I began this countdown on my Facebook page, starting with 33 days. For anyone not on my Facebook, here's a recap of days 33-25.
Countdown to Christmas - 33 days. Eddie Murray, HO 2003, wore number 33 with the Baltimore Orioles. This is a scan of his 1975 card from my collection. Honus Wagner is an even more famous "33." However, players did not begin wearing numbers until the late teens and early 20s, so Honus never wore a 33. The Pirates have retired #33 in his honor.
Countdown to Christmas - 32 days. Steve Carlton (HO 1994) wore number 32 for the Philadelphia Phillies. This card is from my personal collection. Carlton ranks among the all time leaders in strikeouts (4th) and wins (11th).
Countdown to Christmas - 31 days. Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins (1991) spent most of his playing days with the Cubs, but is pictured here in 1977 with the Red Sox. Also from my personal collection. One of only 4 pitchers to record more than 3,000 K's (3,192) and fewer than 1,000 walks.
Countdown to Christmas - 31 days. Hall of Famer Dave Winfield (2001) wore #31 as a San Diego Padre. This card from the 76 season is part of my personal collection. Winfield retired with 3,110 hits and 465 HRs.
Countdown to Christmas - 30 days. Nolan Ryan (HOF 1999) wore number 30 with the California Angels. This is a scan of his 1976 card from my personal collection. Ryan holds the MLB record for K's (5,714) and pitched a record 7 no-hitters. His number 30 is retired by the Angels, and his number 34 is retired by both the Astros and the Rangers.
Countdown to Christmas - 29 days. Hall of Famer (1991) starred with both the Twins and the Angels, both of whom retired his number. An 18 time all star, he lead the leauge in hitting 7 times, retired with 3,053 hits, a lifetime batting avg of .328 and he stole home 17 times, including 7 times in 1969! This is a scan from my personal collection.
Countdown to Christmas - 28 days. Bert Blyleven of the Minnesota Twins wore number 28. No retired pitcher outside the Hall of Fame has more strikeouts (3,701) or shutouts (60). Blyleven won World Series titles with the Pirates (1979) and Twins (1987). This card from 1976 is from my personal collection.
Countdown to Christmas – 27 days. Carlton Fisk, Juan Marichal and Jim “Catfish” Hunter all wore #27. Fisk is best known for his exciting Game 6 homerun that he virtually “willed” over the Green Monster in 1975 to force a Game 7. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1999, Fisk retired with the then-record of 72 home runs hit after the age of 40, since eclipsed by a juiced Barry Bonds (79). Marichal (HOF 1993) won more games during the decade of the 1960s (191) than any other major league pitcher. He is also known for beating Dodgers catcher Johnny Roseboro with a baseball bat when Roseboro threw off his catcher’s helmet while Marichal was at bat. Roseboro and Marichal later became close friends. Hunter (HOF 1987) began his career with the A’s and finished as a Yankee. He became the fourth (and last) American League pitcher to have five consecutive 20 or more win seasons. He was a five time World Series champion and won a total of 224 games.All three cards are from my personal collection (Marichal, 72; Fisk, 76; Hunter, 77)
Countdown to Christmas - 26 days. Wade Boggs (HOF 2005) wore number 26 with the Boston Red Sox. Boggs played in 12 straight All Star games, and from 1982-88 he hit below .349 just once (.325 in 1984). He retired with 3010 hits and a lifetime batting average of .328. His 3000th hit was a homerun for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. This card from 1993 is from my personal collection. Interestingly enough, Boggs played for the Yankees starting in 1993.
Countdown to Christmas - 25 days. I know what you are saying - "But Greg, everyone knows that George Brett wore #5." This is true. But not everyone knows that he wore #25 his first 2 seasons with the Royals. (And I REFUSE to honor cheaters like Bonds, McGwire and Palmeiro for my number 25) George Brett (HOF 1999) wore #25 for the KC Royals. Brett played with the Royals from 1973-1992, and his 3,154 hits are most ever by a 3rd baseman. He is one of just 4 players ever to have 3,000 hits, 300 homeruns and a .300 career batting average. Brett, who is also 6th on the all time doubles list, was elected to the HOF with what was then the 4th highest voting percentage of all time - 98.2%. Cal Rikpken, Jr passed Brett with his 98.5% in 2007. This is a scan from my personal collection.
Countdown to Christmas - 32 days. Steve Carlton (HO 1994) wore number 32 for the Philadelphia Phillies. This card is from my personal collection. Carlton ranks among the all time leaders in strikeouts (4th) and wins (11th).
Countdown to Christmas - 31 days. Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins (1991) spent most of his playing days with the Cubs, but is pictured here in 1977 with the Red Sox. Also from my personal collection. One of only 4 pitchers to record more than 3,000 K's (3,192) and fewer than 1,000 walks.
Countdown to Christmas - 31 days. Hall of Famer Dave Winfield (2001) wore #31 as a San Diego Padre. This card from the 76 season is part of my personal collection. Winfield retired with 3,110 hits and 465 HRs.
Countdown to Christmas - 30 days. Nolan Ryan (HOF 1999) wore number 30 with the California Angels. This is a scan of his 1976 card from my personal collection. Ryan holds the MLB record for K's (5,714) and pitched a record 7 no-hitters. His number 30 is retired by the Angels, and his number 34 is retired by both the Astros and the Rangers.
Countdown to Christmas - 29 days. Hall of Famer (1991) starred with both the Twins and the Angels, both of whom retired his number. An 18 time all star, he lead the leauge in hitting 7 times, retired with 3,053 hits, a lifetime batting avg of .328 and he stole home 17 times, including 7 times in 1969! This is a scan from my personal collection.
Countdown to Christmas - 28 days. Bert Blyleven of the Minnesota Twins wore number 28. No retired pitcher outside the Hall of Fame has more strikeouts (3,701) or shutouts (60). Blyleven won World Series titles with the Pirates (1979) and Twins (1987). This card from 1976 is from my personal collection.
Countdown to Christmas – 27 days. Carlton Fisk, Juan Marichal and Jim “Catfish” Hunter all wore #27. Fisk is best known for his exciting Game 6 homerun that he virtually “willed” over the Green Monster in 1975 to force a Game 7. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1999, Fisk retired with the then-record of 72 home runs hit after the age of 40, since eclipsed by a juiced Barry Bonds (79). Marichal (HOF 1993) won more games during the decade of the 1960s (191) than any other major league pitcher. He is also known for beating Dodgers catcher Johnny Roseboro with a baseball bat when Roseboro threw off his catcher’s helmet while Marichal was at bat. Roseboro and Marichal later became close friends. Hunter (HOF 1987) began his career with the A’s and finished as a Yankee. He became the fourth (and last) American League pitcher to have five consecutive 20 or more win seasons. He was a five time World Series champion and won a total of 224 games.All three cards are from my personal collection (Marichal, 72; Fisk, 76; Hunter, 77)
Countdown to Christmas - 26 days. Wade Boggs (HOF 2005) wore number 26 with the Boston Red Sox. Boggs played in 12 straight All Star games, and from 1982-88 he hit below .349 just once (.325 in 1984). He retired with 3010 hits and a lifetime batting average of .328. His 3000th hit was a homerun for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. This card from 1993 is from my personal collection. Interestingly enough, Boggs played for the Yankees starting in 1993.
Countdown to Christmas - 25 days. I know what you are saying - "But Greg, everyone knows that George Brett wore #5." This is true. But not everyone knows that he wore #25 his first 2 seasons with the Royals. (And I REFUSE to honor cheaters like Bonds, McGwire and Palmeiro for my number 25) George Brett (HOF 1999) wore #25 for the KC Royals. Brett played with the Royals from 1973-1992, and his 3,154 hits are most ever by a 3rd baseman. He is one of just 4 players ever to have 3,000 hits, 300 homeruns and a .300 career batting average. Brett, who is also 6th on the all time doubles list, was elected to the HOF with what was then the 4th highest voting percentage of all time - 98.2%. Cal Rikpken, Jr passed Brett with his 98.5% in 2007. This is a scan from my personal collection.
No comments:
Post a Comment