22 - Wayne Gomes

Front photo: A posed shot.

Back photo: Due to the fact that there's nobody else on the field, I'll call it a posed photo as well.

 Better photo?: It isn't a band photo, so he can get away with a chain link fence on his card.

Ties to my personal collections: Most similar players as per baseball reference are a pair of former Blue Jays, Giovanni Carrara and Cliff Politte. Was also once traded for former Blue Jay Felipe Crespo. There's one more in birthday boy, but it isn't a sports tie-in.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 2

Wiki-facts:  After his retirement, he opened the Virginia Baseball Academy in Suffolk, VA. He

How was his strike-shortened 1994? Spent it in the minors as A-level Clearwater.

Birthday boy: January 15, 1973. While he does match up perfectly with a soccer player from Egypt in Essam El-Hadary, there's a death on that date that interests me much more, as a MSTie. Coleman Francis passed away on that date - the man who brought us The Beast of Yucca Flats, The Skydivers and Red Zone Cuba.

"Drink Night Train go to the basketball game, throw up under the bleachers..."

Up next: 23 - Jeff Granger.

21 - Brian Anderson

Front photo: A posed shot.

Back photo: Probably a posed shot as well, even though he went from the draft to the bigs in the same season.

Better photo?: I'll go for the front, due to the visible lights in the background.

Ties to my personal collections: Nothing of note. Never played for a team I follow. Was once part of a trade that included someone named 'Pep Harris', who has just landed on my wantlist on the strength of being named Pep Harris.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 19

Wiki-facts: Was a fill-in broadcaster for Cleveland while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He is currently part of the Rays broadcast team as a TV analyst. Was on the World Series winning D-backs in 2001.

How was his strike-shortened 1994? Started 18 games, with a 7-5 record and an ERA of 5.22. Good enough for 6th in the AL ROY balloting. He finished ahead of teammate Jim Edmonds.

Birthday boy: April 26, 1972. Same date as former Pirate Francisco Cordova. In other sports, former NFL C Tim Ruddy was also born on that date. Outside the sporting world, actress Maura West, who has 3 Daytime Emmy Awards for her work on soap operas. Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana, died on the date.

 Up next: 22 - Wayne Gomes.

20 - Gabe White

Front photo: Spring training posed shot.

Back photo: N/A. Actual photos on the back debut with the next card!

Ties to my personal collections: He's an Expo on this card!

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 1

Wiki-facts: Surrendered the final hit in Tony Gwynn's career.

How was his strike-shortened 1994? Went 1-1 with an ERA over 6. 7 appearances, starting 5 games, and getting a save in one as well.

Birthday boy: November 20, 1971. Same as short-term Met Kevin Lomon, of whom I pulled his only Mets card in my first ever Fairfield repack. Also born on that date was NFL HOFer Michael Strahan.

 Up next: 21 - Brian Anderson, starting a group of 10 cards of 1993 Draft Picks.