32 - Luis Alicea

Front photo: Turning two!

Back photo: Just a standard shot from the field.

Better photo?: While the back does include the Wrigley ivy, it is hard to vote against the double play flip, even if it isn't as urgent a throw as most.

Ties to my personal collections: A future Met! Albeit as a coach during the 2009

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 17..

Wiki-facts: Full name is Luis René Alicea de Jesús.

Google it: He's now the Executive Director of the Elev8 Baseball Academy. Former Boston Red Sox member Alejandro Machado is also on the staff. Machado also had a cup of coffee with the Mets, as per his bio at the Elev8 site.

How was his strike-shortened 1994? 4 HR and 29 RBI over 242 AB.

Birthday boy: July 29, 1965. Only people on the *-reference are a a pair of NFLers with 4 games between them, Scott Urch and Ray Brown. .

Up next: 32 - Roberto Alomar.

31 - Kurt Abbott

Front photo:  A swing!

Back photo: The follow through. Maybe even from the same swing. Given the camera angles, unlikely, but that it is the type of thing UD would do.

Better photo?: I'll vote for the back one, since his facial expression seems a little silly in the first one.

Ties to my personal collections: A future Met! He'd play 2000 for them, appearing in 79 games. He got a base card as a Met in 2001 Topps, but was a Brave that season, as his career came to a close with 9 AB in 6 games.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 8.

Wiki-facts: Has been a a Sheriff's Deputy since 2006. It doesn't have any word on what effect a 2012 DUI had on that.

Google it: I can't find anything about his post DUI, just that he was suspended around that time. On a better note, he earned a commendation in April 2006 for rescuing a resident trapped inside a burning building

How was his strike-shortened 1994? He was traded to the Marlins in late 1993. There, he batted .249 with 9 HR and 33 RBI.

Birthday boy: June 2, 1969. Nobody at any of the *-reference sites has anyone other than Kurt listed as being born that date. Cy Chadwick, British actor/producer, is the only one wikipedia lists as being born that date.

Up next: 32 - Luis Alicea.

30 - Matt Drews

Front photo: Throwing in front of a tarp.

Back photo: Might be from an actual game. At least he's throwing towards something or someone.

Better photo?: I'll vote for the back one, just because there is something in the foreground.

Ties to my personal collections: Was part of a trade that sent former Blue Jay Cecil Fielder to the Yankees, accompanying a (then) future Blue Jay Ruben Sierra to the Tigers.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 8. About 8 more than I expected for someone who didn't reach the bigs. The power of being a Yankees draft pick!

Wiki-facts:Grandson of former big leaguer Karl Drews. Karl was killed by a drunk driver in 1963.

Google it: There is something called The Matt Drews society. Which taught me that Angelfire is still out there. Last update to the page seems to have been 2002.

How was his strike-shortened 1994? At A-ball in Oneonta, went 7-6 with a 2.10 ERA. That would be the lowest ERA of his career.

Birthday boy: August 29, 1974. Japanese keyboard player Kumi Tanioka was also born that date. If you're a video game fan, you may have heard some of her work.

Up next: 31 - Kurt Abbott.

29 - Billy Wagner

Front photo: Casual Friday at baseball card photo shoot day.

Back photo: Something different, an exercising photo.

Better photo?: Definitely the back photograph. Mainly because I haven't seen a photo like that so far.

Ties to my personal collections: Would go on to become one of many heart-attack inducing closers for the Mets in the 2000s.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 34.

Wiki-facts: Nickname was "Billy The Kid". How creative. Is a natural right-hander, but learned to throw lefty after two broken arms as a child.

Google it: Twitter handle is wagsk13wjs_e - Let's see. Wags. K. 13. Then I'm lost.

How was his strike-shortened 1994? Entered the season ranked as the #78 ranked prospect. Finished it at #17. Was a starter, going 8-9 with an ERA of 3.29.

Birthday boy: July 25, 1971. One of the original Toronto Raptors, Tracy Murray was born that date. Nobody else from the 4 major team sports lines up with that, but actress Chloë Annett (Red Dwarf) and country singer Roger Creager were also born 7-25-71.

Up next: 30 - Matt Drews. Then we move on to the standard base set.