Killer Kelleher

Mick Kelleher
Third Baseman-Shortstop, Chicago Cubs
1981 Topps #429

Topps Fact: Mick was nicknamed "Killer" by his teammates.
GMT Fact: Mick is the first killer to be named firstbase coach for the NY Yankees.

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Come out and Play

Ross Baumgarten
Pitcher, Chicago White Sox
1981 Topps #398

Topps Fact: Picked up victory in Major League debut, Aug 16, 1978.
GMT Fact: A year later he starred as Vermin in The Warriors.


About Vermin (From fringeunderground.com): If The Warriors were The White Shadow, Vermin would be Salami. He's white, horny and in charge of making sure the gang gets where they need to go. Being that he looks roughly 10 years older—and 20 pounds heavier—than any other "kid" in the film, Vermin's claim to fame is a freeze-frame moment when his stunt double gets thrown against the subway bathroom wall and shatters the mirror. Well, that and having more hair on his chest than every gang in the film combined.

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The Carpets Match the Drapes

Hey, it was the 70's.

Courtesy of reader Jay Dubs...


Oscar Gamble
Outfielder-Designated Hitter, Cleveland Indians
1975 Topps #213

Sixto Lezcano
Outfielder, Milwaukee Brewers
1977 Topps #185

Ross Grimsley
Pitcher, Cleveland Indians
1981 Topps #170

The Jackson 6

While Michael, Marlon, Tito, Jermaine and Randy inherited Joe Jackson's musical talent and rhythm, young Ron inherited his father's facial hair and ability to swing a heavy piece of lumber.

Ron Jackson
First Baseman, Minnesota Twins
1981 Topps #631

Topps Fact: Led PCL 3rd basemen with 31 D.P.'s at Salt Lake City in 1975.
GMT Fact: The infamous sexually-charged road antics of the Jackson brothers, for instance Ron's D.P.'s, were said to have played a large role in traumatizing an impressionable Michael.

Punch-out!

Mike Tyson
Second Baseman, Chicago Cubs
1981 Topps #294

Topps Fact: Mike hit his 1st big league Grand-Slammer, 7-5-77.
GMT Fact: Mike hit his 1st wife...repeatedly.

When did "Grand-Slammer" become a stat?

Whats the Second Name...?

Mike Cubbage?

If there was one thing I loved more than collecting cards, it was crank calls.

I understand (about a year ago) Howard Stern introduced to the world the Bum Bar Bastards, a duo whose tape I listened to religiously throughout high school.

There was one throw-away call that I always laughed at, for no other reason than the victim grumbles the name "Mike Cubbage."



Mike Cubbage
Third Baseman, Minnesota Twins
1981 Topps #657

Topps Fact: Attended the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.
GMT Fact: Forever a part of crank call lore.

You People Are Sick

As sick as you are funny.

When judging Friday's caption winners, most of the HHR staff came back with the same reaction: "What kind of readers are you attracting over there?"

Demented.

That said, one of you demented folks swept the contest by near unanimous vote...tongent.

• Who does Lynn Jones think he is?

Lynn Jones thinks he gives the number one moustache ride in the Motor City... and you know what, ladies? He's right.

• What is Dave Camp's beverage of choice?

Rick Camp drinks Grape Thunderbird spiked with PCP and hears "Purple Haze" in his head 24 hours a day.

Hope you are all enjoying these as much as we are. We are going to do a couple a week.

FYI: CL's TR "Top Rapist" Bryden will be dropped in the mail tonight.

Fan Friday

An esteemed panel of HHR scribes were joined by guest judge Blog of Hilarity Chris to choose the winners to yesterday's questions:

• What is Jim smoking? (TIE)

jim kern is smoking in the boys room, if you know what i mean --worldclassfad

Jim is smoking hashish and smiling because it's fun to say "hashish" --tonegent

• What does T.R. stand for?

"Top Rapist" by the looks of it. --CL

• What is Mike yelling?

Mike is yelling at the repo man, towing his '74 Monte Carlo out of the parking lot. --mrmatpsu

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Your prize is the actual card. If you actually want them, send us an email with your address. We will rip Jim Kearn in half. Don't worry about him - he likes getting ripped. Heyyyyooo!

Thank you all who playing. We had so much fun, we want to throw another pair up for you to amuse us with.

Today's questions:

• Who does Lynn Jones think he is?
• What is Rick Camp's beverage of choice?

Lynn Jones
Outfielder, Detroit Tigers
1982 Topps #64

Topps Fact: Often used as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner, Lynn had 4 RBI's vs. Yankees, October 4, 1980.
GMT Fact: Often used binoculars to "Beaver Hunt" while riding the pine.

Rick Camp
Pitcher, Atlanta Braves
1981 Topps #87

Topps Fact: Was an All-State football player in high school.
GMT Fact: (Not really, but his willingness to do anything to be able to satisfy addictions garnered him a reputation as a "wide receiver").

The Dick Drago All-Stars

Sports by Brooks tips us to an article by CNBC Sports Biz' Darren Rovell at Slate where he profiles the popularity of 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey, Jr. card.

In the piece, Rovell talks about how the Griffey card was given the designation as the #1 card in the set.

Junior was chosen to be card No. 1 by an Upper Deck employee named Tom Geideman, a college student known for his keen eye for talent. Geideman earned his rep by consistently clueing in the founders of The Upper Deck, the card shop where the business was hatched, on which players would be future stars. Geideman took the task of naming the player for the first card very seriously.

More interesting though, is the creativity with which Geideman numbered the 1992 Upper Deck Set:

It’s probably the most thinking Geideman ever did compiling a checklist, save for the 1992 Upper Deck set when he assigned numbers that ended in 69 to players with porn-star-sounding names. (Dick Schofield at No. 269, Heathcliff Slocumb at No. 569, and Dickie Thon at No. 769.)

Genius.

If only Dick Drago were still alive in '92. (Was he?)

Wonder if Geidman is the brainchild behind the World of Isaac's recent contest.

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Dick Drago
Pitcher, Boston Red Sox
1981 Topps #647

Topps Fact: Home: Land O' Lakes, Florida
GMT Fact: Was disappointed to learn the Land O' Lakes butter Indian was merely the product of an artist's imagination...and his. Now he must break you.

Foghat, Spectrum, 1976

The 1980's had no shortage of hard rockin' ballplayers.

The following group, who liked to refer to themselves collectively as the "Night Shifters," caused a ruckus in the Spectrum parking lot in 1976 when they commandeered a tailgating Winnebago and offered "free high hard ones" to any ladies offering coke. Randy Lerch was eventually locked up over night (and subsequently missed the concert) after soliciting an undercover officer after wandering into FDR Park.

Randy Lerch
Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies
1981 Topps #584

Topps Fact: Topped Eastern League with 16 Wins at Reading in 1975.
GMT Fact: It took him the entire off-season to grow the mustache on his 1981 Topps card, but only 3 days to grow out his hair.

Barry Jones
Pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates
1987 Donruss #602

Donruss Fact:Busy Middle Reliver in his rookie season last year with the Pirates, ranked 3rd on club in ERA.
GMT Fact: Barry Jones preferred the BOC to Foghat.

Ed Whitson
Pitcher, San Diego Padres
1987 Donruss #360
Donruss Fact: Named to '80 All Star team en route to 11-13, 3.10 ERA with Giants.
GMT Fact: Card makers were equally disgusted and in awe of Ed's gastrointestinal prowess during photo shoots. Topps decided that they'd immortalize him in the form of one of their Garbage Pail Kids. After being bogged down in litigation, to get around paying the Players Association for the rights to his name and likeness, they made him black and called him "Windy Winston."


Dave Frost
Pitcher, California Angels
1981 Topps #286

Topps Fact: He learned the palm ball from his Junior College coach.
GMT Fact: He learned the stink palm from Joe Beckwirth. When he was 31 he took my cousin to prom.

Joe Beckwirth
Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers
1983 Fleer #202

Fleer Fact: Had 2.70 ERA in 1982, second highest on the squad.
GMT Fact: That's the only time Beckwirth was ever described as the "second highest." He took great exception to this.

Rock Out With Your Jocks Out

The Lizard King...

Jim Morrison
Second & Third Baseman, Chicago White Sox
1981 Topps #323

Topps Fact: Jim led White Sox in Hits & Doubles in 1980.
GMT Fact: Known for his fondness for "snowballing," sophmoric teammate Britt Burns referred to him as the "Blizzard King."

The New Edition...


Bobby Brown
Outfielder, San Diego Padres

Topps Fact: He made his World Series debut
GMT Fact: Is only half the man Ralph Tresvant is. Often joked with teammates about "Choking the Famous Chicken."

What the Hell is This?

Ellis Valentine, Capricorn
Outfielder, Montreal Expos
1981 Topps #445

Topps Fact: Enjoys listening to music in his leisure time.
GMT Fact: Wears a batting helmet with half a football mask. Considered himself the first modern-era two-sport athlete. Teammates humored him, but forced him to ride a short bus to away games.

He's LaCock of the Walk, Baby

Pete LaCock
First Baseman, Outfielder, Kansas City Royals
1981 Topps #9

Topps Fact: Pete hit .364 with 2 Doubles & one Triple for the Royals vs. Yankees in 1978 A.L. Championships.
GMT Fact: After half a speed ball during a late-night bender with Chris Codiroli & Craig Lefferts in Ybor City, Fla. in '74, Codiroli & Lefferts convinced Peter Pecker that he should change his name to something much less embarrassing to avoid further ridicule as a pro ballplayer. The next day, he filed paperwork to become "Pete LaCock." It's French.

GMT Bonus Fact: Pete LeCock never got along with Rusty Kuntz.


Chris Codiroli
Pitcher, Oakland Athletics
1987 Topps #217

Topps Fact: He and his wife have 2 children.
GMT Fact: He and his mistresses have 7.


Craig Lefferts
Pitcher, San Diego Padres
1987 Donruss #387

Donruss Fact: Signed by Cubs out of Arizona U. in '80.
GMT Fact: Spent first MLB paycheck on a Camaro and an "F.B.I.: Female Body Inspector" t-shirt.