Sully Baseball Honors... The 1981 Houston Astros Future Stars

When I was a kid collecting Topps cards, I used to love the Future Stars card.

I always trusted the Future Card. Why would Topps lie to me? The players on the card were ALL destined for stardom.

Granted, they didn't look 100% reliable when they picked players like Mike O'Berry and Keith MacWorther for future Red Sox stardom... but hey! Everyone can make a bad pick from time to time.

Now I stumbled across this 1981 Topps card of the Astros Future Stars. While none of them became a true star, each name on this card is worth noting for one reason or another.


DANNY HEEP

The native Texan played for 13 seasons in the bigs, only playing more than 100 games a season in two of them.

He was a platoon player and left handed pinch hitter who in his career saw some of the great moments of 1980s baseball in uniform.

He played for the Astros in the 1980 NLCS against the Phillies, which was arguably the greatest best of 5 series in baseball history.

As a member of the 1986 Mets, he was a pinch hitter in the amazing 16 inning marathon NLCS Game 6 against his former team, the Astros.

In the famous Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, he came up as a pinch hitter again tying the game as a run scored on his fifth inning double play.

In 1988, he played for the Dodgers against his former Mets teammates in the NLCS. In the epic momentum shifting Game 4, Heep once again came up as a pinch hitter.

In the World Series Game 1 that year, the "Kirk Gibson Game", Heep once again came up as a pinch hitter.

Later he played for the 1990 AL East Champion Red Sox and played for the 1991 Braves, but was cut before they won the NL Pennant.

I guess asking him to be on ANOTHER miracle pennant winner would have been too much to ask. But for a part time pinch hitter, four trips to the post season and two World Series rings and playing in so many memorable games isn't anything to sneeze at.


ALAN KNICELY

Astros fans were patient with Knicely. He was an Astros Future Star in 1980 as well. He played 7 games with the Astros in 1979, 1 in 1980 and 3 in 1981. So later when he had a HIS OWN baseball card it looked impressive like he played 3 seasons between 79 and 81 instead of just 11 games.

In 1981, he managed to hit 2 homers in those 3 games... both against the eventual World Champion Dodgers. (One off of Bob Welch and one was an 8th inning game tying shot off of Dave Goltz.)

Maybe the Astros should have had him on their 1981 Divisional Series roster against the Dodgers that year.

BOBBY SPROWL

Red Sox fans might be amused to see Sprowl picked as a future star for 1981. Turn the clocks back to 1978 and Don Zimmer must have thought he was a budding star right then and there.

In a critical game on September 10th, 1978 between the Red Sox and Yankees, Boston was trying to end a crippling losing streak. The Yankees were trying to sweep a 4 game series in Fenway and pull into a tie with Boston.

Who should Don Zimmer start? Veteran Yankee killer Bill Lee? Or 22 rookie Sprowl who had one big league start under his belt?

Zimmer went with Sprowl. In Spaceman, I asked "Why in the name of Yahweh was Bobby Sprowl pitching in a pennant race?" He was pitching because Zimmer let his pride get in the way. He was told that Sprowl had ice water in his veins.

That might have been true, but throwing him into that game against the defending champs was simply cruel.

Sprowl didn't last an inning. Bill Lee came out of the bullpen and threw 2 1/3 shutout innings.

Sprowl never won a game that year.
He never EVER won a game in the bigs.

Topps optimistically made him a future star based on his 10-11 season for Tuscon in 1980.
Alas it never was to be.

Not in Boston nor in Houston.


So there you have it... one guy was a veteran of many post seasons... one should have been a post season weapon... and the other was thrown into the deep end too soon.

Stars?
Maybe not... but worth a Sully Baseball salute.

I always get in trouble when I criticize the Pirates, but...

You can never accuse Pirate fans of being apathetic... at least not the ones who read what I write. As I've said before, I like the Pirates and want them to do well. And I hope that Neal Huntington helps assemble a winner and Clint Hurdle manages them back to the post season.

But whenever I point out that their trades have left something to be desired or the team doesn't look that good for next year, MAN do I get hate mail.

My article for The Hardball Times got a FLURRY of people trashing me for insinuating that the Pirates weren't in great shape and that GM Neal Huntington's trades have been a mixed bag at best.

So I tip toe cautiously in pointing out something bad again... but I can't help it.

Zach Duke was designated for assignment. He's gone. If they get anything in a trade for him, it will essentially be the equivalent of a bag of donuts.

Andy LaRoche is also heading out the door. Now I understand the economy of baseball (and the economy for that matter) and that Huntington had to clear some roster spaces.

But man I couldn't help but think of one trade that was made and one that wasn't... and more missed opportunities to make the Pirates better.

In 2008, Jason Bay was a prime trade chip. The Red Sox thought highly enough of him to make him Manny Ramirez's replacement.

The Dodgers thought highly enough about Ramirez to deal for him and sell lots of tickets and Dreadlock wigs.

And the Pirates got LaRoche... a young right handed third baseman who did exactly nothing in the bigs. They also got Brendan Moss and Craig Hansen, both busts and Bryan Morris who hasn't exactly impressed in AA.

All for Bay.

Meanwhile Duke, who looked like a young potential ace in 2005, had his ups and downs. But by 2009 he was eating up innings and pitching to a good ERA. He was a 26 year old left handed pitcher on the All Star team.

If he wasn't going to be a cornerstone for the franchise, I bet he would have been a good trade chip.

I wonder if any team could have used a young left handed starter in the 2009 stretch run. Are teams EVER looking for young left handed starting pitching?

Oh yeah. ALL the time.

So instead of dealing him... or making him part of their long term plans... they did neither and will get gotch for him.

This reminds me of Matt Capps, the Pirates reliever who Pittsburgh let walk away at age 25.

The got absolutely nothing for him.
But 1/2 a season later, the Nationals were able to flip him for Wilson Ramos... a catcher who is just about ready for the bigs.

So once again, I shake my head at the praise of Neal Huntington.
He blew the Jason Bay deal.
He botched Matt Capps.
And he wasn't able to turn Zach Duke into anything.

OTHER teams can pull off trades, but the Pirates can't for some reason.
OTHER teams can get talent back, but not Pittsburgh.

Now I will no doubt get a ton of negative comments for this post and I am expecting it.

And I'll get a lot of revisionist history.
"Bay has been a flop with the Mets!"

Yup. But nobody knew that in 2008... and Bay wasn't a flop in Boston.

"Duke fell apart after the 2009 All Star Break."
But nobody knew that in 2009 when he was young, left handed and pitching to an ERA in the 3's.

Unfortunately like before I have facts on my side.

I want to see the Pirates succeed. And maybe Huntington will build a good team through the draft.

But wouldn't it help if he made a good trade or two?

Maybe I'm wrong.

THE KING IS CROWNED!!!!!!

YES!
Felix Hernandez won the Cy Young Award that was rightfully his.

And we can all breathe a nice sigh of relief that the writers voting didn't say "Hey! He didn't get as many wins... how good could he be?"

Best WAR for Pitchers.
The best ERA.
Best Hits per 9 IP.
2nd best WHIP.
Most innings pitched.
2nd in strikeouts (1 strikeout behind the leader.)
Most games started.
2nd most complete games (1 behind the leader.)
Best Adjusted Pitching Runs
Best Adjusted Pitching Wins
Best Base-Out Runs Saved
Best Situational Wins Saved
Best Base-out Wins Saved.

AND he won 13 games on a team that lost 101!

As I wrote before, he deserved it even if he was sub .500.

Good job writers... unlike the American Idol voters, you impressed me.

Mack, Grove and Foxx are ghosts trapped between worlds

Baseball loves to honor their ghosts.

The legends of Yankees past hover over the Bronx, even after they crossed the street.
Ted Williams’ legend is honored inside and out of Fenway.
Roberto Clemente … Gil Hodges… Ty Cobb… all are honored in their old cities.

Even some players who never played in their team’s new homes are honored by their transplanted franchise.

Fan bases that never knew Jackie Robinson, Christy Mathewson and Warren Spahn honored them all.

Most players are the team’s legends. Others are hometown favorites. But most of the all time greats are saluted in one-way shape or another.

Which makes the fate of Connie Mack, Lefty Grove and Jimmie Foxx so much stranger.

Each of them was a legend and one of the dominating forces in the game during their time.

Connie Mack?

This was a man who managed the Athletics to pennants in four different decades. A brilliant hands off manager, he stressed intelligence and fundamentals. He was a wonderful contrast to the volatile John McGraw and the New York Giants, whom Mack’s Athletics played 3 times in the World Series and beat them twice.

He went from the teams of Rube Waddell and Eddie Plank in the 1900s… to the $100,000 infield of Eddie Collins, Home Run Baker, Jack Barry and Stuffy McInnis in the 1910s… and finally the greatest Philadelphia team of all in the late 1920s and early 1930s with Mickey Cochrane and Al Simmons… and of course Grove and Foxx.

Lefty Grove?

He was the best pitcher of his era… a time of big bats and big home run totals. He arrived after the deadball era and once the previous generation of superstar pitchers (like Grover Cleveland Alexander and Walter Johnson) had ended their careers.

Five times he lead the league in ERA as a member of the Athletics.
In his first seven seasons in the bigs, he led the league in strike outs every year.
He won 31 games in 1931 and won 20 or more for the Athletics six times.

He even led the league in saves one year.

And while Grove didn’t know it, he had the best ERA+ five times and the best WHIP three times while in Philadelphia.

And he was the 1931 American League MVP.

Jimmie Foxx?

The Beast became the premiere power source in baseball once Babe Ruth’s career started to wind down. He would hit 58 homers in 1932, missing Ruth’s mark by just two. He was a Triple Crown winner, won back to back MVPs for Philadelphia and drove in 115 or more runs each of his full seasons.

Don’t like stats like that?
He had the highest OPS three times for the A’s. Two times had the best WAR. Three times had the best run created, Adjusted OPS, Offensive Win Percentage and Adjusted Batting Runs. I am still figuring out what all of that means… but I get the sense it is impressive.

Most importantly of all, both Grove and Foxx both led Mack’s Athletics to three straight pennants and the 1929 and 1930 World Series titles.

Mack was one of the great managers in the game’s history.
Grove is an All Time legendary pitcher and Foxx one of the most feared sluggers.

Where are their numbers retired?
Where are their statues?

Not to disrespect anyone… but Harold Baines, Ron Guidry, Johnny Pesky and Randy Jones all have their numbers retired and they all are loved by their teams and fans. But none of them had the impact on their era the way that Mack, Grove and Foxx did.

But the A’s seem to only honor those who played for Oakland. And seeing they haven’t seen fit to honor Dave Stewart, an Oakland NATIVE who led the A’s to the promise land, the chances of them retiring the numbers of Philadelphia players are slim to none.

And the Phillies have their own history to honor. Besides, they are the team that DIDN’T leave Philadelphia!

Enough passing the buck. Someone should retire their numbers or erect a statue in their honor.

If the A’s ever get a new ballpark, have a concourse where the great Philadelphia Athletics are given their due and Mack, Grove and Foxx are honored.

Perhaps have it outside Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia… some sort of memorial that is separate from the Phillies and yet still honoring the city’s past.

Remember Mack used to have the biggest honor you could have in Philadelphia.
They named their stadium after him.

But these days, he’d have to change his name to a bank or an orange juice company to have another park Christened in his honor.

Sully Baseball Presents The “No Not THAT One” All Time Roster

There's a great scene in Office Space where David Herman's character, whose name is Michael Bolton, explains why he won't go by "Mike" instead of "Michael."

"Why should I change? He's the one who sucks."

Alas that character was stuck with a name that everyone today associates with someone else.
And some baseball players are stuck with that same fate.

Some played before their namesake became famous... but not everyone.
(Hey parents of of Howard Johnson and Milton Bradley. REALLY? You didn't know that name was taken?)

So here is another Sully Baseball 25 Man Roster... this one filled completely with players who are namesakes of another famous person.

As always there are 8 starting position players, 10 pitchers, a top pinch hitter, a reserve catcher, 2 reserve infielders and 2 reserve outfielders and a 25th man who could play any position.

So let's get going (says the guy whose name is the same as a Chicago Tribune Chicago White Sox writer.)

The “No Not THAT One” All Time Roster

STARTING CATCHER
JOHN EDWARDS

All Star Catcher for the Reds, Cardinals and Astros – 1961-1974

NOT the disgraced former Vice Presidential nominee.

STARTING FIRST BASEMAN
GEORGE SCOTT
Boomer, the slugging Boston first baseman with the different colored gloves
NOT the Oscar winning star of Patton.


STARTING SECOND BASEMAN
MIKE TYSON

Starting second baseman for the Cardinals and Cubs – 1972-1981
NOT the ear biting, Hangover appearing ex Heavyweight Champ

STARTING SHORTSTOP
BILL RUSSELL
The All Star and champion shortstop for the Didgers from 1969-1986
NOT the legendary Celtic center who is, say it with me…
THE GREATEST CHAMPION IN AMERICAN SPORTS HISTORY! (Nobody is close.)


STARTING THIRD BASEMAN
HOWARD JOHNSONThe All Star switch hitting third baseman for the Mets
NOT the guy from Massachusetts who founded the Hotel and Restaurant Chain


STARTING LEFT FIELDER
GEORGE BURNS

Star slugger for the 1921 World Champion Giants.
NOT the Oscar winning comic genius.

STARTING CENTER FIELDER
BRETT BUTLER
The dynamic leadoff hitter for the Giants and Dodgers who beat cancer
NOT the star of Grace Under Fire

STARTING RIGHT FIELDER
MILTON BRADLEY

The sometimes great but always troubled outfielder.
NOT the board game manufacturer.

ROTATION

KENNY ROGERS
The former All Star whose career had amazing peaks and staggering valleys
NOT the country music star known as “The Gambler.”


MIKE MOORE
The A’s #2 starter for the 1989 World Champions
NOT the outspoken director of Roger and Me and Fahrenheit 9-11


PHIL COLLINS
Fidgety Phil, a former 16 game winner for the Philadelphia Phillies
NOT the creative genius behind Sussudio.


BILL GRAHAM

The right handed pitcher for the 1966 Tigers and 1967 Mets
NOT the Rock Concert promoter nor the evangelical preacher

TED KENNEDY

The starting pitcher from the 1880s
NOT the late Lion of the Senate.



BULLPEN

BRIAN WILSON
The out of his mind nuts closer for the World Champion Giants
NOT the out of his mind nuts genius behind the Beach Boys

MICHAEL JACKSON
The effective reliever for the Giants and Indians
NOT the Late King of Pop


MIKE MYERS
The lefty specialist for the 2004 World Champion Red Sox
NOT the star of Wayne’s World, Austin Powers and Shrek


FLASH GORDON
The ace closer for the Red Sox who inspired a Stephen King book.
NOT the savior of the Universe.

JOHNNY RUTHERFORD
The Lefthander for the 1952 NL Champion Brooklyn Dodgers
NOT the Three Time Indy 500 Champion known as Lone Star JR



BENCH

TOP PINCH HITTER
JIM MORRISON
The hard hitting utility player for the Pirates and Tigers in the 1980s.
NOT the Lizard King.


RESERVE INFIELDER
JIMMY STEWART
The utility infielder for several teams including the 1970 NL Champion Reds
NOT the beloved Oscar winning legend


RESERVE INFIELDER
DON JOHNSONThe former All Star second baseman for the 1945 NL Champion Cubs
NOT Crockett from Miami Vice.


RESERVE OUTFIELDER
TERRY BRADSHAW

The reserve outfielder for the 1995 and 1996 Cardinals
NOT the great Steelers Quarterback and Fox Sports lunatic
(who is great in The Cannonball Run)

RESERVE OUTFIELDER
EDDIE MURPHY
“Honest Eddie” who did NOT take money from gamblers as a member of the 1919 White Sox
NOT Axel Foley

RESERVE CATCHER
CARLOS SANTANA

The Indians superstar catcher of the future.
NOT the rock legend and singer of songs like “Oye Como Va.”

25th MAN
EVAN LONGORIA

The superstar Tampa Bay third baseman who evidently can’t afford to buy a new cap.
NOT the unbelievably sexy star of Desperate Housewives.

His name is close enough to Eva’s to be included here. And let’s face it, having Eva’s picture on this post will get a few more hits on a Google search.

Now I am NOT going to sink to the point where I would write Sexy Nude Pics of Eva Longoria on this page just to increase traffic.

Nor for Evan Longoria.

My first article for The Hardball Times

Today at The Hardball Times I have posted my first article. It's about the Pirates and no doubt Pirate fans will hate me for it because I imply that they weren't good last year and that there is no excuse for 18 straight losing seasons.

Shooting the messenger will be in the cards today.

CLICK HERE to give it a read.
I'll be doing articles for them from time to time.

But don't worry. I'll be writing Sully Baseball every day as well.

Prove me wrong, baseball writers... vote for the King

Come on, Voters... make the right call.
Felix Hernandez was the best pitcher in the American League for 2010.

And if you've been reading this blog (which you are right now), you know I've covered this in detail why Felix Hernandez should win BECAUSE of his win loss total.

There's nothing left to do but wait... and hope the writers made the correct choice.