Can Topps Tell Japanese Players Apart?

I've never claimed to be an expert at faces. I sometimes can't recognize my own friends in a crowd, if I haven't seen them in awhile. I've never been able to do that on a consistent basis. So, it seems odd that I'm catching this while looking through my cards.

I never really studied the 2007 Topps Co-Signers release with any in depth analysis to every card. I thought they looked nice and felt frustrated at the many parallels of matched up players. Maybe that's why this escaped me for so long. I was so used to seeing two different players on the 2007 Co-Signers cards, that it never really registered.

This 2007 card of Tadahito Iguchi has Shingo Takatsu on it. You can definitely tell that this is not the same player. The facial features are nothing alike. The only similarities are that both players are of Japanese descent and are wearing Chicago White Sox uniforms. One is batting and one is throwing. At least to the untrained eye.

Tadahito is batting, even though he left before the 2007 season. I understand that these sets are put together months in advance. I'm fine with that. There's Shingo Takatsu on the right throwing a baseball, or as they say in the majors, pitching.

Maybe Topps thought that was a picture of Tadahito turning a double play. OK, it seems like I'm stretching for an excuse, but I can see that. If you tilt your head to the left and squint, it kinda looks like Tadahito turning a double play. It's an honest mistake. Or so I thought, until I looked at the back of the card.Hmmm. That certainly looks like a pitcher. That certainly does look like Mr. Zero's delivery style. By golly, that is Shingo Takatsu! But wait... that's impossible. Shingo has been out of the White Sox organization since 2005. So what gives?

Can Topps tell Japanese players apart? I guess not, unless your name is Ichiro Suzuki. Just because a team has had two Japanese players in its recent history, does not make them the same player. It may have taken me over a year to notice, but Topps screwed up big time. Three photographs on the card (two different) and only one is of the player mentioned on the card. For shame!

Shingo Returns To Chicago

After a two year absence from the major leagues, it looks like Shingo Takatsu may return. Not with the White Sox, but the Cubs. Shingo was lights out in 2004, when he first came to the major leagues. The beginning of the 2005 season began with two tough luck blown saves that seemed to take a toll on Shingo.

He was released by the White Sox on August 1, 2005. The Mets signed him and he played in 9 games for them. He did fairly well, but didn't catch on anywhere else. He returned to Japanese baseball on recorded his 300th overall save, combining Japanese and Major League totals.

Shingo did receive a World Series ring for 2005, even though he wasn't on the roster or even in the White Sox system at the time of the World Series. Hopefully, Shingo can return to form with the Cubs. There is a special place for most ex-White Sox players, even if they are on the Cubs.

Jon, Paul, Geoff & Shingo?

Jon, Paul, Geoff & Shingo. No, it's not anything close to the Beatles. It's a group I like to call the UnBeatables. They were all part of the 2005 World Series Team at some point during the season. As of this writing, only Paul remains.

I still say this would have made a brilliant marketing campaign. So, what if the Sox didn't have a George or a Jorge on the team. They had a Geoff and that's close looking to George. OK, the fact that Geoff didn't get onto the team until July 31st and Shingo was released the next day didn't offer a lot of time. But that never stopped a good marketing campaign. Oh well... missed opportunities.

Shingo appeared in 31 games and saved 8. Those are decent numbers on an average team. The problem was that Shingo was the Opening Day closer. Those are great numbers for middle relief, not so great for your closer. Shingo started out great, but a couple of blown saves in the first couple of weeks rattled him beyond fixing. After that, the Sox cringed whenever Shingo was called upon. I still say Shingo was a main reason that Tadahito Iguchi came to the South Side, and for that and his 2004 season, Shingo is OK in my book.

Geoff Blum was a utility extraordinaire. He didn't get into games that much, but when he did, good things happened. He also appeared in 31 games and batted a cold .200. Geoff wasn't there for his bat, he was there for defense and to give the regulars a rest. By a stroke of luck, Geoff will always be remembered for his bat. His home run in the top of the 14th inning broke the 5-5 tie in the third game of the World Series. Essentially, Geoff won the game with a home run in his only World Series plate appearance. He replaced Bobby Jenks in the batting lineup and played second base in the bottom of the 13th inning.

Jon Garland had his best season, so far, in 2005. He won 18 games during the regular season, made the All-Star team, and was "on" for most of the postseason. The entire pitching staff kept the White Sox in every game. Jon Garland was no exception. While most of the drama of the game he started in the World Series (game 3) happened well after he was out of the game, Jon kept the Sox in the game while he was out there. Plus, nothing could top his performance in the 2005 ALCS, where he pitched a complete game. One of four consecutive complete games that the Sox threw in the ALCS.

Paul Konerko was the glue that held together the 2005 team. He never wanted to be a captain, but that's exactly what happened. With Frank Thomas being hurt most of the year, the players looked to Paulie for the leadership and guidance. Paul is a soft-spoken player who leads by example, like Carlton Fisk, but without the attitude. He was voted the 2005 ALCS MVP and was strongly in the running for World Series MVP. Paul's steady hand caught the last out of the World Series and the White Sox fans rejoiced. 88 years of "almost" vanished the second Konerko caught the ball at first.

The Joe Buck call will always be famous because it was on television. The call I prefer, came on the radio by broadcaster John Rooney. "A ground ball past Jenks up the middle of the infield, Uribe has it, he throws... OUT, OUT!!! A White Sox winner and a World Championship!!! The White Sox have won the World Series, and they're mobbing each other on the field!!!"