All Things Immaculate Grid-related (MLB, NBA, NFL)

[coolhandgopher]

Waite Hoyt edges 1 closer to Ken Brett in today's Grid as a Yankee/<3 00 ERA.

Speaking of the 1927 Bronx Bombers, my other nerd accomplishment, was using Mark Koenig in the .300 BA-Season/Yankees category.

As a New Player, I have now used the entire starting 9 lineup.

1927 New York Yankees Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com

New York Yankees latest stats and more including batting stats, pitching stats, team fielding totals and more on Baseball-Reference.com

www.baseball-reference.com

Today's board frustrated me, as the combination of Gold Glove, Silver Slugger and pitching categories really elevates my score and doesn't typically bring about new players--I really need to do some deep diving on that triad so I can move away from using Jim Kaat, Mike Hampton, Greg Maddux, and Ohtani so often.

But I did reel in two new players today and I surprised the hell out of myself with one--#1439 was Thurman Munson. I'd have thought he would have been an early bird in my grid adventures, but nope.

 

[Ope3]

Today's board frustrated me, as the combination of Gold Glove, Silver Slugger and pitching categories really elevates my score and doesn't typically bring about new players--I really need to do some deep diving on that triad so I can move away from using Jim Kaat, Mike Hampton, Greg Maddux, and Ohtani so often.

But I did reel in two new players today and I surprised the hell out of myself with one--#1439 was Thurman Munson. I'd have thought he would have been an early bird in my grid adventures, but nope.

I'm pretty sure I have used Munson, but now you have me 2nd guessing myself. +40 WAR, probably.

Fernando was sneaky low Rarity (4%) in the <3.00 ERA/Silver Sluggers box. I couldn't think of anyone other than Maddux (22%) for Braves Gold Glove. Also used Kitty.

 

[coolhandgopher]

All Hail Tony Fernandez, one of the underrated IG gods!

2000 hits: check
40+ WAR (career): check
All-Star: check (with Toronto and San Diego)
200 hits: check (with Toronto)
.300 average: check (with Toronto)
Gold Glove: check (Toronto)
5+ WAR (season): check (Toronto)
Teams played for: Blue Jays, Padres, Mets, Reds, Yankees, Guardians, Brewers (four separate occasions with the Jays!)

Fun notes: Fernandez hit .300 in six seasons (or parts of six seasons), but only with the Blue Jays. And this wasn't only in his youth and prime--the ages where he hit .300 were 24, 25, 31, 36, 37, and 39

Fernandez was traded by the Padres to the Mets in a package that included former Vikings 1st round running back DJ Dozier (who did not play in the bigs for the Pads, only the Mets)

And the reason I bring up Fernandez today--in the 40+ WAR category for the Padres, he garnered a cool 0.4%. He usually delivers with pretty low numbers on the board, and has saved my bacon on a number of occasions.

 

[Ope3]

All Hail Tony Fernandez, one of the underrated IG gods!

2000 hits: check
40+ WAR (career): check
All-Star: check (with Toronto and San Diego)
200 hits: check (with Toronto)
.300 average: check (with Toronto)
Gold Glove: check (Toronto)
5+ WAR (season): check (Toronto)
Teams played for: Blue Jays, Padres, Mets, Reds, Yankees, Guardians, Brewers (four separate occasions with the Jays!)

Fun notes: Fernandez hit .300 in six seasons (or parts of six seasons), but only with the Blue Jays. And this wasn't only in his youth and prime--the ages where he hit .300 were 24, 25, 31, 36, 37, and 39

Fernandez was traded by the Padres to the Mets in a package that included former Vikings 1st round running back DJ Dozier (who did not play in the bigs for the Pads, only the Mets)

And the reason I bring up Fernandez today--in the 40+ WAR category for the Padres, he garnered a cool 0.4%. He usually delivers with pretty low numbers on the board, and has saved my bacon on a number of occasions.

Mike Cameron also checks a lot of boxes in the 40+ WAR category for several teams, White Sox, Mariners, Mets, Padres, Brewers, Red Sox & Marlins.

Mike Cameron Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com

Check out the latest Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More of Mike Cameron. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, bats, throws, school and more on Baseball-reference.com

www.baseball-reference.com

He pulls 0.5% Rarity in the Padres cube today. Also an All Star, 100 RBI season & Gold Glove winner for the Mariners. Picked up another GG with San Diego.

 

[Ope3]

Mike Cameron also checks a lot of boxes in the 40+ WAR category for several teams, White Sox, Mariners, Mets, Padres, Brewers, Red Sox & Marlins.

Mike Cameron Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com

Check out the latest Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More of Mike Cameron. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, bats, throws, school and more on Baseball-reference.com

www.baseball-reference.com

He pulls 0.5% Rarity in the Padres cube today. Also an All Star, 100 RBI season & Gold Glove winner for the Mariners. Picked up another GG with San Diego.

Cameron also had a 30 HR season a few 30 SB seasons, but not the same campaign.

When those combo categories pop up, I always assumed that they had to be the same year so I always use Willie Mays or Bobby Bonds.

Not so. Over 60 qualifiers.

 

[Ope3]

This Jesse Chavez guy just retired today Never heard of him, but can check several Grid Boxes.

He's in Rich Hill territory.

Jesse Chavez Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com

Check out the latest Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More of Jesse Chavez. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, bats, throws, school and more on Baseball-reference.com

www.baseball-reference.com

I finally worked in Jesse Chavez as a New Player worth it for the Bio Headshot (looking for some Noonball Hoops). Low Rarity is a bonus.

Forsch & Forsch edged me into double digit Overall Rarity. This one goes to 11.

 

[Gophers1992]

Mike Cameron also checks a lot of boxes in the 40+ WAR category for several teams, White Sox, Mariners, Mets, Padres, Brewers, Red Sox & Marlins.

Mike Cameron Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com

Check out the latest Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More of Mike Cameron. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, bats, throws, school and more on Baseball-reference.com

www.baseball-reference.com

He pulls 0.5% Rarity in the Padres cube today. Also an All Star, 100 RBI season & Gold Glove winner for the Mariners. Picked up another GG with San Diego.

Fascinating. I knew Cameron was a solid player in his day but I have not given him proper credit as a guy who amassed 46 career WAR. Very impressive career.

 

[Ope3]

Fascinating. I knew Cameron was a solid player in his day but I have not given him proper credit as a guy who amassed 46 career WAR. Very impressive career.

Yeah, total Grid revelation.

He kept popping up when I would look at Summaries after the fact for the 40+ WAR. Something to be said for a 17 season career in and of itself, and a dozen of those he was solidly in the +3 to +5 range.

 

[coolhandgopher]

Ope, you recently mentioned your deep dive on All-Star rosters, so I went down that rabbit hole today and just mining the ‘70s was a boon to my unique player pursuit-step on up Pat Kelly and Don Buford! The expansion in 1969 and 1977 brought some dubious All-Stars into the fold throughout the’70s—the third catchers on the rosters is something to behold. Thanks for the pro tip!

 

[Ope3]

Ope, you recently mentioned your deep dive on All-Star rosters, so I went down that rabbit hole today and just mining the ‘70s was a boon to my unique player pursuit-step on up Pat Kelly and Don Buford! The expansion in 1969 and 1977 brought some dubious All-Stars into the fold throughout the’70s—the third catchers on the rosters is something to behold. Thanks for the pro tip!

Damaso Garcia paid off for me today in the All Star/30 SB Category. 0.07%

He got his Mid-Summer ticket punched as a Blue Jay.

 

[Ope3]

Travis Adams has the honor for Player #1500 on Today's Baseball Grid. Larnach is #1501.

 

[coolhandgopher]

With the Twins on the grid today, I had the quickest turnaround for a player debuting with the team, Genesis Cabrera, who was a surprise in the box score from yesterday.

It was a hell of a day for me on the unique players-I’m at 1475 thanks to seven new additions today; the entire top row of Twins (Cabrera, Jim Lemon, and Todd Walker) plus a motley crew of All Stars from the ‘70s.

 

[Ope3]

With the Twins on the grid today, I had the quickest turnaround for a player debuting with the team, Genesis Cabrera, who was a surprise in the box score from yesterday.

It was a hell of a day for me on the unique players-I’m at 1475 thanks to seven new additions today; the entire top row of Twins (Cabrera, Jim Lemon, and Todd Walker) plus a motley crew of All Stars from the ‘70s.

Nice work on Cabrera who is in Dave Kingman terrain with 4 teams in the same season. Also impressive is 7 Newbies, as the All Star deep dive is paying dividends.

Similar to Walker, I added another flash in the pan Twin as a New Player in Danny Valencia. My other NP is Casey Blake.

 

[Ope3]

I guess you’ll just have to Jim Bibby this month: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Bibby

Bip Roberts brought me to 1425 players today, but I was happier to use Joe Nolan as player #1424. When visiting my Mom over the summer and shuffling through some of my old baseball cards, I was reminded of him; he was at the height of bespectacled catchers in baseball along with Darrell Porter, Steve Yeager, and Rich Gedman.

Pulling a "Jim Bibby" hopes also dashed. For Dodgers/10Ws I mixed up Schoolboy Rowe when I confused him with Preacher Roe.

Bummer, because Schoolboy would work in the Phillie/10Ws category.

On the bright side, I did use both Waite Hoyt (Yanks/Dodgers) & Ken Brett (Yanks/Phils) today.

 

[coolhandgopher]

It was a middling day for my overall score and unique players, but I was able to use all three St.Paul Hall of Famers, so it was a pretty good day on the Grid.

 

[Ope3]

It was a middling day for my overall score and unique players, but I was able to use all three St.Paul Hall of Famers, so it was a pretty good day on the Grid.

I used Gabe Kapler as a New Player, Tigers/CF. Reggie Smith for Red Sox/CF was a redux.

Nice work on the Morris-Winfield-Molitor connectors.

 

[coolhandgopher]

Ope, I recall you completed the ‘27 Murderer’s Row Yankees a couple weeks ago; today I finished off the historic Pirates starting 9 from ‘71, the first all black/Hispanic starting lineup with the use of Gene Clines.

 

[Ope3]

Ope, I recall you completed the ‘27 Murderer’s Row Yankees a couple weeks ago; today I finished off the historic Pirates starting 9 from ‘71, the first all black/Hispanic starting lineup with the use of Gene Clines.

Jason Thompson Pirates/1B was my only New Player today, derived from a review of Pittsburgh All Stars.

He was also was a Tiger All Star. After the fact, learned he ended his career as an Expo so he would have worked in the Pirates/Nats combo.

 

[coolhandgopher]

I hit 1500 today with a player I've been keeping in my pocket for awhile--Julie (Julian) Wera, born in Winona, third baseman for the '27 Yankees, who was the manager of the Piggly Wiggly meat department in Rochester, which was visited by former teammate Lou Gehrig while at the Mayo Clinic (shortly before the ALS diagnosis).

* Props to Twins Almanac for placing that knowledge in my brain

'I was small, but I hit the ball pretty good'

Julian Wera--a member of arguably baseball’s greatest team, the 1927 Yankees--spent his post-baseball career raising his family in Rochester, working as the longtime butcher at the Piggly Wiggly, and setting the record straight about the reports of his “death” in 1948.

www.postbulletin.com

 

[Ope3]

Twins Alert on the Grid.

2 New Players today, Everyday Eddie (which I was surprised by) and Misiewicz. Assist from Coolhand on that one.



Not to confused with the tobacco, film nor Leon, I had used "Bull Dunham" before. Not sure when.

Interesting career arc.

Bull Durham (pitcher) - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[coolhandgopher]

Twins Alert on the Grid.

2 New Players today, Everyday Eddie (which I was surprised by) and Misiewicz. Assist from Coolhand on that one.

View attachment 38561

Not to confused with the tobacco, film nor Leon, I had used "Bull Dunham" before. Not sure when.

Interesting career arc.

Bull Durham (pitcher) - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

My unique Twins yesterday were Erasmo Ramirez and James Outman-I thought it wise to utilize them now, as I don’t see them long for the franchise, before they are forgotten.

Ron Davis, shockingly, reached 30 saves for the Twins

 

[Ope3]

With San Diego simultaneously on today's Grid and in town to play the Twins, I figured I would wait until the broadcast to make a Padres/1 Team selection in hopes of adding to the New Player total.

Playing 2B: Jake Cronenworth.

Thanks, Jake.

 

[coolhandgopher]

With San Diego simultaneously on today's Grid and in town to play the Twins, I figured I would wait until the broadcast to make a Padres/1 Team selection in hopes of adding to the New Player total.

Playing 2B: Jake Cronenworth.

Thanks, Jake.

Veteran move on your part, the Padres are tough in that category—outside of Gwynn, it seems every player of note for that franchise was renting, not owning.

Btw, a tip on churning up some new names for unique players—take a look at Rookie of the Year voting-plenty of obscurities on those lists, whose flames faded fast.

 

[Ope3]

Veteran move on your part, the Padres are tough in that category—outside of Gwynn, it seems every player of note for that franchise was renting, not owning.

Btw, a tip on churning up some new names for unique players—take a look at Rookie of the Year voting-plenty of obscurities on those lists, whose flames faded fast.

Young Jake committed a critical Error off the bat of Clemens which scored 2 runs in the B4.

 

[Ope3]

I was able to utilize all Twins, even though the Morris and Santana NoNos came in other uniforms.

Scott Erickson added to the New Player Roster.



Total Rarity is sitting at 11.