Gates Brown

In 1963 a young slugger burst onto the scene in Detroit. In his first major league at bat, he hit a pinch hit home run off of Boston's Bob Hoffner.

Gates was one of Detroit's first home grown black stars, working his way through the minor league system as an outfielder. He had an impressing minor league resume, winning a batting title while at Durham of the Carolina league in 1961. After making an impression with his perfomance in 1963, he would make the parent club out of spring training in 64, and took over the full time left field job in May of that year. A good hitter, he hit 15 home runs in 123 games and batted over .300 as late as July 30.

In 65 he was expected to be a regular int he outfield, as his competition in spring training for the three spots were Willie Horton (a home grown sandlot star from Detroit), who had a total of 40 games of major league experience. Al Kaline, the established superstar. Dom Demeter, a veteran acquired in 64 in the Jim Bunning trade. Demeter had a string of 228 consecutive error less games as an outfielder (he committed two errors as a first basemen) going into 65. Purn Goldy, a 27 year old minor leaguer with a lifetime .231 bating average in 29 career games. Jim Northrup and Mickey Stanley, two young outfielders who appeared in 4 and 5 games respectively with Detroit in 64. George Thomas was the the final main outfielder.

What would happen to "Gator" in 65? He would become the main pinch hitter off of the bench, batting .265 in 37 appearances (he played in a total of 96 games). Pinch hitting would become a role that Gates would know well later in his career.

I never got to see him play as he retried before I started watching baseball. I only remember him as the hitting coach for the 84 World Champions.

Something New

One day last week I was trolling around the official Tigers website looking for a new wallpaper to put on my desktop @ work and I came across something really awsome. someone is in the process of scanning in media guides. Yes, media guides. They started with 1961 and are in the process of working toward the present.

If you have never seen a media guide they can be a wonderful trove of information. They cover minor league affiliates, career player stats for the players on the active roster heading into spring training, sometimes short bios, and other various items.

I don't know how long they have had these up, or if any of the other teams have started scanning them in. But if anyone with the Tigers is reading I have a couple of notes: there are a few pages missing from 65 and 82 (don't know about the other years) and is there a way to make the file size smaller? It takes a long time to download the PDF while on a high speed connection.

Vintage Card of the Month

It has been a little while since I posted a VCTM, in fact I slacked off and missed last month. I will try and do better. This month's edition comes courtesy of parts unknown.


Yes, it looks like a regular ole Mike Roarke 1964 Topps card that was loved by some child. But upon closer inspection you will notice something odd. Can't see it, well lets flip the card over.



Ok. The back is black. All other 64 Topps are orange (I think) backed, and the rub off is not visible. What is this?

After years of being stumped I discovered what this was a couple of years ago. Really, I had just thought it was some type of variation of a 64 that I picked up at some card show many years ago. I had no reason not to think it was a variation, as the numbers matched up in the price guides. But something did not seem right so I did some google searching, and I discovered that this is a Venezuelan card. I had only heard of these cards and had never seen one before in person. After making a long journey from Central America he can find a home safe and sound with the rest of his buddies from the 64 Topps set.

2010 Tigers - First week observations

Detroit seems to be doing well to start the '10 season. But, they have opened against arguably the 2 worst teams in the division. The two wins in Kansas City were of the come from behind variety aginst a bad bullpen, and they won two of three against Cleveland in come from behind fashion. A win is a win, but the bats have to get going against good pitching if this team is going to contend. Here is a quick summary of what I liked about the first week of the season.

Positives:

Willis and Bondo had good efforts in wins. Willis did not get the win, but he kept the team in the game with help from dp balls. He is the 5th starter, and I will take that type of performance from him based on the past two years. Speaking of the last two years, Bondo looked like the Bondo from early 2007 in his game Saturday against Cleveland. I worry about stamina with him as he has not pitched a full season in 3 years. Maybe by slotting him in the last spot in the rotation Leland can give him some extra rest.

Miggy and Maggs are hitting the ball well early. These two guys are carrying the team right now.

Jackson and Sizemore are doing ok.

Negatives:

Verlander's start. Watched part of the game Sunday and he just could not finish the hitters off in the first inning. He would get two strikes on the batter and could not put him away. The announcers said that he started slow last year and turned it around. Hope he can do the same this year.

Batting with RISP and less than two outs. Again, this is a recurring problem for the team. I complained about it in the early part of the decade and still complain about it now. Runner in scoring position and less than two outs, you have got be able to get him home.

Laird's slump. Throw Damon's in there too.

This team is going to have trouble against good pitchers. That much is clear. The hitters that are slumping will come around, but the team can't continue to come from behind most of the time.

2010 Heritage Box break photos

Sorry for the delay, but due to dial up at home I had to wait until I got to work to upload the images.

2010 Heritage Team

Lets see what I can make for a team:

2 Catchers - Joe Mauer and Brian McCann.
First Base - Adrian Gonzalez
Second Base - Howie Kendrick
Shortstop - Stephen Drew
Third Base - Scott Rolen
3 Outfielders - Nelson Cruz, Vernon Wells, Adam Jones
Corner Infielder - Aramis Ramirez
Middle Infielder - Troy Tulowitzki
1 Outfielder - B.J. Upton
1 Utility - Ryan Braun - I am using my alloted 1 SP
7 Pitchers - Joakim Soria, Dan Haren, Tim Hudson, Mark Buhrle, John Danks, Aaron Harang, James Shields

Not a bad team at all. A lot of power, but little in the way of speed. ONly 1 closer in the box, and only Haren and Shields are high strikeout pitchers.

2010 Topps Heritage Blaster Box

And, my entry into the Junkie's Fantasy contest. I had decided that any non-Tigers would be either a) traded or b) submitted as prizes. Anyone wanting to trade non-Tiger for Tiger is welcome to contact me. I will be attempting the Tiger team set. All remaining cards will be submitted as the prize for the winner. Scans will follow when I can get my scanner working again.

Pack 1:

Willy Taveras - OF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Jason Bartlett, SS
Neil Walker, 3B (Who?)
Luis Durango, SS (Who?)
Craig Stammen, P (Who?)
Josh Thole, P (Who?)
Miguel Tejada, 2002 MVP

Total by Pos:

C - 0
1B - 0
2B - 1
3B - 1
SS - 2
OF - 1
CI -
MI -
Utl -
P - 2

Off to a good start here, but I have no idea who 4 of these players are. Hopefully they will not have to be put on the team.

Pack 2:

Travis Snider - OF
Joe Mauer - C
Derek Jeter - SS
Michael Dunn - P
Dan Haren - P
Whitey Ford - Flashback
Torii Hunter - OF
Dusty Baker - Mgr.

Total by Pos:

C - 1
1B - 0
2B - 1
3B - 1
SS - 3
OF - 3
CI -
MI -
Utl -
P - 4

Who-ho Mauer. Jeter is my favorite Yankee, and Haren is a K artist.

Pack 3:

Adam Jones - OF
Nelson Cruz - OF
Lou Gehrig - Baseball Thrill
Albert Pujols - New Age Performers
Aaron Harang - P
Jeff Francoeur - OF
Nick Swisher - OF
B.J. UPton - OF

Total by Pos:

C - 1
1B - 0
2B - 1
3B - 1
SS - 3
OF - 5
CI -
MI -
Utl -
P - 5

Meh. Looks like a lot of P and OF. Hopefully I get a 1B soon, and another C.

Pack 4:

Chase Headley - OF
James Shields - P
Brett Myers - P
Tyler Colvin - OF
Raul Ibanez - OF
Stephen Drew - SS (Chrome)
Chris Carpenter - P
Jason Bay - OF

Total by Pos:

C - 1
1B - 0
2B - 1
3B - 1
SS - 4
OF - 6
CI -
MI -
Utl -
P - 8

Not bad. I might have to move some people around. LIke the Drew chrome.


Pack 5:

Vernon Wells - OF
Joakim Soria - P
Tim Hudson - P
John Danks - P
Adrian Gonzalez - 1B
Vin Mazzaro - P
Derek Lowe - P
Ryan Braun - All Star

Total by Pos:

C - 1
1B - 1
2B - 1
3B - 1
SS - 4
OF - 7
CI -
MI -
Utl -
P - 13

Finally a closer, so I wont get shutout in saves, and a 1B. All I need is a second C, can Wells catch?

Pack 6:

Skip Schumaker - 2B
Franklin Gutierrez - OF
Aramis Ramirez - 3B
Ross Ohlendorf - P
Clay Buckholz - P
Jon Niese - P
Zach Duke - P
Mark Buehrle - P

Total by Pos:

C - 1
1B - 1
2B - 2
3B - 2
SS - 4
OF - 8
CI -
MI -
Utl -
P - 18

What is it with the pitchers in this box?

Pack 7:

Brian Roberts - 2B
John Russell - Mgr
Gavi Floyd - P
2009 NL ERA Leaders
2009 World Series - Game 4
5th Series Checklist
Brian McCann - C
Tommy Manzella - SS

Total by Pos:

C - 2
1B - 1
2B - 3
3B - 2
SS - 4
OF - 8
CI -
MI -
Utl -
P - 19

Yeah, I can fill out a team.

Pack 8:
Scott Rolen - 3B
Jerry Hairston Jr - IF/OF
Manny RAmierez - OF
Troy Tulowitzki - SS
Magglio Ordonez - OF
Manlle/Gonzo then and now
Jhoulys Chacin - P (Who?)
Akinori Iwamura - 2B

Total by Pos:

C - 2
1B - 1
2B - 3
3B - 3
SS - 5
OF - 10
CI -
MI -
Utl -
P - 20

Ok I am finished. I will put together this awsome team in the next post.