Fave 4: Texas Rangers

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One thing is becoming very apparent as I make my lists and start working on this project, I like baseball players from 20 years ago a lot more than I like the players of today. I didn't really see this coming. I love watching baseball and it has remained my favorite sport throughout the years and I just figured the cross-section of choices would be wider. So far, not so much. I like players here and there, but I just haven't made the same connections. Maybe this has to do with being a much more die-hard Angel fan these days. It's almost made me insulated from the rest of the league.

This has proven true of the Rangers, a team that despite being from the same division as my Halos, is a team I've followed since living in Texas and who I still enjoy watching.

So here they are. The Fave 4 from Arlington, TX.

1. Ruben Sierra

Sierra is part of a group of players that I would lump together as "My first favorite players". Although Sierra moved on to play for a number of teams and win with the Yankees, he will always be a Ranger to me. He was the epitome of those early 90's Ranger teams, full of power, not speaking much English, and did I mention full of power.

When I went back through my old baseball card binders I was a little surprised at just how many Sierra cards I had. I still think he got robbed by Robin Yount for the MVP award and that is probably one of the reasons you won't see Yount popping on my Fave Brewers list.


2. Julio Franco

The ageless one. It's weird to think that you once watched this guy when he was a young man. It's like finding out that your father watched Jackie Robinson play in person. One day I may be telling my daughter that I saw Julio Franco play...while he was in his 20's.


3. Pete Incaviglia

I have a soft spot for players who carry a little bit of extra weight around the middle. Incy certainly had a little bit extra and he played like it. He never hit as many home runs as you expected him to hit, but every at bat was an adventure. He just had the look of a guy who left the stadium after a Sunday day game and headed over to the softball field to pick up 9 more innings and a couple of 6 packs.

4. Geno Petralli

In the final spot comes a guy who probably isn't near the top of too many top 4 lists, but he landed in the spot with ease for me. His mustache alone is cause for celebration and instantly endeared him to me. He was a solid backup and decent starting catcher for a while, but definitely couldn't hold a candle to Pudge. Even so, I liked the guy. It's hard to explain, but for all the flash of Pudge, Geno was just sorta the good ol' boy who you had to cheer for. Had I not watched as many Ranger games as I did in Texas, I'd probably have no idea who he is, instead he lands here, a member of the Fave 4.

Honorable Mentions:
While Pudge was close and almost edged out Geno, another famous Texan was even closer.

While Nolan almost made the list, he had one thing working against him, he was a former Halo and I'm still bitter that he ever had to leave. One of the great pitchers of our era and instead of wearing the Halo for years upon years, he moved on and that makes me sad.

So ladies and gents, there they are, the I Heart Halos Fave 4 Texas Rangers.

Cards Only A Mother Could Love

While there are tons of examples of really cool and action filled cards and even more cards with mundane actions or poses, occasionally there are cards that stand out for another reason. When I see these cards I think to myself, "God, I'd hate it if this was MY baseball card".

Not every card can feature a player hitting a homerun, running over a catcher or making a diving play in the field, but the least I would ask out of my baseball card is that it not embarrass me. Unfortunately for Kevin Seitzer and Geno Petralli, they were not so lucky. They are unfortunate members of the "Cards Only A Mother Could Love" club.

First up, 1992 Donruss Geno Petralli.



Ouch. It's one thing to have a simple head shot or a picture taken in the dugout. Sure you're not out on the field, but there's no shame in that. But warming up the pitcher between innings while the starting catcher puts his gear on, well that stings a little. There was no worse job in little league than being the kid on the bench who has to go out and warm up the pitcher, and unfortunately for Geno this is how he was immortalized on cardboard.

Next up, 1993 Upper Deck Kevin Seitzer.



Ouch x 2. Poor Kev. No one, NO ONE enjoys being struck out looking to end an inning and this evident by the look on Seitzer's face. He's still standing like a statue in disgust as the catcher rolls the ball back to the mound to start the bottom of the inning. (Congrats to Halo Ron Tingley on the cameo performance here.) Imagine for a moment that you're Kevin Seitzer, exciting isn't it. But hey, you're Kevin and maybe you take an interest in your baseball cards. It's the early '90s so you know Upper Deck and their photography is second to none. After a quick search you come across your card and you get this slap in the face. The anger rises as you think back to that July afternoon when you got screwed on a pitch that was at least 5 inches off the plate. I can see Kevin now, opening his mail in 2009, as diehard fans are still looking for an elusive Seitzer autograph to round out their collections. He rips into the envelope and 16 years later he has to relive the moment again. It just ain't right.

I feel for you Kevin and Geno, but at least your moms might still love your card.

Go Halos!