Moose Haas #606

 

This week, a man named Moose. Moose Haas was in MLB by age 20...and out of it by age 30. He started fast with a lot of innings for Milwaukee, but injuries and overuse limited his effectiveness. He was part of the Brewers World Series run in 1982 and still shows up on the team leaderboard. Despite the evidence on his 1988 Topps card, Moose had some pretty good fun facts too!

Topics: Streets of Baltimore, Mooses and Mules

Listen:
 

Links:

• SABR Bio by Dennis Degenhardt 
• Hall of Fame Card Corner 1981 Moose Haas 
• 1985 UPI Article about Moose
• Game Used Jersey 
• 1982 ALCS Don Baylor Grand Slam 

Charlie O'Brien - 566

This week, a 27 year old rookie card for a guy who ended up playing 15 MLB seasons...it's Charlie O'Brien! He was a legend at Wichita State, then joined a crowded field of catchers in Oakland before a trade sent him to Milwaukee. Charlie was a light bat, but showed his value as personal catcher for some of the best pitchers in baseball and caught for 13 Cy Young winners. He won a World Series with Atlanta and helped create and popularize the hockey style catcher mask!

Topics: Tulsa Race Massacre, deer scents, Brian Boru, SI Brawl

Listen:

Links:

• Card 566 on Beckett
• Charlie’s Sabr Bio by Steve West
• Brian Boru and his armor Wiki
• Charlie’s SI Cover ⁠
• Charlie Keeps his career alive at SI ⁠
• Charlie’s Book at Texas A&M Press ⁠
• Popular Mechanics story about Charlie’s mask 
• Puck Junk the evolution of Baseball goalie masks 
• 1995 NLCS Homer: 

Gene Garber #597

 

We're back after a brief break! This week a sidearm closer who never got the credit he deserved and now farms emus...it's Gene Garber! Garber didn't get a real chance with the Pirates, was sent to KC, but then really made his mark in Philadelphia as a set-up man. He was sent to Atlanta where he set club records for saves in a season and career, he also ended Pete Rose's hit streak in 1978. In retirement he runs his family farm in Pennsylvania, at one point selling Emu Oil.

Topics: The Garber Baby?, side arm motions, bird facts

Listen:

Links:

SABR Bio by Dan Massey

Garber irked by modern game

HOF Card Corner - 1975 Topps

The Curse of Gene Garber (PDF)

Gene ends Rose streak: 

Mike Fiore #38T

 

This week, a college star, gold medalist who never made it past double-A it's Mike Fiore! Fiore set all kinds of records at University of Miami, at-bats (946), runs (258), hits (341), doubles (63), walks (222) and RBI (235). He won the inaugural Dick Howser Award in 1987 after he slashed .423/.530/.611, but then wasn't drafted that year. After another great 1988 and an Olympic Gold Medal he was picked in the 15th round by the Cardinals. He was done in the minors after 3 years, then worked for Team USA, then the Boras Corporation. He has been with Boras for over 25 years as a Vice President.

Topics: Chicago style pope, typical Mikes, Atlantic City, The U

Listen:

Links: ⁠

• Card 38T on ⁠eBay

• Induction video into ⁠Miami Sports Hall of Fame⁠:

• Bio from University of Miami ⁠Hall of Fame

• Greatest 21 Days blog post about Mike⁠

• Mike interviewed about his experiences in ⁠Omaha:

• Mike's ⁠HOF induction speech: 

Jeff Musselman #229

 

This week we discussed an All Star Rookie reliever for the 1987 Blue Jays...Jeff Musselman! Jeff went 12-5 from the pen in 87 and then had a decent 1988 as a starter...then alcohol derailed his career. After rehab he was traded to the Mets, and then in 1990 was released. He was in AAA when his playing career ended abruptly with a heart attack at 29. He has spent 30+ years with the Boras Corporation as an agent and sometimes a counselor for young players. 

Topics: Jersey Devil, M.U.S.C.L.E. Men, pressure

Listen:

 

Links:

Card 229 on Beckett

SABR Bio by Malcolm Allen

Jeff at Harvard discussing sobriety

The Fall of '87

M.U.S.C.L.E. Men

The Jersey Devil

Jeff Ballard #782

 

This week, a pitcher who had a memorable season for the "Why Not" Orioles in 1989...it's Jeff Ballard! Ballard is the only 1988 Topps player from Montana. He went to Stanford and studied Geophysics to prepare for a fallback career in the oil business. He won 18 games in 1989, but then had some injuries that threw him off track. His career was cut short by a serious car accident. He survived, and went to work back in Montana. He has an impressive TV resume and started a family at an advanced age. 

Topics: Big Sky Baseball, geriatric dads, TV sports sleuthing

Listen:

Links: 

• Watch the Diamond King now!

• Listen to Cement City Podcast about Donora, PA

• SABR Bio by Malcolm Allen

• Ballard in Montana

• Ballard’s double ball found

• Looking back at Ballard’s 1989

• The Athletic finds out that Ballard is in The Office

• Why Not song:

Ken Griffey #443

 

This week, a famous dad from Donora, PA...it's Ken Griffey, Sr! Griffey was a three time all star, won two World Series as part of the Big Red Machine, yet was the third best player born in Donora. The other two were Stan Musial...and Ken's son! Ken grew up in Donora, one of six kids raised by a single mom in the aftermath of a pollution disaster and the collapse of the steel industry. His dad Buddy played high school ball with Stan the Man, but left the family when Ken was just 2. Ken took that hurt and made a point to be there for his kids...all the way to the Majors. 

Topics: Clean Air Act, video sleuthing, fathers and sons

Listen:

 

Links:

• Card 443 on ⁠Beckett
• SABR Bio by ⁠Charles F. Faber⁠
  
• ⁠Donora Smog Disaster⁠
• Grandma's Reds Scorebook ⁠Griffey entries⁠
• ⁠Ken and Buddy story
• Reds 1976 All-Star Game ⁠highlights 
• Stan and Ken and ⁠Donora, PA
• Ken Griffey Jr and Jackie Robinson Day 
• Father-Son ⁠back to back jacks: 
• Griffey wins the ⁠1980 ASG MVP: 
• Braves at Mets, ⁠Apr. 11, 1987: