All About the Base Cards

Pat Corrales (1941-2023) was born on this date. Pat played as a backup catcher for 10 seasons. He served as manager for the Rangers, Phillies & Indians. He was the 1st MLB manager of Mexican descent. Here is a complete run of his Topps base cards.

Happy 38th birthday Clayton Kershaw. He was the 2014 NL MVP & won 3 NL Cy Youngs (11,13,14). He led the NL in wins (11,14,17), ERA (11-14,17) & strikeouts (11,13,15). Kershaw pitched a no-hitter in 2014 & has 3 World Series titles. Here is a complete run of his Topps base cards.

Happy 49th birthday Fernando Rodney. The 3 time All Star won a World Series title (2019) & is 19th in career Saves (327). He was the last player born in the 1970s to play in MLB. He is known for his cap tilt & “bow & arrow” routine. Here is a complete run of his Topps base cards.

@RetroCardSnaps Gold cup card for the win.

Which is your favorite of these 4 cards?

Happy 82nd birthday Clarence “Cito” Gaston. He was a 12 year MLB vet mainly with the Padres & Braves and a 1970 All Star. Cito won 2 World Series as Blue Jays manager (92,93) becoming the first African-American mgr to win the title. Here is a complete run of his Topps base cards.

@notgaetti So much jealousy in the comments.

I don’t closely follow college baseball, but if there’s one clear message I’ve received from You People™ in the comments, it’s that a LOT of folks find Tennessee Baseball extremely unlikable. What’s the scoop/story/lore there? Why is their program so widely disliked & reviled?

Happy 45th birthday Curtis Granderson. The 3 time All Star hit career 344 HR. He led the AL in RBI & Runs in 2011 & led in triples twice (07,08). His 23 triples in 2007 were the most in the AL since 1949. Here is a complete career run of his Topps base cards.

Happy 47th birthday Kevin Youkilis. The 3 time All Star won 2 World Series titles (04,07) and one Gold Glove. As a minor leaguer he was famously called the “Greek God of Walks” in the book/film “Moneyball”. Here is a complete run of his Topps base cards.

Happy 67th birthday Harold Baines. The HOFer had 2,866 hits, 384 HR & 1,628 RBI. The 6 time All Star hit .300+ 8 times in his career. Baines won a World Series as a coach for the 2005 White Sox. Here is a complete run of his Topps base cards.

Bobby Bonds (1946-2003) was born on this date.  Bonds had 332 HR, 1,024 RBI & 461 steals. He was the first player to have more than two 30 HR/30 SB seasons and the second player with 300 HR & 300 steals (Mays). Here is a complete run of his Topps base cards.

Feast your eyes. Fleer 95!

Kirby Puckett (1960-2006) was born on this date. The HOFer was a 10 time All Star & 2 time World Series champ (87,91). He won 6 Gold Gloves & led the AL in batting (89) & RBI (94) once. He was a career .318 hitter with 2,304 hits. Here is a complete run of his Topps base cards.

Happy 61st birthday Kevin Brown. The 1997 World Series champ won 211 games w/ 2,397 strikeouts. He led the NL in ERA twice (96,00) & MLB in wins (92). He had a no-hitter in 1997. His WAR (68.2) is 36th all time for a pitcher. Here is a complete career run of his Topps base cards.

Happy 47th Birthday, Johan Santana!

Happy 47th birthday Johan Santana. He won 2 Cy Young awards (04,06) & threw the first no-hitter in Mets history (12). Johan led the league in ERA (04,06,08) & strikeouts (04-06) 3 times and wins (06) once. Here is a complete run of his Topps base cards.

Happy 62nd birthday Will Clark. He is a 6 time All Star & the 1989 NLCS MVP.  Will had a .303 lifetime average with 2,176 hits, 284 HR & 1,205 RBI. Will homered against Nolan Ryan on the first swing of his MLB debut in 1986. Here is a complete run of his Topps base cards.

Jim Wynn (1942-2020) was born on this date. The “Toy Cannon” was a 3 time All Star & hit 291 career HR. He led the NL in walks twice.  Here is a complete run of his Topps base cards.

Happy 96th birthday Vern Law. The 1960 All Star, Cy Young winner & World Series champ (winning Games 1 & 4) won 162 career games. He played 16 years for the Pirates & is the 6th oldest living MLB player. Here is a complete career run of his Topps base cards.

Happy 61st birthday Steve Finley. The 2001 World Series champ had 2,548 hits, 304 HR & 1,167 RBI. Steve is one of 3 CF with 5 Gold Gloves and 2,500 career hits (Mays, Griffey Jr.). Here is a complete career run of his Topps base cards.

Happy 64th birthday Darryl Strawberry. The 8 time All Star won 3 World Series titles (86,96,99). He won the 1983 NL ROY and finished his career with 335 HR & 1,000 RBI. Here is a complete run of his Topps base cards.