1994 Topps All-Star Rookie Outfielder Manny Ramirez

Every team he played for had a "Manny Being Manny" story. Whether it was leaving his paycheck behind in his cleats on a road trip, or leaving the field of play to use the restroom inside the Green Monster. Manny Ramirez was a player who moved to the beat of his own drummer. Antics aside, Ramirez would show from his rookie year on that he was one of the best hitters to ever play the game.

He was a pre-season lock to be the 1994 AL Rookie of the Year, and while he didn't quite meet that expectation, there was little reason to think that he was anything less than a budding superstar. He played in just 91 games in the strike shortened season, ranking 2nd among rookies in Homers, RBI, Doubles, and hits.

Ramirez was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, but attended high school in New York City. His family moved to NYC when Manny was 13 years old, and by the time he was a high school Senior at George Washington High school, he was already a legend among those that had seen his offensive prowess. His Senior year, he batted .650 with 14 homers in 22 games. He was a first round draft pick of Cleveland, and made a steady climb up the minors, hitting double digit homers at each stop along the way. Across AA and AAA in 1993, Manny hit .333 with 31 homers and 115 RBI. By 1994 he was ready for the show.

Over his 8 seasons in Cleveland, Ramirez made 4 All-Star teams, and won 3 Silver Slugger awards. He would appear in 10 different post-season series with the team, slugging 13 homers over those games. Even when not hitting, he contributed to his team's offense by scoring runs after drawing walks. While he was never mistaken for an adept fielder in left field, his bat more than made up for his limited range. His Cleveland career included over 1,000 hits and 232 homers with a .313 average. While they did not win a World Series during his time there, the team would not have been the dynasty they became in the 90s without his bat in the middle of the lineup.

In Boston, the young talent matured into a savvy veteran with very few weaknesses at the plate. During his Red Sox tenure, Manny won a batting title (2002), a home run title (2004), and a World Series MVP award (2004). He was an All-Star in all 8 seasons with Boston, and won 6 Silver Slugger awards. In those 8 seasons, he had over 1200 hits and 274 homers.

None was celebrated bigger than this one, a walk off winner in game 2 of the 2007 ALDS.

To many, Manny's time in Los Angeles was disappointing. He was not able to lead the Dodgers to a World Series, even though he hit .391 after being acquired by the Dodgers half way through the 2008 season. He would hit .500 in the NLDS against the Cubs, and .533 against the Phillies in the NLCS in a losing effort. The following season he ran afoul of the league's drug testing, and was suspended for 50 games, testing positive for a drug that can be used to mask steroid use. He would still be eligible for post season play, hitting .308 in the NLDS and a homer in the NLCS. He would run into injury issues in 2010, losing his regular role in LF. After being ejected for arguing strike one with an umpire in a pinch hitting appearance, the Dodgers placed Ramirez on waivers.

He would finish 2010 with the Chicago White Sox, then signed with Tampa Bay in the off season. He had a strong Spring Training, but struggled early in the 2011 season for the Rays. It was then revealed that he had tested positive for another PED, and Ramirez abruptly retired. He would attempt comebacks in 2012 with Oakland, 2013 with the Rangers, and in 2014 with the Chicago Cubs, but each time he ended the season without a major league at bat.

Is Manny a Hall of Famer? He's already in the Hall of Stats and the Hall of Merit - but those 2 failed drug tests seem to have made the decision for the BBWAA writers already. In his 3 years on the ballot so far, he has yet to reach even 25% of the vote.

1993 Topps All-Star Rookie Team - Outfielder Wayne Kirby

I see you, Jeff Reboulet.

Topps All-Star Rookies seem to fit into three categories - future stars, one year wonders, and guys that toiled for years in the minors before finally breaking through. Wayne Kirby falls squarely into that last group.

Look at all that experience!

Wayne Kirby was a Dodger prospect for several years, being drafted in the winter of 1983 out of high school. Kirby would display excellent speed in the minors, stealing 50+ bases twice. Kirby would come to Cleveland as a minor league free agent following the 1990 season. Kirby was a 29 year old rookie in 1993.

Cleveland had a lot of guys younger than Kirby, with more MLB experience that season. 1993 started with tragedy; Pitchers Steve Olin and Tim Crews were killed in a boating accident during Spring Training. 1993 was also the team's last season in Cleveland Municipal Stadium. With Albert Belle in LF and Kenny Lofton in Center, Kirby had one spot left to claim as the team's regular right fielder. His 1993 season included a league leading 19 outfield Assists. At the plate, Kirby was the team's #2 hitter, batting just after Lofton and before Carlos Baerga. He would hit .269 and drive in 60 runs. He stole 17 bases and scored 71 runs of his own.

Welp. It was a good run, Wayne. Kirby was essentially just keeping Right Field warm for Manny Ramirez, who tore up the minors in 1993 and made his MLB debut by season's end, including a 2 homer game against the Yankees in his home town of New York. But Wayne was not done in Cleveland. He was still fast, could handle the bat well, and played all three outfield positions. He would stay with the team in 1994 and 1995 as the team's fourth outfielder.

For every Manny and Jim Thome that can lead a team, there needs to be a Wayne Kirby and Alvaro Espinoza to keep the clubhouse together. Espinoza and Kirby were known as notorious pranksters throughout the 1995 World Series run. Espinoza's specialty was sticking things to a player's hat with a stealthily placed wad of gum. Of course, the bench players were more than just comic relief, and Kirby in particular played a vital role filling in for Kenny Lofton during the season, and for Albert Belle in the 1995 playoffs when they were out of the lineup with injuries.

Kirby would go on to play in a reserve role for several teams until 1998. After his playing career, Kirby found a home as a coach with Baltimore Orioles.

Playing with House Money

Still have a tiny shop left at COMC, and recently was gently reminded that negative balances are not permitted if you want to sell your cards on the site.

I was surprised to find that I actually had a small surplus, so thanks to anyone that picked through the junk to find something they could use!

Being the responsible salesman that I am, I immediately re-invested those precious credits on new cardboard for myself.

The biggest (literally) purchase was this Minnie Minoso Exhibit postcard - it is the blank tan back version. If I remember correctly "Made in U.S.A." vs. All Caps or "Printed in" means this was from 1951 - 1953. The card is listed as 1947-1966 Exhibit, but I think early 50s is probably a fair guess. Assuming this isn't a reprint!

Rickey is leaping into the ivy, and a Trio of Mannys!

Always looking to add a few new to me Twins, too.

Some sweet Dave Winfield cards that were on my list.

This Kennys Vargas card is numbered to 25 - I'm running out of Kennys to collect!

Couldn't leave without some horizontal heroes - The relic is Moises Alou.

Found this very affordable auto from "Twig" - rounding out a pretty nice haul from the site. I would never call myself a serious card seller. I've only sent one shipment to COMC to date, and I don't know that I'll be sending more - I don't really go for the big dollar sets, so I usually don't have premium, top dollar cards to sell. In fact, I'd much rather trade those cards than sell them anyway!


 If you want to see what's left at my COMC store, you can find it here - still a couple interesting things, and I am open to lower offers most of the time.

Over the Moon after this Trade

Spring Training Games started yesterday, I'm watching the Twins game right now, I'm as pumped as Red Dog here!

Another reason to be pumped up? Night Owl sent over some great cards in trade! I've had my eye on this Herb Washington card for some time, not many cards for Pinch Runners out there.

These guys were all on my junk wax want list - Kevin Foster employs the Jedi mind trick on a baseball in the upper left.

Some Horizontal Heroes, always a fan of Rickey running the bases - Pat Neshek, of course is a MN native and a P.C. guy.

Speaking of player collections, heeeeeere's Manny!

Twins were included as well - three MVPs and a Rat!

What I really appreciate is when you get a nice surprise like some Barry Sanders cards. I have very few non-baseball cards in my collection, but Barry is one of those players from my youth that stayed in my collection all the way through.

Thanks so much Greg!

Customizing The Season of Giving

Welp - Gavin has really outdone himself this holiday season. He's been issuing custom gifts all around the blogosphere and I was very lucky to have an envelope arrive last week with my name on it. Lots of really cool an ingenious work coming from the author of Baseball Card Breakdown

 Some great Manny Ramirez cards for the PC

B-Rad is back- in Pog form! I can't believe they only made 50 of this particular platinum parallel.

 Add in an Albert Belle and we've got a very nice holiday PWE.

 Of course, Gavin did not stop there and included a custom built "rip card" numbered to 25

Inside was this fantastic little magnet featuring Kirby Puckett! Eat your heart out, Cracker Jack.The scan doesn't really do this item justice


Thanks Gavin!