Player Profile: Andy Ashby

I have 42 Andy Ashby cards. This one is from 1997 Collectors Choice.

Player Profile: Andy Ashby pitched fourteen seasons in the major leagues, mostly for the Phillies and Padres. He won 98 games, including 17 for the pennant-winning 1998 Padres. A two-time All-Star, he led the NL in starts in 1995 and shutouts in 1999.

My memories: I think of him more as a Phillie as that’s the team he came up with, but he actually pitched more and had better success as a Padre.

Where he is now: Coaching youth baseball.

Google Autocomplete results: He is first when you type Andy As, ahead of Andy Ashforth, CEO of AP Construction. Another prominent Andy Ashby is a dentist in Baltimore.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Tucker Ashford.

Player Profile: Alan Ashby

I have 36 Alan Ashby cards. This one is from 1986 Donruss.

Playing career: Alan Ashby was a catcher for the Indians, Blue Jays and Astros from 1973 to 1989. He was always either a backup or platoon – in his fourteen full seasons he never had more than 396 or less than 189 at bats. He was known most for his defensive prowess, and he caught three no-hitters.

Interesting stories: Was nicknamed “Buns” by the Blue Jays secretarial staff in the 1970s who admired his butt; the nickname has stuck with him ever since.

Where he is now: Announcer for the Blue Jays.

My memories: Would get a fair amount of Alan Ashby cards but don’t have any specific Alan Ashby memories.

Google Autocomplete results: He is first when you type Alan As, before Alan Ashby Of Mice and Men, guitarist for the punk/metal band named after the Steinbeck novel. Another prominent Alan Ashby is a medical device inventor.

Player Profile: Miguel Asencio

I have two cards of Miguel Asencio. This one is from 2002 Upper Deck MVP.

Playing career: Miguel Asencio made 28 starts for the Royals in 2002 and 2003, going 6-8 with a 5.14 ERA. Then he got hurt, needed Tommy John surgery, and only appeared in three more major league games, all for the Rockies in 2006.

My memories: Only know him from his baseball card.

Where he is now: Anyone know where Miguel Asencio is now?

Google Autocomplete results: He is fifth when you type Miguel As, between Miguel Asbun, a Senior Consultant at SunGard, and Miguel Ases Jewelry Sale, referring to a designer of jewelry for celebrities. Another prominent Miguel Asencio is an insurance agent in Miami.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Alan Ashby.

Player Profile: Rick Asadoorian

I have three cards of Rick Asadoorian. This one is from 2001 SP Top Prospects.

Playing career: Rick Asadoorian was drafted as an outfielder in the first round of the 1999 draft by Boston. After seven years in the Red Sox, Cardinals, Rangers and Reds organizations he switched to pitching, last appearing for the Can-Am League Worcester Tornadoes in 2010.

Where he is now: He does business development/relations for Actslike LLC, an advertising platform, and is a product rep for the Zorian Bats and Lu Rong Living, a sports nutritional product which Asadoorian uses not only for biceps tendinitis and shoulder inflammation, but “Away from the playing field [he’s] noticed a much greater sex drive along with improved sexual performance.”

My memories: Never heard of him until I got his card.

Google Autocomplete results: The first five entries when you type Rick Asa have to do with him. The sixth entry is for Rick Asa, a freelance writer. There do not appear to be any other prominent Rick Asadoorians.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Miguel Asencio.

Player Profile: Randy Asadoor

I have three cards of Randy Asadoor. This one is from 1987 Donruss.

Playing career: Infielder Randy Asadoor played in fifteen games for the 1986 Padres, hitting .364 (20-55).

Where he is now: Owner of Keystone Fruit Brokerage in California, which distributes cull fruit products to juice, puree and candy processors as well as to food banks.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Google Autocomplete results: He is first when you type Randy Asa, before Randy Asaki, a graduate of Monterey Bay Academy in California. There do not appear to be any other prominent Randy Asadoors.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Rick Asadoorian.

Player Profile: Fernando Arroyo

I have five cards of Fernando Arroyo. This one is from 1982 Topps.

Playing career: Fernando Arroyo pitched for the Tigers, Twins and A’s from 1975 to 1986, going 24-37 with a 4.44 ERA. A detailed description of his career can be found at Project Baseball 1976.

My memories: He’s before my time. Only know him from his cards.

Where he is now: He coached for many years in the minor leagues as well as in Korea. He is now retired.

Google Autocomplete results: He is sixth when you type Fernando Ar, between Fernando Araujo, a Colombian politician, and Fernando Arruda, a classical saxophonist. Another prominent Fernando Arroyo is a Mexican actor.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Randy Asadoor.

Dave Osteen on baseball cards

Dave Osteen pitched in the Cardinals organization from 1986 to 1991. The son of former major leaguer Claude Osteen, he went 54-30 with a 3.43 ERA. Now a youth baseball coach in Texas, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"I don't have any interesting stories about cards of myself or other players (like the Billy Ripken card or the Gary Pettis card where the picture was actually of Gary's younger brother). Collected cards as a kid but, like many others my age, they got thrown out due to moves or someone not knowing how valuable they could end up being.

  I guess I do have one half-interesting story. But it concerns a basketball card. As a kid, I remember having several copies of a Lew Alcindor card that was rectangular (taller than baseball cards). Years later, when I was playing at AAA Louisville, we were signing autographs in the concourse of the stadium as they had a small card show going on. On my way back to the locker room, I stopped by several of the displays and one card caught my eye. That same Lew Alcindor card with a price tag of $1300 on it. Told my teammate that as a kid I had at least a dozen of that same card!

   As far as my favorite card, I always liked the in-action card. It was my favorite card of my father, Claude, from around 72 or 73.

And one company put one out of me while I was at Louisville. I think I have one copy of it and have tried to locate other copies but can't seem to locate any."

Thanks!

Player Profile: Tim Adkins

I have one card of Tim Adkins, from 1993 Classic Best Gold.

Playing career: Tim Adkins pitched for twelve seasons in the Blue Jays, Yankees, Tigers and Reds organizations, winning 39 games and saving 26.

Where he is now: A scout for the Chicago Cubs.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Interesting stories: He shared his baseball card stories here last year.

Google Autocomplete Results: He has the first two results when you google Tim Adk, ahead of Tim Adkison, an avionics director. He is the sixth result when you google Tim Adkins, behind a carpet installer and some writers.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Fernando Arroyo.

Player Profile: Rob Adkins

I have one card of Rob Adkins, from 1993 Classic Best Gold.

Playing career: Rob Adkins pitched for four seasons in the Blue Jays organization, winning 4 games and saving 11.

Where he is now: A physical education teacher at Farmland Elementary School in Maryland.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Google Autocomplete results: He is second when you type Rob Adk, between Rob Adkins Bass, referring to a jazz musician, and Rob Adkin Kamloops, referring to a lawyer in Canada. There are four entries above him when you google Rob Adkins, most referring to the musician.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Tim Adkins.

Trade with Zeprock

Got a ton of awesome cards from Zeprock. Check out his website - he has really great tradelists and wantlists.

Far too many cards to list but here are just a few highlights of the many weird and wacky cards I got in this trade.

 

The back of this card is even better. While most ballplayers listed as their favorite musician boring choices like Garth Brooks or Luther Vandross, Rob Dibble's favorite singer is Ronnie James Dio! I am now a fan of Rob Dibble.

Garage sale goodies

Got several hundred late-90s early-00s cards for $20 at a garage sale this weekend. I was glad to get these as I don't have much from those years.  Lots of cards from sets like 2002 Topps Total and 2003 Topps. There was also a bunch of 2004 Topps but I already have that set, so let me know if you have any needs there or check out my tradelist.
Here are some highlights: Was the umpire airbrushed away in this shot? The logos certainly were. This is the first time I've seen the umpire airbrushed away on one of those lenticular, Sportflics-style cards. This looks like it was from Kerry Wood's 20-K game.

Cards from Derby City Cars

Got a bunch of cards in a trade with Brian of Derby City Cars. He sent me a bunch of 1992 Upper Deck, leaving me just two shy of the complete set - George Brett, #444, and Bret Boone, #771.
He also sent me a lot of cool Pinnacle cards from various years.

 

I'm on a horse.

Cards from All Tribe Baseball

Baseball Dad from All Tribe Baseball surprised me with some cards. He sent me the Lance Parrish card I needed to finish 1993 Topps (GCRL also sent it to me this week!) and also this awesome Nolan Ryan card to finish my 1992 Fleer set.

There appear to be 14 rows of 25 tallies on this card. 14 x 25 = 350. Nolan Ryan's 350th strikeout came as a Met, fanning the Phillies' Dave Watkins on September 7, 1969.

Player Profile: Bronson Arroyo

I have three cards of Bronson Arroyo. This one is from 2006 Upper Deck.

Playing career: Bronson Arroyo came up with the Pirates in 2000. After three undistinguished seasons he was picked up on waivers by the Red Sox, and he was a key contributor to the 2004 world championship team, going 10-9 with a 4.03 ERA. After the 2005 season he was traded to Cincinnati, winning at least nine games each season since 2005.

Where he is now: This year he is 2-1 with a 3.25 ERA in seven starts.

Interesting facts: He is also a musician. His favorite band is Alice in Chains and his band has covered their well known song “Down in a Hole.” You can listen to some of his music at BronsonArroyo.com.

My memories: He was a key part of that 2004 Red Sox team, and like many on that team he was a big personality. I was surprised that he was traded to a small-market Midwest team, that didn’t seem to fit him at all.  Every July you hear about him in deadline trade rumors.

Google Autocomplete results: He is third when you type Brons, between Bronson Pinchot, actor from Perfect Strangers, and Bronstein Properties, a real estate management firm in New York. There do not appear to be any other prominent Bronson Arroyos.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Fernando Arroyo.

Chad Moeller on baseball cards

Catcher Chad Moeller played eleven seasons in the major leagues for the Twins, Diamondbacks, Brewers, Reds, Dodgers, Yankees and Orioles. Now the owner of Chad Moeller Baseball in Scottsdale, Arizona, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"I collected as a boy. Still have the 75 Topps set."

Thanks!

1995 Upper Deck and 1998 Topps

First off, some sad news - former Royals pitcher Frank Wills passed away last week. He shared his baseball card stories here last year, including his thoughts on the error card he shares with Danny Jackson.

Now, on to the subject of today's post, a great trade with Garvey Cey Russell Lopes. I sent him two of the autographed Frank Robinson cards I got recently (I still have six more to trade!) He sent me a bunch of mid-to-late 90s Topps and Upper Deck, including a lot of two sets with great photography, 1995 Upper Deck and 1998 Topps.

Here are some gems from Upper Deck:

 
What kind of a swing is that?

And here are some neat cards from Topps.
 
Finally, is this the only baseball card to ever make mention of a home pregnancy test?

Player Profile: Rolando Arrojo

I have five cards of Rolando Arrojo. This one is from 1999 Upper Deck MVP.

Playing career: Rolando Arrojo was another prominent Cuban defector who had little success after a strong rookie season in the US. After going 14-12 with a 3.56 ERA for Tampa Bay in 1998 he struggled to keep his ERA below 5.00. He ended his career with the Red Sox in 2002.

My memories: Another prominent Cuban defector. I was going to write that he came along at the same time as Livan Hernandez, but I looked it up and it turns out I was thinking of Osvaldo Fernandez. Arrojo actually came up after Livan, yet Livan is still pitching in the major leagues all these years later.

Where he is now: Coaching at All Star Indoor Training in St. Petersburg.

Google Autocomplete results: He is third when you type Rolando A, between Rolando Arafiles, a doctor in Texas accused of various professional improprieties, and Rolando Acosta, a New York State appellate judge. There do not appear to be any other prominent Rolando Arrojos.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Bronson Arroyo.

Baseball card story from Mark Mitchelson

Mark Mitchelson pitched in the Red Sox organization from 1990 to 1992, winning 12 games and saving three. Now a deputy sheriff in Hillsborough County, Florida, he kindly shared with me a baseball card story.

"On one of my cards it shows me squatting down like a catcher, along with a catcher's mitt. Some of the guys bet me that I wouldn't do it."

Thanks! Here is a card of him from my collection.

Player Profile: Jake Arrieta

I have one card of Jake Arrieta, from 2010 Bowman Draft Picks.

Playing career: Jake Arrieta has won 16 games in his first two seasons as a member of the Orioles starting rotation.

My memories: I remember him being one of many pitchers to beat the Yankees in their major league debut over the last few years.

Where he is now: In 2011 he went 10-8 with the Orioles before being shut down due to injury in August. He's back this year, and so far is 2-3 with a respectable 4.23 ERA.

Google Autocomplete results: He is seventh when you type Jake A, between Jake Austin, a child actor, and Jake Anderson, a fisherman on Deadliest Catch. There don’t appear to be any other prominent Jake Arrietas.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Rolando Arrojo.

Alan Mills on baseball cards

Alan Mills pitched twelve seasons in the major leagues for the Yankees, Orioles and Dodgers, winning 39 games and saving 15. Now the pitching coach for the Aberdeen IronBirds in the Orioles organization, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"I've been collecting cards since I was a kid and still do it now. One of my favorite cards is a card of Chris Hoiles that I just happened to be on during a Spring Training game."

  

Thanks! Here is a card of him on the Yankees, from 1990 Bowman.

Player Profile: Roberto Arredondo

I have one card of Roberto Arredondo, from 1992 Classic Best.

Playing career: First baseman Roberto Arredondo played in the Padres organization from 1989 to 1992, hitting .282 with 8 HR and 132 RBI.

My memories: Never heard of him until I got his card.

Where he is now: Anyone know where Roberto Arredondo is now?

Google Autocomplete results: He is eighth when you type Roberto Arre, between Robert Harrell, an investment adviser in Texas, and Roberto Arreguin, a marine biologist in Mexico. The ballplayer is seventh on the page when you google his name; others include a musician, boxer and cameraman.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Jake Arrieta.

Juan Padilla on baseball cards

Juan Padilla pitched ten seasons of professional baseball, including time in the major leagues with the Yankees, Reds and Mets. Now the Founder and CEO of PRO-Dream Agency, a charitable organization that helps children in the US and Puerto Rico learn valuable life skills through baseball, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"I used to collect baseball cards when I was a kid...I don't any more...My favorite baseball card is my own with the New York Yankees, Prospect '04."

Thanks!

Player Profile: Matt Arrandale

I have one card of Matt Arrandale, from 1995 Topps.

Playing career: Matt Arrandale pitched in the Cardinals organization from 1993 to 1998, going 37-28 with a 3.47 ERA.

Where he is now: Area Director of Sales, Southeast, at Interactive Intelligence, a business communications company.

My memories: Never heard of him until I got his card.

Google Autocomplete results: He is second when you type Matt Arra, between Matt Arrants, Director of Asset Management Services at Pinnacle Advisory Group, and Matt Arrah, Application Support Coordinator at the Australia Department of Education and Training. There do not appear to be any other prominent Matt Arrandales.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Roberto Arredondo.

Player Profile: Rene Arocha

I have eighteen cards of Rene Arocha. This one is from 1995 Donruss.

Playing career: One of the first Cuban defectors to play in the US, Rene Arocha went 11-8 as a member of the Cardinals’ starting rotation in 1993, a promising rookie season. Unfortunately, injuries ruined his career and he only made seven more major league starts.

My memories: I remember him and Ariel Prieto getting a lot of press as the first Cuban defectors to play in the US. Unfortunately they did not have much success here. The next prominent Cuban defectors, the Hernandez brothers, ended up being much more successful.

Where he is now: A private baseball instructor in the Miami area.

Google Autocomplete Results: He is fourth when you type Rene Ar, between Rene Arnoux, a French race car driver in the 1970s and 1980s, and Rene Arnez, a fashion designer. There do not appear to be any other prominent Rene Arochas.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Matt Arrandale.

My first '12's

I used some Rite Aid UP Rewards to purchase a $5 36-card pack of 2012 Topps for $1, which is what that amount of new cards should cost, in my opinion. I remember getting two packs of cards a dollar with about that many cards in them when I was a kid. Those were the days. Highlights from the pack:

Mariano Rivera. Glad he's coming back next year.

David Robertson. Rivera's replacement.

 

Think the back of the card jinxed Mariano?

Finally, I was really glad to get this card in my first pack of '12's. As a collector of cards with unusual/funny pictures this one is right in my sweet spot.

Kyle Peterson on baseball cards

Kyle Peterson pitched five seasons of professional baseball, including two years in the majors with the Milwaukee Brewers. Now a college baseball announcer for ESPN, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"I collected as a kid, my favorite was probably the '85 Gooden Topps card. My son found my cards in my parents' basement and now is hooked. There is something pretty cool about seeing yourself on a baseball card. Watching my son get excited when he opens a pack tops it though."

Thanks!

Player Profile: Brad Arnsberg

I have thirteen cards of Brad Arnsberg. This one is from 1988 Topps.

Playing career: Brad Arnsberg pitched for the Yankees, Rangers and Indians from 1986 to 1992. His best season was 1990, when he went 6-1 with 5 saves and a 2.15 ERA for Texas.

Where he is now: A pitching coach for the Marlins, Blue Jays and most recently Astros, who fired him last June.

My memories: I remember him as a well-regarded Yankee prospect in the 1980s; one of many who ended up having greater success in another uniform.

Interesting stories: I wrote to him last year for his baseball card stories. He declined to participate but wished me good luck on my project.

Google Autocomplete results: He is fifth when you type Brad Ar, between Brad Arnold Divorce, referring to the marital problems of the singer from 3 Doors Down, and Brad Aronstam, an attorney in Delaware. There don’t appear to be any other prominent Brad Arnsbergs.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Rene Arocha.

Player Profile: Scott Arnold

Very sad about Mariano Rivera. Still, that's baseball. And life. The Yankees will just have to find a way to deal with it. As will us fans.

I have one card of Scott Arnold, from 1990 CMC.

Playing career: Scott Arnold pitched in six games for the 1988 Cardinals, going 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA but striking out 8 batters in 6.2 innings. You can read more about his pro baseball career in his Greatest 21 Days profile.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Where he is now: Anyone know where Scott Arnold is now?

Google Autocomplete results: He is fourth when you type Scott Ar, between Scott Architectural Lighting, a light fixture manufacturer in California, and Scott Arenare, General Counsel of Warburg Pincus. When you google Scott Arnold there are four links before the ballplayer, including an attorney and a photographer.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Brad Arnsberg.