Saturday, December 29, 2012

#37 Manny Ramirez



PUNISHING : to inflict a penalty on in requital for wrongdoing.


You wrongly throw me a fastball, I penalize you by taking you deep.

19 seasons, can you believe that?

1991 MVP Appalachian League Burlington Indians 
1993 Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year, Canton-Akron Indians, Eastern League & Charlotte Knights, International League.
That's before he hit the Bigs.


12-time AL All-Star (1995 & 1998-2008) 
2004 World Series MVP 
9-time AL Silver Slugger Award Winner (1995/OF, 1999-2001/OF, 2002/DH & 2003-2006/OF)
 AL Batting Average Leader (2002) 
3-time AL On-Base Percentage Leader (2002, 2003 & 2006) 
3-time AL Slugging Percentage Leader (1999, 2000 & 2004) 
3-time AL OPS Leader (1999, 2000 & 2004) 
AL Home Runs Leader (2004) 
AL RBI Leader (1999) 
20-Home Run Seasons: 14 (1995-2008) 
30-Home Run Seasons: 12 (1995, 1996, 1998-2006 & 2008) 
40-Home Run Seasons: 5 (1998, 1999, 2001, 2004 & 2005) 
100 RBI Seasons: 12 (1995, 1996, 1998-2006 & 2008) 
100 Runs Scored Seasons: 6 (1998, 1999, 2003-2005 & 2008) 
Won two World Series with the Boston Red Sox (2004 & 2007) 

But, another cheater suspended for using a banned substance.





Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Emotion Recap - Page 4


#28 Tim Raines - MASTER
#29 Frank Thomas - AMAZING
#30 Robin Ventura - MASTERING
#31 Carlos Baerga - PSYCHED
#32 Joey Albert Belle - AMUSED
#33 Orel Hershizer - RETURNING
#34 Kenny Lofton - FRESH
#35 Dennis Martinez - RELAXED
#36 Eddir Murray - ELITE


Thursday, December 20, 2012

#36 Eddie Murray



ELITE : singular or plural in construction: the best of a class 

Eddie played a cone head on SNL.

Eddie's card is the first numerically to have a single picture on the back.

1977 AL Rookie of the Year Award 
1977 Topps All-Star Rookie Team 
8-time All-Star (1978, 1981-1986 & 1991) 
3-time AL Gold Glove Winner (1982-1984) 
3-time Silver Slugger Award Winner (1983/AL, 1984/AL & 1990/NL) 
AL Home Run Leader (1981) 
AL RBI Leader (1981) 
AL On-Base Percentage Leader (1984) 
AL Bases on Balls Leader (1984) 
20-Home Run Seasons: 16 (1977-1985, 1987-1990, 1993, 1995 & 1996) 
30-Home Run Seasons: 5 (1980, 1982, 1983, 1985 & 1987) 
100 RBI Seasons: 6 (1980, 1982-1985 & 1993) 
100 Runs Scored Seasons: 3 (1980, 1983 & 1985) 
Won a World Series with the Baltimore Orioles in 1983 
Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 2003





Saturday, December 15, 2012

#35 Dennis Martinez



RELAXED : set or being at rest or at ease 


"Bass sets... and sets...  and sets again..." 
- from Angels in the Outfield

His full name is Jose Dennis (Emilia) Martinez.

But he goes by El Presidente.

Played 11 years for Baltimore
8 for Montreal
3 for Cleveland
1 for Seattle and
1 for Atlanta.

That adds up to 23 Big League years Kiddos!

Pitched a perfect game in 1991.

He was the last pitcher ever to pitch to Kirby Puckett - his wild pitch broke Pucketts jaw.

Had a hot dog named after him at Olympic Stadium.


Friday, December 7, 2012

#34 Kenny Lofton



FRESH : having the milk flow recently established <a fresh cow>


No that can't be right.

FRESH : not salt 


Yeah, I always use "fresh" when I mean unsalted.  Not.

FRESH : slang: fashionable, cool

 Yep, that's the definition for Kenny Lofton.

From 1995 through 2007 Kenny was ALWAYS (just about) in the postseason:
1995 CLE - ALDS, ALCS, WS (Lost)
1996 CLE - ALDS
1997 ATL - NLDS, NLCS
1998 CLE - ALDS, ALCS
1999 CLE - ALDS
2001 CLE - ALDS
2002 SF - NLDS, NLCS, WS (Lost)
2003 CHC - NLDS, NLCS
2004 NYY - ALDS
2006 LAD - NLDS
2007 CLE - ALDS, ALCS

Monday, December 3, 2012

#33 Orel Hershiser





RETURNING : to bring, send, or put back to a former or proper place 


Returning from what, a sub-par season in 1994?
Did he go somewhere?
Was he trying out a different position and it didn't work out?
Did they mean to use RETIRING?

So many questions with this one.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

#32 Albert Belle


AMUSED :  archaic : to divert the attention of so as to deceive


Caught using a corked bat.

Retired at age 34 but for several seasons afterwards the Orioles were forced to keep him on their 40-man roster in order to collect insurance on the huge contract he was still getting paid for (made about 35 mil without playing).

Stalked his ex-girlfriend.

The list goes on and on.

5 time All Star
5 time Silver Slugger
AL Doubles, HR, and RBI leader (1995)
381 career HRs

The list goes on and on...too bad it's overshadowed.

Friday, November 23, 2012

#31 Carlos Baerga



PSYCHED : to make (as oneself) psychologically ready especially for performance —often used with up <psyched himself up for the game> 


You can see it in his eyes!

No!  Don't look him in the eyes!

First player to ever hit one home run from both sides of the plate in the same inning.

AL singles leader in 1992 (152).

Led AL in errors in 1991 (27).

3X All-Star.

2X Silver Slugger Award.

Endorsed Rick Santorum in the 2012 Primaries.



Tuesday, November 20, 2012

#30 Robin Ventura



MASTERING : to become skilled or proficient in the use of.


3-time All-American at Oklahoma State University.

Selected tenth in the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft by the White Sox.

First player ever to hit a grand slam in each game of a doubleheader.

Also hit 2 grand slams in a single game.

He's the dude that hit the Grand Slam Single in the '99 NLCS.

Pitched an inning during a blowout loss to the Anaheim Angels, allowing a single and three fly ball outs.

6 Gold Gloves as a third baseman.

All-around good guy except for charging Nolan Ryan.

Friday, November 16, 2012

#29 Frank Thomas



AMAZING : to surprise or astonish greatly : fill with wonder 


The Big Hurt

Swung a rusted chunk of rebar from old Comiskey Park in the on-deck circle.

Won a ton of awards in 18 year career.

Set tons of White Sox records.

Won a World Series in 2005 with the White Sox but was not on the post season roster due to injuries.

CEO and Founder of W2W Records.





Sunday, November 11, 2012

#28 Tim Raines



MASTER : a worker or artisan qualified to teach apprentices 


Just don't teach them the REAL reason you slid head first!

Began his career with a major league record 27 consecutive successful stolen bases.

Lost 1981 NL Rookie of the Year honors to Fernando Valenzuela.

Retroactively awarded collusion damages from 1986, receiving over $865,000 in 1992.

Playing against his son Tim Raines Jr. they became the first father-son pair to play against each other in an official professional baseball game in 2001.

Later that year became the second to play together on the same team.



Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Emotion Recap - Page 3


#19 Gary DiSarcina - COVERING
#20 Chuck Finley - HORSE
#21 Tim Salmon - STUDYING
#22 Lee Smith - MENACING
#23 J.T. Snow - STROKING
#24 Jim Abbott - FIERCE
#25 Jason Bere - SCORCHER
#26 Ray Durham - SENSATION
#27 Ozzie Guillen - SLICK


Sunday, November 4, 2012

#27 Ozzie Guillen



SLICK : deft, skillful <a slick ballplayer>


CONTROVERSIAL would be a better word for Ozzie.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

#26 Ray Durham



SENSATION : a mental process (as seeing, hearing, or smelling) resulting from the immediate external stimulation of a sense organ often as distinguished from a conscious awareness of the sensory process — compare perception.


WHA???

AKA The Sugarman.

He was a premier leadoff hitter.

His first Major League hit was in his first Major League at bat. It was a bunt on Opening Day.

Played for 3 Division winners: 2000 White Sox, 2002 A's and 2003 Giants.



Thursday, October 25, 2012

#25 Jason Bere



SCORCHER : one that scorches; especially: a very hot day 


especially: in those black uniforms, in August.

All over the place in his 11 year career:
Double-digits wins in 1993 and 1994.
Made it to the 1993 ALCS,
but got shelled taking the loss in extra innings.
Selected to the 1994 All-Star Game,
 but failed to retire a batter. 
Led the AL in losses with 15 in 1995.
Struck out 13 Philadelphia Phillies in a game.
Posted double figures in wins in 2000 and 2001. 




Saturday, October 20, 2012

#24 Jim Abbott



FIERCE : furiously active or determined <make a fierce effort>


Yeh, like furiously determined to be the starting quarterback on your highschool football team; to be the top amateur athlete in the nation; to win a gold medal in the Olympics; to go straight from college to the Majors; TO THROW A NO-HITTER with one hand!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

#23 J.T. Snow



STROKING : ummmm...


Acquired from the Yankees for Jim Abbott to replace Wally Joyner at first.

Six Gold Gloves at first base.

Played in the postseason 4 times, with 1 World Series (loss).

Successfully pulled off the "hidden ball trick"by tagging out Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Carlos Pérez at first base.



Friday, October 12, 2012

#22 Lee Smith



MENACING : intransitive verb - to act in a threatening manner


6 feet, 6 inches, 265 pounds, and a 95 mile per hour fastball.

He was scouted by Buck O'Neil.

18 years with Cubs, Red Sox, Cardinals, Yankees, Orioles, Angels, Expos. 

Loved to face Hubie Brooks: 5 for 29, 10 K, .172 AVG.

A saves MONSTER.



Monday, October 8, 2012

#21 Tim Salmon




STUDYING : 
a: application of the mental faculties to the acquisition of knowledge 
b: such application in a particular field or to a specific subject 


Like baseball.

Originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 18th round of the 1986 amateur draft, but did not sign.

1993 American League ROY.

Record for most career home runs without ever making an All-Star team. 

Nicknamed Tim "Sock-Eyed" Salmon by Chris Berman.

First player ever to get a hit off Mariano Rivera.

Was a California, Anaheim, and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Angel.


Thursday, October 4, 2012

#20 Chuck Finley



HORSE : an athlete whose performance is consistently strong and reliable.


He certainly has the mane.

Chuck is champing at the bit in that lower photo.

Recorded 4 strikeouts in a single inning three times.

"That just shows you how this league has gone to hell." - Finley, after being named player of the week.

 "I can't believe she left out the cross-dressing." - Finley after estranged wife Tawny Kitaen gave damaging testimony against him.

Winning pitcher in the 2010 Legends & Celebrity Softball Game at Angel Stadium.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

#19 Gary DiSarcina



COVERING : an object or substance that goes over or on top of something especially in order to hide or protect it 

object = Gary Disarcina
something to protect = the lead

Held U-Mass single-season records for hits (74 in 1988), at bats (202 in 1988) and total bases (108 in 1988) and finished career with a .336 batting average, 17 doubles, nine triples, 11 home runs, 74 RBI and 29 stolen bases. 

He wore the number 4 during his first season, changed to number 11, then to number 33 and finally to number 9 for his remaining four seasons.  Why?

Entire 12 year career with the Angels.




Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Emotion Recap - Page 2


#10 Roger Clemens - ROCKET
#11 Vaughn Eshelman - BALANCED
#12 Mike Greenwell - GRITTY
#13 Erik Hanson - CONCENTRATING
#14 Tim Naehring - GRINNING
#15 Aaron Sele - SMOKING
#16 John Valentin - PLANNING
#17 Mo Vaughn - POWER
#18 Chili Davis - SMILING


Saturday, September 22, 2012

#18 Chili Davis



SMILING: what Chili is doing on the front of this card.


"How'd the barber cut your hair? With a chili bowl?"
hence, Chili Davis.

He was the first Jamaican to play in Major League Baseball.

Owns three World Series rings Twins (1991) and Yankees (1998 & 1999).

Pitched 2 innings for the Angels in 1993: faced 7 batters, no runs, no hits, no walks and a hit batter.

#23 on the 100 Greatest Angels list.



Tuesday, September 18, 2012

#17 Mo Vaughn



POWER: a (1) : ability to act or produce an effect (2) : ability to get extra-base hits (3) : capacity for being acted upon or undergoing an effect.

(It actually came up with that #2 in the search) 

Nickname is Hit Dog.

Cousin of Greg Vaughn. 

In his 1995 MVP year (39HR/126RBI/.300) also led AL in strikeouts (150).

Led AL in strikeouts again with the Angels in 2000 (181).

Other years he struck out a lot.

In his first year of eligibility for the Hall he got 1.1% of the required vote.


Friday, September 14, 2012

#16 John Valentin



PLANNING: the act or process of making a plan to achieve or do something
(See ball. Catch ball. Throw ball.)

Played college ball with Mo Vaughn at Seton Hall.

Made 10th unassisted triple play in MLB history.

Hit for the cycle.

Led league in doubles (47) in 1997.

Owns Julia's Restaurant in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey.