Collecting Cleveland Indians Topps team sets from 1952-present, as well as post-war minor and major league autographs.
From the Collection: Giancarlo Stanton, DH, New York Yankees … I have no idea if the Florida Marlins’ trading away Giancarlo Stanton following the 2017 season was all that terrible of a move, in retrospect. … Giancarlo Stanton was an amazing player with the Marlins. Over eight seasons, he had[…]
From the Collection: J.T. Realmuto, c, Philadelphia Phillies … You know who is having a good career? Catcher J.T. Realmuto. A former third-round pick of the Miami Marlins, he has become one of the best catchers in baseball. Over his 12 seasons in the big league, he has averaged 21[…]
From the Collection: Gary Matthews, of, Los Angeles Angels … I am not sure if the Los Angeles Angels have had more bad free agent signings than your average team. But gosh, it feels like it. While it’s probably not the worst of the bunch, the one I remember the[…]
From the Collection: Joe Mays, sp, Minnesota Twins … In 2001, Joe Mays was one of the best pitchers in baseball. Unfortunately for him, he was one of roughly a half-dozen players that season who could say the same thing. What’s unfortunate–outside of not picking his spot to have a[…]
Mark Reynolds is one of the great “three true outcome” (TTO) players in history–guys whose majority of at-bats are either a strikeout, walk, or home run. Being one of these types does not make you bad (see: Jim Thome, Mark McGwire, Adam Dunn), but it does not guarantee you will[…]
From the Collection: Ted Williams, of, Boston Red Sox … Ted Williams. Dude was interesting. Complicated. Had a heck of a life. His baseball reference page is yet another you need to visit to appreciate. His stats are absolutely insane. How good was he? His last season, in 1960, he[…]
From the Collection: Max Scherzer, sp, Toronto Blue Jays … I won’t forget getting this autograph. I didn’t even ask for it. I was at a Tigers game in Cleveland, and he just…walked over. As soon as he took my pen, I knew who he was…and knowing that he personalized…said[…]
From the Collection: Gerald Williams, of, Tampa Bay Rays … When I was a young man, I played All-Star Baseball 64 on my Nintendo. In that game, my outfielders tended to rotate based on which players I was into at the time. But there was always one constant, Gerald[…]
From the Collection: Joe Mauer, c, Minnesota Twins … I enjoy autographs in ballpoint pen on paper items such as scratch paper and book pages. They are not as valuable as certified autographs, but they feel personal and authentic…which I think counts for something. They also tend to look good[…]
Baseball what-ifs are always fun. Here is one. What would have happened if Oakland hadn’t traded away pitcher Aaron Harang in 2003 for a half-season of outfielder José Guillén? … Assuming he developed on the same trajectory and really came into his own by 2005-2006, he would have likely been[…]