148 - Gregg Jefferies

148 - Gregg Jefferies

Front: Sliding

Back: Running. 

Better side: I do like the horizontal photo with the arms outstretched to the side, but the running photo is the perfect mix of intense with a hint of derpiness. The back pulls out a surprise nod. 

Ties to my personal collections: Former Met at this point in his career. 

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 21

Wiki-facts: "In 2020, he told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he was "absolutely not" content with what he accomplished in his career." 

Google it: If you had about 2.5 million in your couch cushions, you could have bought his former home in New Jersey last year. 

How was his strike-shortened 1994? Went .325 with 12 HR and 55 RBI. Earned an All-Star appearance for the second straight year.

Birthday boy:  August 1, 1967.  Former NHLer Dan Vincelette was also born 8/1/67. Despite almost 200 NHL games, he'd never get a card in a major release. Wikipedia lists film director José Padilha as an August 1st 1967 baby as well.

Next up: 149 - Reggie Jefferson

147 - Domingo Jean

 

Front: Pitching

Back: Pitching

Better side: The front looks like spring training, the back looks like regular season. I love the indifference of the player with his back to the pitcher. The front photo wins. 

Ties to my personal collections: None. 

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 8

Wiki-facts: "Jean was the last active New York Yankee player to wear number 42 before Mariano Rivera donned it in 1995."

Google it: The image that comes up when Domingo Jean autocompletes is his 1992 Bowman card. You know the one...

How was his strike-shortened 1994? He'd already pitched his last MLB game at this point.

Birthday boy: January 9, 1969. A very boring date. Nobody on the -reference sites. Nobody on the January 9 wiki entry. Zzzzzzzz.

Next up: 148 - Gregg Jefferies

146 - John Jaha

 146 - John Jaha

Front:  Doing something defensively.

Back: At the plate.

Silver Sig:

Better side: The front not only works with the horizontal format, but with the design of the card as well.

Ties to my personal collections: None. 

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 7

Wiki-facts: "Jaha became only the second player (after Joey Meyer) to hit a ball into the upper deck at Mile High Stadium."

Google it: Nothing out of the ordinary. Just baseball stuff. Normal is good.

How was his strike-shortened 1994? Went .241 with 12 HR and 39 RBIs. 

Birthday boy:  May 27, 1966. NHLer Ray Sheppard, who put together a solid 14 year career was born that date, and the NBA has another journeyman type born that date - Eric Leckner. 

Next up: 147 - Domingo Jean

145 - Danny Jackson

 Front - Almost flat on the ground after the delivery. Which was his style

Back - Generic pitching photo

Silver sig - 

Better side: The first one really shows Jackson's methodology of pitching. This one was easy!

Ties to my personal collections: None

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 6

Wiki-facts: "pitched, as of 2021, the only immaculate inning in World Series play"

Google it:  Watch said inning! 

How was his strike-shortened 1994? Went 14-6 with an ERA of 3.26, made the All-Star team.

Birthday boy:  January 5, 1962. Butch Graves, who played in 4 games for the Cavaliers in 84-85, was born on that date, but that's all the *-reference world has. Actress Suzy Amis Cameron (Titanic, The Usual Suspects) accompanies Danny on the wikipedia list of people born that day.

Next up: 146 - John Jaha

144 - Pete Incaviglia

Front: Rounding the bases, sporting a throwback.

Back: Swinging, also with a throwback.

Silver Sig:

Better side: I love the ever-so-slight whip on the bat on the reverse, but the front photo gives a better look at the uniform. The front by a nose. 

Ties to my personal collections: None, although he was drafted by the Expos.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 12

Wiki-facts: "As a result of the Expos trading Incaviglia immediately after signing him, Major League Baseball instituted a rule whereby a team cannot trade a drafted player until he has been under contract to the club for at least one calendar year. This was known as the Pete Incaviglia Rule."

Google it: "In 1999, Pete Incaviglia was voted as the NCAA Player of the Century by Baseball America."

How was his strike-shortened 1994? Hit .230 with 13 HR and 32 RBI. He'd spend 1995 in Japan before returning.

Birthday boy: April 2, 1964. A good day for Football Reference, with Lee Getz, John Brandes and Brendan Folmar matching that date, but no other sports have players there that do. Wikipedia lists former pro-wrestler "Jonathan Sharkey", whose entry includes this "He was also jailed in Tennessee for making threats against an Indiana judge. Investigators confiscated two rifles and a wooden stake with spikes at his house". Fun!

Next up: Danny Jackson

143 - Todd Hundley

 

Front: Throwing.

Back: Signaling.

Better side: The back is a little more unique, and therefore more Collectors-Choice-esque.

Ties to my personal collections: He's a Met! And was the man behind home plate until they traded for some guy named Piazza.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 15

Wiki-facts: "His father, Randy, was a catcher for the Chicago Cubs"

Google it: He had the Mets team home run record. Here he is concerning Pete Alonso breaking it:

https://sny.tv/articles/watch-todd-hundley-weighs-in-on-pete-alonso-breaking-his-mets-home-run-record

How was his strike-shortened 1994? 16 HR, 42 RBI, but only a .237 average.

Birthday boy: May 27, 1969. He's one year late for a couple Hall of Famers, Jeff Bagwell and Frank Thomas. The only other person in the *reference world born that specific date is one time Charlotte Hornet Travis Williams. Wikipedia lists former NASCAR racer Jeremy Mayfield was also born that day.

Next up: 144 - Pete Incaviglia

142 - David Hulse

 

142 - David Hulse

Back-to-back Daves! (They all have their own hands but they come from different mums)

Front: Sliding! And is that a throwback uniform? 

Back: On the bases, with the glove blocking the view of anybody wanting to see some booty.

Better side: Even if booty was visible, I gotta vote for the front.

Ties to my personal collections: None.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 6 

Wiki-facts: "In a game against the Cleveland Indians on May 26, 1993, Hulse was in center field when the Indians' Carlos Martínez hit a ball to deep right-center field that bounced off the head of right fielder Jose Canseco and over the fence for a home run."

Google it: There's a "Certified Vibrational Sound Master Teacher" by the same name.

How was his strike-shortened 1994? 1 HR, 19 RBI with a .255 average.

Birthday boy:  February 25, 1968. 1 season NBAer James Blackwell was born that date. The NHL provides Darrin Madeley, who spent 3 seasons with the expansion Senators, which comprised his entire NHL career. Pretty bland date. 

Next up: 143 - Todd Hundley

141 - Dave Hollins

 

Front: Rounding the bases in spring training, but looking like he might be struck with a batted ball and ruled out. 

Back: Throwback uni! 

Better side: It is really hard to vote against a throwback uniform, especially considering this photo is from the 90s, but everything seems so random about the front. So, I vote for the front.

Ties to my personal collections: Spent part of the 1999 season with the Blue Jays, and was a hitting coach for the AAA Binghamton Mets.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 5.

Wiki-facts: "Hollins has been named a member of the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame."

Google it: He was from the Buffalo area, and former Bills WR Cole Beasley used to live in his former home. Cole retired earlier this month.

How was his strike-shortened 1994? 

Birthday boy:  May 25, 1966. Another MLBer with a double-digit worth of seasons, Bill Haselman, was born that date. He's card #552 in this set. The NFL provides Natu Tuatagaloa. Outside the sporting world, there is former Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh, whose wiki entry is something else. It includes the phrases "went into exile" and "Witch hunting campaign".

Next up: 142 - David Hulse

140 - Chris Hoiles

 

140 - Chris Hoiles

Front: In full catcher's gear for a very Panini-friendly photo.

Back: Even friendlier, with even less of the logo visible.

Better side: A draw. Neither really wows.

Ties to my personal collections: None.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 12

Wiki-facts:  He was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame in 2006.

Google it: It suggests "Chris Hoiles grand slam", which shows you a walk-off grand slam that allowed Baltimore to overcome a 13-10 deficit against Seattle. 

How was his strike-shortened 1994? 19 HR, 53 RBI while batting .247.

Birthday boy:  March 20, 1965. Nobody in the *-reference world was born that date, but wikipedia does list Scottish historian William Dalrymple. That name just sounds like a historian's name.

Next up: 140 - Dave Hollins

139 - Eric Hillman

139 - Eric Hillman

Front: Pitcher at the plate! Bunting! Hell yeah! 

Back: Pitching.

Silver Sig parallel

Better side: Not even close. The front. It looks like the picture was from this game at Dodger Stadium, and the sac. bunt was also successful.

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

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 5

Wiki-facts: "Hillman was tied with fellow pitcher Randy Johnson for the tallest player in league history at 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m), before later being passed by 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) Jon Rauch."

Google it: The second result is a linkedin profile of a student in British Columbia.

How was his strike-shortened 1994? 0-3 with an ERA of 7.79. His last MLB appearance was in May.

Birthday boy:  April 27, 1966. Shares it with card #45, Bob Ayrault. He also shares it with former NFLer Mike Stock, and frequent JJ Abrams co-worker Matt Reeves. But for some reason, I didn't list Eric when I posted Bob's card. Oops!

Next up: 140 - Chris Hoiles

138 - Ken Hill

 

Front: Pitching.

Back: Pitching.

Better side: Both seem to have the Wrigley ivy behind him, but it is clearer on the front.

Silver Sig:

Ties to my personal collections: He's an Expo here. 

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 11

Wiki-facts: "His son, Kenny Hill, was a quarterback at Texas Christian University." Go Horned Frogs!

Google it: It is probably a southern Ontario thing, but I get far more results on the opening page for a businessman who passed away in 2021. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/ken-hill-dead-1.5877740

How was his strike-shortened 1994? 

Birthday boy:  December 14, 1965. He shares it with a Hall of Famer - Craig Biggio. Also born on that date was actor and director Ted Raimi.

Next up: 139 - Eric Hillman

137 - Glenallen Hill

 

137 - Glenallen Hill

Front: In the dugout, finding something entertaining.

Back: Post-swing.

Better side: Always vote for the more Collector's Choice-ish photo. The front.

Ties to my personal collections: Former Blue Jay, traded in the deal that brought Tom Candiotti to Toronto.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 22.

Wiki-facts: "On May 11, 2000, Hill became the first, and thus far only player to hit a home run on the three-story residential building across the street from Wrigley Field at 1032 W. Waveland Ave."

Google it: Watch said home run.

How was his strike-shortened 1994?  10 HR and 38 RBI with a .297 average.

Birthday boy:  March 22, 1965. The NHL provides two players with that birthdate, Todd Charlesworth and the late John Kordic. Search youtube for John and Basil McRae for some absolute brawls. Not much else in either the wiki or *-reference world other than them.

Next up: 138 - Ken Hill

136 - Phil Hiatt

 

136 - Phil Hiatt

Front: Sliding (and it looks like he's failing to break up a double play)

Back: Swinging away 

Better side: It will take a lot to defeat a horizontal photo, and that generic at-the-plate photo isn't going to do it.

Ties to my personal collections: None.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 6, although half of them are one sentence.

Wiki-facts: Was named in the Mitchell report.

Google it: There is a professor named Phil Hiatt in one of The Sims games.

How was his strike-shortened 1994?  Was not in the majors.

Birthday boy: May 1, 1969 (nice). Former NBA veteran Billy Owens, who would play in exactly 600 NBA games, mainly with Golden State, was born that day. NHLer Ben Hankinson, who played in 557 fewer NHL games, and is now an agent, is another 5/1/69 baby in the *-reference world. Filmmaker Wes Anderson is the most famous member of that specific date's babies.

Next up: 137 - Glenallen Hill

135 - Orel Hersheiser

 

135 - Orel Hershiser

Front: Pitching.

Back: Pitching.

Better side: A repeat battle from last time, but at least there's a rather unique angle on the back. And that is enough to give it to the back.

Ties to my personal collections: He would have one season with the Mets in 1999, and get a few cards with them to end his career in 2000.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 47

Wiki-facts: "Hershiser is the only player to receive the Cy Young Award, the Championship Series MVP Award, and the World Series MVP Award in the same season."

Google it: Also has a profile at Poker Database. 

How was his strike-shortened 1994? 6-6 with a 3.79 ERA. Perfectly average. 

Birthday boy: September 16, 1958. That's the same as former St. Louis Cardinal Greg LaFleur. That's the football version, not the baseball version. He's the only one in the *-reference world that matches with Orel. But, that is the same date as actress Jennifer Tilly. Jennifer also as a poker database profile.  

Next up: 136 - Phil Hiatt

134 - Roberto Hernandez

Front: Pitching.

Back: Pitching.

Better side: A dull draw.

Ties to my personal collections: He'd go on to play with the Mets, and get some cards with them in the mid 2000's.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 13

Wiki-facts: "Hernández’s success in the 1986 season put little known USCA on the map for professional scouts. USCA would later refurbish and rename their baseball field after him".

Google it: While the first item is for this pitcher, the main image is of the former Fausto Carmona.

How was his strike-shortened 1994?  Went 4-4, with a 4.91 ERA and 14 Saves. 

Birthday boy: November 11, 1964

Next up: 135 - Orel Hershiser

 

133 - Pat Hentgen

 

Front: Throwing horizontally.

Back: Throwing vertically, with almost the same pose.

Better side: The angle is so much better on the front.

Ties to my personal collections: He's a Blue Jay here.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 11

Wiki-facts: "Hentgen was named to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in the Class of 2016." The 2022 induction ceremony took place yesterday, with one of Pat's former teammates, Duane Ward, among the inductees.

Google it: Nothing that couldn't be discovered through his wiki article.

How was his strike-shortened 1994?  13-8 with an ERA of 3.40. 

Birthday boy: November 13, 1968. Mark Kiefer of the Brewers was also born that date. Hockey has journeyman goaltender Mark Fitzpatrick. There isn't much else aside from those.

Next up: 134 - Roberto Hernandez

132 - Mike Henneman

Front: Preparing to pitch.

Back: Looking at something more interesting than the photographer.

Better side: Maybe if they actually showed what Henneman was looking at, I'd pick the back photo. But they aren't, so the front is better.

Ties to my personal collections: Was originally drafted by Toronto in 1982, but never signed.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 6

Wiki-facts: "Henneman was adopted as an infant and only found out about five brothers and two sisters after taking a DNA test in 2020."

Google it: More on his newfound family.

How was his strike-shortened 1994?  Went 1-3 with a 5/19 ERA and 8 saves. 

Birthday boy: December 11, 1961. 6 year MLBer Bob Sebra was also born that date. The NFL has Jess Atkinson, Chris Scott and Gardner Williams. No NBAers or NHLers match up with that date, but soccer does have Steve Nicol. Outside the sporting world, there's guitairist Dave King of Flogging Molly, and Macky Sall, the current president of Senegal.

Next up: Pat Hentgen

131 - Rickey Henderson

 

Front: Sliding.

Back: Hitting.

Better side: Rickey Henderson is better known for Rickey Henderson's prowess on the basepaths than at the plate, so that is Rickey Henderson's better option.

Ties to my personal collections:  Rickey Henderson is on the Blue Jays here, but Rickey Henderson would also play for the Mets. 

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 80

Wiki-facts: "In 1983, Henderson married his high-school sweetheart, Pamela. They have three children: Angela, Alexis, and Adrianna."

Google it: If you search on images, the first 15 photos are Oakland ones, with one being from a ceremony at the Stadium.

How was his strike-shortened 1994?  Rickey Henderson was back with Oakland, batting .260 with 6 HR, 20 RBI and 22 SB.

Birthday boy:  December 25, 1958.  Rickey Henderson is not the only MLBer born that date, as that's also former Padres Gerry Davis's birthdate. The NFL has Jeff Rohrer and Hanford Dixon. Singer Alannah "Black Velvet" Myles is another 12/25/58 baby.

Next up: Mike Henneman.

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

129 - Hilly Hathaway

 

129 - Hilly Hathaway

Front: Pitching.

Back: Dugout boredom.

Better side: Nice use of a horizontal format gives the nod to the front.

Ties to my personal collections: None.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 2

Wiki-facts: Real, full name is Hillary Houston Hathaway. The original Triple H!

Google it: Nothing of note, although you can learn that it is short for Hillary there as well.

How was his strike-shortened 1994? His last MLB experience was in 1993.

Birthday boy:  September 12, 1969. The *-reference world has nobody else on that date. Wiki is a little more helpful. Author James Frey, famous (infamous) for the fabrications in A Million Little Pieces was born that date. So is former Masters winner Angel Cabrera Sr. That would be nice, but he's currently serving time for domestic violence. Shigeki Maruyama, another golfer with 3 PGA wins, albeit in less well-known tournaments may not be as notable as the other two, but he's the least sketch of this group.

Next up: Charlie Hayes