Tuesday 19 July 2016

59 - Bret Boone

59 - Bret Boone

Front photo: Trying to turn a double play in spring training. Nice cameo, too.

Back photo: Generic fielding photo.

Better photo?: An easy win for the front photo. Even without a special guest.

Ties to my personal collections: None.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 16.

Wiki-facts: "On the last day of the 1998 season, the Reds helped him make baseball trivia history by starting the only infield ever composed of two sets of brothers: first baseman Stephen Larkin, second baseman Bret Boone, shortstop Barry Larkin, and third baseman Aaron Boone."

Google it: If you have 9.5 million around, you can buy his place in California.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/former-baseball-player-bret-boone-relists-california-home-for-9-5-million-1444327899

How was his stike shortened 1994? He was in Cincy for this season, and batted .320 with 12 HR and 68 RBI.

Birthday boy: April 6, 1969. No other MLB alumni were born that date. In basketball, the late Bison Dele was a 4/6/1969 baby. From the NFL, former Philadelphia Eagle Andy Harmon was born that day. Staying in Philly, Jeff Harding, who played 15 games for the Flyers also matches up.
Outside the sporting world, actor Paul Rudd was also born that date.

Up Next: #60 - Pat Borders

Wednesday 6 July 2016

58 - Bobby Bonilla

58 - Bobby Bonilla

Front photo: Diving back to the base.

Back photo: Looking like he'll be late applying the tag to 3rd.

Better photo?: The second is more of a Mets-ish photo for that time.

Ties to my personal collections: Is a Met. In my DVD collection, he got referenced, albeit not by name, in the opening scene of the Season 3 Law & Order episode, The Corproate Veil, first airing on Oct 14, 1992.

(a police office throws a baseball back to some children)

Officer 1: They should put you on the corner at Shea.
Officer 2: I'd go for a hell of a lot less than 29 mil...guy's a bum. What's he hitting, .220? (He had finished the season hitting .249 in 1992)
Officer 1: He's better than the last guy they had.
Officer 2: The least he could do is break a leg. Can't hurt the team from the DL.

Ouch.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 17

Wiki-facts: "Bonilla's stay in New York was also marred by a number of incidents, such as threatening sportswriter Bob Klapisch that he would "show him the Bronx" in response to his book on the 1992 Mets, The Worst Team Money Could Buy: The Collapse Of The New York Mets".

Google it: Until 2035, he will get paid by $1,193,248.20 by the Mets.  http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/happy-bobby-bonilla-payday-mets-fans/

How was his stike shortened 1994? Batted .290 with 20 HR and 67 RBI. Also struck out 101 times, just 2 behind his career high, but with over 200 fewer plate appearances.

Birthday boy: Feb 23, 1963. NHLer Doug Kostynski, who spent 15 NHL games in a Bruins uniform was born that date. No NBA of NFL call that their birth date. Outside the sporting world, Polish politician Radoslaw Sikorski was born that date.

Up Next: #59 - Bret Boone