Well, I had added a bunch of links to my "Places I Frequent" list, and now those are gone, and I am left with an old version of the list. I don't knwo what happened, but it is one of my biggest complaints about Blogger - I have no way to backup my site offline in order to recover from Blogger disasters. Nice.
Well, I'll find the addresses for those site and post them back again. My apologies to the sites that got lost. AUGH....
(Update, most of the newly added sites have been added back!)
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Indians Uniform Number - 7 (Part 1 of 3)
After a bit of a delay due to illness and technical issues, I finally present the first of three posts for Tribe Uniform #7:
Al Rosen - 10 seasons (1947-'56) - Rosen wore the Number 7 throughout his career, except for one (in which he wore #17). His career began slowly as he batted in 7 games his rookie year and ended up with a .111 average. His next season brought him a .200 average in 5 games and his third year netted him a .159 in 23 games. Things were not looking good, but the Tribe stuck with him and put him on the roster full time in his 4th year. He answered by batting .287 with a .405 OBP, and things proved solid from then on. Over the next 6 seasons, his average stayed at or above .265, with 3 of those seasons batting .300+. In fact, in 1953, he batted .336 and was unanimously elected MVP that year. During his career, he played in four all-star games and played with the Indians during their 1948 and 1954 World Series appearances. After injuries suffered in a car wreck and his treatment by the Indians management and fans (salary cuts despite great playing, and booing from fans), he retired in 1957 at the age of 32.
Alan Bannister - 3 seasons (1981-'83) - Comedian Jimmy Pardo once said Bannister was his favorite player. Bannister averaged .265 over his three-year stint with the Tribe. He played in 286 games for the Indians, batting 957 times. During that time, he got 254 hits, 10 home runs, and 103 RBIs on 52 doubles and 6 triples. He struck out 103 times and was walked 89 times. He also had 40 stolen bases (16 in 1981, 18 in 1982, and 6 in 1983).
Bernie Carbo - part of 1 season (1978) - Until now, I did not realize that Carbo only played part of one season with the Tribe (batted in 60 games). I always thought he had one of those cool baseball names. In his very short time with the Tribe, he racked up a .287 average, getting 21 runs on 50 hits with 4 home runs and 16 RBIs. He did manage to steal a base during that half season as well. He was so well liked in Boston, where he played before and after his time in Cleveland, that fellow player Bill Lee QUIT the Sox when Carbo was sold to the Tribe! Talk about friendship.
Billy Hunter - Part of 1 season (1958) - Like Carbo, Hunter was with the Tribe for only half a season (76 games). Unlike Carbo, however, Hunter only managed to hit a .195 average in 190 at-bats. One of his "now, that's weird" stats include his 37 hits and 37 strikeouts in the same time period. Even though he only got 37 hits, he did manage to score 21 runs on those 37 hits, and he had been walked 17 times. Doesn't really make it any easier to swallow, does it? Dang.
Blas Monaco - Parts of 2 seasons (1937, 1946) - Now, you talk about a cool name, "Blas Monaco" sounds more like a movie actor than a baseball player, but it's still a great baseball name. In 1937, Blas wore the Number 7 while batting 7 times in 5 games. He got 2 hits with 2 RBIs. He struck out twice and was hit by a pitch. He ended the season with a .286 average and then was traded to Buffalo. I have no idea what happened, but he came back to the Tribe in 1946, he batted 6 more times. He scored 2 runs in '46 without any hits or stolen bases (he was walked once). I'm not quite sure how that happens.
Bob Lipski - 1 season (1963) - Yes, we have yet another Triber who made a very, VERY brief appearance with the Indians. How brief? In two games, he batted one time, and managed to whiff. At least defensively, he managed to post a perfect 1.000 with 3 put-outs in 2 innings over 2 games...
Brandon Phillips - 4 seasons (2002-2005) - Brandon split his Indians career between numbers 7 and 61. In 2002-2003, he sported the Number 7, which also happen to be his two best seasons with the Tribe. In truth, he only had one complete season (2003). In his rookie year, he had 31 at-bats, netting a .258 average with a .343 on-base percentage and a .419 slugging percentage. The Indians put him in full-time in 2003, and his batting slipped (208 avg/242 obp/311 slg). In 2004, his baseball days were numbered. He batted in 6 games for only a .182 average, and the next year, the Tribe had seen more than enough. Phillips again appeared in 6 games, but this time his average hit the bottom. His .000 season sent him to Cincinnati.
Bubba Phillips - 3 seasons (1960-1962) - Phillips appeared previously in our countdown wearing Number 5. 1960 brought Phillips his worst season (.207 average). In 1961, though, he hit two grand slams (the only ones of his career) and batted his highest Tribe-based average (.264). In his three years as an Indian, he had 151 runs on 353 hits with 32 homers in 1412 at-bats, getting 159 RBIs.
Buck Frierson - 1 season (1941) - Buck played in 5 games with 11 at-bats in 1941. He got 2 runs on 3 hits with 2 RBIs. He also struck out once and was walked once. He had a .273 average before being released. I could not find any specific information, but I can only assume Buck went off to fight in WWII and never returned to baseball.
Cam Carreon - 1 season (1965) - Cam played in 19 games with 52 plate appearances. He got 6 runs on 12 hits with one homer. He had 2 doubles, a triple, was walked 9 times and struck out 6 times. Nearly 40 years later, Cam's son Mark (who appeared in our #4 countdown) would also don a Tribe uniform.
Chris James - 2 seasons (1990-'91) - A utility DH for the Tribe, James batted .299 in his first year as an Indian and a .238 his second year before being sent to the Giants. His career in Cleveland netted 262 hits on 965 at-bats, scoring 93 runs with 17 homer runs, scoring 111 RBIs, leaving him with a .265 Tribe career average.
Del Crandall - 1 season (1966) - Crandall came to the Tribe from the Pirates, playing in what would be his final season in the majors. He batted in 50 games, scoring 10 runs on 25 hits with 4 homers and 8 RBIs. He ended his only AL-playing season with a .231 average.
Ed Montague - 4 seasons (1928, 1930-'32) - Montague had a respectable .262 career average with the Tribe. He wore #7 only in '32, but part of that comes from the fact that the Indians did not use uniform numbers before '31. Montague's lowest average was during his rookie year as he batted .235. His next two years netted .263 and .285 averages, respectively. He left the majors with a .245 in his last season. Overall, he had 105 runs on 161 hits while being walked 85 times and being hit by the ball 6 times. He was not a home run hitter, only knocking two of them during his 4 season career. Though his son with the same name is a major league umpire, baseball buffs may recognize the name as the scout who "discovered" Willie Mays and brought him to the major leagues.
Al Rosen - 10 seasons (1947-'56) - Rosen wore the Number 7 throughout his career, except for one (in which he wore #17). His career began slowly as he batted in 7 games his rookie year and ended up with a .111 average. His next season brought him a .200 average in 5 games and his third year netted him a .159 in 23 games. Things were not looking good, but the Tribe stuck with him and put him on the roster full time in his 4th year. He answered by batting .287 with a .405 OBP, and things proved solid from then on. Over the next 6 seasons, his average stayed at or above .265, with 3 of those seasons batting .300+. In fact, in 1953, he batted .336 and was unanimously elected MVP that year. During his career, he played in four all-star games and played with the Indians during their 1948 and 1954 World Series appearances. After injuries suffered in a car wreck and his treatment by the Indians management and fans (salary cuts despite great playing, and booing from fans), he retired in 1957 at the age of 32.
Alan Bannister - 3 seasons (1981-'83) - Comedian Jimmy Pardo once said Bannister was his favorite player. Bannister averaged .265 over his three-year stint with the Tribe. He played in 286 games for the Indians, batting 957 times. During that time, he got 254 hits, 10 home runs, and 103 RBIs on 52 doubles and 6 triples. He struck out 103 times and was walked 89 times. He also had 40 stolen bases (16 in 1981, 18 in 1982, and 6 in 1983).
Bernie Carbo - part of 1 season (1978) - Until now, I did not realize that Carbo only played part of one season with the Tribe (batted in 60 games). I always thought he had one of those cool baseball names. In his very short time with the Tribe, he racked up a .287 average, getting 21 runs on 50 hits with 4 home runs and 16 RBIs. He did manage to steal a base during that half season as well. He was so well liked in Boston, where he played before and after his time in Cleveland, that fellow player Bill Lee QUIT the Sox when Carbo was sold to the Tribe! Talk about friendship.
Billy Hunter - Part of 1 season (1958) - Like Carbo, Hunter was with the Tribe for only half a season (76 games). Unlike Carbo, however, Hunter only managed to hit a .195 average in 190 at-bats. One of his "now, that's weird" stats include his 37 hits and 37 strikeouts in the same time period. Even though he only got 37 hits, he did manage to score 21 runs on those 37 hits, and he had been walked 17 times. Doesn't really make it any easier to swallow, does it? Dang.
Blas Monaco - Parts of 2 seasons (1937, 1946) - Now, you talk about a cool name, "Blas Monaco" sounds more like a movie actor than a baseball player, but it's still a great baseball name. In 1937, Blas wore the Number 7 while batting 7 times in 5 games. He got 2 hits with 2 RBIs. He struck out twice and was hit by a pitch. He ended the season with a .286 average and then was traded to Buffalo. I have no idea what happened, but he came back to the Tribe in 1946, he batted 6 more times. He scored 2 runs in '46 without any hits or stolen bases (he was walked once). I'm not quite sure how that happens.
Bob Lipski - 1 season (1963) - Yes, we have yet another Triber who made a very, VERY brief appearance with the Indians. How brief? In two games, he batted one time, and managed to whiff. At least defensively, he managed to post a perfect 1.000 with 3 put-outs in 2 innings over 2 games...
Brandon Phillips - 4 seasons (2002-2005) - Brandon split his Indians career between numbers 7 and 61. In 2002-2003, he sported the Number 7, which also happen to be his two best seasons with the Tribe. In truth, he only had one complete season (2003). In his rookie year, he had 31 at-bats, netting a .258 average with a .343 on-base percentage and a .419 slugging percentage. The Indians put him in full-time in 2003, and his batting slipped (208 avg/242 obp/311 slg). In 2004, his baseball days were numbered. He batted in 6 games for only a .182 average, and the next year, the Tribe had seen more than enough. Phillips again appeared in 6 games, but this time his average hit the bottom. His .000 season sent him to Cincinnati.
Bubba Phillips - 3 seasons (1960-1962) - Phillips appeared previously in our countdown wearing Number 5. 1960 brought Phillips his worst season (.207 average). In 1961, though, he hit two grand slams (the only ones of his career) and batted his highest Tribe-based average (.264). In his three years as an Indian, he had 151 runs on 353 hits with 32 homers in 1412 at-bats, getting 159 RBIs.
Buck Frierson - 1 season (1941) - Buck played in 5 games with 11 at-bats in 1941. He got 2 runs on 3 hits with 2 RBIs. He also struck out once and was walked once. He had a .273 average before being released. I could not find any specific information, but I can only assume Buck went off to fight in WWII and never returned to baseball.
Cam Carreon - 1 season (1965) - Cam played in 19 games with 52 plate appearances. He got 6 runs on 12 hits with one homer. He had 2 doubles, a triple, was walked 9 times and struck out 6 times. Nearly 40 years later, Cam's son Mark (who appeared in our #4 countdown) would also don a Tribe uniform.
Chris James - 2 seasons (1990-'91) - A utility DH for the Tribe, James batted .299 in his first year as an Indian and a .238 his second year before being sent to the Giants. His career in Cleveland netted 262 hits on 965 at-bats, scoring 93 runs with 17 homer runs, scoring 111 RBIs, leaving him with a .265 Tribe career average.
Del Crandall - 1 season (1966) - Crandall came to the Tribe from the Pirates, playing in what would be his final season in the majors. He batted in 50 games, scoring 10 runs on 25 hits with 4 homers and 8 RBIs. He ended his only AL-playing season with a .231 average.
Ed Montague - 4 seasons (1928, 1930-'32) - Montague had a respectable .262 career average with the Tribe. He wore #7 only in '32, but part of that comes from the fact that the Indians did not use uniform numbers before '31. Montague's lowest average was during his rookie year as he batted .235. His next two years netted .263 and .285 averages, respectively. He left the majors with a .245 in his last season. Overall, he had 105 runs on 161 hits while being walked 85 times and being hit by the ball 6 times. He was not a home run hitter, only knocking two of them during his 4 season career. Though his son with the same name is a major league umpire, baseball buffs may recognize the name as the scout who "discovered" Willie Mays and brought him to the major leagues.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Cards from Lucy and Patricia!
A few posts ago, I mentioned that young Lucy and her mother were sending me some Indians cards, and today those cards were in my mailbox! I was very surprised by the mix of cards in the stack, which included some brand-new 2008 Topps! How cool!
The cards, in the order they were sent to me, include: 1991 Topps Kevin Wickander, 2x 2005 Topps Aaron Boone, 1990 Donruss John Farrell, 2007 Fleer Ultra Ryan Garko, 1992 Stadium Club Dave Otto, 1997 Topps Chad Ogea, 2006 Upper Deck Cliff Lee, 1989 Topps Willie Upshaw, 2007 Topps Opening Day Jeremy Sowers, 1989 Topps Jon Perlman, 1994 Score Draft Pick Daron Kirkeit, 1989 Topps Doug Jones, 1994 Fleer Ultra Felix Fermin, 1992 Topps Charles Nagy, 1989 Topps John Farrell, 1994 Conlon Collection Rube Lutzke, 2002 Victory Jason Davis, 1989 Topps Brad Havens, 1992 Stadium Club Reggie Jefferson, 1989 Topps Luis Medina, 1991 Fleer Ultra Felix Fermin, 1983 Fleer Jack Perconte, 2007 Bowman Heritage Jhonny Peralta, 2007 Topps Andy Marte, 2007 Topps '52 Asdrubal Cabrera, 2007 Bowman Heritage Travis Hafner, 2004 Fleer InScribed Omar Vizquel, 1989 Topps Doc Edwards, 1987 Topps Pat Tabler, 2008 Topps Eric Wedge, 2008 Topps Jason Michaels, 2008 Topps Victor Martinez, 2x 2007 Topps Victor Martinez, 1988 Upper Deck Tommy Hinzo, 2007 Fleer Ultra Jeremy Sowers, 2006 Upper Deck Eduardo Perez, 1988 Topps Pat Corrales.
There is also a pack of Baseball Enquirer Mystery Cards. I'll do my own version of "Pack-a-Day" and bust it open soon!
The best cards in the lot though are the two 3x5 index cards with personal messages from Patricia and Lucy. And, Lucy even drew me a picture of a pitcher on the mound in mid-windup! I'll post it later when I have access to my scanner again!
I look forward to adding the cards I need to my collection!
I hope they enjoy the cards I picked out for them! Those will be mailed off this weekend!
The cards, in the order they were sent to me, include: 1991 Topps Kevin Wickander, 2x 2005 Topps Aaron Boone, 1990 Donruss John Farrell, 2007 Fleer Ultra Ryan Garko, 1992 Stadium Club Dave Otto, 1997 Topps Chad Ogea, 2006 Upper Deck Cliff Lee, 1989 Topps Willie Upshaw, 2007 Topps Opening Day Jeremy Sowers, 1989 Topps Jon Perlman, 1994 Score Draft Pick Daron Kirkeit, 1989 Topps Doug Jones, 1994 Fleer Ultra Felix Fermin, 1992 Topps Charles Nagy, 1989 Topps John Farrell, 1994 Conlon Collection Rube Lutzke, 2002 Victory Jason Davis, 1989 Topps Brad Havens, 1992 Stadium Club Reggie Jefferson, 1989 Topps Luis Medina, 1991 Fleer Ultra Felix Fermin, 1983 Fleer Jack Perconte, 2007 Bowman Heritage Jhonny Peralta, 2007 Topps Andy Marte, 2007 Topps '52 Asdrubal Cabrera, 2007 Bowman Heritage Travis Hafner, 2004 Fleer InScribed Omar Vizquel, 1989 Topps Doc Edwards, 1987 Topps Pat Tabler, 2008 Topps Eric Wedge, 2008 Topps Jason Michaels, 2008 Topps Victor Martinez, 2x 2007 Topps Victor Martinez, 1988 Upper Deck Tommy Hinzo, 2007 Fleer Ultra Jeremy Sowers, 2006 Upper Deck Eduardo Perez, 1988 Topps Pat Corrales.
There is also a pack of Baseball Enquirer Mystery Cards. I'll do my own version of "Pack-a-Day" and bust it open soon!
The best cards in the lot though are the two 3x5 index cards with personal messages from Patricia and Lucy. And, Lucy even drew me a picture of a pitcher on the mound in mid-windup! I'll post it later when I have access to my scanner again!
I look forward to adding the cards I need to my collection!
I hope they enjoy the cards I picked out for them! Those will be mailed off this weekend!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Looking ahead to Number 7
There are a whopping THIRTY-EIGHT players listed in the database I have who have worn Jersey Number 7 at one point or another during (or throughout) their time with the Indians. To give you an idea as to who we'll be looking at for All-Time Number 7, here's the list of players:
Al Rosen, Alan Bannister, Bernie Carbo, Billy Hunter, Blas Monaco, Bob Lipski, Brandon Phillips, Bubba Phillips, Buck Frierson, Cam Carreon, Chris James, Del Crandall, Ed Montague, Ed Wheeler, Fred Hatfield, Gene Leek, George Case, Granny Hamner, Hal Jones, Hal Trosky, Harley Boss, Harvey Kuenn, Jack Brohamer, Jack Conway, Jeff Juden, Jim Mahoney, Joe Azcue, Joe Inglett, John Ellis, Johnny Romano, Jonah Goldman, Ken Suarez, Kenny Lofton, Mike de la Hoz, Odell Hale, Pete Center, Phil Roof, Ron Pruitt
These will be broken up into three separate posts as I have done when there are a lot of players to choose from. We'll see which player is the "Lucky 7" of the group!
Indians Uniform Number - 6 Joe Vosmik
Choosing the All-Time Indians #6 was tough, even with the newly implemented "how did they play in this specific uniform number" rule. There are several "Fan Favorites" in this list, but most them only wore the Number 6 briefly during their Indians career. As I revisited the names, stats, and lives of these #6-wearing Tribers, I finally boiled it down to three contenders: Joe Azcue, Joe Vosmik, and Ray Mack. But, the real battle in my mind came down to the two Joe's. Frankly, all items tolled up, they should both be awarded the honor, but as they say, "we can only have ONE winner." So, it is with great respect to Joe Azcue that I award the all-time Triber wearing the Number 6 is JOE VOSMIK. Congratulations, Joe!
(Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3)
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