#301 Shane Victorino

#301 Shane Victorino

First impression of what’s going on: At first glance you might think Shane Victorino is trying to steal a home run. But that yellow line on the wall behind him is the foul marker and he’s going a ball that pushed foul. It doesn’t look good as far as making the catch because he is out of room and the ball is not in the picture. I like how none of the Boston fans are interfering with the play. That home team crowd knows what’s up.

BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 4: Shane Victorino #18 of the Boston Red Sox leaps over the right field wall in foul territory while missing a pop fly in front of a young fan during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 4, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

The Reality of the Photo: After looking at the source photo, the ball does look catchable but the caption claims it was not caught. And after zooming a bit out, we do see a young Red Sox fan sticking his cap out to try and catch the ball too, but I’m not sure how much he would have actually interfered. With no out recorded, the BOXSCORE won’t be much help but let’s see how Victorino did overall anyway.

The Red Sox came away winners, 4-0.

Victorino had two hits, including an RBI single in the 6^th inning.

We do see most of the Nike swooshes on his shoes as he’s flying through the air.

And I’m pretty sure these are sunglasses.

There are several fans although I wouldn't call any of them notable. Maybe if that kid reaching out his hat had made the card and not just his hat.

On to the back:

Rookie Fact: On 5/11/2003, Shane entered as a pinch-runner, and stole second and third.

Victorino was a rookie with the San Diego Padres. I don't think I knew that. I've mostly associated him with the Phillies. That May 11^th game was the 30^th of Victorino's career and up to that point had only a few meaningless hits and RBIs.

With the Padres down by one with one out in the top of the 9^th, Victorino entered as a pinch runner when pinch-hitter Dave Hansen drew a walk. As noted in the rookie fact, he steals second and third, still with one out. Unfortunately, Victorino gets stranded there as the game ends when the next two batters can't drive him.

Information I’ll be tracking:

Card Number: #301

Player Name: Shane Victorino

Team: Boston Red Sox

Position: Outfield

Game Date: August 4, 2013

Opponent: Arizona Diamondbacks

Stadium: Fenway Park

Division: American League East

Home/Away: Home

Outcome of the game: 4-0, Red Sox over the Diamondbacks, Win for the player depicted

Alternate/Throwback Jersey: No.

Bats/Throws: Both/Right

Birthdate: 11/30/1980

Birthplace: Hawaii

Cameos by: N/A

Photographer: Jared Wickerham

Niche collections this card could fit into: Free Advertising, League Leader in Italics, Sunglasses

My Grade: When I first saw the card I thought it was pretty cool. Then I thought it may be coasting on the Victorino’s attempt. I have nothing against the Red Sox but I seemed to be looking for ways to give this card less than an A. I almost missed the Nike logos and sunglasses. Despite not making the catch, it is an amazing shot, so it gets it’s A.

#289 Matt Thornton

After taking my normal Sunday off from posting to do a little blog maintenance by updating links and such, I’m back today connecting Saturday’s card to today’s through the Players Named Matt Niche. It’s also been a while since I posted anything about the Red Sox. One Jonny Gomes card early on and they haven’t even been an opponent on any of the other cards.

#289 Matt Thornton

First impression of what’s going on: This seems to be a candid shot, taken between pitches. I don’t know if he's getting signs, waiting for the next batter or what. He looks a little tense though. The crop is, as usual, a little too tight.

BOSTON, MA - JULY 20: Matt Thornton #38 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the New York Yankees during the game on July 20, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

The Reality of the Photo: Ah, a Red Sox-Yankees rivalry game. That’s probably enough to make you tense. And as a relief pitcher, it’s probably even more pressure. Let’s take a look at the BOXSCORE.

Uh-oh. I don’t know when Thornton came into the game, but it looks like the Red Sox bullpen may have blown this game. Or they left the starter in too long.

Well, Thornton gave up two hits but no runs so that’s good for him.

Oh. Whoops. Looks like he inherited a couple of runners who scored on the two hits that Thornton gave up. And one of them was the eventual game winner.

Despite the not-so-good appearance, Thornton does have a couple of niches going for him, including two instances of free advertising.

He sports the all too common Nike undershirt with the swoosh by his neck. And in the lower left corner we see a pair of Rawlings logos on his glove.

And while the reasons behind a commemorative patch are always sad, Thornton has the Boston Strong patch on his left sleeve.

On to the back:

Rookie Fact: Matt made his only start, then began a streak of 603 relief outings.

I took this to mean his first appearance was a start and then he was permanently moved to the bullpen. But after seeing this chart on Baseball-Reference I was confused when I saw the total games played.

Although the wording is technically correct in the Rookie Fact, apparently Thornton made two relief appearances before making a start and then moving to the bullpen for good. Not a big deal, just walking you through my process.

And the number 603 stuck out at me because I know it’s right around Mariano Rivera’s record breaking Save total, which made me wonder how many appearances he had to make to get there. Guess I’ll have to wait until I get to his card…

Information I’ll be tracking:

Card Number: #289

Player Name: Matt Thornton

Team: Boston Red Sox

Position: Pitcher

Game Date: July 20, 2013

Opponent: New York Yankees

Stadium: Fenway Park

Division: American League East

Home/Away: Home

Outcome of the game: 5-2, Yankees over the Red Sox, Loss for the player depicted

Alternate/Throwback Jersey: No.

Bats/Throws: Left/Left

Birthdate: 9/15/1976

Birthplace: Michigan

Cameos by: N/A

Photographer: Jared Wickerham

Niche collections this card could fit into: Former 1^st Round Draft Pick, Free Advertising, Commemorative Patch, Southpaw, Players Named Matt

My Grade: This card hit a couple of niches to give it the collectability factor, but as far as the picture and the story behind it, they’re a little lackluster. I like pictures where the batter isn’t just swinging and the pitcher isn’t just going through the motion, but just standing there isn’t that great either.

I’ll give this one a C+.

#274 Jonny Gomes

Yesterday I honored the Super Bowl teams with cards from their baseball counterparts. Today, I’ve got two random members of the two World Series teams. Actually, this first one is the only Red Sox player I pulled in either the blaster or the hanger box I bought so it was randomly selected by Topps I guess.

#274 Jonny Gomes

First impression of what’s going on: I remember this image quite well as it, or one much like it, was on the cover of Sports Illustrated last April. It followed the terrible bombing at the Boston marathon. I have mixed feelings about putting this particular image on a baseball card and think its selection walks a fine line between honoring a community and capitalizing on a tragedy.

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 20: Jonny Gomes #2 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after hitting a double against the Kansas City Royals in the eighth inning on April 20, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Michael Ivins/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

The Reality of the Photo:  Despite another mis-crop by Topps, this really is a great photo. The caption makes no mention of the importance of the play. Following the marathon bombing on April 19, 2013, the Red Sox/Royals game was cancelled. The next day, David Ortiz game the crowd an impassioned speech, even dropping the F-bomb on live TV. That's a story you won't see in the BOXSCORE.

What you will see is that down 2-1, Gomes came off the bench to lead off the bottom of the 8^th with a double. This pose was the result after reaching second base. He would later score on a three run homer by Daniel Nava which secured a 4-3 win for the Red Sox and the city of Boston.

On to the back:

Rookie Fact: Jonny’s 21 HRs were most by a Rays rookie between 1998 and 2007.

Gomes got a few games under his belt in 2003 and 2004 but was still able to qualify as a rookie in 2005 when he clubbed 21 HRs in 108 games for the Devil Rays.

For those curious, I looked up who broke his Rays rookie record in 2008. Only two players on the Rays that year had more. Carlos Pena (not a rookie) had 31 and some guy who won the Rookie of the Year award that year, Evan Longoria had 27. And to be nitpicky, Gomes still has the Devil Rays record as 2008 was the year they became just the Rays.

Beacuase of all the stats the card has, Gomes is the first card I’ve shown without a blurb. Funny how the veterans with a career’s worth of stories are the one left without them.

Information I’ll be tracking:

Card Number: #274

Player Name: Jonny Gomes

Team: Boston Red Sox

Position: Outfield

Game Date: April 20, 2013

Opponent: Kansas City Royals

Stadium: Fenway Park

Division: American League East

Home/Away: Home

Outcome of the game: 4-3, Red Sox over the Royals, Win for the player depicted

Alternate/Throwback Jersey: No

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Birthdate: 11/22/1980

Birthplace: California

Cameos by: N/A

Photographer: Michael Ivins

Niche collections this card could fit into: Horizontal, Awesome Hair, Tattoos, Celebration, Patch

My Grade: I hope this card doesn’t end up lost in dime boxes somewhere and the significance lost.

A horizontal layout is one of my top niches. Awesome hair isn’t just limited to long flowing manes, facial hair counts too. I myself am not a tattoo guy, but I've noticed a lot more popping up on players and cards. The Boston Strong patch is the first one I've seen this year, although when I get to the Cardinals cards, I'm betting I'll see a Stan Musial commemorative patch.

If Topps hadn't zoomed in so close and kept his fists in the frame, this would have been my second A card. But I won’t let my disdain for bad cropping drop this otherwise pretty awesome card a full letter grade. A- it is.

UPDATE: Since I wrote this, I've decided to change my grade to an A. If it was cropped better, I would have given it an A+, not just an A, thus the change.