Jeff Stone #154

 

This week, a player who was supposed to be a star, a batting title winner...but it didn't quite work out. It is Jeff Stone! Jeff came from a small town in Missouri, one of 15 siblings, growing up in extreme poverty. He made it out, signing with the Phillies and setting a stolen base record in the minors. He stole 90+ bases 3 straight seasons, including 123 at Class A Spartanburg. He earned a couple call ups and in 1984 got a Rookie of the Year vote after hitting .362 with 27 steals in just 51 games. That led to huge expectations for 1985...but he never put it all together. He had one big hit for the Red Sox. He never spent a full year in the Majors and returned back to Missouri in retirement. 

Listen: 

Card 154 on ⁠Beckett⁠

SABR Bio by ⁠David E. Skelton⁠

"Field of Broken Dreams" by ⁠Andrew Miller

Blue Jays vs. Red Sox, Sept. 28, 1990 on ⁠YouTube:

John Mitchell #207

This week...John Mitchell! Not the Watergate conspirator, but the pitcher from Tennessee who spent part of a few seasons for the Mets and one season with Baltimore. As an 18 year old, John survived 20+ hours at open sea, floating on a minnow bucket following a shipwreck. In that incident 2 people passed away, including John's friend and teammate, Anthony Latham. John was able to come back, make the big leagues, and spend 15 years in baseball.

Topics: Canned Seitzer, we have a blog?, chicken tenders

Listen: 

Card 207 on ⁠Beckett⁠

SABR Bio by ⁠Skip Nipper⁠

The Jimmy Fund ⁠game⁠

2009 SI Article on the accident by ⁠Jeff Pearlman⁠

⁠Greatest 21 Days⁠ profile

Check out our friends at ⁠Ordinary Effort

Dale Sveum #592

 

This week, we discussed a Brewers shortstop who was a big part of "Team Streak" in 1987. Dale Sveum hit 25 home runs, including a walk off to lead the Brewers to their 12th straight to start the season. The Brewers won 91 games. Dale was injured in 1988 and had a long recovery. He never had a year like 1987, but spent 12 years in MLB. He went on to a long coaching career, winning a ring as third base coach for the Red Sox, then managed the Cubs, and was hitting coach for the World Champion Royals.

Listen: 

SABR Bio by ⁠Bill Pruden⁠⁠

Dale's ⁠injury and recovery⁠

Hunting ⁠mishap ⁠with Yount

Dale hits a homer to extend The Streak: 

Interview with Dale about that Easter Sunday ⁠game.

Rafael Belliard #221

This week, Rafael Belliard! An all glove shortstop, he played 17 MLB seasons and won a ring for Atlanta Braves in 1995. When he retired he had played in more playoff games than any player born in the DR. He hit just 2 career homers, but they came more than 10 years apart!

Listen:

• Baseball Hall of Fame Card Corner: 1990 Fleer Rafael Belliard
• SABR Bio by Joe Cox
• Battery Power Blog - Blast from the past: Rafael Belliard
• Rafael Shows off his range...and injures himself: 

Remembering former #Pittsburgh #Pirates pitcher Grant Jackson on the anniversary of his birth (9/28/1942).

When Grant was #Buccos pitching coach in 1984, he carried an injured Rafael Belliard off the field at #Chicago’s Wrigley Field. 💪 #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/bRLcx2h2nw

— 1986-92 Pittsburgh Pirates (@1992Pirates) September 28, 2022

•  Rafael hit his 2nd career home run in 1997, 10.5 years after his first: