Collecting Cleveland Indians Topps team sets from 1952-present, as well as post-war minor and major league autographs.
This is what I wrote about Austin Gomber back in 2016: 4th round pick of the Cardinals in 2014 out of Florida Atlantic. Was awesome in 2015 (15-3, 2.67 with 140/34 K/BB in 135 innings, 97 hits), and rated one of the Cardinals Top 15 prospects coming into 2016. This[…]
Tyler Naquin had an amazing rookie season in 2016, hitting .296/.372/.514 with 14 HR and helping the Cleveland Indians make the World Series. Since then he has struggled in the majors, both with his performance and health. There are times he flashes the skills that netted him 3rd[…]
Tarik Skubal was drafted by the Tigers in the 9th round of the 2018 draft out of Seattle University. He has very good stuff, though injuries in college kept his draft stock depressed. Last season, while in the low minors, he put up very solid numbers in limited action: 22.1[…]
I have been a huge fan of Bobby Bradley since he was drafted by the Indians back in 2014 (3rd round high school pick). He was amazing his first year in the pros, hitting .361/.426/.652 with 8 HR in the AZL and putting himself immediately on the prospect map. The[…]
CJ Van Eyk had a very good sophomore season with Florida State. As the Seminoles ace, he went 10-3 over 94.2 innings, only allowing 82 hits while striking out 120. He ended the season with a 3.80 ERA/1.278 WHIP. He was drafted back in 2017 by the Mets in the[…]
I have been a fan of Brock Deatherage since he came through Hawaii with NC State back in 2018. He did not have a great junior season, but he was clearly a talented player who was primed for a monster senior season. And it was. He hit .307/.397/.548 with[…]
The Cleveland Indian’s don’t have a lot to be excited about this season. But they do have Shane Bieber, and that is something. This season he is 2-1 with a 3.16 ERA/1.03 WHIP. Over 37 innings he has only allowed 26 walks while striking out 42. He is arguably one[…]
Josh Tomlin spent eight seasons with the Indians, serving primarily as the teams #5 starter. And as #5 starters go…he was about as good as you will find. And there were a number of occasions over the years that he was simply brilliant, highlighted by his starts in the 2016[…]
Because the Yankees are a disaster and their entire roster is injured, former Cleveland Indian Gio Urshela has been pressed into starting service in New York. And he is more than holding his own, hitting .333/.400/.485 (135 OPS+) over 66 at-bats. Couple that with his Gold Glove defense…the Yankees have[…]
I know Ruben Sierra as a Texas Ranger since he spent the majority of his 20-year career with the Texas organization–though it was divided between three stints (1986-1992, 2000-2001, 2003). Though…and I will admit I totally forgot this…he was with the Cleveland Indians very briefly in 2000. He never made[…]