Frankenset Page #64

With only 10 frankenset pages remaining after this one, the series, which I started back in March of 2018, will likely be wrapped up by the time Thanksgiving rolls around.

Beginning at card #568 and wrapping up at #576, page #64 of my frankenset spans 4 total decades (the 1980s-2000s).

#568 2010 Topps Jarrod Saltalamacchia

Though he played for 7 different teams across his 12-year career, I associate "Salty" most with the Boston Red Sox where he played from 2011-2013. He had the best year of his career for the World Championship squad 6 years ago when he hit .273 with 14 homers and 65 RBI in just north of 400 at-bats.

After his retirement, Saltalamacchia occasionally appeared as a TV analyst for the 2018 Boston Red Sox. Other times, it would be either Jerry Remy, Dennis Eckersley, or Johnny Gomes.

#569 1991 Fleer Kevin Seltzer

There's something so appealing yet, at the same time, off-putting about the yellow border and powder blue uniform color combination on this card from 1991 Fleer. Though I'm a fan of the action photo, it can't decide whether I love or hate the rest of the card.

#570 1983 Topps Vida Blue

By 1983, Vida Blue was nothing like the AL Cy Young and MVP award winner that he was 12 years prior. His 6.01 ERA with the Royals in '83 as well as off the field troubles forced the 6-time All-Star to miss the 1984 season entirely. 

His 9 seasons with the Oakland Athletics and some of his time with the San Francisco Giants helped establish Blue as a well-respected pitcher of the 70s and 80s. To this day, his 1.82 ERA in 312 innings pitched in 1971 remains one of the greatest single seasons by a starting pitcher.

#571 1984 Topps Bruce Bochy

I'm writing this post mere minutes after the Red Sox's embarrassing 11-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants. Way more notable, however, is the fact that this win is #2,000 in the impressive and extensive managerial career of Bruce Bochy who is retiring after the 2019 season.

Though he'll still finish his career with a losing record, the 10 managers to reach this milestone before Bochy ended up in Cooperstown, so I don't foresee the 3-time World Series Champion missing out.

#572 2004 Topps Redding

Though they've only been in the American League for 6 years or so, it feels like ages since the Houston Astros were members of the 6-time National League Central division.

Their move to the AL West only stood to reason, and they've had tremendous success in the years following their move. This includes their 3rd straight 100-win season which they accomplished moments ago with a 3-2 victory over the Texas Rangers.

#573 2018 Topps Mark Leiter Jr

My decision to place this Mark Leiter Jr card into page #64 of my frankenset was very last minute. When I found this sheet and prepared for the blog post, I noticed 2 1991 Fleer cards of Kansas City Royals players on this page, both featuring powder blue jerseys.

To avoid repetition, I made this substitution before scanning and cropping the cards for the post.

#574 2009 Topps Nate Schierholtz

Going back to the subject of Bruce Bochy, Giants outfielder Nate Schierholtz played for the 1996 NL Manager of the Year back in 2010 when San Francisco won the first of 3 World Series titles throughout 5 seasons.

Surprisingly, with 3 World Championships under his belt, Bochy never captured the NL Manager of the Year award during his time with the Giants.

#575 1983 Donruss Billy Martin

Until I reached this part of my post, it didn't occur to me that I had selected cards of 2 iconic managers, Bruce Bochy, and Billy Martin, for page #64 of my frankenset. 

Bochy is one of the most iconic skippers of today, and the same can certainly be said about Martin who managed several teams, most notably the 1977 and '78 New York Yankees, across 20 years.

#576 2007 Topps Yuniesky Betancourt

If I recall correctly, the Seattle Mariners began the 2019 MLB season 13-2, even taking 3/4 from the defending World Champion Boston Red Sox following a 2-game sweep of the A's in Tokyo.

In the months that followed, the team fell into a downward spiral and never truly recovered. A week or back, they were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.