Topps Cards That Should Have Been: 2001 Tim Raines

 

In 2001, Topps managed to make a card of Tim Raines upon his return to Montreal, a team he hadn't played for in over ten years. Unfortunately, it was not a base card. It was a relic card. Raines, like another recent Hall of Famer [who I'll be getting to shortly], has a relic card in 2001 Topps Traded & Rookies but not a base card.

Even more ironically, by the time of this product's release, Raines was already playing for a different team that only Fleer would produce a base card of him with, but thanks to photo scarcity we won't be talking about that today.

Anyway. Tim Raines' return to Montreal, a return voyage that...Topps neglected to mention during the 2001 calendar year.

Raines hadn't played in the majors since 1999, where he suited up for the Athletics in a bench role. The legendary base-stealer was 41, and had missed all of 2000 after not making the majors for the Yankees. Seeing as a return voyage home worked for fellow base-stealer Rickey Henderson, Raines signed a deal with the Expos prior to the 2001 season, and was lucky enough to make the team, perhaps thinking he'd end his career in a full circle way.

In 47 games, Raines batted .308 with 24 hits and 5 RBIs, leading to a 0.5 WAR in that period. Most importantly, Raines stole the final one of his 808 career stolen bases. Unlike Rickey, who stole well into the last legs of his career due to the mythology of it all, Raines started running out of steam in the speed department in his mid-30s, and at the very least strived to keep performing well at the plate.

Though one would suspect Raines' career to end quietly there, he was dealt to the Orioles with a week left to go in the regular season, in order to match the Griffeys with some games played alongside his son Tim Jr., who'd been a Baltimore prospect for a year or so. Even there, Raines managed 3 hits and 5 RBIs in 4 games for the O's, making his son mighty proud.

And you'd think THAT would be the end of his career...but even still, Raines finishes up as a member of the 2002 Miami Marlins, a stint that, somehow, Topps ends up depicting. Here's a fun fact about that 98-game run: Raines has 170 career home runs, and 808 career stolen bases. He hit more homers than he stole bases in 2002. How about that?

Topps Cards That Should Have Been: The Last Expos

 

On the day that the result of a new collective bargaining agreement could either save or doom the season, I wanna take you all back to 2002. 

I'm not sure if a lot of people remember this, but in 2001, Bud Selig wanted to contract the league and eliminate the two lowest-drawing teams, which, in 2001, were the Montreal Expos and Minnesota Twins. After the city of Minnesota said 'like hell you will', the Expos, while saved for the moment, were still on the bubble. They were harmed by infuriating ownership practices [courtesy of Jeffrey Loria], a downturn in their core despite a productive trade deadline in 2002, and, of course, a market that couldn't be bothered. There were still Expos loyalists, but by 2002 they were far and few. 

The only thing that kept the Expos in the MLB was the renewed collective bargaining agreement, which kept the league at 30 and instead led the league to consider relocating the team. The CBA here is the reason we have the Nationals, and that this franchise eventually found a ring. Holding out on the players and fans, and their concerns, solves nothing. 

And so the Expos played two final seasons as the Expos. I call these the 'death nell' years because it was clear the MLB wanted them out of Montreal, and they even went so far as make them play home games in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The writing was clearly on the wall for the team, and I consider these teams the end of the road for the team. Hell, in 2003 they were close to playoff contending when the MLB, who OWNED THE TEAM AT THAT POINT, basically locked their roster at 25 in September, essentially to ensure they wouldn't win NOW and draw in fans. That is not the sign of a prospering market.

So in this post, I'm including Expos that Topps left out in 2003 and 2004, because, unsurprisingly, by following the MLB narrative on the season, Topps must not have seen many true heroes worthy of making cards of in these seasons. 

Most confounding is Livan Hernandez, dealt to the Expos for nothing after bombing out of a job in San Francisco. Hernandez, the former 1997 World Series breakout, was the top WAR earner for the Expos in 2003, with a 15-10 record, a 320 ERA and 178 Ks in a full season of 33 starts. How the HELL do you just not make a card of that? He was clearly a standout by the time Update was happening? Why be so deliberate in erasing the narrative?

Similarly bafflingly, Topps didn't make a card of the Expos' starting catcher in these farewell seasons either. They made a Michael Barrett card in 2003, but he got traded to the Cubs midway through the year. Brian Schneider, meanwhile, became a steady backstop for the Expos. While he was around replacement level in 2003, hitting only .230, Schneider had a strong year in '04, with the third highest WAR on the team with 3.5, 112 hits and 49 RBIs in 132 games. He came off as reliable and trustworthy as a catcher, which is why the team would keep him on upon moving to Washington. 

Similarly absent from these sets was super-ute contact hero Jamey Carroll, known for scoring the last run in Expos history. Carroll was a defensive upgrade from Fernando Tatis at third in '03, playing 105 games and hitting .260. In '04 he'd be trapped behind Jose Vidro and Tony Batista for starting positions, but would be a bench bat extraordinaire, hitting .289 with 63 hits in 102 games. From here he'd fill a similar role with the Rockies. 

Also absent in both sets was relief specialist Luis Ayala, who was a very big piece of these late teams for the Expos. In 2003 he had 10 wins as a reliever, a 2.92 record and 46 Ks in 65 appearances, going for saves in 5. While not having as strong a W/L ratio in 2004, he'd be equally hard on opposing offenses, with a 2.69 ERA and 63 Ks in 81 appearances. Ayala would make the trip to Washington, and would eventually bop around the leagues as a solid cheap relief option. 

As for closing options during these seasons, I have to say that the Expos did pretty well both times. In 2003 they had Rocky Biddle, who came over from being a middle reliever with the White Sox, and, being thrust right into the ninth, notched 34 saves, despite some rocky numbers otherwise. He did get a Topps card in 2004, but by then he was struggling even more and had to vacate the ninth. Enter young whiz kid Chad Cordero, who would make the most of this promotion with a 2.94 ERA, 14 saves and a full 83 Ks over the course of the season. Of course, the Nats would lock him down as closer, he'd be a fearsome force and All-Star, and then would be injured far too young and never have a closing job again. 

An all-star with Montreal in 1994, Wil Cordero would be the Expos' starting 1st baseman in 2003. In 130 games, he'd hit .278 with 71 RBIs, his highest since his 72 in 1997, and 121 hits. A solid season, if marred by sliding defense. Topps, of course, would look the other way. 

In a post where there wouldn't be too many actual big pieces to document, you'd see a lot more ones like this one- Todd Zeile was traded by the Yankees to the Expos midyear, and as a backup 3rd baseman he hit .257 with 19 RBIs and 5 homers in 34 games. He'd essentially be starting by the end, which would pave the way for a decent year as position-warmer-for-David-Wright in 2004. 

As for the 2004 team, they had former Indians and Rangers backstop Einar Diaz as a backup. He was decent, hitting .223 in 55 games with above-average defense, but by this point Schneider was having the better season. 

I think it'd be pretty fitting if we ended on Terrmel Sledge. As the Expos' starting left-fielder he'd be adequate, hitting .169 with 107 hits, 62 RBIs and 15 homers. In Vladimir Guerrero's absence, Sledge was the true power bat of the outfield, and he was alright at that. The reason I'm ending with Sledge is that, upon the team's move to Washington, he would hit the Nationals' first ever home run. The ball was on display in Cooperstown for a bit, I think. One of those career trivia question guys, but still a great run with the Expos.

Part of me hopes baseball returns to Montreal someday. Part of me hopes there's a market for it. 

Topps Cards That Should Have Been: The Gregg Zaun Chronicles

 I don't know if you guys have been keeping track, but January I was doing these Topps Cards That Should Have Been posts in alphabetical order. Just a little challenge. Ah, let's see if I can do a Q name, so on, things like that.

So that should explain why I'm posting a ton of customs of switch-hitting backup catcher Gregg Zaun on the last day of January.

......look, it was either him or Todd Zeile.

Nevertheless, there is a lot of things to talk about regarding Gregg Zaun and Topps' gaps in documenting his career on cards. It may be a niche guy to include, but he played throughout the 2000s and was a reliable choice for catcher when other guys wouldn't do. 

As this project starts in 2000, we begin with Gregg Zaun's 2000 season in Kansas City. In 83 games he hits .274, and the starting gig is his for a bit.

Flash-forward to 2003:

Zaun spends 2002 in Houston backing up Brad Ausmus, which he continues to do for 2003, as he hits .217 in 59 games as backup. That doesn't seem to cut it for Houston, and they release him. 

Only for the Colorado Rockies, who need a solid backup option for Charles Johnson, to pick him up. Zaun does miles better with the Rox, hitting .261 with 3 homers in 15 games. 

Then, in 2004, Gregg Zaun figured out that the key to his longevity in the bigs would be playing in Canada. So he signed a minor league deal with the Expos, which would have been an opportunity to play in Montreal in their last season. However, the Expos had Brian Schneider, strike one, and they were going forward with Einar Diaz as a backup, strike two. Which means the Expos had no use for Gregg Zaun, and released him.

About a week into the season, the Toronto Blue Jays realized that their catching options, including Kevin Cash and Greg Myers, were too thin, and they went...not far, and got Gregg Zaun. Zaun quickly became the starting option in Toronto, hitting .269 in 107 games with a 2.3 WAR. Here, Zaun's scorching run in Toronto begins, and the Jays fans couldn't be any more here for it.

Topps, on the other hand, seems to miss the boat. No Zaun cards in Update, which is a foresight, even if it is a low-tier Jays team.

It becomes even more infuriating in 2005 when Gregg Zaun has his best season. Yeah, that's right. Out of all the hitters in Toronto in 2005, including Vernon Wells, Orlando Hudson, Eric Hinske, Alex Rios and Aaron Hill, you know who has the highest WAR? SWITCH-HITTING CATCHER GREGG ZAUN. He only hits .251 with 61 RBIs, but his defensive numbers are so impressive that it propels him to a 3.6 WAR. Which is huge. No longer the backup, Zaun has a beautiful year in Toronto, cements his status as a Canadian legend, and doesn't have to worry about moving around for a bit.

After this season, Topps listens up and makes Gregg Zaun cards in flagship for the next 4 seasons. Zaun is the primary option at catcher for the Jays for the next few seasons, then in 2009 he signs with the Orioles to start. Only problem is that in 2009, the Orioles bring up a guy named Matt Wieters to play catcher, and Zaun's numbers aren't enough to stop him from usurping his playing time. So the O's trade him.

Thankfully they trade him to a decent team that needed catching options behind Dioner Navarro. So Gregg Zaun gets to compete with the Rays. Unfortunately, thanks to a dismal September, the Rays don't make the postseason. Zaun still hits .287 with 14 RBIs in 34 games. The trade happens after the Update cutoff, so no Topps card. In fact, Topps kind of checks out as far as Zaun is concerned.

In 2010, the Brewers sign Zaun to look over the two burgeoning catchers they have, George Kottaras and Jonathan Lucroy. Zaun's 39, he's clearly just doing this to play, not really worrying about numbers. He actually does fairly well, hitting .265 in 28 games. He's still a decent defender but he's...39. On May 20th, he gets injured, sits out the rest of the season...and it's not looking good for him as a defensive catcher. 

Zaun would try one more season, signing a minor league contract with the Padres in 2011. Just to see if anything was left in the tank. He tried his best, but he really couldn't find any of his former strength left, and retired out of camp. Dignified way to leave, but he did it on his own terms.

And he's been a Jays broadcaster ever since, which means, yes, Toronto has been very kind to him. For a guy who was thinking he'd be a backup in different cities, Gregg Zaun sure found a stationary home there, which is nice.

Championship Series Update: I Like the Sound of This Edition

I had to make this one, because I kind of love that I can make current Expos customs with accurate uniforms. Hell, if the Nats do well enough in the postseason, maybe this can get some people to consider bringing the Expos back!

Anyway, yesterday was a day of pitching battles. Scherzer v. Wainwright was the first one, and while both performances were steady, it was Scherzer's that won out because...well, he's Max Scherzer. I mean, come on. You try going against that kind of power. Scherzer, as well as the bullpen, allowed only one run from the Cardinals (thanks Doo), while Daniel Hudson got the save after returning from paternity leave. It was also a nice day for Adam Eaton, Matt Adams and Michael Taylor, who shined in some moments of hitting and RBIs. I sincerely hope the Nats keep this up as they head back to Washington.

This one was also a pitching battle, and while you'd think Greinke-Tanaka would be a lot more lopsided...you have to remember how impressive of a postseason pitcher Masahiro Tanaka is. He set some sort of record about allowing 2 or less runs in each of his first 7 postseason starts, which is pretty damn insane, and should shut up some of the Tanaka haters, because even in the Bronx there are some.

Tanaka kept stymying the Astros, which is impressive enough, but GLEYBER TORRES may have had the flashier night, taking 5 RBIs, which was 71% of the Yankees' offensive output last night, which means everything other than solo homers from Gio Urshela and Giancarlo Stanton was thanks to him. Which is pretty awesome for a second-year player.

Tonight is Verlander vs. Paxton. Another tricky one, but...you never know.

The Stars Are Out: Baseball Legends Edition II

In our continuing series of First Pitch showcases, we've accumulated a lot of shots of former MLB legends throwing out the first pitch. I like doing these ones because the original Topps First Pitch insert series' never had ex-MLB guys in there, and I wanted this to be an excuse not only to showcase Hall of Famers like Hawk over here, but some fringe guys that don't get enough credit. And there are a ton of those here:

For instance, here's another Cubs guy that doesn't get as much respect as Dawson: Kerry Wood. In the 90s, he was that guy that threw 20 strikeouts in a game in his rookie year. In the 2000s, he was the pitcher that was supposed to bring the Cubs to the World Series. In the 2010s, he was a loyal member of the struggling Cubs teams as their closer.

Now? He gets love from Cubs fans, but perhaps not the rest of the league. I doubt he'll get very many Hall of Fame votes, but he was a great player that respected the game. I'm glad he's still loved in Wrigley.

Moving now to the other side of Chicago...

This guy is a legend in two places: Chicago, where he came up, was a rookie sensation, and hit a ton of home runs; and Detroit, where he hit even more home runs, helped his team get to a World Series, and transitioned the team from the I-Rod/Da Meat Hook teams of the late 2000s into the Miggy/V-Mart/Scherzer teams of the early 2010s. He's a crucial piece in both teams, and threw out the first pitch in arguably the lesser of his two teams. At least they still love him there, after he jumped ship and played for a division rival.

Keeping with the trend of team heroes, Andy Van Slyke was a member of that playoff-bound 1992 Pirates squad, with Bobby Bonilla and Barry Bonds, and was a hit with the Bucs before the team dissolved. He didn't really have a career outside of Pittsburgh, and I'm sure he doesn't get cheers like he does in Pittsburgh, so at least he gets a warm welcome back here.

Onto a more well-known team hero, Gaylord Perry, who played everywhere but most specifically San Francisco, still gets applause for his HOF-caliber work in the Bay area, even if he's getting up there in age.

Some of these are no brainers: Rickey Henderson became an Oakland legend basically his first year in the bigs, and even if he didn't come back to the Bay area a few times, they'd still have worshipped him. He just shows up in a suit, soaks up the love from fans, who've basically named the stadium after him at this point, and throws the first pitch like the legend he is.

This one is a little frustrating: if the Montreal Expos still existed, Tim Raines would have a definitive place to throw out the first pitch every few years, but this one was done in Toronto, where Raines never played. Yes, there's the occasional carry-over of Montreal fans in Rogers Centre, but most of them just want their team back. And seeing Tim Raines wearing an Expos uniform...and getting cheers from a TORONTO crowd, might be a little infuriating for Expos fans. Still, at least he looks happy to be there.

...and then there's Spaceman.

Bill Lee, the single oddest baseball player of all time, played for Boston and Montreal, lives in Vermont, and threw out the first pitch in Tampa, wearing a throwback uniform for a team that didn't exist at the time they're throwing back to. Never change, Bill.

In all seriousness, Bill Lee is part of a campaign to help Cuban ballplayers play in the States, and Florida, and Tampa, have a nice Cuban population, so it sort of makes sense why he's throwing one out for Tampa. Plus...it's just great to see he's still alive, and happy.

That's enough Stars are Out miscellany for today. Next time I do one of these, expect some guys who've been in the movies.