Did You Know…

Only two pitchers in all of the Colorado Rockies franchise history have pitched in more than 400 games as a member of the franchise.  They are: Steve Reed (461 games) and Brian Fuentes (428 games).

 

Did You Know…

The first New York Mets third baseman to be selected to represent the team during the MLB All-Star game was Howard Johnson.   Johnson’s first selection came in 1989.

Matt Holliday 2014 Topps Series 1 Subset – ‘Super Veterans’

Matt Holliday 2014 Topps Series 1 Subset – ‘Super Veterans’

When I got back into the hobby of baseball card collecting in the summer of 2008, my goal was to pay homage to the players that helped build my love for the game and the hobby.

The first subset I put together that helped me with that cause was the ‘Super Veterans’ subset from the 1983 Topps baseball card set.  This set is a beauty and it highlights the true legends of the game as their careers were winding down.

For the last few years, I have actively been begging Topps to bring this subset back and pay honor to today’s ‘Super Veterans’.  And while I cannot confirm that they obliged my request, I was very excited to see that a 15-card ‘Super Veterans’ subset was part of the 2014 Topps Series 1 release.

I am building the set now.  Here is the card of Matt Holliday:

 

Matt Holliday entered his 11th big league season in 2014.

Upon entering the 2014 season, Holliday was a 6-time All-Star and a winner of 4 Silver Slugger Awards.

He is closing in on several offensive milestones and with health on his side, he should have no problem reaching 2,000 hits, 400 doubles, and 300 home runs.  And sometime during the 2014 season he will eclipse both 1,000 runs scored and 1,000 RBI.

Happy Birthday Bret Saberhagen!!!

Happy Birthday Bret Saberhagen!!!

Bret Saberhagen turns 50 years old today.

Bret Saberhagen put together a nice 16-season career for himself.  If it were not for his playing for so many losing teams, who knows what he could have accomplished.  The individual accomplishments that Bret achieved rival those of some of the greatest pitchers from the 1980’s and 90’s.  A 2-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series MVP, many would love to have his resume.

Saberhagen’s career record of  167-117 doesn’t do justice for some of the finest single seasons by any pitcher in the 80’s.  As a member of the Kansas City Royals in 1985, Bret won his first Cy Young award as he finished the season with a 20-6 record while striking out 158 batters and walking just 38.  The dominance continued into the post-season in ’85 as his Royals went on to win the World Series behind Bret’s MVP performance.  In the ’85 match-up he pitched 2 complete games, earning the win in each, while allowing just 1 run in 18 innings.  A few seasons later in 1989, Saberhagen again had a monstrous year as he went 23-6, with a 2.16 ERA and he struck out 193 batters while allowing just 43 walks.  These amazing stats earned Bret his 2nd Cy Young  Award in 5 seasons.

After 8 amazing seasons with the Royals, Bret went on to play for the New York Mets, Colorado Rockies, and the Boston Red Sox.  Although he did compile 3 more 10+ win seasons during his last 8 years in the big leagues, he was unable to recapture his amazing from his days in Kansas City.

It should be noted that Saberhagen has an incredible K:walk ratio.  For his career, he has 1,715 strikeouts while giving up just 471 walks – good for a 3.64:1 K:walk ratio which ranks him at #10 in major league history.

Happy Birthday Mr. Saberhagen!!!

‘Hall Of Fame Debate’ – Todd Helton VS Lance Berkman

‘Hall Of Fame Debate’ – Todd Helton VS Lance Berkman

Before we get into the number-crunching, let me say that the conversation about either one of these players and their potential induction into Cooperstown as a Baseball Hall of Famer is a fun one.  Both players were stars.  And while never may have been tagged as ‘the best’ over the course of a season or multiple seasons, they both performed at superstar levels for many, many years.

Would I vote either of them into the Hall of Fame?  That is a great question, and one worth some time to think about.

But, we can put them in a steel-cage and let their numbers battle to help determine which one had a better career.

So, that is what we will do.

And here are the numbers:

	Helton	Berkman
Seasons	17	15
Games	2,247	1,879
Hits	2,519	1,905
200 Hit Seasons	2	0
150-199 Hit Seasons	9	7
Batting Average	0.316	0.293
.300+ Seasons	12	5
Batting Titles	1	0
On-Base %	0.414	0.406
Walks Drawn	1335	1201
Strikeouts	1175	1300
Doubles	592	422
Triples	37	30
Home Runs	369	366
30-39 HR Seasons	4	4
40+ HR Seasons	2	2
Stolen Bases	37	86
Runs Scored	1,401	1,146
100-Run Seasons	6	5
RBI	1,406	1,234
100-RBI Seasons	5	6
All-Star	5	6
Gold Glove	3	0
Silver Slugger	3	0
ROY	0	0
MVP	0	0
Postseasons	2	5
WS Titles	0	1

 

And now, time to break it down and cast a vote.

Ultimately for me, the players can be judged on a few base areas of the game: hitting, run production, defense, and star status.

While Lance Berkman was a supreme hitter, Todd Helton’s overall numbers are much better and more impressive.  His number of seasons above .300 is exceptional – 12 out of 17.

Power numbers are solid for both, and each offered similar home run, RBI, and run production.

Todd Helton won three Gold Glove Awards for defensive excellence at First base while Berkman was never recognized as an elite defender.

Lastly, Todd Helton is without a doubt the greatest Colorado Rockies player of all-time (to this point) and he has been the face of the franchise for 20+ years.  Lance Berkman is an Astros legend, and deserves his spot as one of the team’s best offensive players, but he has company there with Biggio, Bagwell, etc.

For me this battle is strong, but one man comes out on top every time (except stolen bases) and that player is Todd Helton.

He gets my vote!!

And now, it is your turn to vote – Todd Helton VS Lance Berkman

 

2013 Topps Update ‘Postseason Heroes’ Subset – Bret Saberhagen

2013 Topps Update ‘Postseason Heroes’ Subset – Bret Saberhagen

The 2013 Topps Update baseball card set includes a subset tagged as ‘Postseason Heroes.  And with that theme, you would expect to find cards of modern players like Albert Pujols, Edgar Renteria, and Pablo Sandoval but none of these guys made the checklist.

That does leave room for some nice surprises…

This is the card of Bret Saberhagen from the set:

 

Bret Saberhagen played in the major leagues for 16 seasons.  He played for four teams during that span, and had his greatest postseason success during his time with the Kansas City Royals.

In the 1985 World Series, Saberhagen was the MVP.  He started two games for the Royals – winning and going the distance in both.  He pitched 18 innings, allowing just 1 run while striking out 10 batters and walking just one.

2013 Topps Gypsy Queen ‘Collisions At The Plate’ Subset – Wilin Rosario

2013 Topps Gypsy Queen ‘Collisions At The Plate’ Subset – Wilin Rosario

The theme of ‘Collision At The Plate’ is one that I think all baseball fans could get excited about. The play in which two players collide with completely opposite goals: 1 putting their body on the line in an effort to score a run for their team. 1 putting every ounce of energy, strength, and will into defending their plate.

Oh yes, the ‘Collision At The Plate’ is the perfect place for baseball drama to be born. And as soon as I saw that the 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen set was going to include a subset of cards with the title of ‘Collisions At The Plate’, I knew I would be going after it.

This is the Wilin Rosario card from the set:

 

In just his third big league season, Wilin Rosario is already staking his claim as one of the best young catchers in the game.  He is a solid offensive player and is also showing the needed signs that he is becoming a great defender as well.

Between his high fielding percentage and his ability to stay close to the league average of throwing out base runners that are trying to steal on his team, Rosario has the skills to take it to the next level.

Time will tell if he does…  Stay tuned.

2013 Topps Archives ‘Tallboys’ Subset – Dante Bichette

2013 Topps Archives ‘Tallboys’ Subset – Dante Bichette

With the new 2013 Topps Archives baseball card set release, the ‘Mini Tallboys’ subset is easily one of the best parts of the issue.

The cards from this subset offer a very basic, but throwback feel that screams vintage. The set is 40 cards deep and offers a nice mixture of current players, stars from the 1980′s, and Hall of Fame legends.

This is the Dante Bichette card from the set:

 

Dante Bichette played in the major leagues for 14 seasons.  During that time, he suited up for the Angels, Brewers, Rockies, Reds, and Red Sox.

This card features Bichette as a member of the Rockies; and it is the proper choice.  7 of Bichette’s 14 big league seasons were spent in Colorado.  During that time, he was an All-Star four time and an MVP candidate.

Bichette clubbed 274 home runs during his career, 201 of them coming while with the Rockies.

2012 Topps ‘Career Day’ Subset – Card #24 – Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies

2012 Topps ‘Career Day’ Subset – Card #24 – Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies

I am working on this set because I find it to be the most appealing of the subsets issued by Topps in 2012.

The cards feature bold colors, great images, and a unique horizontal design.

I especially like the ‘Career Day’ theme as it pays homage to some of the greatest individual performances of baseball’s elite players.

Card #24 – Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies

The Career Day – August 10, 2009.  On this day, the Rockies were playing in Chicago against the Cubs.  Tulo went 5-for-5 on the day as he hit for the cycle – 2 singles, 1 double, 1 triple, and 1 home run.  He scored 2 runs in the game and drove in 7 runs.  Tulo was the first shortstop in the history of the game to connect for 5 hits and drive in 7 runs in the same game.

Progress – 24/25

Happy Birthday Bret Saberhagen!!!

Happy Birthday Bret Saberhagen!!!

Bret Saberhagen turns 49 years old today.

Bret Saberhagen put together a nice 16-season career for himself.  If it were not for his playing for so many losing teams, who knows what he could have accomplished.  The individual accomplishments that Bret achieved rival those of some of the greatest pitchers from the 1980’s and 90’s.  A 2-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series MVP, many would love to have his resume.

Saberhagen’s career record of  167-117 doesn’t do justice for some of the finest single seasons by any pitcher in the 80’s.  As a member of the Kansas City Royals in 1985, Bret won his first Cy Young award as he finished the season with a 20-6 record while striking out 158 batters andwalking just 38.  The dominance continued into the post-season in ’85 as his Royals went on to win the World Series behind Bret’s MVP performance.  In the ’85 match-up he pitched 2 complete games, earning the win in each, while allowing just 1 run in 18 innings.  A few seasons later in 1989, Saberhagen again had a monstrous year as he went 23-6, with a 2.16 ERA and he struck out 193 batters while allowing just 43 walks.  These amazing stats earned Bret his 2nd Cy Young  Award in 5 seasons.

After 8 amazing seasons with the Royals, Bret went on to play for the New York Mets, Colorado Rockies, and the Boston Red Sox.  Although he did compile 3 more 10+ win seasons during his last 8 years in the big leagues, he was unable to recapture his amazing from from his days in Kansas City.

It should be noted that Saberhagen has an incredible K:walk ratio.  For his career, he has 1,715 strikeouts while giving up just 471 walks – good for a 3.64:1 K:walk ratio which ranks him at #10 in major league history.

Happy Birthday Mr. Saberhagen!!!