Collecting Cleveland Indians Topps team sets from 1952-present, as well as post-war minor and major league autographs.
Will Saxton is a junior LHP for Florida International. During the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he transitioned from the pen to the rotation. He started four games, and over 15.1 innings allowed 14 hits, 8 walks, and 13 K’s–good for a 1.17 ERA. He limited hitters to a .233 AVG. He[…]
Russ was drafted by the Phillies in the 19th round in 2017 out of Houston Baptist. He has developed into a legit relief prospect—BA ranked him the Phillies #24 prospect in 2020.
Harvey Haddix had a fantastic 14-season career in the big leagues. From 1952-1965 Haddix went 136-113, with a 3.63 ERA/1.233 WHIP/108 ERA+. Some highlights include: A 20-game winner with the Cardinals in 1953 Selected to three All-Star teams and won three Gold Gloves. In 1959 he had a 12-12 record,[…]
Mike Mussina had an amazing career. The fact that he decided to retire after winning his first 20-game season–the first pitcher since Sandy Koufax in 1967 to do such a thing–kind of makes me like him more. Standard Pitching Year Age Tm Lg W L ERA IP H BB SO[…]
Johan Santana was a very good pitcher and is a borderline Hall of Famer. Career record of 139-78 with a 3.20 ERA/136 ERA+ Was a one-time 20 game-winner and led the league in wins in 2006 with 19 Three-time ERA leader. Selected to four All-Star teams Won two Cy[…]
Mike Napoli has a very nice 12-season career: He retired with a line of .246/.346/.475, with 267 HR. Good for an OPS+ of 117. Those numbers are a little more impressive when you remember that he spent almost as much of his career at catcher than first base. Selected[…]
Wade Boggs was a great hitter. 18 seasons in the big leagues, career line of .328/.415/.443. There was a point in his career where he might have been one of the most potent hitters in baseball history: from 1985-1990 he hit .357/.454/.496, good for an OPS+ of 158. All told,[…]
Joe Borowski signed as a free agent with the Indians in 2006, and over the next roughly two seasons he would save 51 games–including a league-leading 45 in 2007. His peripherals during this run were rough: over 82.1 innings with the Tribe, he pitched to a tune of 5.57 ERA/1.530[…]
Paul Byrd is absolutely one of my favorite pitchers. I have tried writing to him a million times over the years and never have been able to get a response. Finally got this card from a fellow collector. I will take it. Byrd was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in[…]
Jake Westbrook is, I think, one of the more underrated Cleveland Indians players in history.