130 - Charlie Hayes

130 - Charlie Hayes

Front: Snagging the ball, although it does look like practice, thanks to the casualness of the player behind him.

Back: Hitting

Silver Sig:

Better side: Still the more unique photo is the front one.

Ties to my personal collections: Would sign with the Mets in 2000, but be released during spring training.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 18

Wiki-facts: His son is Ke'Bryan Hayes of the Pirates.

Google it: The Society for American Baseball Research calls him a 'solid journeyman'.

How was his strike-shortened 1994? Batted .288 with 10 HR and 50 RBI.

Birthday boy:  May 29, 1965. Jarmo Myllys, formerly of the San Jose Sharks, was borth that date as well. The day also claims NFLer David Braxton, who mostly played for the Cardinals. 

Next up: Rickey Henderson

79 - Jerald Clark

Front photo: Stretching downward for a catch.

Back photo: Throwing the ball on the infield.

Better photo?: With the position of OF-1B on the front of the card, it is nice that both positions appear in the photos. Gotta go with the front image, though.

Parallel: Silver Signature

Ties to my personal collections: None.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 5

Wiki-facts: "In 1992, as a member of the Padres, Clark accomplished the rare feat of stealing home. Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Mike Scioscia and manager Tommy Lasorda went to the pitcher's mound to discuss strategy. In the meantime, Clark alertly realized they did not call time and sprinted home."

Google it: He's a realtor now, and does include his baseball history on his linkedin.

How was his stike shortened 1994? Spent it in Japan, with the Yakult Swallows. Got 415AB, and went .293 with 20 HR and 53 RBI. So, maybe not so strike-shortened?

Birthday boy: August 10, 1963. No MLB alum other than Clark were born that date. From football, Derek Burton, who played a few games with the 1987 Minnesota Vikings was born that date, but that's it across the *-reference world.

Up Next: Royce Clayton

74 - Vinny Castilla

Front photo: Fielding the ball.

Back photo: Running the bases.

Better photo?: Easily the back photo, since you can see the distinctive wall of Wrigley as well as a player making a defensive play as Castilla heads to third.

Ties to my personal collections: When I bought a box of Hometown Heroes to send to the Super Traders, Castilla was the only player I ended up sending out, as the rest of the players were on unclaimed teams.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 16

Wiki-facts: "In 2008, he was a player-manager for the Naranjeros de Hermosillo in the Mexican Pacific League." His entry might have the worst photo on it for a notable player.

Google it: Nothing interesting on the first page.

How was his stike shortened 1994? .331 AVE with 3 HR and 18 RBI over 52 games.

Birthday boy:  July 4, 1967. Vinny Castilla may have been born on that particular 4th of July, but nobody else in the *-reference sites was. Over in wikiland, Canadian TV personality Andy Walker (G4Tech TV) is the most familiar name to me listed on that date.

Up Next: 75 - Andujar Cedeno

62 - Daryl Boston

62 - Daryl Boston

Front photo: Swinging.

Back photo: Tracking down a pop-up, with a mysterious teammate losing his cap.

Better photo?: Not really a 1981 John Pacella, but I gotta go with the back image.

Ties to my personal collections: Former Met. Younger brother DJ was a former Blue Jays farmhand.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 5

Wiki-facts: "In 2013, White Sox manager Robin Ventura named Boston the team's first base coach." He's still there.

Google it: The first page contains an article about how he, Vince Coleman and Dwight Gooden avoided rape charges in 1992. Charming. That isn't in his wiki article.

How was his stike shortened 1994? He spent it with the Yankees, hitting 4 HR and 14 RBI with a sub-Mendoza BA of .182. His last MLB season was 1994.

Birthday boy: January 4, 1963. He was the only MLBer born that date. In fact, no alum of the major 4 teams sports was born that date. However, he does share the birthdate with Kids in the Hall/Newsradio's Dave Foley.

Up Next: Ryan Bowen

52 - Dante Bichette

52 - Dante Bichette

Front photo: Generic shot stepping into the batter's box.

Back photo: Arriving in safe at the bag.

Better photo?: An easy win for the action photo on the back.

Ties to my personal collections: Came to Colorado in a trade that sent Kevin Reimer, a member of my CanCon PC, to Milwaukee.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 10

Wiki-facts: Hit both the first home run in franchise history, and the first home run in Coors Field history, both off the Mets. Sounds about right for mid 90s Mets. Bret Saberhagen was the victim for first one in team history.

Google it: Here's video of the Coors Field shot, of which further googling lead to Mike Remlinger being the victim

How was his strike-shortened 1994? Was an All-Star, hitting 27/95 with a .304 average.

Birthday boy: November 18, 1963. Former Washington Redskin Todd Bowles was also born on that date. The late Len Bias was born that date as well, and according to wikipedia, the first push button phone went into use that day.

Up Next: #53 - Jeff Blauser