#111 Mark Ellis

Continuing a string of connected cards, I’m going to pair up yesterday’s Lonnie Chisenhall card with Mark Ellis.

#111 Mark Ellis

First impression of what’s going on: Tying these two cards together are the cameos. Chisenhall had a guy on deck and an umpire. Ellis' card has the lead runner in what looks to be a double play. This card is going to hit a lot of niches but I don’t know how I feel about that. Could Topps really not squeeze in two or three more pixels to get Ellis’ throwing pinkie in the frame?

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 02: Second baseman Mark Ellis #14 of the Los Angeles Dodgers turns a doube play on Josh Rutledge #14 of the Colorado Rockies as shortstop Hanley Ramirez #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers watches in the sixth inning at Coors Field on September 2, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. The Dodgers defeated the Rockies 10-8. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

The Reality of the Photo: This photo didn’t come up right away from me on Getty Images. The term “Mark Ellis 2013” brought up over 1000 results so I tried to narrow down. Next, I tried “Mark Ellis 2013 Double Play” but as you can see, Getty spelled “double” wrong in the caption so it didn’t come up. Luckily, Topps kept the Rockies Josh Rutledge in the picture as “Mark Ellis 2013 Rockies” finally brought up the picture with just a few options.

We also get to see Dodgers shortstop, Hanley Ramirez who was cropped out of the card and the caption credits him as “watching” the double play. That makes me wonder if this actually was a 4-3 double play that Ellis handled on his own or if Hanley is watching after feeding the ball to Ellis for a 6-4-3 twin killing. Guess we’ll have to check out the BOXSCORE.

Screenshot from Baseball-Reference.com

The Dodgers were winning 8-5 at this point in the game, so a double play was definitely crucial to stopping a potential rally. Let’s see how it went down.

Screenshot from Baseball-Reference.com

Wow. The Rockies had runners on first and third with no outs and the Dodgers managed to get out of it. Thanks in part to Mark Ellis and the double play. And as you can see, Ramirez did more than just “watch” the play.

I mentioned that this card qualifies for a couple of niches so let’s break those down. From the top down, we have sunglasses (even if not worn over his eyes) and a pair of logos for some Free Advertising.

There’s a Nike undershirt and a Rawlings logo on the glove. I believe there’s a second Nike logo on his wrist band but since the card is already getting Nike credit from his undershirt and you can’t really see it, I didn’t screenshot it.

I also thought it was worth noting that even though Ellis is not wearing an alternate or throwback jersey, Josh Rutledge is wearing one.

Screenshot from Chris Creamer's Sportslogos.net

On to the back:

Rookie Fact: Mark’s .368 AVG in the 2002 ALDS included a ninth-inning 3-run homer.

Unfortunately for the Athletics, it was a case of too little too late. In Game 5, the A’s were down 5-1 before Ellis’s homer and couldn't quite complete the comeback. They lost not only the game, but also the series. 

Screenshot from Baseball-Reference.com

Because of his veteran status and years of playing experience, there’s no blurb on the back of the card.

Information I’ll be tracking:

Card Number: #111

Player Name: Mark Ellis

Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

Position: Second Base

Game Date: September 2, 2013

Opponent: Colorado Rockies

Stadium: Coors Field

Division: National League West

Home/Away: Away

Outcome of the game: 10-8, Dodgers over the Rockies, Win for the player depicted

Alternate/Throwback Jersey: No, kinda. Cameo player has one.

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Birthdate: 6/6/1977

Birthplace: South Dakota

Cameos by: Josh Rutledge

Photographer: Doug Pensinger

Niche collections this card could fit into: Free Advertising, Double Play, Sunglasses, Cameo

My Grade: I think I’m supposed to like this card as it hits a couple of the bigger mini collections but something about it doesn’t do it for me. I’m ok giving it an A, but again, this is not a “No Doubter” of an A+. 

#72 Michael Young

In honor of Michael Young announcing his retirement, I am bumping the randomizer’s selected post.

#72 Michael Young

First impression of what’s going on: Michael Young is well in front of the base so he appears to be charging hard on a bunt or slow roller.  Good action shot, good crop.

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Michael Young #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers makes a throw to first base for Aaron Hill #2 of the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on September 11, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. Hill was safe. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The Reality of the Photo: The uncropped version seems to lend creedance to my theory. The caption gives me some information to work with, but doesn’t tell the whole story. So let’s check out the BOXSCORE.

There’s no mention of the inning, but it does say Young is making a play against Arizona’s Aaron Hill. So let’s check the inning recaps and see if we can’t find a Hill plate appearance that makes sense.

First at bat in the top of the first, ground out to second base. Nope.

His second at bat, leading off the fourth inning was a single to left field.  The caption did mention Hill was safe, and it is the correct side of the field, but I don’t think this is the play. Let’s keep looking.

Third at bat came in the top of the 6th, again leading off. A ha! This time it’s a single to 3B and regarded as being hit to “weak” third base. Fits perfectly! Just to be sure, let’s see his last at bat of the game.

Hmmm, leading off again, this time in the 8^th. Somebody needs a better setup guy in front of him! But this one was a fly ball to left-center.

Yesterday, I gave a stat line for the David Murphy because his card showed him in an offensive situation. And Chris Perez’s card showed him pitching so I included those stats. Baseball Reference doesn’t give fielding statistics in the daily boxscores, just on the individual player’s page. SO after tracking down that information, here’s his line for that game.

Two assists in two chances.  Young fielded another weak ground ball from Paul Goldschmidt in the third and one off that bat of Martin Prado to get a force out at second to end the 9^th. I never really thought about how a player could field a ball and make the throw to first, without getting an error and there is no accounting for it in the stats. Apparently Chances consist of Assists + Putouts + Errors. Baseball cards be teaching me stuff!

On to the back:

Rookie Fact: Two of Michael’s eight multi-homer games came as a Rookie in 2001.

When Young made his debut in the early 2000’s, I was playing the dating/marrying/having kids game so I wasn't paying as much attention to baseball as I had previously and do now. I have no idea if he was a highly touted prospect. I barely follow the American League as it is now, so I still don't really know much about him.

Despite what the PED era may lead you to believe, hitting a home run isn’t easy. Young is listed as 6’1” and 200 pounds on the back of his card, much bigger than me, but not exactly a hulking specimen when you think of home run hitters in the league. Even if he was, I don’t care who you are, hitting two in the same game is pretty impressive. And to do it as a rookie? Twice? Color me impressed.

Also of note is the extra red font in the statistics area on the back of the card. You know what that means. We've got a League Leader up in here! In 2005, while with the Rangers, Young led the American League with a .331 Batting Average while collecting a Major League leading 221 hits (a career high and 15 more than the runner up, Ichiro). The following year he tied the league lead for Games Played by participating in all 162 of the Rangers' games. It appears Young was consistently healthy throughout his career, as after his rookie season, he never dipped below 135 Games Played. He would tie for the league lead in Hits in 2011, but what the card doesn't show you is that Young would finish in the top four in hits four other times during his career.

Information I’ll be tracking:

Card Number: #72

Player Name: Michael Young

Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

Position: Third Base

Game Date: September 11, 2013

Opponent: Arizona Diamondbacks

Stadium: Dodger Stadium

Division:  National League West

Home/Away: Home

Outcome of the game: 4-1, Diamondbacks over Dodgers, Loss for the player depicted

Alternate/Throwback Jersey: No

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Birthdate: 10/19/1976

Birthplace: California

Cameos by: N/A

Photographer: Harry How

Niche collections this card could fit into: League Leader In Italics,

My Grade: I want to like this card. You’ve got a veteran heading towards the end of his career, playing for his third team within 12 months. As I mentioned, he looks like he’s charging hard to make the play.  I’m trying not to take into consideration that the batter ended up being safe. Young is older than me and I don’t know that I could put in that much effort, haha.

Night Owl might not think he needs a Michael-Young-as-a-Dodger card for his collection (yeah, I saw that tweet), but I do think it was pretty cool that Topps got the card into Series 1 without utilizing Photoshop to change a Rangers or Phillies uniform. The photo is only about four and a half months old so that’s a pretty quick turnaround. I think in season’s past, Young would have been shown as a Phillie or maybe held until Series 2 or Update. 

I think I’ll give this card another B-. Good action, good cropping. But there isn't much unique about it and unfortunately, the card itself doesn't fit into too many of the niche collections, which hold a good amount of weight on my grading scale.

It does have a few things going for it that may change my grade in the future. Since Young just announced his retirement, this might end up being his “Sunset” card. With a September 11th photo date, it currently holds the leads for latest picture to be included in Series 1. Granted, I'm three cards in, but we'll see how long it can hold the title. And with only 21 games as a Dodger, in a few years this card'll end up on somebody’s blog as an “Unfamiliar Uniform” post. So B-, and maybe with a little extra credit, it can move up.