Curly W Cards: Brad Wilkerson

Showing posts with label Brad Wilkerson. Show all posts

31 May 2017

Get On Your Bikes And Ride

2017 Topps Now card 83 images from FederalBaseball.com

On Tuesday 25 April, 2017 in game 2 in Colorado vs the Rockies young Nats shortstop Trea Turner hit for The Cycle. For those who are new to baseball and don't know what "hitting for the cycle" means; it is when a player hits a single, a double, a triple and a home run all in the same game. They do not have to be in order, that feat is rarer and is a "natural" cycle. It is the triple that is the most difficult hit to get. Trea is only the 3rd Modern National to hit the cycle, and the 9th Expos/Nats and the 11th DC player (Senator or National) to achieve this amazing feat. The last Nat to hit the cycle was Cristian Guzman 28 August 2008 and the first Nat to hit the cycle was Brad Wilkerson on 06 April 2005. Texas Rangers Carlos Gomez hit the cycle 4 days after Trea on the 29th of April 2017. It is his second cycle interestingly his first was for the other Ex-Senators team the Minnesota Twins on 07 May 2008.

2017 Topps Now card ODB-2 from Topps.com

Expos to hit for the cycle:
Tim Foli 22 Apr 1976 natural
Chris Speier 20 Jul 1978 (hit his 2nd for the San Francisco Giants on 09 Jul 1988)
Tim Raines 16 Aug 1987
Rondell White 11 Jun 1995
Brad Wilkerson 24 Jun 2003 natural (his first same franchise different team his second was as a Nat)
Vladimir Guerrero 14 Sep 2003

Nationals to hit for the cycle:

Brad Wilkerson 06 Apr 2005

Cristian Guzmann 28 Aug 2008

Trea Turner 24 Apr 2017

Senators to hit for the cycle:

Bill Hassamaer 13 Jun 1894

Ed Cartwright 30 Sep 1895

Bill Joyce 30 May 1896

Otis Clymer 02 Oct 1908

Goose Goslin 28 Aug 1924

Joe Cronin 02 Sep 1929 (his first, his second was for the Boston Red Sox on 02 Aug 1940)

Mickey Vernon 19 May 1946

Jim King 26 May 1964

Twins to hit for the cycle:

Rod Carew 20 May 1970

Cesar Tovar 19 Sep 1972

Larry Hisle 04 Jun 1976

Lyman Bostock 24 Jul 1976

Mike Cubbage 27 Jul 1978

Gary Ward 18 Sep 1980

Kirby Puckett 01 Aug 1986

Carlos Gomez 07 May 2008 (his first, his 2nd was for Texas Rangers on 29 Apr 2017)

Jason Kubel 17 Apr 2009

Michael Cuddyer 22 May 2009 (his first, his 2nd was for Colorado Rockies 17 Aug 2014)

Rangers to hit for the cycle:

Oddibe McDowell 23 Jul 1985

Mark Teixeira 17 Aug 2004

Gary Matthews Jr. 13 Sep 2006 natural

Ian Kinsler 15 Apr 2009

Bengie Molina 16 Jul 2010

Adrian Beltre 24 Aug 2012 (his second his first was for Seattle Mariners 01 Sep 2008 his 3rd is also with Rangers on 03 Aug 2015)

Alex Rios 23 Sep 2013

Shin-Soo Choo 21 Jul 2015

Adrian Beltre 03 Aug 2015 (third total 2nd as a Ranger. his first two are above)

Carlos Gomez 29 Apr 2017 (his second his first was for Minnesota Twins 07 May 2008)

17 March 2012

Last of the Expos: Nick Johnson

NICK JOHNSON - 24

Last transitional Expo/Inaugural Nat to be traded away.

Expos 2004 / Nationals 2005 - 2009

Nick as a "Damn Yankee"

Nick Johnson started his Major League career with the New York Yankees. Post-Nationals he would return to the Yankees after his brief stint with the Florida Marlins, and due to the Yanks super-star roster be sent back down to the Minors). Nick was the last of the transitional Expos/Inaugural Nationals players to be traded away. He was traded for a Minor League pitcher Aaron Thompson plus some cash on the 31 July 2009 trade deadline. Thompson has yet to be brought up permanently from the Minors and has since been traded away. He had been put on waivers by the Nationals and picked up by the Pittsburgh Pirates he made his Major League debut with them. Last December he signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins and was invited to their spring training.

Nick was traded to the Marlins for this guy Aaron Thompson who is still in the Minors

Aaron Thompson in Nationals uniform 2010 (photo via wikipedia)

I was really upset with that trade as I have been with all the trades that involved a fave player. This one like most of the others I feel were not really worth it and the player the Nats traded for has since moved to another team, usually within a year or two.

As for the Ex-Montreal coaching staff most of them were fired when the club cleaned house while getting rid of Manny Acta in September of 2008 pitching coach Randy St. Claire was the lone exception who would last until June 2009 the last of the old Expos Coaching Staff.

Nick may not have been the best first baseman but he was the current Nationals "First" 1st baseman. When the Nationals started up in 2005 he was one of my fast first favorites along with Brian Schneider, Ryan Church and Brad Wilkerson. Part of his charm is his old-school way of wearing the high socks over the shorter pants, all he needs are the stirrups and he is the retro king. His on base percentage I thought was exceptional. He would often get to a full count and then after 10 pitches or so either draw a walk or force the pitcher to get him out. So yeah he struck out a lot.

23 September 2006 Shea Stadium vs New York Mets - Aftermath of collision between Nick and Austin Kearns

Unfortunately Nick has had a string of injuries over his career and set-backs due to those injuries. He never had much speed, and after his big leg injury at Shea Stadium in 2006 vs the Mets (a result of a collision with Austin Kearns) he was never the same running the bases, but he was still a decent first baseman.

Nick Johnson slides home to score vs the Boston Red Sox during spring training game 06 March 2012 Tho Orioles lost 5-4. - Associated Press photo

Currently Nick is trying to reboot his career with the Baltimore Orioles. He signed a Minor League contract (on 08 February 2012) with them and has been at spring training with them. I'm hoping for good things for both the B'More team and Nick. Now onto the cards.

I love vintage and I love these Retro sets. Ironically when I first saw one of the first Topps Heritage card packs for sale at a 7-Eleven (Football I think) back in 2001 or so I thought it was a terrible idea. I now think it is because football doesn't retro as well as baseball does. Now I really enjoy them.