Collecting Cleveland Indians Topps team sets from 1952-present, as well as post-war minor and major league autographs.
I always forget how good Greg Maddux was at his peak. From 1988 to 2000 Greg Maddux was arguably the best pitcher in the game. During this period he would average 18 wins a season and won the Cy Young award four consecutive seasons in a row. And then there[…]
Did you know that Roger Clemens has 139.2 career WAR? That places him #8 all-time, between Hank Aaron (#7) and Tris Speaker (#9). The only pitchers higher than him? Walter Johnson (#2) and Cy Young (#3). That alone should be enough to get him into the Hall of Fame. Of[…]
From 2013-2018, OF Dylan Cozens was one of the Phillies Top 30 prospects–ranking as high as #10 following the 2017 season. I was at the 2016 Eastern League All-Star game and people were falling over themselves for his autograph. It was so bad that I never got him, and decided to not even go back the next day.
Mark Canhan had a very nice 2021 campaign, hitting .231/.358/.387 with 17 HR, good for an 111 OPS+. He has been a steady source of offensive for Oakland since making the major leagues in 2015, and its going to be weird not seeing him in the outfield for the A’s[…]
Jerome Williams was a very good pitching prospect. He was the Giant’s #1 prospect in both 2001 and 2002, and their #3 prospect in 2003. He made the majors in 2003 with the Giants and he held his own, going 7-5 with a 3.30 ERA/1.260 WHIP. But he struggled in[…]
I ordered the three cards that cover the Lindor trade, and all three arrived this week. Cleveland baseball is nothing but disappointment.
In 1983 the Indians traded Len Barker to the Braves for Brett Butler and Brook Jacoby. It was a good trade for the Indians. Butler would spend the next four seasons as the Indians starting centerfielder and would hit .288/.373/.396 (110 OPS+), averaging 5 HR and 41 stolen bases a[…]
I always like Scott Podsednik. He really had one great tool—speed—but still, it was a very exciting 11-season career. • Podsednik was drafted by the Rangers in the 3rd round of the 1994 MLB draft. It would take him roughly eight seasons to make the majors, debuting with the Mariners[…]
John Mayberry is one of my favorite all-time players. Mayberry was the 6th overall selection in the 1967 draft, selected by the Houston Astros. He made his major league debut the next season and would spend 15 years in the majors. He would spend the prime of his career in[…]
Don Sutton was a great player. He spent 23-seasons in the big leagues, the majority of them with the Dodgers, and won 324 games. He was selected to the Hall of Fame in 1998. While I know about Sutton, I had no idea that he spent a season with the[…]