Retro Jays Cards

Gary Glover, 2000 Skybox, #207

The man is the model of persistence. You have to give him credit for that. At age 35 Gary Glover is currently playing for the New Orleans Zephyrs, the AAA affiliate of the Miami Marlins, where he is trying to get one final shot at pitching in the big leagues at age 35. Glover was last seen in the major leagues in 2008 with the Tigers, after time with the White Sox, Tampa Bay, Milwaukee, Anaheim, and several other org’s minor league systems.

And of course his one inning with the Blue Jays. That’s right, one inning total for his Toronto career after being taken in 1994 draft in the 15th round. On September 30, 1999 Glover pitched one inning of shutout relief in a 9-2 beatdown by the Indians in Cleveland. He walked Dave Roberts, got a pop up from John MacDonald (yes, our Johnny Mac), and a double play off the bat of Enrique Wilson. He was sent back to the minors next season and eventually traded to the White Sox for Scott Eyre.

All of this to say that you would think Skybox taking up nearly 1/4 of the card with the giant word PROSPECT (bigger than the player’s name) would be a little bit of a stretch, but entering the 2000 season he was rated the #6 prospect in the Blue Jays system by Baseball America, behind well known names like Vernon Wells and Michael Young. As the title of Jason Parks’ awesome columns on Baseball Prospectus reminds us- prospects will break your heart.

So while the label may be appropriate, the card is still an ugly mess. I find most cards from the late 90’s/early 2000’s hilariously over designed and this is a perfect example. When I did a David Wells card from this series early on I made fun of the over-stylized motion blur effect a little bit, but at least that photo featured a player in motion. Here they motion blur a guy standing still! If you are going to use effects pick photos that compliment them. Unless Skybox intended to make Gary Glover look like he is giving a blindingly fast fist bump.

Tom Henke, 1992 O-Pee-Chee

Another request (again, sorry for the delay):

While I realize you’ve done him already, I feel the 1988 Topps cloth Tom Henke card deserves some real attention. Not only is the material and layout pretty unique, to say the least, the actual picture of Henke is unbelievable. I also think the image on the 1992 O-pee-chee Tom Henke card has a really special feel to it, as it has some real emotional gravitas about it. Especially with a portrait like Henke’s, you can never have too much of a good thing.

There is a lot going on here, but let’s start with the cloth card… I don’t have it. Sorry. However if you happen to have any of the 1988 cloth Topps cards in good conditions, congratulations! They are actually rather valuable, with a quick ebay search giving prices ranging from around $30 to well over $200, which for a late 80’s product is pretty good. And I agree with you, the overall look of those cloth cards is very cool.

On the other hand I can certainly come through with the 1992 O-Pee-Chee Tom Henke in all of his shadowy, mysterious glory. For me the photo comes off more contemplative and melancholy than anything else. You have to wonder what instructions the photographer gave Henke on this one. “OK, Tom. I am going to need you to look longingly into the distance. Hmmm… I am going to need a little more regret in your eyes. Perfect!”

Finally, I wholeheartedly agree with the person who sent this in, you can never have too much Henke.

Dan Plesac, 1999 Oh Henry! team set, #19

Sorry for the delay in getting to requests. I will be quicker in the future.

This one came in via the blog:

Just reading an article about the 98 Jays and wondering if you have any Dan Plesac cards?

Really? Dan Plesac? Turns out this one was a little trickier than I originally thought it would be. It seems Dan Plesac was never included in a base set for Topps or Upper Deck during either of his runs with the Blue Jays. He just never made the cut, except in a few rare subsets. So I had to turn to the tried and true corporate promo team sets that the Blue Jays give away every year. This is often the only place fringey role players may get a card from year to year. Thanks Oh Henry!

Plesac was a useful lefty out of the pen for the Blue Jays in two stints (1997-1999 and 2001-2002) with a knack for strikeouts, sitting down 11.1 per 9 in his 5 or so seasons with the team. His most valuable years were spent in Milwaukee, but the Blue Jays certainly made regular use of him, as the card indicates in 1997 he set the team record for most appearances by a left handed pitcher, and then broke it the very next season.

I do think the 1998 team is one of the more interesting in Blue Jays history, despite the fact they wore those brutal vest uniforms. Going 88-74 the team finished just four games out of a playoff spot, although 26 games back of the juggernaut division winning Yankees. Carlos Delgado had a monster season leading an offense that also featured Shawn Green, Shannon Stewart and DH (and now twitter legend) Jose Canseco. Combined with a pitching staff fronted by Roger Clemens and featuring Pat Hentgen and Chris Carpenter and you have a fascinating team.

But then the Tim Johnson fiasco happened. So 1998 has plenty of baggage. That team has, sort of, been in the news again lately with Roger Clemens train wreck of a trial making headlines and the discussions of injections in the Skydome hotel.

Drugs, lies about Vietnam and anything involving Jose Canseco make this week’s Blue Jays news seem rather tame.

Dave Stieb, 1985 Donruss Highlights, #12

This is for my friend Denise who continues to ask for more Dave Stieb cards.

Highlights was Donruss’ late year update series and focused on major moments and accomplishments from the 1985 season, including Stieb’s rather awesome May. In 42.2 inning he gave up just 27 hits while striking out 34 and walking 16, allowing only 8 earned runs. But it was really the second half of the month that was so impressive.

Starts from the first half of May:

Jays lose 3-2 to the Angels - 8.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R (2 earned), 8 SO, 4 BB
Jays win 10-1 over Oakland - 6.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R (earned), 6 SO, 4 BB
Jays win 9-5 over Seattle - 5.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R (all earned), 6 SO, 3 BB

That is decent, but nothing remarkable. The Seattle start hurts, especially since he gave up three home runs.

Starts from the second half of May:
Jays lose 7-6 to Minnesota - 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 5 SO, 3 BB
Jays win 10-0 over the White Sox - 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 4 SO, 1 BB
Jays win 6-1 over the White Sox - 9.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 earned), 5 SO, 1 BB

Stieb went three starts (23 innings) without allowing an earned run and giving up just 9 hits, only one of which was for extra bases. 23 innings. One extra base hit. That, seriously great, stretch was enough to seal the deal on A.L. Pitcher of the month.

As a side note, in an effort to grow as a person and remove rage from my life, I will not go on an expletive filled rant about Donruss’ use of “Ironically” on the back of the card.

NOTE: Holy crap, how did I miss the fact they spelled Dave Stieb’s name wrong once on the back of the card as well?!? Steib? STEIB?!? Thanks to the great Andrew Thomson (@thomsonian on twitter) for catching that. Dammit Donruss. That kind of quality control is just unacceptable.

Carlos Delgado, 1995 Topps, #469

Alright Josh Hamilton, last night was pretty nuts. Four home runs and 18 total bases? Insane. Not only was it pretty awesome to watch, but it led to plenty of Jays fans on twitter looking back on Carlos Delgado’s monster night against Tampa Bay in 2003, the last time a big league player hit four home runs and one of my all time favourite Blue Jays moments.

1 Blue Jays Way was one of only 13,408 at the game and shares some cool memories from the night Delgado hit his career 300th, 301st, 302nd and 303rd career bombs off of Jorge Sosa (twice), Joe Kennedy and Lance Carter. You can also check out video of the four bombs here (Shhhh…don’t tell MLB media). The Blue Jay Hunter also did a little math on it, adding up that Delgado’s home runs travelled a total of 1645 feet, so there was no park factor at work here. Especially the last one which was an absolute monster shot above Windows restaurant. It was, without hyperbole, the greatest single game offensive performance in Blue Jays history and arguably the greatest regular season moment in the history of the Skydome. It was also needed that night as the Jays were in tough against the Devil Rays, but pulled it out 10-8.

Tampa Bay should have read Carlos’ 1995 Topps card and listened to White Sox outfielder Lance Johnson. “We’re going to have to play him in the third deck and use a bungee cord.”

Mike Sirotka, 2002 Upper Deck, #558

This is probably as close as I will come to trolling Jays fans. U mad?

Mike Sirotka has become a verb in baseball. When Michael Pineda went out a few weeks back with a torn labrum in his shoulder people started asking if the Yankees got Sirotka’d. A fine legacy for everyone involved in the 2001 Jays/White Sox trade fiasco.

As most likely know, the Blue Jays sent aging veteran David Wells and prospect Matt DeWitt to Chicago for Mike Sirotka and a package of prospects. Despite passing an initial physical, after the deal was completed the Jays discovered a torn shoulder labrum and appealed to baseball to cancel the trade. Bud Selig told them tough luck, and Mike Sirotka never pitched again. Ugh. The whole “Shoulder-Gate” mess was one of several reasons the Gord Ash era in Toronto ended that year.

Looking back, it is like this card is trying to provoke Blue Jays fans. Just read some of the text on the back. “When Sirotka takes the mound in 2002, it will mark his first appearance as a Blue Jay.” Still waiting. “The crafty left-hander missed all of last season, but he should bounce back without a problem this year.” Damn you Upper Deck. Even seeing him in a Toronto uniform is bizarre.

This card was pulled this season from one of the retro card vending machines at the Rogers Centre by my buddy Chris (@christindal on twitter) and I can’t help but believe it was included as a deliberate act of provocation by someone in the promotions dept.

Steve Cummings, 1990 Topps, #374

I must have had ten duplicates of this card as a kid. It seemed every other pack of 1990 Topps I opened had a Steve Cummings rookie card. I remember placing each one in its own rookie card top-holder, quite certain they would become highly valuable in just a few short years.

And then Steve Cummings pitched his 33.1 career MLB innings, walked more batters than he struck out, and was done.

So…anyone want to buy a Steve Cummings rookie card?

On a final note, does his baseball glove just have the word “MINE” written on it in white ink? That is kind of an awesome way of identifying your stuff Steve Cummings. Well done.

Tom Candiotti, 1991 Studio, #132

A few weeks ago I answered a request for a Turner Ward card with his stoic image from the 1991 Studio series. But his partner in that Indians/Blue Jays trade had the far superior card that year.

One of my favourite baseball card blogs Baseball Card Bust profiled this incredible Tom Candiotti card about a month ago and captured many of the critical details, including the unibrow, “questionable” hair and most notably the odd choice of adding motion special effects to a knuckleballer.

But if you only focus on the ridiculous image on the front you miss some pretty incredible text on the back. Candiotti plays golf, nothing wrong there.

He watches Cheers. Who didn’t?

He is a fan of the 49ers and the Golden State Warriors. A good California boy.

He’s a race car analyst. That is an interesting side job. Cool.

He “likes light rock with less talk.” And there we have it. Tom Candiotti like his smooth light rock sounds and is definitely not a fan of DJ’s getting all chatty before delivering the Phil Collins. What the hell kind of detail is that? Light rock with less talk? You get the feeling when asked he just blurted out the last thing he heard on the radio. We could just have easily seen “Today’s Hits and Yesterday’s Favourites.”

Trevor Mallory, 1992 Topps Stadium Club, #110

What a shirt. Wow. Congratulations Trevor Mallory. He may have never made the big leagues, but he earned a spot in the draft photo hall of fame. Not only is the shirt epic, but he made the fantastic decision to wear it open halfway down his chest and pair it with a gold medallion. And wait…is that the hint of jean shorts? Bravo.

As mentioned above, despite being a 2nd round pick Mallory never made the big leagues, getting as far as High A ball before moving on to play in for an independent league team in Regina in the late 90’s. Just for fun here are a few players drafted after Mallory in the 1991 draft - Brad Radke, Derek Lowe, Todd Hollandsworth, Mike Cameron, Aaron Boone and the late NFL Quarterback Steve McNair.

I already ripped on the designers of this series last month, but like last time the card redeems itself through an epic photo. I really hope he still has that shirt.

Jim Gott, 1985 Donruss, #632

Let’s bring our “White Guys With Moustaches Who Vaguely Look Like Each Other” week to a close with Jim Gott.

Five quick facts about Jim Gott:

1) Gott is the unfortunate co-holder of the MLB record for most balks in an inning with three. In August of 1988, as his Pirates were chasing the Mets for the division, Gott balked three times in the 8th inning allowing two New York runs to score as the Pirates dropped the game 5-3. The Mets would hold on to win the division that season.

2) As the card says, Jim Gott knows Karate, specifically a Korean martial art called Hapkido. This detail was clearly important to Jim Gott the player as it appears on several other baseball cards besides this one, most notably his 1992 Pinnacle card which features a photo of him doing some sort of flying kick in front of the U.S. and South Korean flags. Seriously, check this thing out.

3) He was Dennis Quaid’s pitching coach as he prepared to shoot the movie The Rookie. In order to help him look the part of Cinderella story Jim Morris, Gott would go to Quaid’s house or Dodger stadium every day to help him look the part of a big league pitcher.

4) One of Jim Gott’s greatest pitching performances as a Blue Jay is also a moment of historical significance for baseball. On May 30, 1982 at Memorial Stadium the Blue Jays beat the Orioles 6-0 with Gott, then a starter, going 6 innings and giving up only 1 hit. That was a very good Orioles team that finished only one game out of winning the division. But the historical significance lies in the fact it was the first game in what would be become baseball’s all-time Iron Man streak. Cal Ripken Jr. went 0 for 2 in what would be the first of 2,632 consecutive games. Apparently ticket stubs from this Blue Jays/Orioles game have gone for more than $7,500.

5) Now, Gott is known as a dedicated advocate for autism issues. As the parent of an autistic child, Gott helped create Danny’s Farm, a fully functioning farm designed to provide employment experiences for adults with developmental disabilities and social experiences for young children with autism. It is a pretty awesome initiative and I encourage people to check it out.