career with 74-73 career record and a 4.44 ERA, which is roughly a full career of quality starts. (6 innings and 3 ER gives you a 4.50 ERA.) Solid production for a pitcher in the thick of the steroid era.

For no reason, here is Charlie Hough teaching Smokey the Bear how to throw the knuckle ball. Real reason - I didn't have any Hamilton Blue Jays or Reds cards, so this is the consolation prize...