In a Perfect World....

Today American Pharoah would be attempting to win the First Triple Crown in 11 Years rather then 37.

2009 UD Goodwin Champions #115 Smarty Jones

Back in 2004 Phungo HQ and much of Philadelphia got caught up in the Horse Racing excitement. Part of it was the buzz of the Film and Book Seabiscuit, but mostly it was that We had a Horse in the Race.

And for half of the Belmont Stakes it looked like it was going to happen then Smarty Jones ran out of gas.

Regardless it was a great run and fun couple of weeks to get into the sport of kings
 

2009 UD Goodwin Champions #115 Smarty Jones (b-side)

The above Smarty Jones card is from the sharp looking UD Goodwin Champions set which was an answer to Topps Allen & Ginter's - Basically a baseball product with other noteworthy subjects from sports politics and entertainment  

Sources and Links
Wired

40 Years Ago: Lolich Sets Lefty Strikeout Mark - 1976 Topps #3

On June 6th 1975 Mickey Lolich set the strikeout mark for Lefthanded Pitchers

1976 Topps #3 Mickey Lolich Most Strikeouts, Lifetime, Lefthander

Topps honored the accomplishment with the #3 card in their 1976 set.

The Tigers Southpaw accomplished the feat during an 11-2 victory over the Oakland A's. The record tying and breaking strikeouts were both recorded versus Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson. Of course it should be noted that Reggie is the all-time leader in Ks among batters.  Lolich logged a total of four Ks on the day including one other Hall Of Famer, Billy Williams.

Mickey Lolich finished his career in 1979 at 2832 strikeouts. He would hold the Lefthanded K record for five seasons prior to being eclipsed by the Phillies Steve Carlton in 1980.

Career Ks by Lefthaders in 1976

1976 Topps #3 Mickey Lolich Most Strikeouts, Lifetime, Lefthander (b-side)

After passing Warren Spahn Lolich struck out just a shade under 100 additional batters during the remaining portion of the 1975 season. As you can see Steve Carlton ranked 11th at the time.

Carlton was eventually surpassed by Randy Johnson who is the current all-time MLB Record for career Ks among southpaws with 4875. The Big Unit was 12 when the Lolich Record Breaker card was issued.

Today Mickey Lolich still ranks #3 behind Carlton and Johnson. All 2832 of Lolich's Ks were in the AL which ranks first in the history of the junior circuit.

Lolich ranks 18th among All Pitchers for career Ks. The only pitchers in front of Lolich not in the Hall are Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling.

Sources and Links
1976 Topps Record Breakers Index
Topps Cards
Baseball Alamanc
Baseball-ref

TRENDY: 2009 Obak #29 Pat Venditte - SwitchPitcher

Just got the news that Pat Venditte is getting called up by the Oakland A's.

2009 Tristar Obak #29 Pat Venditte

Will elaborate on the Switch-Pitcher a bit more in the future but wanted to get this posted with the buzz going on.

The most recent switch-pitcher was Greg Harris who we profile here.


Love how this Obak Card echoes the Eddie Murray 1988 Record Breaker

1988 Topps #4 Eddie Murray

Sources and Links
Eddie Murray HoF Index
Hardball-Talk
Baseball-ref

RTC 1954 Topps #3 Monte Irvin

With the Phillies scheduled to host the San Francisco Giants this weekend, we take a look a a Giants Hall of Famer from their New York tenure, Monte Irvin. 

The Hall of Fame formed the Negro League Committee in 1971. In 1973 Monte Irvin became the fourth player inducted by the Committee, preceded by only Satchell Paige, Buck Leonard, and Josh Gibson

1954 Topps #3 Monte Irvin

Monte Irvin entered the Majors at age 30 in 1949. He won a World Series title as a member of the 1954 New York Giants, his best season was 1951 when he finished 3rd in the MVP award voting (Roy Campanella). Irvin led the league with 121 RBIs in 1951 and finished 5th in Batting average (.351).

In 1952 Irvin made the all-star team but did not get to play. For that years mid-summer classic the Left Fielder found himslf behind the NLs eventual MVP, Hank Sauer, on the depth chart. 

During his eight year career Irvin was a .293 hitter with 99 Homers.
 
Monte Irvin turned 96 a few months ago and is among the oldest living members of the Hall. Later this summer Irvin is expected to join current San Francisco Giants in Washington DC when the reigning World Champions meet President Obama.

To read more about Irvin check out his interesting Baseball Hall of Fame bio here. He could have been Jackie Robinson, but Branch Rickey chose Robinson prior to Irvin getting his opportunity with the Giants. 

For The Collector
Found this beauty at a card show in 2012 for $4.50 which is a solid price for this card. Eight recent auctions came in under $6. The High End was $577 (PSA 8.5), four auctions ended in the $240-$250 range (PSA 8).



Monte Irvin HoF Index 
Memorial Posting (2016 January)


Sources and Links
Baseball Hall of Fame
SF Gate
baseball-ref
ebay

1990: Ramon Martinez 18K Game

We have the Maritnez Brothers on back to back nights.

Before Pedro there was older brother Ramon Martinez.

Two years prior to Pedro Martinez making his Major League Debut, Ramon Was an All-Star and nearly a Cy Young Award Winnner.

And 25 years ago on June 4th 1990 Ramon Martinez had a pretty good night.

 

1991 Score #419 1990 Highlight Ramon Martinez 18 K game

Ramon limited the Atlanta Braves to 3 hits and recorded 18 strikeouts while leading the Dodgers to a 6-0 victory. At the time the 18Ks were 1 off the NL record (Tom Seaver, Steve Carlton)  and 2 short of the Major League Record (Roger Clemens) for a 9 inning game.    

1991 Score #419 1990 Highlight Ramon Martinez 18 K game (b-side)

The synopsis on the reverse talks about Ramon's 18K outing and contains a nice shot of what presumably is the post game interview. Perhaps a good Dodger fan can inform us of the name of the otherwise unknown reporter.

Last month Corey Kluber joined the 18K game club, setting a record by doing so on only 113 pitches. Ramon Martinez threw 127 pitches in his outing.  He had his 18 strikeouts in the first eight frames, had Martinez been removed after eight (as Kluber was) he would have been at 108 pitches.

I am not counting 3-hitters as Lo-Hitter games, but since this game is so unique I will be adding it to the Year of the No-Hitter index. 

Sources & Links
1990 Year of the No-Hitter
Score Trading Cards
@obxleatherman - David Branson
Baseball-ref
Retrosheet

1995 June 3rd Near-Hitter Pedro Martinez

We are going to be hearing a lot from the Martinez Family over the next few weeks. Some of it will be HoF related, some of it will be No-Hitter and Anniversary related but not all of it will be Pedro Related.

Today fits the Anniversary category. Although this Pedro Near Perfect Game occurred in 1995 it is not at all part of Year of the No-Hitter, I will post it in the addendum of the 1990: Year of the No-Hitter Index.

1997 Bowman Chrome #53 Pedro Martinez

Twenty Years ago in San Diego Pedro Retired the first 27 Batters Padres he faced. Typically this would be a perfect game, unfortunately the Expos offense failed to score a run until the 10th inning.

Montreal took a 1-0 lead in the 10th on a Jeff Treadway single. Martinez took the mound in the bottom of the 10th inning and got Bipped. Yes Bip Roberts ruined the Perfect Game and No-Hitter with a double. Mel Rojas then came in to complete the shutout.

Relics

Pedro Martinez Game Used Baseball from Near Perfect Game pitched on 1995 June 03

Team Phungo took a trip to the baseball Hall of Fame recently and the above baseball is part of the HoF display dedicated to Pedro Martinez's upcoming enshrinement.
 
1997 Bowman Chrome
This Set contains a rookie card of a pitcher that did complete a perfect game and he did it for the Phillies. Card #212 is of Roy Halladay, He represents the Canadian Team that is still in the MLB, Toronto Blue Jays

Sources and Links
Baseball Hall of Fame
Pedro Martinez HoF Index
1990: Year of the No-Hitter Index
Cardboard Connection
Baseball-ref

Joey Gallo (Baseball America #6 Prospect) Gets the Call

The Texas Rangers are expected to call up Third Base Prospect Joey Gallo today.

2011 Topps USA Baseball Joey Gallo

The 21 year old Third Baseman has 40+ homers each of the last two seasons with 9 through 34 games at AA this year. He is a strike out machine (478Ks in 330 professional games) however he has been able to cut down that rate as he has developed.

Las Vegas is suddenly a source of big time baseball talent. Gallo was a teammate of Bryce Harper's before either of them were in their teens and Cubs Prospect Kris Bryant also hails from the Nevada gambling mecca.

2011 Topps USA Baseball
This is at least the 2nd card we have featured from this set. Last month we discussed Cubs rookie second baseman Addison Russell.

Sources and Links
Baseball America 2015 Prospect Handbook
Baseball-ref