Balls Out

On his 1991 Upper Deck card, Geno Petralli demonstrates the dual meaning of the phrase "Balls Out."


Geno Peralli
Catcher, Texas Rangers
1991 Upper Deck #492

Look Like a Ballplayer

Ron Oester had it all, and by "all" I mean a bunt and a muffin top.

Bunt (or foreign object in trunks)

Do you know the Muffin Man?

Ron Oester
Second Baseman, Cincinnati Reds
1991 Upper Deck #611

Upper Deck Fact: Bats: Both
GMT Fact: Yes, he does. Yes, he does.

It's A Different World

From where Kevin Belcher comes from.

Kevin Belcher
Outfielder, Texas Rangers
1991 Upper Deck #26

Upper Deck Fact: Kevin is the hardest worker in the Texas Ranger organization.
GMT Fact: Kevin was the hardest worker in the Hillman College dorms, pulling all sorts of HBC tail. Middle name is "Cleophus."

Topps Thinks Pascual Perez is Disgusting

The Perez baseball dynasty. Like the Kennedys of Politics and the Jacksons of Music, it was a legacy tarnished by scandal and heartbreak.

Ultimately, the Perez boys became known for two things - their hair and their drugs.

Well, family-friendly Topps was not amused by their antics.

So they told kids everywhere what they thought of the family figurehead - Pascual - on the back of his 1990 Topps Big card.

And believe you me - as you will see - when Topps comes at you, it comes at you hard, pulling no punches.

Pascual Perez
Pitcher, New York Yankees
1990 Topps Big #291

Topps Fact: Pascual's mound antics have made him a fan favorite.
GMT Fact: (...a favorite to opposing teams' fans. His own teams' fans not so much.)

However, his biggest fan was fellow Dominican Jose "Joe Tables" Mesa, who vowed to keep the Perez legacy alive:

Mission accomplished.

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Jose Mesa
Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles
1991 Upper Deck #703

Upper Deck Fact: Half of Jose 's wins have come at the expense of his former organization, the Toronto Blue Jays.
GMT Fact: Upper Deck fails to point out that Jose was a career 4-5 at the time and romantically courting Cito Gaston.

Sons of Andy Etchebarren

(1967 Topps #457)

While the majority of my card span the 1970-80s, I salvaged some earlier cards from my grandmother's flooded basement that belonged to my father and uncles. Among them were a Roger Marris, Johnny Unitas, Brian Piccolo (Rookie) and a 1967 Andy Etchebarren.

Who? You might ask.

Well, only the Johnny Appleseed of 60's ballplayers.

Etchebarren was known to have father several offspring who later went on to become MLB "stars" in the 1980's, all united by the "Etchebarren brow."


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Jeff Montgomery
Pitcher, Kansas City Royals
1989 Donruss #440

Donruss Fact: Emerged as a key member of the KC bullpen last year, ranking 4th on the team in ERA and 2nd in appearances.
GMT Fact: Montgomery's "Angry Face" was strikingly similar to his "Smiley Face" (pictured above).

Sammy Stewart
Cleveland Indians
1988 Topp #701

Topps Fact: Sammy pitched a 7-inning 1-0 no-hitter for Miami for Winter Haven, July 20, 1976.
GMT Fact: Sammy Stewart wasn't Mr. and Mrs. Stewart's favorite player.

Frank Tanana
Pitcher, Detroit Tigers
1987 Donruss #152

Donruss Fact: Had lowest ERA among Texas starters in '84.
GMT Fact: Teammates were so relentless in tormenting Tanana about his Etchebarren brow that he spent the entire 1990's wearing over-sized shades before realizing he could simply tweeze.

1991 Upper Deck #369
Bonus GMT Fact: His little game of "Find Tanana's Banana" had few takers over the years.