Collecting Cleveland Indians Topps team sets from 1952-present, as well as post-war minor and major league autographs.
From the Field: Ryan Stafford, c, Cal Poly Baseball … If you were to ask who my favorite player in college is right now, it would be tough to answer. But if I had to give you a name, Cal Poly’s catcher Ryan Stafford would be high in the running.[…]
George Brett might be a cranky person, but he was an amazing ballplayer. Three-time batting champion, 13-time All-Star, 1980 MVP, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1999. He also is #48 in career WAR, with 88.6.
The pinnacle of Balfour’s career was in 2013 when he notched 38 saves and earned his first and only All-Star selection. Balfour’s peak with the Athletics remains unforgettable, as his fiery presence on the mound—often expressed vocally—resonated with the passionate Oakland fans, renowned at the time for their own fervent enthusiasm in the stands.
From the Field: Judah Ota, of, Iolani Varsity Baseball … Trying to figure out which prep players are legit prospects can be tough. Luckily, baseball scouts are paid to make these determinations, and I lean on them to point me toward the next Maui Ahuna, Kala’i Rosario, or Caleb Lomavita.[…]
Since 2022, Spender Strider has been one of the best pitchers in baseball. But like all good pitchers (it seems), he is out for the 2024 season paying the Tommy John tax.
Dansby Swanson is a solid player. He is not a top-tier shortstop, but he is something north of a league-average offensive producer with a plus glove. And when you play a premium offensive position, you can’t ask for much more.
New Arrival: Josh Rojas, if, Seattle Mariners … Josh Rojas is on a short list of active MLB players who played for the University of Hawaii. He spent two years playing in Honolulu for the Rainbow Warriors, and had a solid senior year in 2017, hitting .294/.404/.541 with five HR.[…]
New Arrival: Jim Thome, 1b, Cleveland Baseball … I have a couple of Jim Thome autographs, but not too many certified ones. I was able to get this for a good price, so I pulled the trigger. I am bummed that Topps decided to pull the plug on Gypsy Queen;[…]
From the Field, Hawaii Edition: Devin Saltiban, if, Philadelphia Phillies … Over the last year, I have been trying to ensure that I don’t miss out on any local Hawaiian prep baseball talent. This is largely because I missed out on infielder Devin Saltiban. That stings. He is one of[…]
Fun fact! The record for the most consecutive seasons leading the league in losses by a major league pitcher is held by two former Cleveland pitchers: Pedro Ramos and Phil Niekro.