456 Strikeouts in a Single Season
Bill Kennedy gets overlooked when baseball fans discuss the greatest strikeout pitchers.
Set Collecting
Ralph Houk Saw Plenty of Action (And Occasionally Played Baseball)
“The Major” didn’t earn the MVP, an All-Star nod, or even a regular spot in the lineup. He was, however, decorated with a Silver Star and Purple Heart.
What’s Better Than a 5th Grade Teacher? One That Played for the Mariners
The winning pitcher of Nolan Ryan’s final game now teaches elementary school. He also appears on an alarmingly green refractor card.
Phil Masi Left Behind a Confession
Phil Masi appears in the 1952 Topps set in his final card as a player. His stats show a solidly average major-leaguer and he carried a reputation as an excellent catcher and battery mate. Unusually fast for a catcher, he was used on occasion as a pinch runner. I imagine young Indians fans cursing under their breath as they pulled a Masi card from a pack while Braves fans smirked under similar circumstances. Why would the card of the White Sox backstop engender such a reaction?
One of Baseball’s Best Closers Played Less Than 400 Innings
There was a brief period in baseball history where Bryan Harvey ruled the bullpen.
A Light Hitting Infielder Became a Soda Vendor
Merl Combs made his first (and final) baseball card appearance as a player in the 1952 Topps set.
Mike Lansing: Giving ’93 Finest a Second Miami Team
What happened when an independent minor league team showed up to grab players at the MLB Amateur Draft?
Revisiting ’93 Finest: David Nied
The Braves’ Big-4 were almost the Big-5. Then came the expansion draft.