Night Owl Cards

A few years ago, I introduced you to the concept of " the blob ," which is merely the player to make the last out in a ballgame. By extension, "the ultimate blob" is the player to make the final out in the World Series. I hope to keep that particular list going for as long as this blog exists. But the other day, while working on a post on another blog, I began to think about "the anti-blob". The "anti" to the blob, of course, would be someone who ended a game with a hit. The always celebrated "walk-off". And the ultimate anti-blob would be someone who did that in the World Series. Bill Mazeroski, Joe Carter, Edgar Renteria, etc. But actually, strictly speaking, the "anti-blob" would not merely be the "walk-off" variety of hit. It would be anyone who got the last hit in a game. And the ultimate anti-blob would be anyone who got the last hit in a World Series. It doesn't matter whether it ended a game. Ju...

When I first heard a few months ago that Jose Bautista led the league in home runs, I thought one thing. ... THIS GUY leads the league in home runs? That Orioles pitcher with the jheri curl leads the league in home runs? Where have I been? What the hell is going on? OK, I thought that for about 30 seconds, before realizing that it was a different Jose Bautista. My next thought was ... THIS GUY leads the league in home runs? The guy who features a career .190 batting average with no home runs on the back of this card leads the league in home runs? Where have I been? What the hell is going on? I thought that for another 30 seconds before the next thought came into my head ... "People are going to say he's on PEDs." And they have. About a bajillion times. This is such an easy assumption. But it is the way of the world today. Many people automatically assume the worst. They assume Bautista -- now up to 40 home runs after hitting no more than 16 in a singl...

We here at Topps/Fleer/Donruss/Upper Deck/Score/etc./etc. have the best interests of you, the player, at heart. (Rusty Staub, swinging and looking absolutely goofy). Our mission is to serve you, the athlete. (Jerry Grote desperately attempting to run out a grounder). With our fine fleet of photographers, we will cast you only in the best light (Jim Fregosi watching as his foul pop up is about to be caught). You are the star of our show. We want to make you look as good as we possibly can. (Jim Wynn hitting one straight up in the air at Candlestick). The kids look at you as heroes, so what purpose would it serve to make you look bad? (Bobby Murcer fouling one off or possibly swinging and missing). You are the most talented players in the game. We want to showcase that talent (Len Randle yelling after taking a bad swing or maybe fouling one off his foot). Rest assured, you are in capable hands (Lou Piniella nearly spinning completely around and saying something like ...