Ten for Tuesday - Best Individual Postseason Performances!

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The World Series is almost upon us. We have witnessed a fantastic postseason so far, between the Cubs putting their unlucky history to the test and the Miracle Mets pitching their way past Kershaw and the Dodgers. The Toronto Blue Jays, led by Jose Bautista and his "Bat Flip Heard Around the World", are making their GM Alex Anthopoulos look like a genius for his mid-season moves. And the Kansas City Royals are proving to the world that they are by no means a fluke.

Last season, the Royals ran into some bad luck against the Giants' red hot southpaw Madison Bumgarner, whose workload surpassed any other pitcher's in postseason history. They returned this spring with a vengeance, and finished the season with 95 wins led by center fielder Lorenzo Cain and an ensemble of emerging young stars. They pushed their way past an even younger, hungry Houston Astros team and currently are facing off against Canada's team. It has been safe to say this postseason has gone smoothly, however, it was last year too until Bumgarner came to town.

There have been several memorable postseason performers in recent years; players who have been capable of carrying their teams on their back and into the promised land. This week on Ten for Tuesday, I compiled a list of the top ten best modern postseason performances baseball has had to offer.

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Before I begin, let me make two things clear: this list will not delve into anything prior to World War II, as it is too difficult to compare a player from that era with someone today. Christy Mathewson was unhittable in the 1905 World Series, but who knows how he would have fared against professional hitters from today's game. By no means do I wish to take away from their legendary performances, so I decided to exclude them entirely. Also, it will take more than just a single game for someone to make this list. Don Larsen missed the cut, as well as Bobby Thomson, Aaron Boone, Carlton Fisk, Joe Carter, Kirk Gibson, Luis Gonzalez, and Bill Mazeroski.

Ten Best Individual Single-Season Postseason Performances

Honorable Mentions - 
Albert Pujols (2004), Sandy Koufax (1965), Nelson Cruz (2011), Jack Morris (1991), Johnny Bench (1976)

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As usual, it was difficult to leave any of these names off the Top 10. Sandy Koufax may have made the cut if he managed to win all three of his World Series starts, which was more because of a lack of offense than anything else. I hate to take anything away from Koufax, but the following pitchers had even better luck. Nelson Cruz did most of his damage in the 2011 ALCS against the Tigers, slugging 6 home runs throughout the 6 game series. He hit two more in the World Series, but also made a major defensive mistake that proved costly to his Texas Rangers.

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10 - Randy Johnson, 2001, Arizona Diamondbacks

One half of the dynamic duo that took down my Yankees, it was safe to say "The Big Unit" came up big when it mattered most. He wasn't always the consistent ace he needed to be in October, but in 2001, Johnson was at the top of his game. He lost his only start in the NLDS against the Cardinals, but he only allowed 4 runs over the 33.1 Innings he pitched the rest of the way. Let's not forget that he was the first ace southpaw to make an appearance out of the bullpen in Game 7 after pitching the night before. He did everything the Diamondbacks needed him to do, and then some, which resulted in his part-ownership of the World Series MVP Award.

9 - Curt Schilling, 2001, Arizona Diamondbacks

The other Co-MVP of the 2001 World Series, Curt Schilling was slightly more consistent than Johnson that fall. Schilling started 3 Games in the World Series (two of which on 3 days rest) after owning the Cardinals and Braves. In total, he dealt 48.1 innings, which was a postseason record until Madison Bumgarner came along, and won 4 games. He would go on to pitch in many other big games before calling it a career after winning his 3rd World Series with the Red Sox in 2007.

8 - David Freese, 2011, St. Louis Cardinals

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The 2011 Postseason was the best I've ever watched live, and much of it was thanks in part to David Freese's clutch hitting. Freese may never amount to the player he was that October, but his name and story will forever be entranced in every Cardinal fan's memory. His first two playoff series were explosive, as he drove in 14 runs combined against the Phillies and Brewers. He took home NLCS MVP honors, but was not satisfied.

In Game 6 of the World Series against the Texas Rangers, Freese crushed a game tying two run triple to save St. Louis' season. He wasn't content then, either, until he won that game in extra innings with a walkoff solo home run. Freese also knocked in his MLB record 20 and 21st RBI's in Game 7 en route to a Cardinals world title.

7 - Orel Hershiser, 1988, Los Angeles Dodgers

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Kirk Gibson may be the face you automatically think of when 1988 comes to mind, but Orel Hershiser owned the opposition every time he took the mound. Continuing one of the best pitched seasons of his generation, "Bulldog" truly earned his nickname after leading the Dodgers to their most recent World Series championship. Hershiser started 5 games for LA, winning three total and delivering an ERA just above 1.00 against both the Mets and the powerhouse Oakland A's offense. Any man who could shut down the Bash Brothers (Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco) like he did is worthy of a placement on this list.

6 - Reggie Jackson, 1977, New York Yankees

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"REGGIE, REGGIE, REGGIE!" Mr. October was one of the first shoo-ins that came to mind when I decided to look into this particular topic. You often hear about how certain players seek the limelight and perform well under pressure in comparison to others, and Jackson was one of those guys. He claimed to have been the "straw that stirred the drink" upon his arrival in New York, and frequently fought with manager Billy Martin about his playing style. His turbulent, quick-tempered mindset was not what the Yankees wanted, but was what they needed.

Reggie didn't end up as "Mr. October" overnight. He actually batted only .125 in 18 at bats in the ALCS against the Kansas City Royals. It wasn't until Game 3 of the World Series when his bat started to pick up the pace. But once he started, he could not be contained. Jackson homered in Games 4 and 5, and then delivered a mammoth three home run performance in Game 6 that captivated the hearts of New York for years to come. After his career defining game, Reggie Bars must have tasted a little better.

5 - Lew Burdette, 1957, Milwaukee Braves

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Lew who? Burdette is not a household name, but after his miraculous 1957 World Series performances, he really should be. He was an above average pitcher for 18 seasons; a majority of which came with the Braves. The Yankees were the best team in the league during the 1940's and 1950's, and had a team filled with superstars from the top of their roster to the very bottom. They were the reigning champions going into the '57 Series, but were not prepared for what Lew was about to do.

In Game 2, Burdette allowed 2 earned runs while throwing a complete game and ultimately being awarded the win. You would think you would be more prepared for a pitcher the second time around after seeing him for an entire game, but Lew would beg to differ. He shut out the Bronx Bombers in Game 5 in a 1-0 Braves victory, and then finished the job in Game 7, once again shutting out one of the best lineups ever recorded. Considering the series went a full seven games, it goes to show just dominant Burdette was to be able to prevent the Yankees from exploding three separate times.

4 - Carlos Beltran, 2004, Houston Astros

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So far, every player on this list has been part of a World Series winning team the year they dominated. Until now. Carlos Beltran became somewhat of a mythical figure in 2004 with the Houston Astros after being traded for at the Trade Deadline in a three team deal. Houston's stars Craig Biggio, Lance Berkman, and Jeff Bagwell were integral to winning a Wild Card spot, but it was Beltran that took the weight off their shoulders and guided them into the Championship Series. In the Division Series, he hit four home runs; even winning Game 4 with a walkoff blast. He kept up his heroics the next round, smashing four more pitches into the seats, but it was not enough for the Astros to advance.

Regardless of the outcome, Beltran's performance should not be forgotten. His impact on the Astros lineup was unparalleled by just about any midseason acquisition any team has ever made. He was rewarded for his efforts months later to the tune of $119 million dollars from the Mets. His postseason legacy continued in future years, and he is now known as "Señor Octubre".

3 - Madison Bumgarner, 2014, San Francisco Giants

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One of the hardest things to do when creating a list is to make sure to avoid using a recency bias. But yeah, what we all saw a year ago was good enough for the third greatest single season postseason performance in modern history. "Mad-Bum" was nothing short of epic for the Giants last fall, delivering every single time he was called upon (even if his appearance wasn't planned). When all was said and done, Bumgarner won 4 games after pitching a record 52.2 innings and striking out 57 batters. He threw a complete game shutout against the Pirates in the Wild Card Game to start their magical run and closed out the final game of the World Series after being called upon on short rest.

And the scariest thing of all: he is only 26 years old. His past may be near impossible to match, but we haven't seen the last of Bumgarner in October. That, my friends; is a dangerous thing.

2 - David Ortiz, 2004, Boston Red Sox

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David Ortiz has been the most dangerous playoff hitter of our century, as far as I'm concerned. Albert Pujols has also been lethal, but Ortiz is a one man wrecking crew. "Big Papi" began to pick up the pace in 2004, when he hit 41 home runs and led the Red Sox to a Wild Card spot for the second consecutive year. In the playoffs, he was even better; batting .409 with 5 home runs and 23 RBI over the course of some of the greatest games ever played. In Game 3 of the ALDS against the Angels, Ortiz delivered a walk off home run. He hit 2 more walk offs in the famous ALCS series against the Yankees in Games 2 and 5. He was named MVP of the ALCS after the Sox completed a remarkable series comeback win. And he kicked off the World Series with a three run blast that the Red Sox never looked back from; winning their first World Series in 86 years and breaking the dreaded "Curse of the Bambino".

Ortiz ranks among the top 10 All Time in postseason plate appearances, runs scored, hits, total bases, doubles, home runs, RBI, and walks. As a Yankee fan, it's difficult to root for the guy, but I can't deny how talented he is. He's a Hall of Famer in my book.

1 - Bob Gibson, 1967, St. Louis Cardinals

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When the word "dominant" is mentioned, several names should come to mind in baseball. One of them better be Bob Gibson. This former Cardinals hurler was responsible for the pitcher's mound being lowered by 5 inches in 1969 just to make it more of a fair fight for opposing hitters! Gibson had made a name for himself by 1967, appearing in 3 All Star Games and winning two Gold Gloves. He was a gifted athlete who once starred for the Harlem Globetrotters before focusing in on baseball. He wasn't afraid to make a statement on the mound when he felt it was necessary to invoke fear in the opposition; even if it meant intentionally hitting batters.

In July of 1967, Gibson suffered a gruesome fractured fibula injury, and his outlook for the remainder of the season was in question. He returned on September 7th to help St. Louis win the NL Pennant, and his legacy was on the precipice. In his three games started against the Red Sox, Gibson completed all 3 and finished with a 1.00 ERA. He earned three victories and was the MVP of the World Series when the Cardinals finished off the Sox.

Gibson would go on to win the Cy Young in two of the next 3 years and pitched very well in the 1968 World Series. He would be elected into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1981.

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It's too early to tell if anyone will make a lasting imprint on the playoffs the way these men have. Daniel Murphy and Kyle Schwarber have put their power on display so far, and Jacob deGrom has won two crucial games for the Mets. If their streaks continue, this list may need to be revised. But the beauty of the postseason is that you never really know what to expect.

Enjoy the last few games of what has been another spectacular year.

Ten for Tuesday - Memorable All Star Game Moments

Hey guys, Drew back here! Is it just me, or was that Home Run Derby the best since Josh Hamilton made his mark at Yankee Stadium in 2008? I had initially picked Prince Fielder to top Joc Pederson in the finals, and after Fielder hit 12 home runs against Todd Frazier I thought I would be on to something. But, last night entirely belonged to Frazier and the impressive Cincinnati Reds fanbase. It was a lot of fun to watch, and I really enjoyed the new format (especially in comparison to what it was before).

I had been planning a different Ten for Tuesday topic for a few weeks now, but last night's event got me in the All Star Game mood I normally am in but wasn't quite yet this year. Without further ado, here are (in my opinion), the 10 most memorable moments in Midsummer Classic history!

Top 10 Memorable All Star Game Moments

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The All Star Game started in 1933, and has been one of the premier events of most every baseball season since. Over recent years, there have been some questionable decisions concerning the significance of the game, and I can't say I'm much of a supporter for the winner taking home field advantage in the World Series. However, it still is enjoyable seeing my favorite players called out one by one in the player introductions and facing off against elite counterparts across the country.

Honorable Mentions - 

- Stan Musial's Walkoff Home Run in the 1955 All Star Game
- Torii Hunter robbing Barry Bonds of a Home Run in the 2002 All Star Game
- Fred Lynn hitting the only Grand Slam in All Star history in 1983
- Dave Parker throwing out Brian Downing at the plate in 1979
- Bo Jackson's leadoff Home Run in 1989

10 - John Kruk Embarrassed by Randy Johnson, 1993

No matter how many times I watch HOF inductee "The Big Unit" completely overpower Kruk, I still can't stop laughing. I don't know if it's because I'd almost rather gauge my eyes out than have to listen to Kruk and crew call a game on ESPN, but whatever it may be, I'll never get enough of it. Johnson wasn't done though. In 1997, much of the same occurred against Rockies outfielder Larry Walker, who ended up batting from the right side (although he is a left handed hitter) and turning his batting helmet backwards.

9 - Bud Selig Calls a Tie, 2002

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Former Commissioner Selig may have been the culprit for all of the issues we currently face with this game. In 2002, both teams ran out of players on their respective benches, and Selig called the game a tie after 11 innings. This decision sparked the idea for the game deciding home field advantage in the World Series, and the game has not been as fun ever since. The Commissioner had his moments along his tenure at the top of the game, but this certainly was not one of them, as he was booed relentlessly by Milwaukee fans. "Let them play!"

8 - Ted Williams Walks Off, 1941

"The most thrilling hit of my life," proclaimed Williams; speaking of his bomb that put an end to the 1941 Midsummer Classic. It was a special year for baseball, as Joe DiMaggio collected the longest hitting streak to this day and a young, 21 year old "Teddy Ballgame" batted .406 over the course of the entire season. He batted .304 with 4 home runs among his 19 career All Star Games, and was one of the faces of baseball throughout one of the dark periods of the 21st Century in the US; World War II.

7 - Pedro Martinez Dominates, 1999

The turn of the century was a great time to be Pedro Martinez. Between 1997 and 2000, Martinez went on a historic stretch that included 3 Cy Young Award victories and some of the best pitched seasons of his time. Keep in mind that this was during the heart of the steroid era, and he was pitching in the AL East, one of the most fiercely competitive divisions during that span. The Yankees were on top of the world, winning the World Series in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000, and there was no shortage of energy in baseball during that time.

So when Martinez came to the mound in the 1999 All Star Game, I guess we couldn't have expected any less from the 5'11 Dominican flamethrower. He struck out 5 of the 6 batters he faced, which included now Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, and stars Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, and Jeff Bagwell. Muy bien.

6 - Cal Ripken Jr.'s Final Moment, 2001

This will perhaps be viewed as Alex Rodriguez's kindest gesture throughout his tumultuous career, but will forever be Cal's moment. Ripken had become a familiar face in the All Star Game, and in 2001 he made his 19th and final place among the elite. Ripken didn't necessarily deserve to be in the game statistically, much as Derek Jeter didn't last year, but out of respect for the man who played more consecutive games than even the "Iron Horse" himself, he was voted as the starting third baseman. As a nod to his excellent years patrolling shortstop for the Orioles, Rodriguez surprised Ripken and switched positions with him. Of course, Rodriguez would go on to play third base just a few years later when the Yankees traded Alfonso Soriano for him in one of the bigger blockbuster deals recorded.

But, back to Cal. In clutch fashion, Ripken led off with a home run, and was named All Star Game MVP in response. He couldn't have ended it any better than that.

5 - Babe Ruth Hits the 1st Home Run, 1933

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"The Bambino" had his share of firsts. From christening Yankee Stadium with its first home run to really being the transcendent figure in baseball history, Ruth was better at handling the limelight than any of his predecessors. He was exactly what the game needed to become the force to be reckoned with it is today (although it is currently being outshined by several other sports).

In 1933, who but Ruth stepped up to the plate in the 3rd inning against Bill Hallahan in the first All Star Game. He hit a two run home run, the first in All Star history, because, who else? Ruth only played in one other All Star Game before his retirement following the 1935 season, but we all know if the game debuted earlier he would rank among the very best.

4 - Carl Hubbell Makes History, 1934

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I could make a case for Hubbell being one of baseball's most underrated pitchers, but I'm going to hold off on that until the next edition of Ten for Tuesday. Instead, let's showcase the best pitching performance in All Star history, which hasn't been topped for almost 100 years. Pedro came close, but nothing could top Hubbell setting down 5 consecutive Hall of Famers by way of the strikeout: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons, and Joe Cronin! Hubbell incorporated his lethal screwball to his advantage, working his way out of trouble and into the record books.

3 - Reggie Towers One, 1971

Chicks dig the long ball. And on that 1971 night in Detroit, everyone dug what Reggie Jackson displayed. Jackson's bomb off of infamous hurler Dock Ellis was the most famous of recent ASG history, as it not only landed on the roof but even turned off a light in the stadium! The ball supposedly traveled well over 500 feet, and was a perfect representation of what Jackson would become years later in New York. He could be a one man show when he was at the top of his game, and he certainly was at this Midsummer Classic.

2 - Pete Rose Collides with Ray Fosse, 1970

Pete Rose was not a dirty player. He played the game the way it was meant to be played. He may have broken the rules towards the end of his career, but nobody could take away from what was a brilliant career. One of his more notable moments came in the 1970 All Star Game, when he proved that the game was much more than an exhibition. In the bottom of the 12th inning, Rose came home at full force and crushed catcher Ray Fosse to win the game for the National League. "Charlie Hustle" missed the next few games with a bruised knee, but he shook it off rather quickly. Meanwhile, Fosse did not. He separated his shoulder and never was the same player again. He was certainly one of the best "What could have been?" players to ever step foot on a baseball diamond.

This year, Pete will be a central part of the All Star celebration. Prior to the game, there will be announcements for each team's "Franchise Four", and it is expected that Rose will be one of the Reds' selections. While he is out of baseball, he is currently seeking reinstatement although he previously signed his name saying he would never reapply to the game he did wrong in the mid 1980's. Fans have said that enough is enough, and despite breaking a cardinal rule of the game that once punished the entire White Sox team in 1919; they generally believe he has paid his dues. I'm not his biggest supporter, and do not always agree with his business decisions, but no player played harder and deserves to be in the Hall of Fame more.

I'm very anxious to see how tonight fares for the Hit King.

1 - All Century Team, 1999

It wasn't perfect. Anything voted by the fans is not perfect. I can imagine Brian Kenny picking apart the team sabermetrically and completely recreating it. But, picking the right guys wasn't necessarily the point of the All-Century Team. The All Star Game has been a celebration of the most enjoyable players to watch for over 80 years, and the All-Century Team was no different. Once again, Pete Rose was at the forefront of discussion when the nominees were revealed at Fenway Park prior to the Midsummer Classic. Rose was nominated, and there was controversy surrounding whether he should be allowed to be in the stadium despite being banished from Major League Baseball.

Sure enough, Pete was allowed to come, but at that point, nothing mattered more than the touching salute given to the Red Sox' finest player, Ted Williams. Williams was not in good condition at the time, and it would go on to be one of his final public appearances before his death in 2002. He had never been graceful to the Boston fans, but being carted out to an unbelievable ovation brought out the emotional side of perhaps baseball's finest contact hitter to ever live. All of the current players watched in awe and eventually joined Williams in the center of the diamond to speak with him. The late Tony Gwynn was right by his side, along with Nomar Garciaparra, Mark McGwire, and several others.

That was what baseball is all about. History embraced in its most beautiful form. Between the crowd screaming and chanting and the players so in tune with seeing their favorite players stand before them; that was a moment even a diehard Yankee fan like myself couldn't argue against.

Here's to a night filled with memories that can hopefully one day join this list.

See Ya!

Ten for Tuesday - Strange Milestones

Hey guys, Drew back here! This Tuesday's topic came by way of my Grandpa Roy, who called me last week asking who I thought achieved career milestones with the strangest teams. For example, people tend to not view Michael Jordan for his days with the Washington Wizards, and instead see him as a Chicago Bull. Towards the end of most players' careers, they may bounce around from team to team, causing confusion when we look back and think about who achieved what with what team.

With that in mind, I thought I would take this Tuesday to share with you all who I view are the Top 10 Strangest Milestone Teams in baseball history. For this, I only used the four major stat categories that contain select groups: Wins, Strikeouts, Home Runs, and Hits. Baseball is famous for numbers upon numbers that have been able to rank generations of talent, and 3,000 strikeouts/hits, 300 wins, and 500 home runs are monumental accomplishments that only a select group of players can say they're members of.

Top 10 Strangest Milestones

Honorable Mentions -
Gaylord Perry's 3000th Strikeout with the Seattle Mariners
Don Sutton's 300th Win with the California Angels
Eddie Murray's 3000th Hit with the Cleveland Indians

10 - Dave Winfield's 3,000th Hit with the Minnesota Twins

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Dave Winfield kicks off this week's Top 10 list with his 3,000th hit that took place on September 16th, 1993 against fellow Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley. But the thing about Winfield's great career that was odd when this moment occurred was the fact that he was not in a Padres or Yankees uniform at this time. He played his first 16 and a half seasons between those two teams until his involvement in a controversy involving George Steinbrenner's temporary ban from baseball caused the Yankees to trade him to the California Angels midseason.

9 - Phil Niekro's 300th Win and 3,000th Strikeout with the New York Yankees

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There is no way to leave a player off this list who played twenty seasons with one particular team, which is what Phil Niekro did between the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves. Niekro played between 1964 and 1983, and became known as the best knuckleballer in baseball history throughout his southern stint. If you remember, I actually included him on my list of the 10 Hall of Fame players who are least deserving of their achievement, however I do not think he was a bad pitcher by any means.

Niekro was 45 years young when he first arrived in pinstripes, aging similarly to a player you will later see on this list who was a Yankee past their prime. However, he was not over the hill in his first season in the Big Apple, as he won 16 games and made his final All Star team. He threw a complete game shutout on October 6th of 1985 for his 300th career victory, to go along with his 3,000th strikeout he recorded the July prior. Not many remember "Knucksie" for his appearances with any team that wasn't the Braves, but he collected his largest achievements with the Yankees.

8 - Don Sutton's 3,000th Strikeout with the Milwaukee Brewers

Don Sutton was another player from last week's list, and also came close to making this list for collecting his 300th win with the California Angels. He played fifteen seasons with the Dodgers before releasing him following the 1980 season. Sutton won 230 games in Los Angeles before leaving, and went on to play with Houston in 1981, Milwaukee between 1982 and 1984, Oakland in 1985, and the California Angels between 1985 and 1987. In this time, he struck out his 3,000th batter in Milwaukee on June 24th, 1983. Despite his multiple teams, he is mostly regarded for his time with the Dodgers, which is why he makes an appearance on this list alongside Niekro.

7 - Frank Thomas' 500th Home Run with the Toronto Blue Jays

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"The Big Hurt" was known for hurting his opponents, but he himself was hurt by his most recognizable club, the Chicago White Sox; following their World Series victory in 2005. Thomas was injured throughout the postseason that year, and did not get to play in the World Series, and seeing how the team could get through the playoffs without his aging bat in the lineup, GM Kenny Williams released him shortly after. He said he was never made aware of his release, which certainly was not fair to a player who had given his heart and soul to the organization for 16 years. He won two MVP awards with the Sox in back to back seasons, in addition to three more top 3 finishes for the prestigious award.

After a year in Oakland, Big Frank traveled up north to Canada to become the designated hitter for the Toronto Blue Jays. On June 28th, 2007, he hurt his 500th career home run off of Carlos Silva of the Minnesota Twins. Believe it or not, this was also the same day Craig Biggio collected his 3,000th career hit with the Astros.

6 - Gary Sheffield's 500th Home Run with the New York Mets

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The only reason Gary Sheffield, who never really had a team during his great 22 year career; is ahead of Frank Thomas on this list, is because people are going to forget where Sheffield was when he hit his 500th career jack. Sheffield played for Milwaukee, San Diego, Florida, LA Dodgers, Atlanta, NY Yankees, and the Detroit Tigers all before he landed in Queens. He was consistent everywhere he went, but no team was willing to hold onto him, as he did test positive for PED's and wasn't the best regarded clubhouse guy. However, Sheff managed to hold on to play into his age 40 season, and pinch hit on April 17th for his milestone achievement.

5 - Rickey Henderson's 3,000th Hit with the San Diego Padres

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The allmighty Rickey Henderson played a bit too long, but that's excusable because he's Rickey. Of his 25 seasons included four stints and a total of 14 years with the Oakland Athletics, and that is where most baseball fans associate him with. But towards the later part of his career, his speed became a commodity for many teams, and he swapped uniforms almost annually, occasionally returning back to Oakland as a pit stop. Henderson played for the Padres between 1996 and 1997, but it wasn't until his second go round with San Diego in 2001 when he achieved his 3,000th hit. An interesting tidbit I learned about his hit, recorded on the final day of the season, was that it was Tony Gwynn's final game. By joining the 3000 Hit Club that day, Henderson and Gwynn became the first pair of teammates to each have 3,000 hits at one time since Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker played together in 1928.

The more you research Rickey's historic career, the more you realize just how deserving he is of the credit he gave himself.

4 - Randy Johnson's 300th Win with the San Francisco Giants

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Man, the free agency era has really brought confusion to the milestone lists. Randy Johnson has been widely regarded as perhaps the greatest left handed pitcher of all time, and he was prominent for several teams during his storied 22 year career. But which team did he win his 300th game with? Not the Seattle Mariners, where he transitioned into the unhittable southpaw he became, or with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he cemented his place among the greats with his tremendous 2001 postseason. Not even the New York Yankees, who traded for his 41 year old arm in a 2005 blockbuster. Instead, the recent "dynasty" San Francisco Giants is the answer to this question.

"The Big Unit" was given a one year contract in 2009 at the age of 45 to pitch for the Giants, and it would be his final season in the big leagues. He won his 300th game on June 4th of that year against the Washington Nationals, the team that stemmed from Montreal, where Johnson was drafted and began his career.

3 - Wade Boggs' 3,000th Hit with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays

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You may have thought seeing Wade Boggs leave from Boston to New York in 1993 was weird, but what's even weirder was how he hit number 3,000 with a fellow division rival, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Boggs was the first player to hit a home run for his 3,000th lifetime hit, and Derek Jeter joined the club in 2011. He was a pivotal part of the Yankees late 90's dynasty, but soon after he fled to Tampa to become a part of their newly formed team.

The strangest part of this ritualistic legend's career actually came after his retirement, when he was elected into the Hall of Fame in 2005. It was then revealed that there may have been a clause in his contract with Tampa Bay that they would pay him to choose their logo for his hat featured on his Hall of Fame plaque. This didn't end up happening, but it gave the Hall of Fame the right to decide from that point on which team would be featured on each new inductee's plaque. If Boggs was shown with a Tampa Bay hat on his plaque, he would be number one on this list, with relative ease.

2 - Tom Seaver's 300th Win with the Chicago White Sox

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It was 1984, and Tom Seaver was fresh off of returning to his New York Mets after spending six years with the Cincinnati Reds. They had planned to resign their marquee ace, even at 39 years old, but lost him as part of a free agent compensation draft to the Chicago White Sox. Seaver could either retire a Met or join the White Sox, and chose against his former team that had partially given up on him, claiming to still have more left in the tank. He would go on to win 15 and 16 games respectively in his two seasons in the Windy City, and would retire the following year. On August 4th of 1985, he threw a complete game victory against the Yankees for his 300th career win.

It wasn't all bad for the Mets however, and despite having history with the organization, it was probably for the best to let Seaver go. In doing so, they were able to call up Dwight Gooden from the minors, who would win that year's Rookie of the Year, a Cy Young the next season, and become a key contributor of their 1986 World Series victory.

1 - Eddie Mathews' 500th Home Run with the Houston Astros

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This leaves us with this week's number one. Raise your hand if you remember anything about Eddie Mathews' tenure with the Houston Astros. Mathews has been a rather underrated Hall of Famer throughout time, but the 12 time All Star and 2 time World Series champion was known for fifteen incredible seasons on the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves. But between his years with the Braves and a year and a half stint with the Detroit Tigers that resulted in his second World Series ring was a half season in Houston that many seem to completely overlook. And it was in Houston where, on July 14th, 1967, Mathews quietly slugged his 500th home run. Houston's team was tanking in the standings that season, so they moved him to Detroit to attempt to start over. Today, he is the poster boy for this type of list, and easily ranked at the top spot.

As you can all see from these 10 moments in time, miracles don't always happen in baseball. Either way, these players all accomplished some very special things that should be regarded highly in baseball lore, but it is pretty strange to see them in uniforms you wouldn't normally associate with them.

Do you agree with this week's list? If you thought I left anyone out, feel free to start the debate in the comments below!

¡Felíz Cinco de Mayo! See Ya!

My New Hall of Fame Showcase!

Hey guys, Drew back here! I'm very proud to congratulate four great players on their inductions into Cooperstown, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, and Craig Biggio! I originally predicted 3 of those 4 to make it in 2015 with Smoltz barely missing the cut this year but making it in within a year or two, but I'm so glad that wasn't the case. We just missed adding Mike Piazza as well, but it looks like next year he and Ken Griffey Jr. will look to share the spotlight.

Since most of the baseball world has been focused on the Hall of Fame vote these past few weeks, I had been preparing this post for a little while now once the voting had concluded. This Christmas I received a really cool baseball holder, and I decided to hang it on one of the few open spots on my wall and put all of my Hall of Fame signed baseballs inside. I kept most of my Yankees balls together with the exception of the HOF'ers, and while I was originally 3 baseballs shy of filling the case with Hall of Famers, with yesterday's induction that was slimmed down to 2. About a year and a half ago, I met John Smoltz at the East Coast National Show, and added a signed baseball to my collection in hopes that he would be enshrined one day, and yesterday I was able to put him into my ultimate pitching rotation that spans two rows (or 11 of 21 total balls) of the case.

Here is how the display currently looks as of January 2015! I look forward to replacing two of the balls with Hall of Famers, but do wish Fred McGriff and Vladimir Guerrero all the best in being one day inducted.

Row 1: Gaylord Perry, Ralph Kiner, Rickey Henderson, Reggie Jackson, Vladimir Guerrero (non-HOF), Fred McGriff (non-HOF)

Row 2: Nolan Ryan, Bob Gibson, Whitey Ford, Bob Feller, Steve Carlton, Warren Spahn

Row 3: Fergie Jenkins, Jim Palmer, John Smoltz, Goose Gossage, Rollie Fingers

Row 4: Frank Thomas, Johnny Bench, Cal Ripken Jr.

Row 5: Yogi Berra

The lighting in the room seems to make most of the balls look more yellow than they actually are, but I've never been one to particularly care how worn the ball is as long as the signature is presentable. I never was interested in collecting signed baseballs but soon realized I couldn't have signed pictures of everyone because I didn't have enough space to present them all, so I took an alternative path and I now love to add baseballs of my favorite players and Hall of Famers. It will never quite compare to my good buddy William's insane 108 Hall of Famer deep baseball collection (please check this out if you want to be impressed), but I personally prefer to dabble all around the various highlights of our great hobby.

So what do you think? How do you all prefer to display your baseballs? Thank you to Mom and Dad for such a smart gift, it cleared a lot of space on my desk (for more baseballs)! Congrats again to all of the new members of Cooperstown's Finest, and for now, See Ya!

If I had a Vote...

Hey guys, Drew back here! I know I'm a few days late for this, but Happy New Year everyone! As most of you are aware, with each new year comes a new Hall of Fame class in Major League Baseball, and this year's vote has come with much controversy. With a vote limit of only 10 players per year and so much talent currently up for election, along with the Steroids issue, many writer's are struggling to compile their ballots. While my answer is certainly not the end-all-be-all to all other lists, I figured I'd offer up my personal ballot with explanations for each player.

My 2015 Hall of Fame Ballot

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1. Randy Johnson (Stats)
"The Big Unit" should be absolutely no question included in the Hall of Fame. Although he didn't hit his stride until his late 20's, Johnson was unstoppable up until his signing with the Yankees in 2005. He compiled 303 wins over his 22 season career, won 5 Cy Young Awards (including 4 in a row from 1999-2002), and led the league in strikeouts 9 times! The question for Johnson is not whether he'll get in, but how much he'll get in by. But it appears that his final voting percentage (which I don't find all that important) will be affected by some writers who will choose not to vote for him in order to give others a push to make it in, since Johnson will certainly receive the votes needed to be inducted this season. I'll always remember his signing with the Yankees, because 2005 was the first year I ever watched baseball full time. While he was past his prime, I remember loving to watch him and even had his pinstripe jersey at one point. Randy Johnson will be a Hall of Famer by this time tomorrow, without a doubt.

2. Pedro Martinez (Stats)
When I started to watch baseball, I couldn't stand this guy. But, most of that hatred was out of pure respect. I missed Pedro's prime seasons, but the statistics jumped out at me when I took a look at his Baseball Reference page. His final season in Montreal in 1997 sparked an incredible run of excellent seasons, and unfortunately for this Yankee fan, the remainder of those seasons were in Boston. A three time Cy Young winner, 3 time strikeout league leader and 5 time ERA league leader, Pedro had one of the best primes of any pitcher in the game's history. Between the 1999 and 2000 seasons, he was 41-10 with a 1.90 ERA and 597 strikeouts. It would be a travesty if he does not dominate the ballot this year, but it appears likely that he'll be joining Johnson as the only two locks in 2015.

3. Craig Biggio (Stats)
Longevity can be a very helpful tool in making the Hall of Fame, and I think Biggio will attest to that after he barely squeaks into Cooperstown this year. After viewing his career statistics, I can see why he is regarded as a Hall of Famer, but I don't think he ranks among the very best. Clearly we've seen over the years that the Hall contains several tiers of talent, but Biggio's consistency and lifetime totals of 3,060 hits and 668 doubles (most doubles for any right handed hitter in history) undoubtedly provide him with a place. He was versatile and loyal to the Astros throughout his remarkable 20 year career, and is a fan favorite whenever he steps into Minute Maid Park today. After coming up just two votes short of being inducted last year, I don't see how he fails to make it in again, and should be the third and (in my opinion) final member of the 2015 Class.

4. Jeff Bagwell (Stats)
People have already made claims that there are cheaters in the Hall of Fame. And there is no question that the "purity" the BBWAA says a player needs to have does not exist throughout all of the halls in Cooperstown. Ty Cobb was one of the greatest players in baseball history but was a racist and was charged with attempted murder. It was never verified, but Cobb along with Tris Speaker have been speculated as members of the KKK, and were involved with fixing games. It's a shame that Pete Rose is held out of the Hall of Fame while guys like Cobb, Speaker, and Gaylord Perry are in and respected as legends of the game.

So what does that have to do with Bagwell? Bagwell is one of the questionable steroid guys, although nothing has ever been close to proven. It feels like at a roundtable one day someone said "Jeff Bagwell is a big guy, he must've done steroids," and this rumor came about that has since excluded him from the Hall. It is said that he lifted weights like a body builder, which he has since regretted because it ended his career earlier than expected. But, with an MVP award, Rookie of the Year award, and 449 home runs, and no proof of steroid use, I don't understand how he hasn't garnered more consideration than he has. The American system (supposedly) is to be innocent until proven guilty, and what the writers are doing right now feels like a crime. If he was ever proven guilty of using PED's, so what? Put a little asterisk on his plaque to signify his "crime" and be on your way. Bagwell should be entering the Hall of Fame with his fellow Astro lifer Biggio regardless of suspicion, but it won't happen unless Biggio falls short this year.

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5. Mike Piazza (Stats)
Piazza is the other mysterious steroid user whose name is being juggled by the jury, because he took a drug to cure his back acne. It's embarrassing to think that Piazza has had to make the world aware of his back acne problem in order to prove that his Hall of Fame case should be taken legitimately. Statistics prove that Piazza was the best offensive catcher in baseball history! He wasn't a very good catcher, but provided reliability while also crushing the ball for several teams in his 16 seasons. A 12 time All Star and 10 time Silver Slugger winner should have a spot reserved in the Hall, even if his back acne didn't make for the most attractive appearance. He won't be inducted this season, but I believe, regardless of any rumors, he should not be restricted from entering where everyone knows he belongs.

6. John Smoltz (Stats)
You may ask why Smoltz's name is not in bold along with Johnson, Martinez, and Biggio. I have a hunch that he's going to fall just a bit short of reaching induction in his first year on the ballot. I may be wrong, but if I am, I won't be off by a whole lot. I just feel like there is too much talent available to choose from, and recent sabermetric reports have shown that Mike Mussina and Curt Schilling should be held at a similar standard to Smoltz. Some may feel like they have to vote for all of them or none of them (which is absurd, but hey, if Aaron Sele can get a vote anything can happen). But don't criticize me, he's on my ballot and if he doesn't make it this year, he'll be inducted by next year. Between his dominance as a starter and reliever, along with one of the best postseason track records in history, I think it's only right that he joins his former teammates Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine with a plaque over time.

7. Curt Schilling (Stats)
I am not a Schilling fan by any definition of the word. I do wish him all the best facing oral cancer, because I don't believe anyone deserves to suffer through such a tragic illness, but I do not like the guy. Character is supposedly judged by the BBWAA, but as I mentioned before it has not seemed to be a critical point in voting until the Steroid Era players entered the ballot. Whether the sock was bloody or ketchupy though, this guy deserves to be in Cooperstown. I initially did not think he had the statistics, but advanced metrics have given him a boost that have changed my mind. I do not rely on sabermetrics to make or break my voting procedure, but sometimes the numbers are too striking to ignore. He was a fantastic postseason pitcher, which should be an added bonus as far as voting is considered (Bill Mazeroski does not belong in the Hall of Fame based on one monumental home run) but should be the deciding factor, along with having won 3 World Series; despite being a critical part of all three. All in all, Schilling barely made the cut on my list and knocked off one of my favorite players, which I will soon explain.

8. Tim Raines (Stats)
I wish Tim Raines started his career ten years later. Similarly to the way Bagwell and Piazza are blamed for rumors they had no involvement in, Raines has received an unfair factor as well by playing in the shadow of Rickey Henderson. Can we please acknowledge Raines' career OBP of .385 and stolen base percentage of 84.7%? Rock also may not have faced the pressures of drug use by starting his career later, but I think most people have since forgiven him for being involved in the cocaine scandal in the early 1980's. But let's focus on the performance, because although he may have stuck around in the game a bit too long (as did Henderson), he was dominant during his peak and always a valuable player to own. Raines would not be one of those top tier guys, and does not rank as high as Rickey Henderson, but should be recognized for his tremendous career, although I don't see it happening until the Veteran's Committee one day elects him.

9. Barry Bonds (Stats)
When Bonds first debuted on the ballot in 2012, there was no chance I ever envisioned myself supporting him. Fresh off of the Steroid Era and constant news of indictment and court, I absolutely despised the man. Time does appear to heal all wounds though in my case, as here I am including him on my ballot for 2015. I still have no respect for the man, but I don't find it fair that there are criminals in the Hall of Fame and he won't be let in. As much as some of you may hate to hear this, Bonds has still never been proven of failing a drug test, and has only admitted to using a cream to assist his arthritis. Before and after his supposed steroid use he was one of the best (if not the best) player in baseball history. But everyone knows that, and seeing his name on my ballot wouldn't surprise anyone if not for the PED's. I don't see Bonds being inducted for years to come, but I think given the "purity" of the Hall of Fame was tarnished in its first Induction Class of 1935 when Cobb was inducted, cheaters should be recognized and inducted. I'll let the Hall of Fame decide how they will go about displaying their plaques, because it should be noted on his plaque that he was one of the core players of the Steroid Era of Baseball. It should not be a celebrated part of the Hall, but I think it's only right that the Home Run King* is in the Hall of Fame.

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10. Roger Clemens (Stats)
For many of the same reasons I have included Bonds on my ballot, I also included one of my least favorite Yankees of all time, Mr. Clemens. I do this with an understanding that these players will probably not be inducted until the baseball writers forgive them (an official admission would go a long way), but also because it's impossible to imagine this generation of baseball without thinking of both of these guys. You can not forget that these players existed, and it is only right that they eventually get their due. Plus, it may help Pete Rose's case if these players are forgiven, which I would fully support despite his betting on baseball. And on top of it all, when I walk my kids around the Hall of Fame one day, I want to be able to show them all of the history of the game and not just what the MLB chooses to display. Hiding history is not healthy for America's pastime, and I believe by having Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, Rodriguez, and possibly McGwire in the Hall of Fame will elevate the legacies of Ruth, Mays, Mantle, and Aaron even more. "These players needed to use amphetamines to compete with each other, but these other players didn't even have to use those drugs to compile the same statistics". I don't like any of these guys, but the Hall of Fame is not as clean as it claims to appear and it should instead embrace the history of the game, or at least do something to display an era they may not like to show off.

*Bold = Predicted to Be Elected on January 6th

Honorable Mentions

Mike Mussina (Stats)
I really had a hard time keeping Mussina off the list. I kept Schilling on my list over Moose only because I think Schilling was more dominant over the course of his career. However, I view Mussina as a Hall of Famer, and he was my #11 pick, thus showing my distaste for the current voting system in place.

Alan Trammell (Stats)
I did not get to watch Alan Trammell, and it appears that his case has been based around his intangibles and performances rather than solely on statistics. I think Trammell should be in because Larkin and Ozzie Smith are in, but I still don't quite understand the hype surrounding Larkin and why he was as big of a lock as he was.

Fred McGriff (Stats)
"The Crime Dog" has been robbed by so many other players throughout the years of votes, and while he isn't a dominant player, he would've hit 500 home runs without steroids if the 1994 season didn't end early due to the strike. He was a quiet player but was a premium power player who would've been looked at differently if he played in another era.

I also believe Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire should be inducted over time if Bonds and Clemens get in, although it didn't appear that Sosa would've been successful had he not cheated all throughout his career. I don't like them either, and I don't have that connection to their home run race because I was only two years old at the time, but if those guys get in, they should too. Edgar Martinez was a great hitter but is devalued for having been a DH. Larry Walker was also great but often injury prone, and playing his career in Colorado seemed to have elevated his statistics. A case can be made for so many players on the ballot, including even Don Mattingly on his last year of voting, and Gary Sheffield on his first year of voting; who may not even get the 5% needed to remain next year. With the amount of talent currently on the ballot, feelings are going to be hurt and deserving players may never get their opportunity to take the podium and celebrate their careers for the Cooperstown faithful. But if I had to pick 10, I took in my opinion the players with the ten best careers (with exception of Sosa and McGwire who won't get in unless Bonds/Clemens make it). You may not like my list, but it's my list, remember? I'm willing to forgive the steroid players enough to let them in but not without making all Hall visitors aware of what they've done.

As far as the actual vote goes tomorrow, I'm going to guess due to the huge amount of talent that Smoltz barely misses the cut, but I wouldn't be surprised if I'm wrong. I'll be looking forward to seeing the results, and I would love to chat in the comments below! Let me know your thoughts!

See Ya!

Dad's Craigslist Adventures!

Hey guys, Drew back here. A good week or two ago, Dad brought home a HUGE box filled with some older cards. The range was supposedly from 1980-1990 or so, of baseball, basketball, and football, and they were from a woman on Craigslist that was working on selling off her dad's collection. I have a lot to highlight from this, so let's get started!

First off, we have a few of many 1991 Pro Line football cards. This is a very fun set, with interesting photography and even cards of players wifes. They also show the clothing style from those days... which cracks me up! I mean, just at the Fridge!

Next are just a few of a TON of 1991 Skybox basketball. I've never been much of a basketball collector, so I've never heard of these cards, but they're pretty darn weird! I don't think I had a single card of Michael Jordan though, so I'm happy I got a few in this lot.

Here are a few mixed basketball cards. I love the painting looking cards of Dominique Wilkins, Patrick Ewing, and Michael Jordan.

Starting off the baseball cards in the lot, we have a lot of 1992 McDonalds, with a few players I've met. Also there are a few other oddball cards in that.

One of my favorite parts of the lot were these 1989 Topps coin cards. I like the occasional oddball product, and these certainly fit that. My favorite one is definitely of the Hawk, Andre Dawson.

While I already have quite a few 1993 Topps cards due to a box I got of it at one point, I think it's a really nice product. Some of my favorites are the Gary Carter, Kirby Puckett, and Don Mattingly cards. Kirby's card makes me laugh every time!

Mixed within the 1993 Topps is one of the "Black Gold" inserts that seemed a little rare, considering I didn't even get one in my hobby box. This one is of Tony Gwynn, can't do much better than that! Pretty cool!

Another one of the nicer baseball sets included in the box were 1989 Score. I love some of the photography on these cards, and while the design doesn't look overly nice, the pictures help it look better. I love the Paul Molitor card in this set over any of the scanned cards though.

Probably the oldest card in the box appeared randomly mixed in, from 1977 Topps, a Graig Nettles/Mike Schmidt home run leaders card! I think I already have this one but it's definitely a sweet card of 2 of the top players in the 1970's!

And last but not least, the highlights. First was a 1989 Score Randy Johnson rookie card. Unfortunately, as good as Johnson was, his cards as well as other late 80's rookies (minus Griffey Jr.'s Upper Deck) don't have the kind of value that they should have for being Hall of Famers. In fact, this card only books for a grand total of 2 dollars and 50 cents. But, my favorite card(s) of the box were the 3 1993 Topps Derek Jeter rookies! Although I have so many of this card already, I can't get enough of my favorite player's rookies!

Well, a big thank you to the Craigslist seller and of course to my dad for picking up this box for a pretty solid price! You're the best!

See Ya!

3 Cheers for the Hawk! And 3 Jeers for Hibachi!

Hey guys, Drew back, and I haven't covered much in sports lately so I guess I should sorta recap a ton of stuff that just happened in the sporting world, and although I almost never post anything basketball related, I need to address my opinion on what the heck happened in the Gilbert Arenas situation.

All I can say is Wow. Wow applies to both me and to Gilbert Arenas, me because I thought nobody can EVER do ANYTHING as stupid as what he did (shame on me), and him because he did the STUPIDEST THING I'VE EVER HEARD OF... well... since Plaxico at least. This one was up there too. If you haven't heard what happened, I'll fill you in. So Gilbert was gambling with Javaris Crittenton, and he didn't want to pay him back after losing, so he pointed an un-loaded gun at Crittenton as a joke. Joke? WTF! How in the world is pointing a gun at someone a joke??? In any way, shape, or form, pointing a gun for fun is ridiculous! He said afterward that he learned not to do that again, how have you not learned that already? Wow, that is plain pathetic. And now he is suspended indefinitely. This story is almost as brutal as my New Jersey Nets!!!

Congrats to Andre Dawson for finally making the Hall of Fame! It took him 9 years, but he is finally in, which makes many of our bloggers happy. I didn't watch him play, but he certainly seemed to be a big threat back when he played. The only person I want to see make the Hall on the ballot right now is Don Mattingly (and can I wish for Billy Martin?) but I assume his stats aren't good enough to make it in, but boy do I wish. So, again congrats to the Hawk!

Randy Johnson finally hung up his cleats yesterday, after a very long and fantastic career. He is most definitely a first ballot hall of famer and although he didn't fare well in New York, he sure did do phenomonal on his other teams. And boy, I love the mullet!

and he also should be a hunter, cuz he is good at killing birds!

Lastly, I need to cover my boys from New York... er... New Jersey? Go Jets! I can't believe they made it, and in style too! Even though we're halfway through the week already, I must say that was a complete blowout and hopefully we can do it again next week, isn't that right Mr. Chad Johnson/Ocho Cinco/Hachi Go/Get scared of the Jets and "get hurt" before the game starts after talking smack ALL week long. Thank you Darrelle Revis, YOU OWN!!

Also in sports, Matt Holliday signed with the Cardinals for 7 years, Tom Brady is comeback player of the year, and Rex Ryan says we're gonna the Super Bowl. And I'm going to get the luxury suit tonight. (commercial joke)

Oh yeah, change in votes, somebody else win Tom Brady is caught cross dressing! Take it from hum please! See Ya!