Last time 1962 cruised to an 8-1 victory. Who will win here?
Cecil Butler poses at spring training with the batting cage in the background. Butler came up with the Braves in 1962 and got off to a fast start. In nine games (two starts) he went 2-0 with a 2.61 ERA. However, he hurt his elbow in May and never fully recovered. He made just two more major league appearances, with the Braves in 1964, with an 8.31 ERA over 4.1 innings. Good reminder that pitching injuries are nothing new. After his playing career he worked as a painting contractor for 40 years. He died in 2019 at the age of 82.
Nice action-packed photo of Juan Espino dropping the bat (maybe after a bunt?) and running out of the batters box, in a spring game against the Expos in West Palm Beach. Espino played in 49 games for the Yankees from 1982 to 1986, hitting .219 with 1 HR and 8 RBI. After his playing career he returned to his native Dominican Republic, where he still resides.
Almost a tossup. Voting for 1962 and the Star Rookie designation over Juan's levitating baseball bat.
ReplyDeleteCecil.
ReplyDelete1962
ReplyDeleteStar Rookie '62 shreds.
ReplyDeleteEspino
ReplyDeleteTough one. Going with '87 because of the bat.
ReplyDeletenormally would be a toss up between the rookie star and the floating bat, but the Braves card breaks the tie 1962!
ReplyDelete62
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure whether I should hold its condition against it, but I'm going '62.
ReplyDelete1987 = well cropped action shot w/floating bat
ReplyDeleteI'm going '87. Always liked those Yankee road grays.
ReplyDelete1962. The '87 is nice, but a little drab.
ReplyDelete