Player Profile: Charly Bashara

I have one card of Charly Bashara, from 2011 Topps Pro Debut.

Playing career: Charly Bashara pitched two seasons in the Brewers organization. In 37 games he went 9-7 with a 3.92 ERA.

Where he is now: A Treasury Specialist at Berkshire Bank in Pittsfield, MA.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Google Autocomplete results: He is first when you type Charly Bash, ahead of Franklin and Bash Charlie, referring to a character on a TV show. There do not appear to be any other Charly Basharas.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Anthony Bass.

Player Profile: Shawn Barton

I have five cards of Shawn Barton. This one is from 1993 Topps.

Playing career: Shawn Barton pitched for the Mariners in 1992 and the Giants in 1995 and 1996. In 73 games he was 4-2 with a 4.71 ERA. A more detailed account of his career can be found at The Greatest 21 Days.

Where he is now: A baseball instructor at three facilities in Pennsylvania – Spooky Nook Sports, Grand Slam of Reading, and B2B Baseball.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Google Autocomplete results: He is second when you type Shawn Bart, between Shawn Bartholomew, a construction superintendent in California, and Shawn Bartelt, General Manager of WRDQ Orlando. Another prominent Shawn Barton is a movie costume designer.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Charly Bashara.

Player Profile: Daric Barton

I have nine cards of Daric Barton. This one is from 2009 Upper Deck.

Playing career: First baseman Daric Barton came up with the A’s in 2007, and by 2010 looked like a star in the making, hitting .273 with 10 HR and 57 RBI while leading the American League with 110 walks. However, the next season he hit just .212 with 0 HR and 21 RBI and was demoted to the minors at the end of June. He has not shown any signs since that he can return to stardom.

Where he is now: He has spent most of the season at AAA Sacramento, hitting .285 with 6 HR and 55 RBI. He did spend a week in the majors in May with Oakland, going 3 for 21 with a home run.

My memories: I actually came across his card the other day and was wondering what had happened to him. I had guessed that he was out of the game and was surprised to see he is still with Oakland.

Google Autocomplete results: He is second when you type Daric, between Darice, a wholesale craft supplier, and Da’Rick Rogers, a wide receiver for the Bills. There do not appear to be any other prominent Daric Bartons.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Shawn Barton.

Player Profile: Brian Barton

I have three cards of Brian Barton. This one is from 2008 Topps. 

Playing career: Outfielder Brian Barton played in 82 games for the 2008 Cardinals, hitting .268 with 2 HR and 13 RBI. He also played in one game for the Braves in 2009.

Where he is now: He is now playing for the independent Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, hitting .284 with 1 HR and 19 RBI in 46 games. He founded the (XY)∞ Foundation (boys and girls times infinity) to expose inner city youth to travel, business ownership, public speaking and community action. He has recently written a motivational book called Mindset, and also has a blog where he discusses various political and intellectual topics.

My memories: Last year he kindly shared his thoughts on baseball cards with this blog.

Google Autocomplete results: He is second when you type Brian Bar, between Brian Barrett, Managing Editor of Gizmodo, and Brian Barbour Twitter, a UNC athletics blog. Another prominent Brian Barton is a Washington man who has been missing for eight years.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Daric Barton.

Player Profile: Jason Bartlett

I have four cards of Jason Bartlett. This one is from 2007 Topps.

Playing career: Shortstop Jason Bartlett came up with Twins in 2004, and had some pretty good seasons in Minnesota before being traded with Matt Garza to the Rays for Brendan Harris and Delmon Young. Like Garza, he was a big reason the surprising Rays made it all the way to the World Series, and his solid season at bat and in the field earned him MVP votes. The next season he was an All Star, hitting .320 with 14 HR and 66 RBI, by far his best season with the bat. His production dropped off markedly in 2010, and after that season he was traded to the Padres, where he was unable to regain his stroke and was released by San Diego in August 2012.

Where he is now: He has not signed with a team for 2013, but is keeping himself in shape in case an opportunity arises. Meanwhile, he has teamed up with his father-in-law, former Orioles pitcher Tony Chevez, to host a charity golf tournament to fund a mission trip to Nicaraugua to provide medical and schools supplies, clothes, and shoes, as well as to build houses.

My memories: I remember that trade and how it helped both teams become surprising contenders.

Google Autocomplete results: He is seventh when you type Jason Ba, between Jason Babin, a defensive end for the Jaguars, and Jason Bay ESPN, referring to the Mariners outfielder. Another prominent Jason Bartlett is an intellectual property lawyer at Morrison & Foerster.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Brian Barton.

Player Profile: Kimera Bartee

I have three cards of Kimera Bartee. This one is from 1997 Score. I wonder what is going on here and who the other player is.

Playing career: Outfielder Kimera Bartee played six seasons in the major leagues, mostly for the Tigers. In 243 games he hit .216 with 4 HR, 33 RBI and 36 SB.

Where he is now: A baserunning coordinator for Pirates organization, he is also an instructor at the Warriors Baseball Academy in Arizona.

My memories: I just remember him for his unusual first name.

Google Autocomplete results: He is third when you type Kimera B, between Kimera Bridal, a dress shop in Brooklyn, and Kimera Band, a Latin Flamenco band. There do not appear to be any other prominent Kimera Bartees.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Jason Bartlett.

Player Profile: Jeff Barry

I have one card of Jeff Barry, from 1991 Classic Best.

Playing career: Outfielder Jeff Barry played in parts of three seasons at the major league level for the Mets and the Rockies. In 104 games he hit .244 with 5 HR and 28 RBI.

Where he is now: A Loan Officer at Mission Hills MortgageBankers in Medford, OR, he also runs a baseball academy at ABK Athletic Edge.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Google Autocomplete results: He is second when you type Jeff Bar, between Jeff Bark, a photographer, and Jeff Baron, a playwright. There are no references to the ballplayer on the first page of results when you google Jeff Barry; most refer to a songwriter.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Kimera Bartee.

Player Profile: Anthony Barron

I have one card of Anthony Barron, from 1989 Star.

Playing career: Outfielder Anthony “Tony” Barron made his big league debut at the age of 29 in one game for the 1996 Expos. The next season, he got into 57 games with the Phillies, hitting .286 with 4 HR and 24 RBI.

My memories: I didn’t think I remembered him, but then I saw this blog post by a Phillies fan talking about how he hit a home run off of Hideki Irabu in a Labor Day Weekend sweep of the Yankees by Philadelphia in the first year of interleague play in 1997. I don’t remember that particular home run, but I remember my family getting our first computer (we were always very late in getting any kind of technology or appliance) and setting it up with my dad while in the background on TV Irabu was getting belted around by the Phillies.

Where he is now: Anyone know where Anthony Barron is now?

Google Autocomplete results: He is fourth when you type Anthony Barro, between Anthony Barrow Hair, a hair stylist, and Anthony Barron Nixon Peabody, a construction and real estate litigator, who most of the first page of hits for Anthony Barron refer to.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Jeff Barry.

Player Profile: Francisco Barrios

I have four cards of Francisco Barrios. This one is from 1981 Fleer.

Playing career: Francisco Barrios came up to stay with the White Sox in 1976, where he was used both as a starter and a reliever, most prominently combining with John Odom on a no-hitter. For the next three years he was a solid starting pitcher for the White Sox. Injuries beginning in the 1979 season robbed him of his effectiveness. He only pitched in eleven games in 1980 and 1981 as his life began to fall apart due to the influence of drugs and alcohol. In 1981, he was arrested for disorderly conduct after a hotel fight with Steve Trout on April 30. On June 24, 1981, he was arrested again after a bar fight, and was charged with cocaine possession as well as disorderly conduct. The next day he checked into rehab for both drug and alcohol abuse. At the end of the season he was released by the White Sox. He was invited to spring training by the Brewers in late February 1982 but never showed up. He died of a drug-related heart attack on April 9, 1982 in his parents’ home in Mexico, leaving a wife and a five-year-old daughter. A full account of his career can be found at the 1977 Topps and 1980 Topps blogs.

My memories: He was from before my time. Only know him from his card.

Google Autocomplete results: He is eighth when you type Francisco Ba, between Francisco Bayeu, an eighteenth century Spanish painter, and Francisco Barrios Musician, a Mexican composer. 

Coming up next: The next profile will be Anthony Barron.

Player Profile: Tommy Barrett

I have five cards of Tommy Barrett. This one is from 1989 ProCards.

Playing career: Second baseman Tommy Barrett played in 50 games for the Phillies and 4 for the Red Sox. He hit .202 with 0 HR and 4 RBI.

My memories: I first heard of him as a minor leaguer after the 1986 season when the Yankees traded him to the Phillies with Mike Easler for Charlie Hudson. I thought it was cool that the Yankees had the brother of a star (Marty Barrett was at his most prominent with Boston) and was a little disappointed to see him go.

Where he is now: Anyone know where Tommy Barrett is now?

Google Autocomplete results: He is eighth when you type Tommy Bar, between Tommy Barban, a character in the book Tender is the Night, and Tommy Barbarella, a keyboardist in Prince’s band. Another prominent Tommy Barrett is a NASCAR driver.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Francisco Barrios.

Player Profile: Tim Barrett

I have one card of Tim Barrett, from 1989 ProCards.

Playing career: Tim Barrett pitched six seasons of professional baseball, almost all of it in the Expos organization. He pitched in four games at the big league level in 1988, going 0-0 with a save and a 5.79 ERA.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Where he is now: Anyone know where Tim Barrett is now?

Google Autocomplete Results: He is tenth when you type Tim Barr, ahead of Tim Barakett, former CEO of Atticus Capital. The first entry when you google Tim Barrett is not the ballplayer but the Director of the Center of the Book at the University of Iowa.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Tommy Barrett.

Player Profile: Michael Barrett

I have 33 cards of Michael Barrett. This one is from 2001 Topps.


Playing career: The Expos’ first-round draft choice in 1995, Michael Barrett played twelve seasons in the major leagues, mostly with the Expos and Cubs. In 2005 he won a Silver Slugger, hitting .276 with 16 HR and 61 RBI; he hit exactly 16 HR in each of his three full seasons with the Cubs.

Interesting facts: A competitive, fiery player, he got into a couple of highly-publicized brawls, slugging AJ Pierzynski and getting slugged by Carlos Zambrano. In one interview he said “I wouldn’t mind trying to be an ultimate fighter after my baseball career.” Instead he has gone into youth baseball instruction.

Where he is now: He owns Barrett Baseball in the Atlanta Area. He also owns a non-profit called the Michael Barrett Foundation that works with children’s hospitals. He has also worked with Kerry Wood and Ryan Dempster to raise money to help Derrek Lee’s daughter in the research for Leber’s congenital amaurosis, a rare eye disease.

My memories: I remember the fights but other than that he was a pretty generic catcher on some mediocre National League teams. I do remember seeing him with San Diego toward the end of his career at Yankee Stadium. I looked up the game on Baseball-Reference and he went 0-4 (including striking out to end the game against Mariano Rivera) and the Yankees stole four bases off of him.

Google Autocomplete results: He is first when you type Michael Bar, ahead of Michael Barbaro, a writer for the New York Times. Another prominent Michael Barrett is the Chief of Revenue at Yahoo. 

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

Player Profile: Marty Barrett

I have 37 cards of Marty Barrett. This one is from 1987 Donruss.

Playing career: Second baseman Marty Barrett played ten seasons in the major leagues, nine with the Red Sox. His best season was 1986, when he earned MVP votes by hitting .286 with 39 doubles, 4 HR, 60 RBI and 15 SB. That season he was the MVP of the ALCS and played well in the World Series, but made the final out, striking out against Jesse Orosco.

Interesting stories: Barrett tore his ACL in 1989, an injury that effectively ended his career. The Red Sox team doctor, Arthur Pappas, was also a part-owner of the team and did not inform Barrett of the extent of his injury, telling him it was just torn cartilage and he could still play on it. Barrett sued Pappas and in 1995 was awarded $1.7 million. Despite this, Pappas stayed as the Red Sox medical director until 2002, when Nomar Garciaparra famously told the media “Our doctors are killing us.”

His brother Tommy Barrett played in the major leagues for the Philadelphia Phillies.

My memories: I remember Barrett well from the 1986 postseason. Unfortunately it’s mostly from the clip of the end of the 1986 World Series being shown on TV all the time here in New York.

Where he is now: Investing in real estate in Las Vegas.

Google Autocomplete results: He is fifth when you type Marty Ba, between Marty Baron, editor of the Boston Globe, and Marty Bandier Wiki, referring to a music publisher. Another prominent Marty Barrett is Director of College Scouting for the Chicago Bears.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Michael Barrett.

Player Profile: Jon Barratt

I have one card of Jon Barratt, from 2004 Just Rookies.

Playing career: Jon Barratt pitched in the Rays organization from 2003 to 2008, going 17-26 with a 4.61 ERA. He retired after the 2008 season because he “just didn’t have the passion anymore”.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Where he is now: Anyone know where Jon Barratt is now?

Google Autocomplete results: He is first when you type Jon Barra, ahead of Jon Barratt Baseball. The first entry when you google Jon Barratt is not the ballplayer but a graphic designer.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Marty Barrett.

Player Profile: Jim Barr

I have twelve cards of Jim Barr. This one is from 1978 Topps.

Playing career: Jim Barr had several good seasons as a starting pitcher for the Giants in the mid-1970’s. winning 80 games from 1972 to 1978. In 1972 he set a major league record by retiring 41 straight batters, a mark that held for 25 years. He was a “pitch-to-contact” guy with few strikeouts or walks. A free-agent signing for the Angels in 1979, he was one of many to disappoint the club in that era, going 11-16 over two seasons. He reemered with the Giants as a solid middle reliever in 1982 and 1983.

Where he is now: He is highly active in the Sacramento Men’s Senior Baseball League, and is an assistant coach at Granite Bay High School.

Interesting facts: Both of his daughters, Betsy Barr and Emmy Barr, played professionally in the Women’s United Soccer Association. They faced each other in a San Jose-Washington game in 2003.

My memories: Before my time. Only know him from his card.

Google Autocomplete results: He is third when you type Jim Barr, between Jim Barry Blackrock, a banker, and Jim Barraud, a UX designer. Another prominent Jim Barr is a realtor.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Jon Barratt.

Player Profile: Jimmy Baron

I have two cards of Jimmy Baron. This one is from 1993 Topps.

Playing career: Jimmy Baron pitched nine seasons in the Padres, Yankees, Pirates and Mets organizations. His best season was 1996, when he went 6-3 with a save and a 3.00 ERA for Rancho Cucamonga.

Where he is now: A youth baseball coach in Illinois.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Google Autocomplete results: Jimmy Baron is first when you google Jimmy Baro. However, most of the results are for a disc jockey and a basketball player. There are no references to the baseball player on the first page of results.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Jim Barr.

Player Profile: Salome Barojas

I have six cards of Salome Barojas. This one is from 1985 Donruss.

Playing career: During the 1981 baseball strike, some managers with little else to do made scouting trips to Mexico to try to find the next Fernando Valenzuela. White Sox manager Tony LaRussa came up with a gem in Salome Barojas, who would debut in 1982, saving five games in the Chisox’ 8-0 start. He saved 33 games over his first two seasons with Chicago, but after a dismal 1983 postseason and a lackluster start to 1984, he was traded to Seattle, who tried to convert him to a starter with little success. After the 1985 season he returned to Mexico, where he had great success, culminating in his election to the Salon de la Fama in 2002.

Where he is now: Coaching in Mexico.

My memories: I only knew him from Bob Sheppard’s “Poetic Tribute to Baseball’s Hispanic Names”. The only link I found to it online was from the Daily News in 2010, but I used to have it in a clipping from either Newsday or the New York Times from the late 80’s/early 90’s. Salome Barojas, along with Jose Valdivielso, was Sheppard’s favorite name to announce.

Google Autocomplete results: He is third when you type Salome Ba, between Salome Bandcamp, referring to a band that performs at Metal Bandcamp, and Salome Baby Name – Salome is currently the 261^st most popular girls name in the US. There do not appear to be any other prominent Salome Barojases.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Jimmy Baron.

Player Profile: Chris Barnwell

I have one card of Chris Barnwell, from 2006 Upper Deck. 

Playing career: Infielder Chris Barnwell played nine seasons of professional baseball. He made the major leagues with Milwaukee in 2006, going 2 for 30 in thirteen games.

Where he is now: A Sales Associate at Stryker Craniomaxillofacial and a youth baseball coach in San Diego.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Google Autocomplete results: He is first when you type Chris Barnw, ahead of Chris Barnwell Hudl, referring to a running back at Allan Hancock College. Another prominent Chris Barnwell is a cricket player.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Salome Barojas.

Vance Law on baseball cards

Infielder Vance Law played eleven seasons in the major leagues. The son of former Pirates pitcher Vern Law, his best season was 1988, when he hit .293 with 11 HR and 78 RBI for the Cubs, making the National League All-Star Team. Now a scout for the White Sox, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"I was always surprised at some of the choices they made on which photo they would use for a card such as the one where I am cleaning my glasses or me carrying 6 baseballs to the BP bucket, or one that made me look like I just woke up. Of all the photos that were taken, that was the best that they could find? They also have one of mine that has me listed as "P" pitcher instead of the infielder that I was.

My favorite card is either the '89 Donruss All Star card or the '88 Score card. I also like the Father Son card by Topps.

I do not collect cards though I certainly had the chance to get a pretty good collection both as a boy and as a player. I only have my cards and some of my dad's cards to pass along to my children."

Thanks!

Player Profile: Jeff Barns

I have one card of Jeff Barns, from 1991 Line Drive.

Playing career: Infielder Jeff Barns played nine seasons of professional baseball, mostly in the Angels organization. In 506 games he hit .265 with 7 HR, 164 RBI and 27 SB.

Where he is now: Project Manager/Estimator for LS Decker, a construction company in Houston.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Google Autocomplete results: There are no Google Autocomplete results for Jeff Barns.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Chris Barnwell.

Player Profile: Darwin Barney

I have one card of Darwin Barney, from 2011 Topps.

Playing career: Second baseman Darwin Barney has developed into a good-field, no-hit second baseman for the Cubs. In his second full season in 2012, he set a National League record with 141 errorless games at second base, earning him his first Gold Glove award.

Where he is now: This season he is hitting .212 with 5 HR and 22 RBI. But he's only made two errors all season - both of them this week. He did not make an error yesterday but went 0-3 in the Cubs loss to the Angels.

My memories: I’ve heard his name a lot and thought of him as a big-time prospect. I’m surprised that he is only a punch-and-judy hitter, especially in Wrigley Field. Maybe his power will grow as he does.

Google Autocomplete results: He is seventh when you type Darw, between Darwin Deez, a band, and Darwin Awards 2013, internet awards for people who kill themselves through sheer stupidity. There do not appear to be any other prominent Darwin Barneys.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Jeff Barns.

Player Profile: Skeeter Barnes

I have 21 cards of Skeeter Barnes. This one is from 1985 Donruss.

Playing career: Utilityman Skeeter Barnes played parts of nine seasons in the major leagues for the Reds, Expos, Cardinals and Tigers. Primarily a bench player, his best season was 1991, when he hit .289 with 5 HR and 17 RBI in 75 games for the Tigers. A fuller account of his career can be found at The Greatest 21 Days.

Where he is now: Baserunning Coordinator for the Tampa BayRays.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Google Autocomplete results: He is fifth when you type Skeeter B, between Skeeter Beeter Pro, a hammock, and Skeeter Boat Parts, referring to a boat manufacturer. The first entry when you google Skeeter Barnes is not the ballplayer but a restaurant in Nebraska.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Darwin Barney.

Rick Austin on baseball cards

Rick Austin pitched four seasons in the major leagues for the Indians and the Brewers, winning four games and saving six. Now a financial adviser at Austin & Associates in Kansas City, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"I guess my favorite card of me would be my first one with the Indians.

I only own a few cards of some of the players I played with……..Robin Yount, Hank Aaron, Charlie Moore, Gorman Thomas, Don Money, Jim Slaton, Jim Colborn, etc.  I am not really a collector."

Thanks! Here is a card of him from my collection, from 1976 Topps.

Player Profile: Richard Barnes

I have one card of Richard Barnes, from 1984 Donruss. He had only one major league card, and he is not even on it! The photo is of Neal Heaton.

Playing career: Richard Barnes pitched in 10 games for the White Sox and Indians in 1982 and 1983, going 1-3 with a 5.65 ERA.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Where he is now: Anyone know where Richard Barnes is now:

Google Autocomplete results: He is seventh when you type Richard Ba, between Richard Bandler, a self-help author, and Richard Bay, a character on the TV Show “The Practice”. There are no references to the ballplayer on the first page of results; the most prominent Richard Barnes is an English politician.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Skeeter Barnes.

Player Profile: Matt Barnes

I have one card of Matt Barnes, from 2011 Bowman Draft Picks and Prospects.

Playing career: The Red Sox first round draft pick in 2011, Matt Barnes made his pro debut in 2012, going 7-5 with a 2.85 ERA for Greenville and Salem.

Where he is now: In sixteen starts at AA Portland, he is 4-5 with a 5.32 ERA but has struck out 83 batters in 67.2 innings.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Google Autocomplete results: He is third when you type Matt B, between Matt Bissonette, who participated in the mission to kill Osama Bin Laden and wrote a book about it, and Matt Bomer Gay, an actor. There are no references to the baseball player on the first page of results; most refer to an NBA player.

 

Coming up next: The next profile will be Richard Barnes.

Player Profile: Larry Barnes

I have four cards of Larry Barnes. This one is from 2002 Ultra.

Playing career: First baseman Larry Barnes played in 46 games in the major leagues for the Angels in 2001 and the Dodgers in 2003, hitting .154 with 1 HR and 4 RBI.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Where he is now: Anyone know where Larry Barnes is now?

Google Autocomplete results: He is ninth when you type Larry Bar, between Larry Barshay, a corporate law partner at Fried Frank in New York, and Larry Barnett, who was an American League umpire from 1969 to 1999. Another prominent Larry Barnes was a boxer.

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