#103T Mackey Sasser

IMPACT FACTOR 3/10: Sasser was a decent backup catcher for a number of years with the Mets. His impact factor is low because he never got many plate appearances.

#54T Jeff Innis

IMPACT FACTOR 3/10: Innis was very effective for the Mets in 1991 and 1992 (as well as pitching well in limited innings in 1987-1990) and left as a free agent after 1993, although he never appeared in the majors with another team.

#787 Bill Almon

Why this card is awesome: Because as much as we make fun of Jay Baller, Almon's actually got some good chest hair going in this photo too.

Cool stat: Almon stole 2 bases in a game 10 different times, and his team won 8 of those 10 games. Oddly, though, with those 20 stoles bases, he scored only 6 runs.

#763 Doug Sisk

Why this card is awesome: Because this is a fairly rare shot of a pitcher doing something other than pitching. Looks like he's coming off the mound to field a bunt or a squibber. Also, there are Cardinals in the background!

Cool stat: Sisk had a strange career, statistically. Look below at his 1983 and 1984. He seems to have filled in as closer nicely, posting great ERAs and appearing in lots of games. But in fact, Sisk is one of only 3 relievers since 1901 to post at least 2 seasons with an ERA+ of 160 or better but also a WHIP as high as 1.4. The moral of the story? All those hits and walks came back to hurt him later, bringing his ERA closer to league-average. He was lucky to finish with an ERA+ of 113 over his career while having a WHIP of 1.517. Those career stats are also pretty special.

2005 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites #66 Kevin McReynolds

Am I sounding like a broken record yet? These are more scans by dayf at Cardboard Junkie.

Why this card is awesome: Because unlike many of the other Fan Favorites cards we've seen, this one is actually a very different shot, giving us a posed torso photo of McReynolds instead of an action batting shot as from his regular card. Variation is nice.

#735 Kevin McReynolds

Why this card is awesome: Because of the mention of Adam Ging on the back. He never made the big leagues but has quite an unusual name. I wonder what his middle name is? At least he got his name on a big-league card.

Kevin McReynolds was one of the key players on the day I fell in love with baseball. I was at a Mets-Phillies game (this one) with a couple friends. He took one pitch, a ball, and I remember thinking that Don Carman was just not getting things done for the Phillies. Out loud, I said that I thought McReynolds would homer in this at bat. About 3 seconds later, he did just that, to the amazement of my friends. Then, on of them said they thought that the next batter, Darryl Strawberry, would homer too. Three pitches later, he did just that too. We were all pretty excited and gleeful, and that feeling has pretty much never left me.

Cool stat: With just a bit of luck, McReynolds could have been considered a star. From 1986 to 1988, he was the only player to top 90 RBIs ever year without ever topping 100.

2005 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites #9 Darryl Strawberry

This is yet another set of scans provided by dayf at Cardboard Junkie.

Why this card is awesome: Because this photo looks to be at a very similar time as the one from his regular card, although clearly not the same game. (He's wearing long sleeves and orange wrist bands here but not in the other photo.)

Recently, Kevin at Orioles Card "O" the Day has done some great sleuthing about Jim Palmer and Cal Ripken Fan Favorites cards that I sent him.

#710 Darryl Strawberry

Why this card is awesome: Because of that tiny piece of body armor Strawberry is sporting on his shin. Over the last 10 years, things have gotten way out of control with that.

Also, Strawberry was one of many amazing signings by scout Roger Jongewaard. I can't find a decent bio for him online, but he has signed tons of great players.

Cool stat: Strawberry was in the top 20 for homers through age 26 season, as well as homers through age 28 season but currently stands at 87th in career homers.

2005 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites #74 Ron Darling

This is another set of scans provided by dayf at Cardboard Junkie.

Why this card is awesome: Because methinks that this photo was taken a bit before 1987...

#685 Ron Darling

Why this card is awesome: Because this is the second guy in 6 cards to be born in Honolulu. Charlie Hough was too. And for that matter, Darling's teammate Sid Fernandez was too.

Cool stat: Darling was vastly overrated. Sure, he finished his career with a 136-116 record (.540) but his ERA+ was just 95. His neutralized record was 122-138, .469. Darling has one of the most recent seasons with 4 shutouts but at best a league-average ERA.

#655 Len Dykstra

Why this card is awesome: Because, hey look, it's another Expo in the background! And if you thought there was a big difference in Mark McGwire's appearance over the years, compare Nails above to this photo:



A bit thicker all around, eh?

The Phillies' trade for Dykstra was a great one. In addition to getting Lenny, the Phils also got Roger McDowell in exchange for Juan Samuel. Samuel stuck around for many more years but was never the same player, whereas Dykstra and McDowell (less so) did some great things for the Phillies.

Cool stat: Only two guys have ever had a season with 30 stolen bases, 120 walks, and 140 runs scored. Dykstra did it in the Phillies' magical year of 1993, but you probably can't guess who the other one was.

#633 Barry Lyons

Why this card is awesome: Because this is a sweet, sweet action shot. I assume Lyons is raising his glove for a throw from the outfield, for a play at the plate. Actions shots of catchers are awesome.

Cool stat: Lyons saved one of his best career games for one of his last career games. In his 4th-to-last-game in the big leagues, Lyons hit a 3-run homer, and had RBIs on a single and a groundout. Incidentally, Mike Cameron hit his first career homer in that game for the White Sox's other run. And it was one of Johnny Damon's first games. The only other player in that game still active at this writing is Frank Thomas.

#610 Keith Hernandez

Why this card is awesome: Because while it's cool to get such a nice shot of the prominent "C" on Hernandez's jersey, I can't get past the fact that he looks like Groucho Marx in this photo. Quite honestly, the first time I saw this card, I thought it was a joke.

Cool stat: Hernandez was a great defensive player and a pretty darn good offensive one too. For players with at least 2000 games played and 1000 walks, Hernandez had one of the lowest strikeout totals.

#579 Mets Leaders

Why this card is awesome: Because of a ridiculous pair. Seems like Gary Carter is always flashing that million-dollar smile. And Kevin McReynolds looks pretty damned dorky. Does he realize that although he's got his bat and helmet, he should probably take off the warm-up jacket before stepping in the cage?

I also like how far back you can see into the stands.

Cool stat: The 1988 Mets won 100 games but were one of just 5 teams with 1 or none players with 400 AB and a .271 or better BA. Nice and balanced, I suppose.

Hall of Fame count: 37

Carter rung up #35 on the HOF counter, with Don Sutton coming in between. That's Black & Decker sandwiched between two Kids.

#558 Bob Ojeda

Why this card is awesome: Because of the surprise appearance of HoJo in the background of this card. I'd recognize that number-20-wearing, Caucasian third baseman anywhere.

Incidentally, one interesting thing about this blog is that it's easy to look up players by first or last name. If you put "Howard" in the search box, you learn that Howard Johnson was the only player in this set (so far posted, at least) with Howard as a first or last name. No Ryan Howard or Howard Battle. Conversely, check out, for example, a search for "Mark." That yields Thurmond, Gubicza, Davis, Ciardi, Ryal, McLemore, Langston, Knudson, Davidson, and McGwire.

Anyway, Ojeda is lucky that he doesn't add to the total for deceased players. As most baseball fans will know, he was involved in the boating accident that killed Tim Crews and Steve Olin. He also once damaged his finger while cutting hedges, which apparently made him throw the ball differently and improved his performance.

Cool stat: Ojeda was a very average pitcher who gets more credit than he deserves for having one great year: 1986 with the Mets. If they hadn't won the World Series that year, he'd probably be remembered as the average pitcher he was. Take away his 18-5 record that year and he was 97-93 in his career. How average was he? Over the 10-year period 1983-1992, Ojeda is tied for the lead in most seasons with 150 IP and an ERA+ between 90 and 115. Mind you, there's nothing wrong with steady and average. He's just not as great as many people seem to mis-remember.

#546 John Candelaria

Why this card is awesome: Because he the Candy Man might as well have been wearing a ski mask. The bill of his car hides his eyes and the shadow from his own round face hides his mouth and chin. But damn, at least we can see that nose.

Cool stat: Candelaria had great control. For pitchers with at least 2500 IP in the last 60 years, he ranks pretty high in fewest walks per 9 IP. Bret Saberhagen is first, actually.

2005 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites #48 Gary Carter

Why this card is awesome: Because this card actually looks really close to his original 1988 Topps card, unlike some of the Fan Favorites we've seen so far. There are only two giveaways that this is not from the same at-bat: Carter's wearing long blue sleeves here but short sleeves in the original, plus you can see that different people are sitting behind the dugout. I think it's pretty cool to see such a similar shot.

#530 Gary Carter

Why this card is awesome: Because although Carter's got a goofy look on his face, I like the fact that you can clearly see he's keeping his eye on the ball. As an offensive force, Carter is largely forgotten due to the big offensive numbers that some catchers put up (Piazza, I-Rod, etc) in the steroids era, but he was damn good in his day.

Cool stat: From 1977 to 1987, Carter had a huge lead in HR among catchers, and a massive lead in RBI among catchers. He was also first in runs scored.

Hall of Fame count: 35

#508 Tim Teufel

Why this card is awesome: Because Teufel used to sway in the batter's box, a technique referred to as the Tuefel Shuffle. And I guess the follow-through on his swing has called the Teufel Crazy Lunge.

BTW "Teufel" is German for "devil."

Cool stat: Teufel absolutely PWNED Tom Browning, getting 22 hits in 48 at-bats, including 3 doubles, 5 homers, and 8 RBI. That's Teufel's most homers against any pitcher.

#480 Dwight Gooden

Why this card is awesome: Because, damn, look at the season he had in Lynchburg, according to the text. 19 wins and 300 Ks. If you check his minor league stats, you can see that he did that in just 191 IP!!! Oh Doc, if only you had stayed away from the cocaine.

Cool stat: Dr. K's 1985 makes the top 10 for most IP in a season allowing fewer than 200 hits (since 1901 at least.)