Career Charted
We actually had a tie this week with 4 votes each for both Jeff Bagwell and Frank Thomas. I decided to make 2 cards for each player. I picked the 4 most interesting years (2 for each) for each of these players.
The story starts in 1990 when my beloved Red Sox traded a young, unproven first basemen for journeyman reliever Larry Andersen. The Red Sox would be Andersen's fifth team at that point in his career. He would pitch 22 regular season innings and 3 post season inning (with an ERA of 6.00). He would move on to San Diego the next year. The next year the Astros would start the athletic, weight lifting enthusiast kid at first. He would hit just shy of .300 in his first year and win Rookie of the Year.
The card is an awkward card. Probably a 3 or 5 hitter on a speed team.
We then move on the 1994 strike shortened year. Most teams finished in the 115 ish game range. Many were robbed by that season not going to its completion. Matt Williams was robbed of a chance at 60 homer runs (finished with 43 I am confident he would have fallen short). The Expos had a chance at the World Series (probably also would have fallen short to the Yankees). But Jeff Bagwell had a great season. He probably would have had his only 50 home run season (39). Won his only Gold Glove. He also won his only NL MVP. What is his Showdown Prize?
A split stanced monster card that should be batting third for any type of team. This one is especially useful for a front loaded speed line-up. Put a singles hitter behind him and watch him drive in a small army and score runs.
The AL MVP that year? That would be the form Auburn Tiger tight end Frank Thomas. Frank Thomas had other worldly strength for a baseball player. This includes times when players were bigger and badder than ever. Through the steroid era Frank Thomas was still known as the "Big Hurt". I believe he was clean for what it is worth. What I don't have to speculate on was he had power, decent legs and a great eye early in his career.
What did 38 homers and 34 doubles with a .353 average get Frank Thomas? He ended up looking very close to 2009 Albert Pujols's card. For those younger fans that is not the worst comparison. This card sadly is a ton of points that don't easily fit into a specific line-up. If you end up at the end of a draft with points to burn this card will produce.
I am leaving three 11 OB cards off my list and 1993 MVP season off my list. 2004 and 2005 Thomas was banged up, getting old and looked like he may never regain his old form. Before he had power, decent legs and a great eye. 12 years later the legs were gone but the power was mostly there and the eye was great. He wasn't playing first base anymore. He had become a full time DH. He was a DH for 58% of his career games. He is by far the leader in percentage of games played at DH for a hall of famer. The old beat up veteran hit 39 homers in his only full season in Oakland.
We discount DH's heavily to make them appealing pinch hitters. We recommend people find their own handicaps when playing with the salary cap. Even with 1B - 2 this chart is a steal if you want to hit homers.
Which chart is the most interesting to you?
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