Black History Month COMC Pickups

During the month of Februrary, I've been honoring Black History Month by posting about some of the prominent African Americans that have made contributions in the game of baseball (and beyond the field as well).

While making these posts, I would sometimes have to omit some cards because, well, I didn't have them (yet). I have been checking in to COMC throughout the month and picking up cards along the way. This Jackie Robinson card was featured in one of Fuji's posts, I have to say it's now one of my favorite Robinson cards too.

Frank Robinson was still managing in the 2000's, in a period of time when I wasn't buying cards. I was browsing through his cards and found these, I really love the Expos Manager card. I realized during my post on Dontrelle Willis that A) I didn't have his rookie card, and B) I didn't have a good card showing his big leg kick. Check and check.

Here's the back of that first Frank Robinson card - it has one of the factoids I heard most often the day Frank passed. He went to same high school as Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, and that they actually were teammates on the basketball team.

Had to check for more Denard Span needs, as I do most of the time when I log in to COMC.

For most of the posts this month, I've been checking my 56 set and my in progress 1959 Topps set for cards to post. I was surprised to find that I still needed a card for my '59 set of Sam Jones, the first African-American to toss a no-hitter in MLB history, and a member of the 20 game win club, the "Black Aces."

The back mentions his 1955 no-no, and also references his nickname, "Toothpick."

Last but not least, I am always looking for Kirby Puckett cards that will be new to me.

The Straw That Stirs The Drink

In 1969, Humankind reached the Moon, just in time to see one of Reggie's homers pass by Apollo 11's window. Just 23 years old, Reggie Jackson had already starred in college at Arizona State in Football and Baseball, and had moved with the A's from Kansas City to Oakland. That year made his first All-Star appearance, led the AL in Runs Scored, Slugging, OPS, Intentional Walks, and for the second year in a row, strikeouts. The strikeouts didn't bother Reggie, especially with a career high 47 Homers to go with them. He once said that "the most important requirement in success is overcoming failure. You must learn to tolerate it, but never accept it."

It was Reggie Jackson and the players that formed the nucleus around him were the first Athletics team to reach the post season since the team was managed by Connie Mack in the 1930s. In 1972, it was Reggie's surprise steal of home in game 5 against the Detroit Tigers that vaulted them into the World Series and setting the stage for Oakland's dynasty. "Just as nature fills a vacuum, Reggie fills a spotlight." -- Bob Marshall

At the peak of the Oakland dynasty, Jackson was the centerpiece of a dynamic offense. In 1973, he was the MVP of the World Series, and MVP of the American League. He led the AL in Runs scored, Homers, RBI, Slugging and OPS. Playing against the legend Willie Mays and the New York Mets, Jackson would hit .310 in the seven game marathon. Facing elimination, Jackson drove in go ahead runs early and an insurance run later on in Game 6, and a back breaking homer in Game 7 to put the A's up for good.

As an Oakland Athletic, Reggie walked the walk as much as the talked the talk. As the team succeeded and he found great personal success, he displayed the kind of swagger and bravado that would make him a household name. The team was barely holding itself together with in-fighting and a young MC Hammer spying on the players and relaying gossip to owner Charlie O. Finley. No, really. Jackson and the rest of the team's stars would have to endure the antics of the team owner and the low-ball offers he'd extend for new contracts. 

Jackson loved Oakland, with deep ties to his teammates and the community. Finley was not willing to pay the salary that Jackson would command in 1976 and beyond and the game's premier power hitter. Reggie was traded to Baltimore just before Opening Day, shocking the baseball world. His season with the Orioles was overlooked for a long time - Topps did not make a card with him in an Orioles unform until after his playing career - but the team would certainly take notice of his talents while he was there. Jackson would lead the team in homers, RBI, slugging, OPS... and stolen bases! He swiped 28 bags at an 80% success rate. He also had a personal best in homers - hitting one in 6 straight games during the 1976 season. The Orioles missed the playoffs - the only time that Jackson missed the playoffs from '71 through 1978. After the season, Jackson would be a free agent. "If I played in New York, they'd name a candy bar after me."

The Reggie Bar was apparently very tasty, if a little too similar to the Baby Ruth bar, but not nearly as sweet as the addition of Reggie Jackson's bat to the Yankees line-up. Not so sweet? his relationship with Billy Martin and Thurman Munson. The New York media had certainly picked a side early on, and drew a firm pinstripe in the sand after Reggie's interview with Robert Ward for Sport Magazine. Even before the magazine was released, the backlash was strong. It was in this interview that Jackson famously quipped "I'm the straw that stirs the drink." Despite the rocky relationship between Reggie and some parts of the Yankees clubhouse, the talent was clear, and winning breeds good team chemistry. It would be wrong to say that all was forgiven, but Reggie's 5 World Series Homers sure made the dugout atmosphere more relaxed. Jackson was of course the MVP of the 1977 World Series, and the team would repeat again in 1978 as Champions. His heroics would earn him the nickname "Mr. October." Jackson would continue to lead the team offensively into the 1980s.

My first exposure to Topps Traded cards was Reggie's bespectacled mug in a California Angels helmet. When Gene Autry heard that Jackson was willing to play out west again once he became a free agent, he made sure to make Reggie a big offer, giving the 35 year old a 5 year deal. Can you imagine a contract like that today? Reggie would help the Angels to 2 more playoff appearances, though he would not reach the World Series again in California. He would retire following one last season with Oakland in 1987.

The Hall of Famer retired with 563 homers, over 220 stolen bases, 1500 + runs, 1702 RBI, and over 2500 hits. He is the All-Time MLB leader in strikeouts, but he didn't mind the boos or taunts - "They don't boo nobodys."

Rolling With Mahomes

You probably have heard a lot more lately about the son of Pat Mahomes, reigning NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes II. My own fandom is much more familiar with the senior Mahomes, specifically the years he spent in Minnesota with the Twins. According to the back of this card, his favorite actor was Julia Roberts. Bet you didn't know that!

Pat Mahomes was the Twins' Minor League Player of the Year in 1991. He was the team's 6th round pick in 1988, after playing Baseball, Football, and Basketball in High School. He was primarily a position player in High School, which will come into play later. He only pitched because other players were injured / unavailable, but he was hitting the low 90s with his fastball, so Twins' scouts took notice of his arm.

Mahomes made steady progress in the minor leagues, getting to AAA by the age of 20. Heading into 1992, he was the #25 overall prospect in baseball. Control was an issue at the major league level for Mahomes, as was the launchpad environment of the Metrodome. Over his early career as a starter, his road stats typically were better than his home stats. It wasn't exactly Coors Field, but the Dome was a comfortable place to hit.

His MLB debut came in April of 1992. He was part of the team's starting rotation out of Spring Training, beating out Bert Blyleven, who would opt to retire following one last attempt at a major league roster. In his debut appearance, he had a Quality Start - he pitched 6 innings, gave up 3 runs, walked 5 batters, and had a pair of strikeouts. He would get a no-decision, with the Twins ultimately losing the game 4-3 to Texas Rangers. All three runs came on a Juan Gonzalez homer in the first inning, after which he locked in and shut the potent Ranger offense down.  In his first season, he'd allow runs in all of his starts, and spent June July and August back in AAA to work on his control.

As a starter, Mahomes would shuttle between AAA and the big leagues, with the Twins willing to be patient with his development, however not so much to allow him to have those growing pains in the big leagues. He would come up to the bigs, have some flashes of success, then at (what seemed to me as a kid) the slightest sign of trouble, he'd be shipped back to AAA Portland. He was one of my favorite players on the team, sticking his tongue out while he pitched. Mahomes started pitching as a senior in high school, and here he was at 21, 22, 23 pitching in the big leagues. The Twins would try something different in 1995 with Mahomes, moving him into the bullpen, where the early returns were promising. In 40 relief appearances, the batting average against him was about 100 points lower than in his 7 starts that year, and his K to Walk rate was improved as well.

Mahomes would be traded away to the Red Sox after in August of the 1996 season for Brian Looney. Looney would never make an appearance for the Twins, so I call that a bad deal! Mahomes' years with the Twins did not have the most impressive stats, but I was a big fan. I am glad his son is having some success as well.

After leaving the Twins, Mahomes pitched until 2003 in the big leagues, as well as a 2 year stint in Japan for the Yokohama Bay Stars. In '98, the Bay Stars would finish in first place. The pitching staff had former/future big leaguers Tomo Ohka, Kaz Sasaki, and Takashi Saito in addition to Mahomes.  His best MLB season was with the '99 Mets, helping the team make a run into the playoffs. He would also be on the team in '00 for the World Series appearance against the Yankees. He had a streak of MLB victories that spanned from June of 1996 to May 2000, including an 8-0 record in 1999.

He Can Have Two Willie Mayses! Just Let Me Have Newk Back!

That was what Dodgers' manager Charlie Dressen exclaimed while missing his ace pitcher for two seasons while Mays, Newcombe, Ted Williams, and other MLB players went to serve in the Korean War. Leading up to the war, Newcombe won 56 games in 3 years for the Dodgers, including 20 games in 1951, the first African-American 20 game winner in MLB history. He only pitched briefly in the Negro leagues, parts of 2 seasons with the Newark Eagles, but he credits Eagles' owner (and Hall of Fame inductee) Effa Manley for her faith in him and credits the Negro Leagues as a whole for making it possible for him to have the success he enjoyed. 

In the off-season after 1955, Newcombe went on a barnstorming tour co-headlined with Willie Mays. The team had Larry Doby, Hank Aaron, Monte Irvin in the Outfield with Willie. Ernie Banks in the infield, Roy Campanella behind the plate. Newcombe, Joe Black, and Brooks Lawrence pitched. It was to Mays "quite possibly the greatest team ever assembled" -- they went undefeated in 28 games against a variety of local teams and All-Star teams.

Following the 1955 World Series Championship run, and the successful barnstorming tour, Newcombe had a season for the ages. 27-7, 5 shutouts, winning both the N.L. MVP award and the Cy Young award (back when only one player from AL/NL combined won). Newcombe was also continuing his excellence at the plate - In 1955 he hit .359 with 7 homers, and followed it with 2 more round trippers in '56.

Newcombe would go from a fastball pitcher to more of a finesse pitcher, and like many players going through that transition, he had some growing pains. Mid-way thorough the 1958 season, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, and had to develop a new pitch-- a sinker -- to keep pace and regain some of the dominance that marked his work in the first half of the decade.

In 1959, Newcombe had another winning season, and contributed at the plate as well, hitting .305. He was even used in a pinch hitting role at times. He was even converted into a first baseman when he played in Japan in the early 1960s.

Newcombe was of course a tremendous baseball talent, but he is remembered for much more than his stats. He struggled with but eventually overcame alcoholism, which had been the cause of his break with the Dodgers, the break up of his first marriage, and ultimately led him to find a new path following his retirement in service to others.

In concert with the company he founded in 1976, Don Newcombe Enterprises, and a reunion with the Dodgers in 1980, Newcombe would dedicate his life to the rehabilitation of people who were suffering from alcohol abuse.

On his website, Newcombe is quoted as saying "What I have done after my baseball career and being able to help people with their lives and getting their lives back on track and they become human beings again -- means more to me than all the things I did in baseball."

A Mad Dog, A Crime Dog, and Unlikely Champions - the 1987 Topps Traded Set

The most ubiquitous Topps design is the old woodgrain borders of 1987 Topps. The design was itself a riff on the 25 year old 1962 Design, proving yet again that there are no new ideas. But can you teach an old new tricks? The base set has been covered extensively, but maybe there are some lesser known gems in the traded set. Greg Maddux has his Topps debut here, en route to 18 Gold Gloves, 4 straight Cy Young awards, 8 All-Star games (that's it?), and 355 career victories. He also has a stat named after him, unofficial though it may be - A "Maddux" is a starting pitcher that tosses a complete game shutout, while throwing fewer than 100 pitches. He had 13 Madduxes himself, among his 35 career shutouts.

The other big name rookies in the set? Ellis Burks, who would go on to a great Red Sox career, and a MONSTER season in Coors Field for the Rockies. David Cone, shown here as a New York Met, who would find Maddux-like success in stops in Kansas City and with both the Mets and the Yankees, to name a few. Terry Steinbach is a Minnesota kid, who was in the middle of the Oakland Dynasty of the late 80s / early 90s. Matt Williams had an early run at Roger Maris' single season HR record in 1994, his quest was cut short by the work stoppage. He'd play in World Series with San Fran, Cleveland, and Arizona, winning it all in 2001.

In addition to Maddux, there were 4 more Hall of Fame players. Reggie Jackson came back to Oakland for one last tour with the A's (it's one of my favorite cards of the 80s). Steve Carlton was keeping his career rolling in Cleveland, Andre Dawson was playing an MVP season for the only team he and his agent could convince to sign him during the thick of collusion by MLB owners. The Oakland A's added a new secret weapon to their bullpen, Dennis Eckersley, who would become a lights out closer.

9 new Twins? Can you say championship?!?! The Twins added a Closer (Reardon), a great set-up man (Berenguer), a pair of starting pitchers (Niekro the vet, Straker the rookie), key bench players (Newman for defense/speed and Larkin for a lefty bat), and most importantly a new leadoff man / everyday left fielder, Danny Gladden. Gladden would be on both Twins World Series teams, and the argument can be made that the addition of his glove and bat was exactly what the Twins needed to make it over the top.

In the '87 series, he hit .290, drove in 7 runs, stole 2 bases, and hit a homer. In the 1991 Series, he scored the only run that would matter, the first run of Game Seven in the bottom of the 10th. He's a regular analyst on Twins radio broadcasts, always worth a listen for the stray Hrbek or Puckett story, and his fiery brand of harmless homerism.

There were several guys that were Rookies, but these were not their official rookie cards. LaValliere was around for several seasons already, but I include him as I always considered him as a Pirate. Benny Santiago and Fred McGriff are making their Topps Debuts, but both had 1986 cards with other manufacturers. Shane Mack was on the '84 Olympic team, so this is his first card in an MLB uniform, but he and Mark McGwire both had 1985 Topps rookie cards. Mack is a criminally underrated part of the Twins' second championship - I'll sing his praises when we get to the 1990 traded set.

Two cards that just look wrong, and two that make total sense to me!

Yikes! Harper is like "how could you?" Mitchell and Nelson both smell something is off. Greg Minton is way too into it, but he's no stranger to airbrushing disasters.