Fun With 95 SP

Recently I opened a cheap box of 95 SP and came across a bit of an odd trend. Apparently around 1995, players suddenly felt quite generous and were often photographed giving back to the fans. The oddities in 95 SP don't stop there though.

A few other cards popped out at me and over the next couple of days I'd like to document the oddities, wakiness and at times awesomeness that is 95 SP.

First up, broken bats.

Billy Ashley

Broken bat, broken dreams for Mr. Ashley. Supposed to be the next in a long line of Dodger rookie standouts, Mr. Ashley instead never lived up to the hype. Perhaps his use of lumber was the problem.

Matt Williams

The balded one with broken bat. Apparently this lack of stable wood was prevalent among the sluggers as well.

Mo Vaughn

Seriously, was it necessary to have three cards featuring broken bats. It's not like I even have a complete set here, there couldn't certainly be more.


Next up for today, the error.
Honestly, how often do you come across a photo and instantly know that the play was botched? It certainly seems like these photos should have been left on the editing floor.

The best part of it, the errors happened to:
Career backups wearing #58 on their jersey,


Catchers who had no business on the infield,


Talented offensive first basemen,


And perhaps the greatest defensive shortstop of all-time.


95 SP, a set of oddities. Coming tomorrow, Rod Beck's two sport career, Will Clark's hairline, and the Karate Kid as interpreted by an umpire spitting second baseman.

Go Halos!

Fave 4: Milwaukee Brewers

Finally the day has come, the Brew Crew gets the recognition they have been waiting for all year. The Brewers are an oddity of a franchise. They go from perhaps the greatest logo of all-time, to a procession of average to below average logos. Me personally, I feel nothing but love for the old mb glove.

Befitting Milwaukee, their two greatest players are two of the whitest baseball stars of the past two decades, Paul Molitor and Robin Yount. Yet at the same time, they gave Gary Sheffield his start and now are a team known in large part for their African American stars. I don't know why this fascinates me, but it does. On to the list.

1. James Elmer Gantner

This man is the Milwaukee Brewers to me. Tekulve gets a lot of the love for his glasses, but Gantner deserves a little bit of respect in this regard. Gantner was not exactly the superstar of the franchise, in face he spent 17 seasons playing mostly mediocre baseball, but he had those glasses and that has always been enough for me. Bask in the Gantner.




2. Dale Sveum

From one awkward looking white guy to another. In making this list I realized why I think of Milwaukee as the geeky white guy capital of America and that's because my favorite Brewers are straight out of that mold. Or maybe I like these players because they seem like they're the epitome of Milwaukee. Chicken, egg. I have no idea. All it takes is one look at Dale Sveum's Baseball Reference page to realize it's nuts to like Dale Sveum. His stats are nothing to be proud of, but I like him. It's probably the goofy stache.

3. Dan Plesac

I have a soft spot for lefty closers. Couple that with the goofy white guy factor and the fact that Plesac was dominant for my Strat-o-matic baseball team, and you have a man that is more than worthy of the #3 spot. Somehow Plesac was still in the league in 2003 with Philadelphia. How I wish I could be reborn as a situational lefty. Do you realize the type of money guys are making these days because they're lefthanded and willing to pitch to lefty batters three times a week. It's a good life.

4. B.J. Surhoff

How is it that every player that comes through Milwaukee seems to play for 18 seasons? Surhoff was always a guy who was easy to root for. Surhoff is the perfect guy to be described as "gritty". Catcher, outfielder, one time all-star, goofy white guy from Milwaukee, member of the I Heart Halos Fave 4...the legacy of Surhoff is complete.

Honorable Mentions:
aka Bringing some Flava to Milwaukee

Gary Sheffield

Douche? Yes. However, as a kid during a time when there was only one ESPN network, we weren't inundated with all of the off the field information that we are now. I completely understand why any true Brewer fan would hate this guy, but I spent to many hours staring at his rookie cards not to have a soft spot for him.

I realize the 'roids would have made a career at shortstop a difficulty, but can you imagine this guy as a 500 home run shortstop? Sheff vs. Ernie Banks, quite a comparison.

Anthony Gwynn

I don't think Gwynn is ever going to make the impact with Milwaukee that I hoped he would, but I'm still holding out for him. Anthony was a really good outfielder for San Diego State and although I knew he probably wouldn't amount to much in the majors, I still keep holding my breath, waiting for the breakout. At least he destroyed Hoffman and the Pads a couple of years back.

Greg Vaughn

His best seasons were in Cincinnati and San Diego, but I like my Vaughn as a Brewer. Although his career started out slowly, you just always knew that this guy was going to be a beast whenever he made contact. Never a threat to hit .300 or .260 for that matter, Vaughn was the prototypical 80s power hitter, stuck in the 90s.

Teddy Higuera

Teodoro began his career as the new Fernando. A lefty Mexican pitcher who was absolutley dominating the league. Unfortunately injuries played a cruel joke on us all and kept us from experiencing Teddymania.

Bill Hall

Bill Hall hit 35 home runs in 2006. Look it up. Of course he hasn't approached those numbers again, which always worries you a little bit, but it's not like he morphed from stick figure to Incredible Hulk ala Barry.

Fatty McFatterson

The fattest vegetarian who ever lived.

Rickie Weeks

I keep waiting for this guy to break out and become a star. I don't think it's gonna happen. Almost makes you long for the days of Pat Listach.

Ryan Braun

This guy has the potential for a scary career. He's already off to one of the finest starts I can remember any player having. Normally you don't start thinking about guys hitting 500 home runs after two seasons, but it certainly seems like a strong possibility.

The Legends

Paul and Robin


I don't know how to justify my dislike for these two guys. They are certainly both deserving hall of famers and the greatest players in Milwaukee history, but I'm just not into these two. Making matters worse, I can't even blame it one their dorky whiteboyness, since clearly my list is populated by these fellas. I'm certainly a bitter Ruben Sierra fan as has been previously documented, so that somewhat explains the Yount exclusion, but I don't know what I have against Molitor. Let's just say he took my mom Dorothy Mantooth out for a nice seafood dinner and never called her back!

Go Halos!

Fave 4: Chicago Cubs

The Cubbies. If like me, you grew up without a real home team, the Cubs or the Braves most likely became a big part of your life. For me it was the Cubs, Harry Caray and WGN. Every summer I would look forward to going outside while it was still cool, playing wiffle ball and other games, then heading inside around noon for lunch and the Cubs. Wrigley quickly became my home team, despite its location over a 1,000 miles away.

The Cubbies have always been the lovable losers, but some of my first memories of the Cubs were as *cough* Winners *cough*. Yup. 1989, one of the great Cubs seasons I can remember. 1987 was fun thanks to the Hawk and 1988 meant the emergence of Mark Grace and my total fascination with him. But 1989 was special. I was watching a team every day as they made the chase for the pennant. Too bad the damn Giants had to ruin everything.

1. Mark Grace

Grace will forever be one of my favorite baseball players of all-time. He didn't have the star power of guys like Griffey or Canseco, but he was my guy. When he came up as a rookie, I was instantly sold. I was never a fan of Leon Durham, and I wasn't even watching the team in 1984 when he committed his biggest gaffe. Grace was the young golden boy with all the promise. I hoarded his rookie cards and became obsessed with his play. His battle with Will Clark in the 89 NLCS was epic and had me convinced he'd become one of the greats of all-time. I hated to see him leave the Cubs, but at least he went on to win a championship.


2. Ryne Sandberg

Ryno was an amazing second baseman during a time when second baggers didn't do the things he did with a bat, especially when they could flash the leather. His 40 home runs in 1990 were just ungodly to me. I wasalways thrilled to pull a Sandberg card out of any pack and my friends were always willing to trade them to me, so I filled many a binder page with the man's image.


3. Jerome Walton

Jerome Walton might have introduced me to the idea of Rookie of the Year does not necessarily mean future all-star/MVP. I loved watching the rise of Jerome and Dwight Smith during their rookie years and figured these guys were on their way to becoming an amazing duo for years to come. Not so much, but I'll still never forget Jerome and his hat under helmet awesomeness.

4. Hector Villanueva

My favorite fat catcher. There was no better feeling than finding out that Joe Girardi or Rick Wilkins was on the bench and my boy Hector was gonna get some time behind the dish. Added bonus, won the Puerto Rican league triple crown. There's nothing he can't do.

Honorable Mentions:

Andre Dawson

I wish I had known more about the Hawk before he made it to Chicago, but I still enjoyed the hell out of the man while he was a Cub. No one has ever been as menacing with a bat in his hands. And that includes my boy, the much hated, Albert Belle.

Alfonso Soriano

I know that as soon as you call a player underrated, he essentially becomes overrated, but I feel like we are taking for granted how good this guy is. His combination of power is speed is rare in the game today and he is a ton of fun to watch.

Carlos Zambrano

Has there ever been a pitcher that's more fun to watch at the bat than on the mound? And that's saying something since he is a beast on the hill as well.

Doug Dascenzo

He was petite, not an attractive fellow, the definition of an underdog and to top all that he was an outfielder who is pictured on most of his cards pitching.

Greg Maddux

I was heartbroken when he left for the Braves. Ok, heartbroken is a bit strong, but it was upsetting. Just an amazing control pitcher.

Lloyd McClendon

I already talked about him on my Pirates list, but he was a Cub to me first and that's how I still think of him.

Mike Harkey

After a really good rookie season in 1990, Harkey never really put it together again. I got his autograph at a show in Texas when I was young, wearing my Grace jersey. The show was sparsely populated and Harkey spent about 10 minutes talking Cubs with me. Very cool.

Mitch Williams

A heart attack on the mound. He was just so much fun to watch, although you always thought he was about to combust. It still kills me that he became synonymous with the Joe Carter walk-off World Series home run.

Shawon Dunston

Combine the Shawon-o-Meter with the rocket arm and I was won over instantly. Half the fun of watching the Cubs in the field was hoping to get a glimpse of Shawon uncorking one.

The Cubs were certainly the team of my youth thanks to the fine people of WGN. To this day they still hold a small place in my baseball heart. Hopefully they'll win that elusive title someday, but then again half the fun of the Cubs is that they just seemed destined to never pull it off.

Go Halos!

Fave 4: Cincinnati Reds

There's something about the Reds that I just like. I wouldn't consider myself a Reds fan in the traditional sense. I don't live and die with their wins and losses and I don't fret about the moves the club makes, but I just really seem to enjoy the team. For a lot of clubs, I'll have a year or two sprinkled in where I follow them a little bit closer or come across a player that I really enjoy watching, but the Reds are somewhat different.

Since as far back as I can remember, I've enjoyed the Reds a great deal. Maybe it's the cool logo of a ball man with a mustache, the bright Red unis, or just the procession of players that have put on the red leggings. Either way, I'm as close to a Reds fan as one can be without actually being a real fan. If that makes any sense.

1. Barry Larkin

I'll never be able to do justice to Barry Larkin in the way that this man can. But I'll give it a shot. Barry was one of the smoothest shortstops that I ever saw play the game. He was a 30-30 shortstop without the aid of steroids, at a time when that seemed virtually impossible. Look at the man's wrists for god's sake.

Yup, he's got his own face on his sweatbands. It gets no more gangsta than that. In 1990, no one was giving the Reds a chance against the dominant A's in the World Series, but thanks to Barry and some other fellas, the Reds not only won, but swept the World Series.

The man was special. Plus I had a sweet barry Larkin model baseball glove. Take that.

2. Brandon Phillips

Barry larkin is a clear number one for me, but Brandon Phillips is threatening. I love the way this kid plays baseball. His 2007 season was severely underrated, mainly because it was unseen by most of us. He fell of a little last year and this year's start hasn't been too great, but the man has swagger. Hopefully he can step it up and show that my man crush is well-founded. How many other second baseman have won a gold glove with their hats tipped sideways? Get this man some wristbands with his face on them.


3. Eric Davis

If you've ever played wiffle ball then you know the magic of Eric Davis. Everyone of us wiffle ball players has gone into the Eric Davis stance, dipped the bat down and then unleashed fury. Eric Davis was probably the first baseball player I was truly in awe of. The man hit 37 home runs in one season and stole 80 bases in another. He was just a physical freak who unfortunately couldn't stay off the DL. The 1990 World Series in the perfect snapshot of Eric's career, a home run in his first at bat and a lacerated lung diving for a ball.


4. Billy Hatcher

A .750 average in the World Series. .750!! Next highest, Babe freaking Ruth. I first started to like Billy Hatcher when he was with the Astros and he was a fairly unknown player. That's what made his performance in the 1990 World Series so much more special to me. I felt like here was a guy I knew about and no one else did and he was absolutely killing it. The only thing that kept him from an MVP award for the series was a certain pitcher on the honorable mentions list.

Honorable Mentions:

Jose Rijo

In his only World Series, Rijo was flatout dominant against his former team. I was convinced he was the greatest pitcher alive during that series. Even now when I look back at his career statistics I'm always underwhelmed. He was good throughout his career, but never as dominant as he was during that series.

Chris Sabo

If you collected baseball cards during 1988, you were obsessed with Spuds. One of the first real baseball card phenoms from my youth. His career never lived up to the hype, but how could you hate on a guy wearing Rec Specs?

Rob Dibble

of all the Nasty Boys, Dibble was the one who really intrigued me. The man's temper was legendary and I loved that it seemed like he was going to throttle someone every time he gave up a hit.

Aaron Harang

He's a San Diego State Aztec. What more needs to be said. Well, he's a horse. He dominated for my fantasy team a couple of years back and he got absolutely screwed in the NL Cy Young voting in 2006.

Bip Roberts

Bip is my man, that goes without saying. I made the decision to put him on the Padres list, so unfortunately he had to be left off the Reds list. Needless to say, the man is a legend and deserves to be number one on the list of every team he played for.


Baseball needs the Reds to be succesful. I need the Reds to be succesful. There's just something that makes baseball better when the Reds are in contention. Unfortunately, that may be years away.

Go Halos!