Collecting Cleveland Indians Topps team sets from 1952-present, as well as post-war minor and major league autographs.
Despite being contenders in 2018 the Athletics starting rotation was, for the most part, a dumpster fire. In an effort to help fortify the rotation down the stretch the A’s traded for Mike Fiers. Fiers was having a decent season with the Tigers–but most importantly was a warm body who[…]
Brandon Barnes was the Astro’s 6th round pick in the 2005 draft and has spent parts of six seasons in the majors. He signed with the Indians as a free agent this past November. He spent most of 2018 with the Indians AAA affiliate but was called up in September for[…]
Yusmeiro Petit was a very important part of the Athletics bullpen this season. He appeared in 74 games and went 7-4 with a 139 ERA+. He only had 76 K’s in 93 innings, but he only allowed 76 hits. This was his second strong season in a row coming out[…]
Mallex Smith was drafted in the 5th round (165th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2012 out of high school in Florida. He has zero power, but his ability to put the ball in play, excellent speed and plus defense made him one of the better center field prospects[…]
Chad Pinder was drafted in the supplemental 2nd round (71st overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 2013 out of Virginia Tech. Coming up through the A’s system he was a solid hitter with good power who was able to play multiple defensive positions. From 2013 to 2017 he rated four times in the[…]
Beau Taylor was drafted in the 5th round (166th overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 2011 out of Central Florida. In his eight seasons in the game, he has ranked twice in the A’s Top 30 prospect lists, topping out at #19 for the 2013 season. He has moved slowly,[…]
Austin Meadows was drafted in the 1st round (9th overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013 out a Georgia high school. It feels like he has been around forever. Mostly because you saw his name whenever you talked about Pirates top prospects. From 2013-2018 he consistently rated as one of[…]
Adam Rosales was drafted in the 12th round (362nd overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in 2005 of Western Michigan. Coming out of college he was projected to a utility player in the majors. He didn’t have any plus tools, but his value lied in him being able to hit his weight[…]
Rodolfo Duran, c, Philadelphia Phillies – Signed as an international free agent by the Phillies in 2014. Spent all of 2018 in Low-A ball, his first time there, and hit .260/.304/.495 with 18 HR. A 20-year-old catcher with plus power is pretty exciting. Stephen Tarpley, p, New York Yankees –[…]
I got this autograph in 2016 when Santa Clara University was here in Hawaii. Steve Berman had a great junior season with Santa Clara, hitting .297/.432/.466 with 4 HR in 2016. He would be drafted in the 31st round of the draft that season by the Dodgers. Berman has moved[…]