need 'em, need 'em, got 'em, got 'em.

let's talk about Sax baby...

2008-08-05T23:06:00.007-04:00

Let's talk about all the good things. A couple weeks ago while I was on a road trip to see Mission of Burma in Detroit, a couple bobble heads were talking about random Baseball details, and I happened to hear this man's name mentioned. Coincidentally, I had this card scanned prior to the excursion. I thought it would be fitting to do a feature on him, if only to show that though I often have my head in the clouds (or in the sand), I am still listening. Friends, please allow me to introduce Stephen Louis Sax.

From what I have read about Steve, it is apparent his career was not only notable statistically, but through the ripples he made across the league with his own personal stories. His first full season was in 1982. He was declared the Rookie of the Year, and as a result there was some controversy from the split vote involving him and Johnny Ray as being the superior player. Wikipedia states that people in the know felt Sax was voted by the Baseball Writers Association of America due to this media involvement in Los Angeles at the time.

It has also been revealed that Sax has been quoted condemning the scabs that filled in during the 94 mlb strike. He went so far as to send a personal message league wide to players that they should banish them by breaking off communication to anyone that made principle efforts against the mlb players union. The icing on the cake was when he stated they should be denied pensions from the union.

I feel like I have a personal interest in Sax's career. He was a Second basemen, a .300 hitter, and notorious for robbin' and stealin' the bases. He is among the top tier with 400+ stolen bases, and holds the record for the most singles (171 in '89) in a season with the NY Yankees (not NYN, or INSIDE OUT NY).

Aside from his very respectable numbers, I appreciate the humiliating throwing errors stat. During his MLB '83 season he was diagnosed with "Steve Blass Disease". It proved to be inexplainably difficult for Steve to make the routine toss from 2b to 1b. Having become a mockery as a pro baller incapable of making such a play, the fans rejoiced in the falling star's short coming, by wearing helmets behind first base. By '89 he was leading the league in fielding percentage and double plays. I always thought of him as a defensively strong player, rather than filled with holes.

This card is pretty nice. Looks like the backdrop is from some chic type modern fine arts museum. The glare from the Gallery of the Stars (not to be confused from the Gallery of Suicide) is clearly blinding Steve. The silver/grey embossed parts are supposed to be shiny, but the scan did not capture this detail very well. The reverse of the card is cool enough, with brief pertinent information. Decent little collection of players to learn about. He was certainly looking sharp on this occasion.

Simpson's Softball song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl5Wsp8e5LA

Here is a vid where T. Lasorda rips into Steve: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKnMWSjQiE0

Here is a passage where the dialogue between player and coach is met, with a humourous method to solve Steve's worries. It is taken from the apparently well received book Tales From the Dugout.

1-2-3

2008-07-17T00:10:00.014-04:00

So, what can I say about Cory Snyder? No really, what can I say. I just don't remember the guy. That's the one thing I have noticed while going through all my baseball cards. The abundancy of guys that are jobbers to me, because their names don't ring a bell.

I know how to account for this. If you will only sit back, and allow me to contextualize this 90-91 season card of Mr. Cee Snyder. Again, the year is 1990-91. The blog poster affectionately known as m the m was but6 years old, and 'the mosher' had yet to be born (again). I was just a four-eyed freak (no geek, and no homo) that attended East Oro Public School in Hawkestone. We had bunny ears for our television, and the only sports I really remember watching were Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey games on CBC, and INDY car races. During the summer I was usually sailing, or screwing around outside. I have few fond memories of sitting around watching Baseball on television at such a young age. So to close a story, the short, not long of it, is just that I did not actually follow baseball at this age, I somehow just came across these cards. My old man probably just bought them for me. we had a General Store up the street, where we would go and talk cards, and hockey, and trade doubles. Apparently, this three headed beast, "C-Plus" just could not be dished out. Too much heat, if you know what I mean. Ya know what I mean?

Judging by his numbers, he was a pretty good performer for the early 90s. The guy is clearly pretty slim, and far from the gargantuan build of the power hitters of these modern times, so it is rather impressive how Snyder managed to produce the numbers he did. For a couple years he was in and around 25-30 HRs, and 80 RBIs. At 6-3, he is pretty small, weighing in under 200. For an above average player, that is very telling of how the league was at the time. There weren't as many juice monkeys. Perhaps he is the exception to the rule, that only big guys hit for power. Big ups C dogg.

As far as the card is concerned, Upper Deck cards are pretty sharp. You'll be hard pressed to find a card that doesn't look cool, or is telling of that era in Baseball. Here are a couple things worth noting:

1. Wearing the black face paint, to intimidate, and detract the suns glare.

2. Being mid-step after either a: well placed hit, or a Homer J (not Homer, and not Homer Jay)

3. Wearing batting gloves that are styled upon those of Michael Jackson--pre-full blown homo.

4. Having a real nice, crisp uniform, black stirrups, tri-colour down the side, and cool sign of the times: Nike cleats.

5. Gotta like the mid-air baseball bat (Yankee basher).

On the flipside:

1. Getting props from said hit.

2. Mustached man in the background.

3. Glistening batting helmet, with the panoramic reflection.

There you have it: Cory Snyder - Indians 123 (version 1,2, and 3)

post scriptum: love that Indians logo. Cannot go wrong with redskin imagery. SMILE!

post post scriptum: my man big l (laforge) wears an Indians cap real well. Takes guts to be a home town fan, wearing an American team's ball cap , and be taken seriously.

sloppy seconds

2008-07-09T03:50:00.015-04:00

Due to the amount of enthusiasm that was directed toward Kelly Gruber in recent days, I decided to up another card relevant to his career. Thankfully, I have the one that has our Kelly tagging "Neon" Dieon Sanders on his way to second base, as he was caught in a mosh. As you can see sportsfans, the tag is made, before the runner had stepped foot on the bag. Sure, itwas a blown call, but the Jays still managed to win. It only goes to further demonstrate that despite a blown call, the Jays decisively won the yankee doodle version of Lord Stanley's Cup. Those dandies didn't come close. Happy belated 4th of July. Act your age, not your shoe size.

Second on my list, is a shoutout, to a relatively new compatriot of mine. He goes under the name of Ben Osaka. He spent some time over in Hiroshima, mon amour (remember Nagasaki). While over there he picked up a couple Japanese Baseball items. He shared them with me, in order to press the issue of a setlist that I said I would scan for him to use on his blog.

I communicated to him that I had an Inepsy (youre thrashing) setlist at my disposal. I grabbed it at my first show in Montreal, at the Barfly venue on St-Laurent. I attended it with the frères Pépins. We ate at the now non-existant mtlhc (non-wifi) hotspot, Monde-aux-Frites.

He scratched my back with some burning spirit, Japanese baseball cards, and paraphenelia. I thank you for this Benji, as I have always wanted to see this sort of thing in the flesh, or recycled cardboard, if you will. I know nothing about Japanese baseball, because I am an ignorant person. I was told from my cultured friend Beav the Basher, that he saw a highlight of a dude, "do some crazy shit". Don't quote me on that, because I do not recall exactly what he said, but I'm sure it equalled to something along the lines of an acrobatic catch.

Also, infernal hails go out to my good pal Richard Dean Smith (BDS STOMP), for informing me that I had access to his seminal (no, not that seminal!) collection of UP-UP-UP-UPper Deck cards from the late 80s to the mid 90s (correct me if I'm wrong). What I am more interested in seeing is Big D. Senior's collection of Brooklyn Dodger cards from the 1930s. I will be sure to keep you posted on that one.

a time for firsts

2008-07-06T23:45:00.008-04:00

Here we have, one Kelly Wayne Gruber. He was drafted by the Clevo-style Indians in the first round, 10th overall, in the amateur draft. It was not until the TOHC Blue Jays picked him up from the rule-5 draft that he played his first major league game on april 20th, 1984.

He became big time during the 1989-90 seasons, where he earned 2 all-star appearances, and a gold glove at 3b. His power at the plate was established with 30 odd KO's, and over a 100 ribbies.

He especially made a name for himself in the city of Toronto, where the men counted on him, and the birds cooed at him. Any sportsman that applies war paint to his face, you just know he will have his head in the game. He had the crowd on their feet in game 4 when he scored at home plate, tearing his chin to the bone sliding across home plate for the victory.

Confusingly, there was a split between the Jays organization, and our Kelly, which saw him go to the California Angels for Luis (not ruby) Sojo. Trouble was so easy to find, as Kelly discovered he was having serious neck problems, which led to threats of paralysis. He finally retired June 29th, 1993, with the Angels (not specifically of Anaheim).

The card itself is pretty sickness, if you ask me. He's holding four bats. one for each hit he made that fine evening. He wielded those bats mighty fine back in the day. you gotta know he had an iron mind. Pretty solid dugout picture. Gotta love the photos of the troops in the trenches. I also noticed that I have a bunch more golden "Great Memories" cards from this McDonald's collection, so that means you will without a doubt see more of these Donruss types, as i see fit. It's funny how I cannot really remember buying these packs of cards from Mick Dee's, but I sure did manage to stock 'em by the bundle.

post scriptum: nice cooper wrist band. that's the fuckin'ese.