Collecting Cleveland Indians Topps team sets from 1952-present, as well as post-war minor and major league autographs.
From the Collection: John Patterson, p, Washington Nationals … Do you remember the mess that was the 1996 Major League Baseball draft? … At the time, MLB had a rule that once you drafted a player, they held exclusive signing rights to players they drafted until the following year’s draft.[…]
From the Collection: Jimmy Journell, p, St. Louis Cardinals … Jimmy Journell is one of a couple dozen players from the 2000’s that I am fan of simply because they were highly touted when then came through the Pacific Coast League team that was in the city I was stationed[…]
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: Jeff Mathis, c, Los Angeles Angels … If your child has decided that professional baseball is their vocation of choice, it would behoove you, especially if your kid is not embiggend with natural, top-flight baseball skills, to sit down and explore ways to hone the talents that[…]
… Jose Ramirez had another great season in 2024, with a 143 OPS+ and a sixth All-Star selection. He nearly ended the season by joining the 40/40 club, but would fall one homerun short. … Ramirez has not performed quite as well in the playoffs, hitting .188 with a .350[…]
I’ve been a fan of Corbin Carroll since he was in low-A with the Hillsboro Hops. I was thrilled when he broke out in 2023, winning the National League Rookie of the Year award, made his first All-Star game, and ended 5th in MVP voting. He was a thrilling player,[…]
Since 2022, Spender Strider has been one of the best pitchers in baseball. But like all good pitchers (it seems), he is out for the 2024 season paying the Tommy John tax.
Dansby Swanson is a solid player. He is not a top-tier shortstop, but he is something north of a league-average offensive producer with a plus glove. And when you play a premium offensive position, you can’t ask for much more.
Coming back to Cleveland in the Rosario trade was Noah Syndergaard. This was more about money–and Cleveland helping eat some salary–than about value back. I had heard that most Dodgers fans were sick of Syndergaard, but I did not appreciate how bad a pitcher he had become until I saw it in person.
Baltimore Orioles third base prospect Jordan Westburg is tearing it up in AAA, hitting .309/.384/.608 with 15 HR. The fact that he is performing so well is not a surprise to anyone. He was Baltimore’s 1st round pick in 2020 (30th overall), and opened the 2023 season as the organization’s #6 prospect.