#11 - Mark Hutton

Front photo: Looks like an actual game shot. The blue walls in the background might mean it was from an actual regular season game at Yankee Stadium. For some reason, the hologram on the back scanned all the way through to the front.

Back photo: N/A.

Ties to my personal collections:  None, so I have to start playing 6 degrees of Separation on this. He'd never play for any of the teams I'd collect. So, I'll try birthdays, and I can make a connection with birthdays. He shares a Feb 6th birthday with a quartet of future Raptors. Carlos Rogers. Shawn Respert. Antoine Wright. Kris Humphries. Considering only 11 NBAers in history were born on that date, that's mighty impressive.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 4

Wiki-facts: The fact Mark was the first Aussie to start a game in MLB, which leads off this card isn't even mentioned there. His playing for the 2000 Australian Olympic baseball team is as interesting as it gets.

How was his strike-shortened 1994?: Only 2 games and 3.2 innings with a 4.91 ERA.

Birthday boy:  Born February 6, 1970. Per Frandsen, who had a decent career in English soccer, and also represented Denmark at the '92 Summer Games. But., that's also the same as Chinese mass murderer Zhou Kehua. Maybe the various reference sites can make things better. Nothing at baseball. Nothing at baseball. The same for football and hockey. So, the soccer guy it is.

 Next up: #12 - Miguel Jimenez.

#10 - Butch Huskey

Front photo: An autograph signing photo. First one so far in this set with a different photo that really fits the Collector's Choice theme.

Back photo: N/A.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 13.

Wiki-facts: Real name is Robert Leon Huskey.

Baseball miscellany: Was one of the players to be grandfathered in with regards to wearing #42. It also repeats the factoid from the back of the card about making his debut on the losing end of a no-hitter.

How was his strike-shortened 1994?: Spent the entire year in the minors.

Birthday boy: Born November 10, 1971. Shares a birthdate with former big leaguer Terry Pearson. Strangely, despite a far shorter big league career than Huskey's, Pearson makes the wiki list of people born that date.

Ties to my Personal Collections: Played for one of the teams I collect, and I have one of his autopgraphs out of Leaf Signatures.

Next up: #11 - Mark Hutton

#9 - Shawn Green

Front photo: This is definitely a BP photo.

Back photo: N/A..

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 41. More if you want to count bullet lists.

Wiki-facts:  Following up Alex Gonzalez, who had a guest appearance on the CBC show The Newsroom, Shawn appeared on episodes of Numb3rs and the Nick Cannon show during his days with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Baseball miscellany: Got a World Series ring for 1993, despite only 3 games and 6 plate appearances. Would get the Topps Rookie trophy on his card, but would have to wait until 1996 for that. Is one of 16 players with 4 home runs in a game, and the second so far in this set, following Carlos Delgado.

How was his strike-shortened 1994?: Hit his first RBI over 14 games.

Birthday boy: Born November 10, 1972. Shares a birthdate with former big leaguer Greg LaRocca, and former NFLer Isaac Bruce. Bruce was the last Los Angeles Rams alumni to retire. No other people at the various *-reference sites share that birthday.

Ties to my Personal Collections: Would play with the Mets as well as Toronto.

Next up: #10 - Butch Huskey

#8 - Alex Gonzalez

Front photo: Might be an in-game shot, might be a spring training shot. Don't really know. Toronto is the first team to appear more than once in this set.

Back photo: N/A..

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 7

Wiki-facts: Appeared on an episode of The Newsroom. Not the HBO one - the one that was on CBC in the 90s.Is one of 3 Alex Gonzalezes at wiki, the others being the one that started with the Marlins, and the other being a Rangers prospect. The Rangers guy only has a paragraph under Texas Rangers minor leaguers.

How was his strike-shortened 1994?: Made his big league debut, batting .151 over 15 games. Would have to wait until 1995 for his first HR.

Birthday boy: Born April 8, 1973. Also born on that day was actress Emma Caulfield of Buffy The Vampire Slayer fame. Pablo Picasso died on that date. Nobody else at any of the other *-reference sites was born on that date.

Ties to my Personal Collections: Would play in Montreal as well as the Blue Jays.

Next up: #8 - Shawn Green

#7 - Cliff Floyd

Front photo: An actual game shot, even though the angle of the dugout top in the background makes it look like the camera is at an angle.

Back photo: N/A..

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 13

Wiki-facts:  Clifford is actually his middle name. His real first name is Cornelius (his father's name). His adoptive sister dies of cancer, and her 2 children are now living with him and his family.

How was his strike-shortened 1994?: Of those featured so far, Cliff saw the most action in 1994, batting .281 over 100 games. Was 5th in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Birthday boy: Born December 5, 1972. Two more major leaguers were born that date, Mike Mahoney and Felix Rodriguez.

Ties to my Personal Collections: Played for the Expos, and would go on to play for the Mets.

Next up: #8 - Alex Gonzalez

#6 - Carl Everett

Front photo: An in game shot from the basepaths.

Back photo: N/A..

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 18

 Wiki-facts: Lettered in football, baseball and track in high school. Has never seen a dinosaur, and also questions the validity of the moon landing. Final sentences are: "In 2011, Everett was arrested at his home in Tampa on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and tampering with a witness. Everett reportedly held a handgun to the head of his wife of 18 years". Ho boy.

 How was his strike-shortened 1994?: Played in 16 games. Hit 2 home runs, but only .216 over 54 AB.

Birthday boy: Born June 3, 1971. Also born on that date was  John Hodgman, the PC counterpart to the Mac in the commercials. Other baseballers born that date was Aaron Ledesma and Izzy Molina.

Ties to my Personal Collections: Played for both the Mets and Expos.

Next up: #7 - Cliff Floyd

#5 - Steve Dreyer

Front photo: Posed shot.  I want to say that was the old Angels stadium lurking back there.

Back photo: N/A..

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 1

Wiki-facts: Middle name is William,

How was his strike-shortened 1994?: Was only with the team for the month of April. That was his last time in the majors. Had a 5.71 ERA in 1994, matching his 5.71 ERA in 1993.

Birthday boy: Born  November 19, 1969. Also born on that date was actress Erika Alexander (Living Single. Nobody else at the baseball/football/basketball/reference was born that date.

Ties to my Personal Collections: No direct ones.

 Next up: #6 - Carl Everett