Blog Bat Around: 30 Teams 30 Players

OK. I haven't participated in one of these in years. Mostly, it's because by the time I run across them, it is way too late to participate. I'm only a month behind most everyone else, so let's give this a shot.

The idea is to take each current MLB team and show the player that you associate with the team. I'm not sure if this is the way that you play, but I decided to show the first player that popped in my head when I thought of that team. The results may differ from day to day, but these are the results for today.

Arizona Diamondbacks

1999 Pacific Revolution #7 - Luis Gonzalez

There are lots I can think of now, but when I was pressed for an answer, out came Luis.

Atlanta Braves

1991 Score #671 - Chipper Jones

I can think of others, but this is a solid.

Baltimore Orioles

1958 Topps #307 - Brooks Robinson

 

Huh? I would have thought Cal Ripken Jr., but there ya go.

Boston Red Sox

1982 Brigham's Coca-Cola Boston Red Sox #6 - Dwight Evans

 

It's gotta be the mustache. Just gotta be.

Chicago Cubs

1888 Goodwin Champions (N162) - Cap Anson

My brain went really old school for this one. Maybe it's because I keep running into people who have no idea he's a Cub and think he's associated with the current White Sox.

Chicago White Sox

1983 True Value Chicago White Sox #2 - Harold Baines

 

The newest White Sox member of the Hall of Fame. Sorry, haters.

Cincinnati Reds

1977 Kellogg's 3-D #20 - Pete Rose

 

That insult about a Pete Rose haircut? That's 70's Pete and it's fantastic.

Cleveland Indians

1991 Bowman #68 - Jim Thome

The Gentleman Masher. Classic.

Colorado Rockies

2007 Topps Rookie 1952 Edition #157 - Darren Clarke

 

It's probably because of this.

Detroit Tigers

1981 Topps Coke Detroit Tigers #10 - Lou Whitaker

 

C'mon. It's Lou!

Houston Astros

1990 Baseball Card Magazine '69 Topps Replicas #1 - Craig Biggio

 

One of the "B"s.

Kansas City Royals

2015 Stadium Club #210 - George Brett

 

Classic photo that inspired a song.

Los Angeles Angels

1987 Classic Yellow #134 - Gary Pettis

 

Always loved to watch Gary play.

Los Angeles Dodgers

1947 Bond Bread - Portrait, Glove In Air - Jackie Robinson

I just watched "42" the other day.

Miami Marlins

2016 Topps Opening Day - Opening Day Stars #ODS21 - Giancarlo Stanton

 

Maybe it's that large contract he signed.

Milwaukee Brewers

1979 Topps #-95 - Robin Yount

 

That's what I expected out of me.

 

 

Minnesota Twins

1993 Topps Gold #200 - Kirby Puckett

 

This too, is what I expected out of me.

New York Mets

1991 Fleer Pro Vision #7 - Dwight Gooden

 

He had a pretty good run.

 

 

New York Yankees

1985 Donruss Action All-Stars #48 - Don Mattingly

 

I always thought he looked like my cousin Carl.

Oakland Athletics

1972 Topps #435 - Reggie Jackson

 

One of the first cards with his mustache.

 

 

Philadelphia Phillies

1982 Donruss #294 Mike Schmidt

 

How can you grow up in the 70s and 80s without thinking of Mike Schmidt?

Pittsburgh Pirates

1973 Topps Pin Ups - Willie Stargell

 

Other days it would have been Dave Parker, but Cobra will take a back seat to Pops.

San Diego Padres

2001 Topps Stars #200 - Jake Peavy

 

Jake Peavy? I would have thought Tony Gwynn. Probably the White Sox connection. Remember, these were quick responses.

San Francisco Giants

2009 TriStar Obak #23 - Buster Posey

 

I can see that.

Seattle Mariners

1990 Leaf #299 -Edgar Martinez

 

No Griffey Jr.? Solid choice though.

 

 

St. Louis Cardinals

1984 Ralston Purina #2 - Ozzie Smith

 

The Wizard!!!

Tampa Bay Rays

2005 Bowman Heritage #119 - Scott Kazmir

 

Yup. In hindsight, I thought it would have been Wade Boggs.

Texas Rangers

1991 Studio #124 - Juan Gonzalez

 

So many Rangers. He popped up. Probably because he disappointed me when I went to Comerica Park. He was about the only thing to see on that horrid team and he was out injured.

Toronto Blue Jays

1983 O-Pee-Chee #294 - Alfredo Griffin

 

The Topps version of this card was in the first pack I ever opened. I always appreciated Alfredo Griffin since that day.

 

 

Washington Nationals

2017 Topps Triple Threads #1 - Bryce Harper

 

He's in my news feed several times a day for not doing something. How can he not be on my mind?

Bonus Teams!

 

Teams that used to be, then moved and changed their names.

Montreal Expos

1976 Hostess #62 - Gary Carter

 

I loved to watch the Kid play.

St. Louis Browns

1940 Play Ball #179 - George Sisler

 

I'll confess there really isn't many players that I associate with the Browns.

 

 

Seattle Pilots

2004 Fleer Greats Of The Game #115 - Jim Bouton

 

The Pilot I remember best.

Washington Senators

 1960 Topps #210 - Harmon Killebrew

 

Great name from the end of the Washington era for this pre-Twins team.

 

 

Washington Senators

1969 Topps #650 - Ted Williams 

One of the few names I remember without much thought on this pre-Rangers team.

Alright. The thought process did not take long at all. Maybe thirty seconds for the whole exercise. Transferring the information and finding examples of cards took the longest. I had a blast doing this!!

1902-11 Sporting Life Cabinets (W600)

Issued between 1902 and 1911, these Sporting Life Cabinets encompass a wide array of players that either have no other known cards or very few cards during this period. Some cards are the only known version of a player on a particular team, such as Clark Griffith (misspelled Clarke on his card) on the White Sox. The cabinets measure 5 inches by 7 1/2 inches. They were available for purchase from the Sporting Life Newspaper in Philadelphia.

Player photos range from suit and tie to uniform dress. All examples I have run across feature a portrait photograph. With some cards being issued in 1902, these are the earliest known examples of Chicago White Sox cards. I am not counting 19th century White Sox cards, because that team became the current Chicago Cubs.

These are tastefully done and are a nice alternative to the affluence of tobacco cards in this era. For several of the years covered in this release, this is the only set listed in the card catalog.

The White Sox have thirty-three cards in this set.

6 - Nick Altrock (issued 1903)
42 - Russell Blackburne (issued 1910)
58 - James J. Callahan (issued 1903)
102a - Thomas Daly (issued 1902)
103 - George Davis (issued 1902)
116 - J. 'Jiggs' Donahue (issued 1903)
124c - Patrick Dougherty (issued 1906)
134 - August Dundon (issued 1904)
154a - Patrick Flaherty (issued 1903)
178 - Daniel Green (issued 1903)
180a - Clark Griffith (issued 1902)
183 - Edgar Hahn (issued 1906)
192 - Harry Hart (issued 1906)
200d - Charles Hickman (issued 1907)
210 - William Holmes (issued 1903)
221 - Frank Isbell (issued 1903)
228a - Fielder Jones (issued 1902) (suit)
228b - Fielder Jones (issued 1902) (uniform)
268 - Harry D. Lord (issued 1910)
277 - George H. Magoon (issued 1903)
290 - Edward McFarland (issued 1902)
338 - Frank Owen (issued 1903)
340b - Frederick Parent (issued 1908)
344 - Roy Patterson (issued 1903)
372 - George Rohe (issued 1906)
374c - Frank Roth (issued 1906)
396 - John Slattery (issued 1903)
400 - Frank Smith (issued 1904)
418 - William D. Sullivan (issued 1902)
422 - Lee Tannehill (issued 1903)
435b - Ernest Vinson (issued 1905)
440 - Edward A. Walsh (issued 1904)
444 - G. Harry White (issued 1903)

I can't state enough how important these cards are to fill in gaps where there was no alternative. It is a unique find, which feature players you will find nowhere else. As for owning one of these... you may find them to be a bit pricey. If you can get your hands on one, don't hesitate at owning a piece of history.

2017 Birth Year Cards

Card #222 - Rick Renteria

Born: December 25, 1961

 

Card #223 - Jace Fry

Born: July 9, 1993

Card #224 - Alen Hanson

Born: October 22, 1992

 Card #225 - Tyler Clippard

Born: February 14, 1985

 Card #226 - Reynaldo Lopez

Born: January 4, 1994

 Card #227 - Rymer Liriano

Born: June 20, 1991

 Card #228 - Brad Goldberg

Born: February 21, 1990

 Card #229 - Anthony Swarzak

Born: September 10, 1985

 Card #230 - Yoan Moncada

Born: May 27, 1995

 Card #231 - David Holmberg

Born: July 19, 1991

 Card #232 - Nicky Delmonico

Born: July 12, 1992

 Card #233 - Aaron Bummer

Born: September 21, 1993

 Card #234 - Mike Pelfrey

Born: January 14, 1984

 Card #235 - Adam Engel

Born: December 9, 1991

 Card #236 - Derek Holland

Born: October 9, 1986

 Card #237 - Willy Garcia

Born: September 4, 1992

 Card #238 - Dylan Covey

Born: August 14, 1991

 Card #239 - Al Alburquerque

Born: June 10, 1986

 Card #240 - Cody Asche

Born: June 30, 1990

 Card #241 - Lucas Giolito

Born: July 14, 1994

 Card #242 - Jacob May

Born: January 23, 1992

 Card #243 - Danny Farquhar

Born: February 17, 1987

Card #244 - Chris Volstad

Born: September 23, 1986

The Ex Files: Jim Parque

Jim was drafted by the White Sox in 1997, in the supplemental draft of the first round. He made his debut in 1998 and helped the White Sox reach the playoffs in 2000.

Parque was a nice reliable workhorse that could be counted on for close to two-hundred innings in his prime. The future was looking good for butter. PARQUE! (Sorry. A lot of Sox fans would take that classic commercial refrain and repeat it whenever Parque would start a game.)

In 2000, Parque's troubles would begin. He would have a shoulder injury which would make his next few years atrocious. His ERA would balloon as Jim would suffer from multiple shoulder injuries.

Jim would be granted free agency after the 2002 season. He signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2003. After racking up an 11.94 ERA over five starts, the Devil Rays released him. He signed a contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2004, but never made it to the majors after Tampa Bay. Jim announced his retirement in 2004.

Fast forward to 2007. Parque signs a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners, after regaining is arm strength. He was released without reaching the majors, but the real excitement would leak in December 2007. His name popped up on a list of players who tested positive for steroids.

When that list came out, I physically scratched my head.I couldn't imagine little skinny Jim Parque using steroids. When the list came out, Jim denied using, but in 2009, he came clean. Parque had used HGH in his shoulder rehab, while with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2003. HGH was not yet banned in MLB when Jim used, but his name remains on the list.

Card Spotlight: 2-8-19

2015 Panini Elite Inspirations #147 - Adam LaRoche (/75)

I'll be honest. There isn't much that inspires me about Adam LaRoche. I'm sure I will get some feedback for that statement.

I admire that he has embraced his faith. I admire that he has embraced fatherhood. I find it interesting that he is passionate enough about deer hunting that he co-owns a show about it. I admire that he could walk away from $13 million. I'm not sure if I could do the same. I admire the hell out of how Adam went undercover to help free underage sex slaves in Asia. I, however, do not find him inspirational.

Someone who is inspirational does not cause a near team walkout because they can't do whatever they like at work, when peers have expressed complaints. What you do instead, is find a compromise or adhere to workplace rules, whether you agree with them or not. I understand LaRoche has made enough money to be set for life and can do whatever he pleases. Most of us out there do not have that luxury. We struggle, living paycheck to paycheck. It is going to take a lot more that not being able to take my child to work for me to walk out and not look back.

Someone who is inspirational doesn't walk away from co-workers, effectively leaving them in the lurch. Sure, Adam had a really down year, in his first with the White Sox. Could that have ultimately been the reason for his sudden departure? We'll never know. The snap decision (temper tantrum?) that resulted after he was asked to bring his son around slightly less (not banned outright, but just around slightly less) sounds like a bit of an overreaction. In my experience, someone only reacts that strongly to a simple request if they are looking for a way out already. I've already written about this before, but a few years removed, the departure still rubs me the wrong way.

Adam LaRoche is a hell of a human being, who has done great things and carved out his own path, his own way. He just isn't my idea of an inspirational human being, but few people truly fit that mold.

1955 Red Man

1955 marked the forth and final set of baseball cards from the Red Man Chewing Tobacco line. It had been the first time in decades that baseball cards had been attached to tobacco product. Instead of tiny cards in cigarette packs, these were nice oversize cards that were attached to pouches.

It is difficult, but not impossible, to find these with the tabs at the bottom intact. It is more desirable to find these cards with the tabs still attached, but there is no shame in collecting the tabless variety. If one collected fifty tabs, those tabs could be turned in for a Red Man felt baseball cap with the team of your choice. Sorry, the newest expiration dates are over sixty years old, but it was a nice thought. They are beautiful looking cards, in which pictures do not lend credence to how gorgeous these cards look. The 3 1/2 inch by 4 inch size just added to the ambience of the artistry.

The White Sox have five cards in the set out of fifty. Twenty-five American League and twenty-five National League cards complete the set.

AL4 - Nellie Fox
AL6 - Jack Harshman
AL23 - Chico Carrasquel
AL24 - Minnie Minoso
AL25 - Sandy Consuegra

Vintage cards are not always a daunting task to collect. It is never easy to collect, but the Red Man cards have a good presence on eBay and other online venues, making it an easier experience than some sets this age.

WSC All-Stars: Eddie Smith 1942

Card #18 - Eddie Smith

Eddie once again made the All-Star team. He did not get an opportunity to get in the game though. Spud Chandler of the New York Yankees started the game. Al Benton of the Detroit Tigers took over pitching duties in the bottom of the fifth, since Chandler was pinch hit for by Bob Johnson of the Philadelphia Athletics in the top of the fifth.

Benton finished out the game for a four inning save, as the American League was victorious, three to one. Cleveland Indians' shortstop Lou Boudreau hit a lead off home run in the top of the first, but Tigers first baseman Rudy York's two-run blast in the same frame was the deciding factor, scoring Yankees right fielder Tommy Henrich. Both homers came off of St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Mort Cooper.

2014 Panini Immaculate Swatches

Sometimes cards just slip on by. I try to keep up with all the releases, but in certain instances, cards go completely off my radar. Some examples include; sets being out of my price range to collect, thinking a White Sox player is represented on another team, or the checklist is so massive with variations and subsets that it just gets glossed over. Occasionally companies don't even release checklists.

The secondary market is a great place to fill in those missing gaps of information. Chances are, if I haven't run across the information within a few weeks of the set release, it will be something I have to stumble across. Sets make themselves known when the timing is right.

Panini is one of the many companies without an MLB license, so they can't show logos. Basically, they are in limbo similar to Upper Deck. Upper Deck pushed those boundaries until they got in trouble. Panini does a fantastic job with filling that role. Most of their releases feel like fully licensed cards, even without all the licenses. I suppose it's all in how much artistry goes into appearance.

The swatches are technically an insert set within Immaculate. Immaculate has one hundred forty seven cards for its base cards, but the swatches only have ninety five cards, all serial numbered. The White Sox have five cards in the set.

56 - Bo Jackson (/99)
61 - Frank Thomas (/25)
77 - Charlie Leesman (/99)
81 - Marcus Semien (/99)
82 - Matt Davidson (/99)

I was actually surprised at how many White Sox rookies are in this set! Relics of any kind are a bit passe, but they are a wonderful way to get closer to the game and to the players, in a non-stalkery kinda way. It's a nice little set and most of the cards can be obtained for a semi-reasonable price. The lack of logos hurts, but not as much as you might think.

2017 Topps Fire

This 200 card set burst onto the scene in September 2017. Immediately this release reminds me of 1995 Fleer, but only slightly. It comes with the base card and nine parallels.

The set stands out a bit from the rest of the pack. It looks like nothing else out there, in terms of releases. I'm not so much reminded of fire with the design, but more of a vortex with a player in the middle. It's an interesting choice nonetheless. It works for this set though.

I like when a card set is a little bit out there and separates itself from the rest. When I opened my first pack, this was a breath of fresh air. While the design did get a bit repetitive, seeing that card after card, I still appreciated the effort. The work that went into the design helped soften the blow.

I remember saying to myself, "What is this?", when I opened that first pack. It was both an exclamation of wonderment and perplexed fascination. I haven't had those conflicted feelings in awhile.

The White Sox have seven cards in this set.

16 - Paul Konerko
44 - Frank Thomas
63 - Reynaldo Lopez
100 - Yoan Moncada
177 - Carson Fulmer
178 - Jose Abreu
184 - Lucas Giolito

This is a really good mix of past players, rookies and current players. While this release isn't going to set the world on fire, it does offer a different look with an artistic flair. Sometimes all you need is something to set yourself apart from the rest. This set delivers on that.

2008 Almost Broke My Spirit

2008 was quite a year. I had just gotten back into collecting full time the year before and I had a plan to collect smartly. I had spent 2007 fully immersing myself into catching up with what I had missed since 1994, which was the last time I had devoted myself to full time collecting. I had always dabbled in a pack or a team set here and there, but 2007 was when I flipped the switch.

I studied the patterns of releases and the different aspects of each. Not much had changed in the last few years. When it was announced that each card company was subject to a set cap that year (meaning there could only be a certain number of card releases in a calendar year), I figured that this would be the year that I fine tune and streamline my collecting, so I could maximize getting the cards I wanted. It was great in theory.

Topps Moments & Milestones threw me for a loop when it was introduced in 2007, but I adjusted and really came to appreciate the set for its uniqueness. I chose to collect one card from each of the serial numbered cards. It didn't matter what that first number was. Only the second. It was the easiest way to collect each card in the milestone run. I made it even easier by only collecting the White Sox cards.

So I knew that Moments and Milestones were going to be a challenge, but an obtainable one. I decided that since I enjoyed the 1959 Topps set so much and I had my collecting down to a science, I would collect the entire set of Topps Heritage. Another semi-difficult, but obtainable goal.

Upper Deck threw out a new insert set called Yankee Stadium Legacy. There would be cards for every game played in Yankee Stadium. I wasn't going to touch that set, but I figured that I really enjoy history and research, so I decided to collect only the cards featuring games against the White Sox. More difficult, but again, obtainable.

Let's count the ways that the card companies foiled my best collecting plans, shall we?

The Yankee Stadium Legacy proved to be way more difficult than originally thought. The insert set was spread out over several releases, including at least one that was out of my price range for a pack buy. I would have to rely on second hand sellers and traders more than I had planned. When these cards first came to the secondary market, some of the prices were outrageous, partly because of the players on the card, partly because there was a contest to complete. I still have a laundry list of cards to complete my White Sox set.

I had come very close to completing the Topps Heritage set. I had decided to go after the two gimmick cards because I was so close. Then Topps announced the first ever high series in a Heritage set! That was great! Then I found out that the cards would be distributed as inserts in the Topps Update set. I still have eighteen cards for the regular set and thirty-six cards in the update set before my Heritage is complete. This isn't including the insert sets or the White Sox cards that I have for the team sets.

Moments & Milestones would have been a challenge in a normal year, but with everything else that came out and the difficulty of obtaining the cards I wanted, the set became almost a burden to collect. I have many, many cards left to collect for Moments & Milestones, which is sad because there are only three players that I am collecting in the set.

Then to add insult to injury, Upper Deck came out with Documentary, which documented every game for the season. It was a great idea, which I actually wanted. The set had its shortcomings with how much thought was put into photo choices, but it was still pretty cool. But alas, it was another bulky set to pile onto my collecting list.

I can't even imagine what 2008 would have looked like if I collected every card in every set. The adversities in collecting goals all go away with that rush you get from getting closer to completion. It's an exhilarating feeling, that can only be topped by completing a set.

2008 nearly broke me, but it taught me many valuable lessons in how to collect. I still love the hunt for these cards. I still get the same thrills when I get another card to add to the binder. Still I will be happiest when I can finally leave 2008 behind.

Favorite Cards: Baltimore Orioles (AL)

1987 Topps #728 - Tippy Martinez

I'm not sure which I was aware of first in life - my dog named Tippy or Tippy Martinez. I picked out a black Cockapoo puppy in the early eighties and out of thin air, the name Tippy came to me. I know Tippy Martinez had a career that dated back into the 70s, but I honestly could not think of him before I had my dog Tippy.

There was something about Tippy Martinez that made me happy. To this day I struggle to know exactly what that was. He was never on any of the teams I followed. It was something more than just the name. It was the way he carried himself in photographs. Tippy was mysterious and otherworldly to a small kid from the south suburbs of Chicago.

There were dozens of Tippy Martinez cards (it seemed like I pulled him from packs more often than most other players back then), but the 1987 Topps card reminded me of something more. Something that caught my eye in the newspaper, in books, on television and probably more. He reminded me of Spike.

Sometimes personality shows through photographs and my imagination, as a kid, came up with Tippy Martinez being a likable, funny guy that lived in the desert by a cactus and so happened to pitch in the majors. Looking back on that, as an adult, it sounds preposterous. It's the same imagination that had me peeking out windows spying on a neighbor because he looked like he could be in the Crimson Guard. The same imagination that had me pick out G.I. Joe action figures and play Ghostbusters with them instead. Yup. Vivid to the core.

Tippy probably stood out more because of the unusual name and my dog's name. A vivid imagination can and will take you on strange journeys. Those journeys may be filled with dogs and baseball players, but they are still awesome trips.

In case you were wondering. This is Tippy.

You guessed it. Tippy was a fun loving dog who loved to dance.

Card Spotlight: 2-1-19

2017 Gypsy Queen Green #250 - Yoan Moncada (/99)

2019 will be a make or break year for Yoan Moncada. I have a feeling that it will be a breakthrough season for him. Why do I get that feeling? Accountability.

Yoan took a look at his numbers for the 2018 season and asked to go to Arizona to work on the biggest areas that were flawed in his game. That move screams maturity. You don't hope that things will get better. You make things happen. You recognize your weaknesses and focus on improving them. That is how anything gets a chance at redemption.

Moncada came to the White Sox highly regarded, but had limited success in the short amount of time that he enjoyed playing in the majors with Boston. He has improved slightly each season, but nothing to inspire confidence.

Yoan did lead in a few categories for the 2018 season, but nothing anyone would want to brag about. He led the majors in strikeouts (217) and errors at second base (21), which earned him third place across the majors for errors committed. Couple that with a low average (.235) and a not great looking on base percentage (.315), there are several areas for improvement and not much further he can go down in those areas.

While the rebuilding process continues, a revolution in Moncada's game would be extraordinary. Whether or not the ChiSox get Machado, Harper, Marwin Gonzalez or any other free agent, a significant upgrade in Moncada would help solidify the path that the Pale Hose are on. It will lead to improvement across the board; in the standings, in attendance, in player accomplishments.If Yoan can accomplish that, it will be good for the team, for the fans, and most importantly, for him.