Ken Williams #559

 

This week, a guy who helped the White Sox to the highest highs (and lowest lows)...as a GM. It's Kenny Williams! Kenny grew up connected with leaders in the Black Power movement in the Bay Area, was Stanford's kick returner, and a top prospect for the White Sox. After a decent 1987 rookie season, Ken stuck around MLB for a few years before going into the White Sox front office. He was the architect of the 2005 World Series championship team that ended an 88 year drought! He also spoke eloquently about racial justice and  being the only black GM in 2021.  

Topics: Chili Bun Burger, other Ken Williams, Black Panthers, 2005 Deep Dive

Listen:

 

Links: 
Card 559 on Beckett ⁠
1988 Topps in Sports Illustrated
Leadbelly in Lincoln, NE
Kenny Williams SABR Bio by Bill Pruden
SABR Bio of the other Ken Williams by Joseph Wancho with poem

Base path antics:
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2005 ALCS dropped third strike?⁠

Williams on race and racism in America in 2020:
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Felix Fermin #547

This week, a light hitting, slick fielding shortstop who was almost traded for the greatest reliever in baseball history...it's Felix Fermin! Fermin spent a couple years with the Pirates as a backup before getting traded to Cleveland for Jay Bell. He spent 5 years in Cleveland, hitting .256 with a slugging percentage lower than his OBP. He was sent to Seattle for Omar Vizquel and held the shortstop spot while A-Rod moved through the minors. We was almost traded for Mariano Rivera ahead of the 1996 season...but Steinbrenner's team convinced him otherwise! Fermin has gone on to a long and successful managerial career in the Dominican Republic and Mexico.

Topics: Alfredo Edmead, Pablo Cruise/Cruz, gifts and food

Listen:

Links: 

Baseball Hall Card Corner about this card! 

Pablo Cruz and the death of Alfredo Edmead 

Mariano for Felix Fermin? 

Felix makes a sweet double play: 
Felix shows great range:

Don Mattingly #2/300/386

 

This week, three cards from probably the biggest name in 80s baseball...Don Mattingly! The Hit Man, Donnie Baseball was the Captain of the Yankees during the time between titles. He was the 1984 AL batting champ, 1985 AL MVP, driving in 145 runs, a 9 time gold glover, 6 time all star, and a star of the Homer at the Bat episode of the Simpsons. There's a lot to talk about and a lot to like about Don Mattingly...sadly, injuries took his power and the sure fire Hall of Famer's numbers dropped after 1989. His Evansville, Indiana restaurant also closed in 1996...the same year he watched from home as his Yankees won their first title since 1978. Mattingly went on to a long coaching and managerial career, and may still one day enter Cooperstown, but it is less certain than it was in 1988 when we first saw these cards!

Topics: A Fever in the Heartland, New Coke, mullet controversy, sideburns, RBI Corner

Listen:

Links:

Base card #300
Record Breakers #2
All Star #386 on eBay
World of Baseball Don Mattingly 
SABR Bio by James Lincoln Ray 
Homer at the Bat Oral History 
Don’s HOF Case at MLB
Don’s 1987 Topps Birthday Mystery 
1989 SI Article 

Don talks about the Hit Man poster:
   
Don and Niekro in a New Coke Ad:

1995 ALDS Home Run: