Sunday 29 May 2016

55 - Tim Bogar

55 - Tim Bogar

Front photo: A tangled up mess at second on what appears to be turning two.

Back photo: Passing the ball along.

Better photo?: While the front photo is more Collectors Choice-y, that back of the card pic where neither of the player's feet are touching the ground is kinda interesting as well. In fact, neither foot might be touching in the front photo as well. While that might be common for basketball, that can't be true for baseball. The back photo seems more unique, so that will be the deciding factor.

Parallel: Silver signature. Looks like his middle initial is P. Wikipedia says it stands for Paul.

Ties to my personal collections: He's a Met.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 15.

Wiki-facts: He's now the bench coach for the Mariners.

Google it: The third result expresses regret that Tim was only named the bench coach as opposed to manager.

Birthday Boy: October 28, 1966. In another tie to my PCs, former Toronto Blue Jay Juan Guzman was also born that date. No NBAers were, but a pair of NHLers were. Ron Hoover, who played 22 games (and did get a card at the NHL level with #287 in 1991-92 UD), and Benoit Hogue (with more than 800 more games than Ron) was also born that date. In football, Kim Phillips, who had one game with the Bills was born that date. Not too impressive, but Steve Atwater, who has a pair of Super Bowl rings, and is on the Broncos Ring of Fame, was also born on that busy date. And he had an awesome nickname, "The Smiling Assassin". Outside the sports world, funnyman Andy Richter was born that day.

Up Next: #56 Tom Bolton

Monday 16 May 2016

54 - Mike Blowers

54 - Mike Blowers

Front photo: Throwing

Back photo: Batting

Better photo?: You see the batting helmet rack in the batting photo. That's enough for a narrow win.

Ties to my personal collections: None.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 8

Wiki-facts: "He was the 13th player to hit grand slams in consecutive games"

Google it: Went viral after guessing correctly about Matt Tuiasosopo's first home run.
How was his strike-shortened 1994? Batted .289 with 9 HRs and 49 RBIs.

Birthday boy: April 24, 1965. No NBA, or NFL alum was born that date, and Blowers was the only MLBer. NHLer turned lawyer Jeff Jackson was born that date.

Up Next: #55 - Tim Bogar

Tuesday 3 May 2016

53 - Jeff Blauser




53 - Jeff Blauser

Front photo: Candlestick Park's fences in the background as some random Giant is tagged out.

Back photo: More defensive action.

Better photo?: Surprising use of two defensive photos as Blauser was coming off his first .300 season at the plate. Photo choice aside, this one is easily one by the front photo.

Ties to my personal collections: See the Birthday Boy portion of this.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 5

Wiki-facts: "Blauser went to Placer High School in Auburn, California and Sacramento City College." Yeah, his wiki article is pretty bland.

Google it: It is similarly bland, but you can find video on the first page of a three home run game at Wrigley Field.
How was his strike-shortened 1994? Batted .258 with 6 HR and 45 RBI.

Birthday boy: November 8, 1965. Jason Johnson, who spent two years in the late 80s in the NFL was born that date. However, Jason's only cards have him with the Frankfurt Galaxy of the WLAF. Former NHL tough guy Mike Peluso, who spent 1951 minutes in the sin bin, was also born that date. He spent a season in Ottawa, thus giving Blauser a tie to my Senators PC. Also on that date, the death penalty was abolished in the UK.

Up Next: #54 - Mike Blowers