RBI (20) Sometimes TTM is like climbing a hill...

And this time I was able to make it to the top. Former catcher Mr. Marc Hill was nice enough to make a quick TTM return to me and shed a little bit of light about his career in the Majors for me.

Marc Hill was able to play for four different teams from 1973 to 1986 as a backup catcher primarily for the White Sox and Giants. Through his 14 season career Hill was only a team's main catcher twice, for the San Francisco Giants playing a career high 108 and 117 games. Marc eventually end his career with a .223 average and 34 Home runs.

Hill would be a part of the 1983 "Winning Ugly" Chicago White Sox where then Manager Tony La Russa won his first Manager of the Year award for the scrappy club ending the season with a blistering 60-25 second half. The White Sox wouldn't be able to translate their second half success into October parades after being knocked out by the Baltimore Orioles in the ALCS 3 games to 1.

Mr. Hill was nice enough to send this 1980 Topps card I got through the Diamond Giveaway back to me with a nice and clear autograph above the original on the card facade. It was cool to see decades later his signature even with a sharpie hasn't changed very much.

It was even nicer of him to respond to a few questions I included in the envelope I mailed him. When asked in my letter:

What did you see as the key to having so many years played at the Major League level?

Perhaps taking a page out his dad's professional playing career as a pitcher in the St. Louis Brown's organization in the 40's, Hill responded "Consistent and to enjoy the game the people you meet" 

What was the clubhouse like during the "Winning Ugly" 1983 White Sox season?

Considering his previous response and how was kind enough to share a few thoughts in the letter I think the response was pretty in character for Mr. Hill "Just having fun - Season went fast"

Who was your favorite pitcher to catch throughout your career?

Harking back to his White Sox days from 1981-1986, Hill picked a few of the pitchers he worked with. They just happen to both be pitchers who not only won their own Cy Young awards, but one is even in the Hall of Fame "Tom Seaver - LaMarr Hoyt"

What was your favorite city to play in as a visitor?

Considering he seems to be quite the standup guy Hill picked a city to match "Boston"

Mr. Hill responded to my letter after only 10 days to his home address. 

RBI (19) It's going, going, gone...

Or at least it was when former Angel Rick Reichardt was the first player to hit a home run at Anaheim Stadium in the 1966 season. Rick is a historic player not only for Angel franchise history but also for the entire league as he is one of the primary reasons Major League Baseball established a Draft.

A slugging outfielder from Wisconsin, Rick was a two-sport star who was the starting fullback for the Badgers making two Rose Bowl appearances on the team. Eventually in 1964 baseball clubs got into a bidding war for the prospect in the 1964 off season with the Angels eventually winning the player for a $205,000 signing bonus. To avoid such further bidding wars the Major League draft was instituted to protect the interest and finances of the franchises. The initial Draft may have provided such protections, but now with the current player signing bonuses some players may turn out to come at a discount if such bidding still occurred compared to their draft slot bonuses.

He played only sparingly in the 1964 and 1965 seasons before becoming a regular in 1966 when Anaheim Stadium opened. He was the first player to go deep in the new stadium and on April 19th he hit a solo shot off Tommy John. He was having a promising season but was eventually cut short of his promise by a congenital kidney blockage that forced the removal of his kidney.

He was able to play a further seven seasons in the Major Leagues but was never able to play at the same caliber as before his surgery, only cracking 20 homers once in his career. Reichardt finished his major league career in 1974 with 116 Home runs and a .261 batting average.

Reichardt signed this Topps 1966 Angels Team card for me that I was able to get through the Topps 50th Anniversary Diamond Giveaway at Angel Stadium due to the 50th Anniversary promotion. I wasn't all that pleased with the quality of the card with all the creases, bends, and missing corner; but for a 55 year old card I guess it was the best Topps was able to do. Thankfully Mr. Reichardt had a nice signature that he put on the card to help add some wow factor back to the card.

RBI (18) A great 'boone' to the game...

Or at least one named Bob. Son of late third baseman Ray Boone, and father of second baseman Bret Boone and utility player Aaron Boone, former Angels catcher Bob Boone Has been around the Majors in some sort of capacity since the 70's.

The San Diego native began his career with the Philadelphia Phillies after being taken in the 6th round of the 1969 draft. He was the definition of a defensive catcher, winning 2 Gold Gloves with the Phillies and being recognized as an All-Star 3-times. Most notably however, he was part of the 1980 World Series championship team.

In 1982 Boone was shipped to the Angels where he played the second half of his career where he continued to rack up Gold Glove Awards and another All-Star selection. He contributed to Angel lore when he caught Mike Witt's perfect game on the last day of the 1984 season against the Texas Rangers on September 30, 1984.

Boone signed on as a free agent with the Kansas City Royals but he lasted only a season and a half before finally retiring as a player and moving into other roles as a manager and currently member of the Washington Nationals organization. With top prospect Wilson Ramos in the organization I'm sure Nationals fans are excited at the idea of Strasburg, Harper, and Boone taught Ramos forming a dynamic core for years to come.

When his 19 season career was over Boone's career batting line would only have a .254 average with 105 Home runs.  However he would have an illustrious 7 Gold Gloves, 4 All-Star selections, and a World Series Championship.

Bob Boone autographed his 1987 Topps card for me at Angel Stadium as part of the Angels 50th Anniversary celebration during the Angels vs. Red Sox series. 

RBI (17) The A's manager may go...

But Gio Go-nzalez isn't going anywhere this week but to the mound. As mentioned before in my first contest I was able to get Oakland Athletics pitcher Gio Gonzalez to sign for me before a game at Angel Stadium. Gio put on a pretty good show during batting practice running around competing for fly balls against some of the other pitchers and when a ball was in doubt used the always reliable method of throwing his glove at the ball to knock it down.

Gio was a 1st Round supplemental pick for the Chicago White Sox in 2004 but was traded around as a top prospect before finally breaking into the Majors. He was sent from the White Sox to the Phillies, back to the White Sox, and eventually scooped up by Oakland's Billy Beane in 2008 where he would finally make an MLB appearance.

Gio had a tough rookie year and in his first 30 appearances between '08 and '09 he had given up 92 runs in only 132 innings for an abysmal ERA. However 2010 led to a breakthrough and batters were held to a .229 average and in 33 starts Gio held a 3.23 ERA with a 15-9 record.

Building off his success last season Gio has made 2011 a strong year for him so far. In 12 starts despite the slumping A's offense he has a 5-4 record with an outstanding 2.62 ERA despite having 33 Walks due to a .233 average hitters have against him. Who knows with the way the A's offense has been, no dominant closer, and 4 other starters on the DL Gio's first half may make him the A's lone (and league required) representative to the All-Star game.

Gio Gonzalez autographed this Topps 2011 card for me and then an additional (and awfully pretty) 2011 Team card after batting practice at Angel Stadium during a four game series in Anaheim. 

RBI (16) A nice TTM return from a nice 'mann...

I got a sweet TTM success today from a nice 'mann' named Mr. Glenn Borgmann. Mr. Borgmann not only signed the card I sent him, but also responded to a few questions in the letter that accompanied the card.

Borgmann played from in the Majors throughout the 70's for primarily the Minnesota Twins. He was a member of the Twins from 1972 to 1979. While on the Twins he had the distinction to play alongside baseball greats Rod Carew, Harmon Killebrew, and Bert Blyleven. Throughout his career he primarily played as a backup catcher after he lost his starting position in 1976 to Butch Wynegar.

After 1979 he signed for a lone season with the Chicago White Sox as a backup catcher. Unable to find a Major League roster spot Borgmann ended his career in 1981 with a career .229 average and 151 RBI with 16 Home Runs.

Glenn signed his 1978 Topps card I received through the Topps Diamond Giveaway program going on right now. The card was in very nice condition for it's age and he signed a nice signature in blue sharpie.

When asked in my letter:

What was your favorite place to play at as a visitor?
Mr. Borgmann responded "Yankee Stadium."

Who was your favorite pitcher to catch through your career? 
Borgmann selected two-time All-Star and World Series Champion "Jerry Koosman" who posted 20-13 and 16-13 records while playing on the Twins with Borgmann.

Was there any pitcher  you enjoyed hitting against?
"Bill Travers" of the Milwaukee Brewers and California Angels was chosen, a slightly surprising choice since he was among the league leaders in hit batsmen.

Is there any moment in your career that was especially meaningful and stuck out to you?
"1st HR off Jim Palmer" and that would be his first career homer off Hall of Famer Jim Palmer in a losing cause for Bert Blyleven in a 1-2 loss to the Orioles on August 19, 1972 in Baltimore.

Glenn Borgmann autographed my card and responded to my letter after only 7 days to his home address.

Sac Fly (1) Winner!

Well here's the deal. I didn't actually say if the guesses were going to count as a total score or individually. Luckily you all solved the issue for me by not a single person who entered twice repeating a name. So every person if they submitted 2 entries submitted 6 separate names with none being repeated, meaning there was a general interpretation that it was cumulative. Which is what I intended for and why the extra entry was so valuable.  The 3 players who signed for me were Grant Balfour, Brad Ziegler, and Gio Gonzalez. Meaning the winner was the lone person who correctly named 2 players in their guesses was.........Matt of Tenets of Wilson! So congrats Matt you're the winner of my first ever contest meaning the odds are high I send you an additional slightly meaningless prize with your main prize.  For everyone else...you're all awsome and I enjoyed your guesses. I'll be hosting additional contests soon so keep an eye out.

As an additional note, Gio signed 2 cards for me and Ziegler signed a ball for me with someone else's gel pen (shudder) that immediately smeared and then resigned in my pen since I asked nicely at the end of his signing when he saw the awful smear on the original signature. He actually looked at the ball and said "gross I totally understand don't worry" (yay young pitchers) when I asked him to sign again while showing the horrendous smear. So I got 3 players but 5 signatures, which is why I said I had to repay the great karma I had by hosting a contest since Zeigler and Gio were so nice to me.

Balk 3 - Contest madness

So while I have my contest going on I thought I'd plug a few others going on around the blogosphere.

Autographed Cards has a College World Series Contest going on.

The Diamond King will be posting want lists soon but until then you can drool over a few hits being given away.

Good luck everyone!