Saturday, March 17, 2012

2012 Topps Heritage #346 - Santiago Casilla


  • I opened up my first 2012 Topps Heritage pack today and I got one Giants card -- Santiago Casilla.
  • Santiago Casilla has been an important part of the Giants bullpen for the last two seasons. As the back of his card states, the Giants got him just at the right time.
  • As far as I can tell, the following Giants are in the 2012 Heritage set:
    • 5 - Tim Lincecum (LL)
    • 9 - Tim Lincecum (LL)
      50 - Madison Bumgarner
    • 61 - Aubrey Huff
    • 85 - Buster Posey
    • 163 - Matt Cain
    • 169 - Brett Pill (rookie stars)
    • 208 - Brett Pill (rookie stars)
    • 258 - Bruce Bochy
    • 270 - Nate Schierholtz
    • 325 - Brian Wilson
    • 346 - Santiago Casilla
    • 388 - Pablo Sandoval
    • 460 - Brett Pill (SP)
    • 474 - Barry Zito (SP)
    • 490 - Brandon Belt (SP)
  • If I missed any of the base cards, please let me know.


Friday, March 16, 2012

Happy Birthday Brian Wilson!

  • The Beard is 30 today---long live the beard!
  • Brian Wilson has had some good years as the Giants' closer.
    • 2006: 4-3, 5.40 ERA in 31 games
    • 2007: 1-2, 2.28 ERA, 6 saves in 24 games
    • 2008: 3-2, 4.62 ERA, 41 saves in 62 games -- it was his first year as the Giants' closer and although he had a skunky ERA Brian made the 2008 NL All Star team
    • 2009: 5-6, 2.74 ERA, 38 saves in 68 games
    • 2010: 3-3, 1.81 ERA, 48 saves (led NL) in 70 games, NL All Star, 1-0 with 6 saves during the post season.
    • 2011: 6-4, 3.11 ERA, 36 saves in 57 games, NL All Star
  • Happy birthday Brian!


Tuesday, March 13, 2012

1984 Topps #109 - Brad Wellman

  • Brad Wellman was originally signed by the Kansas City Royals in 1978. He played in the Royals' system from 1978-1981.
  • Wellman was traded (with Atlee Hammaker, Renie Martin, and Craig Chamberlain) to the Giants on 30 March 1982 for Vida Blue and Bob Tufts.
  • Brad batted .324 for AAA Phoenix and got his first taste of major league action at the end of the 1982 season.
  • Wellman batted .311 in 45 games for Phoenix in 1983 and was called up at the end of May to replace the injured Duane Kuiper. Brad was given a shot at the starting second base position but he didn't provide enough offense (.214 in 82 games).
  • Brad's 1984 season looked a lot like his 1983 season. He started with Phoenix, hit pretty well, and was called up after a couple of months. Wellman improved his average to .226, but it wasn't enough improvement.
  • The Giants were wretched in 1985 (62-100). Brad backed up Manny Trillo at second base. Wellman outhit Trillo during the season (but neither player broke .240).
  • The coming of Robby Thompson in 1986 spelled the end of Brad Wellman's time in San Francisco. Brad batted .282 in Phoenix, but he only got into twelve games for the Giants. After the season Wellman became a free agent and signed with the LA Dodgers.
  • He played in the Dodger organization in 1987 and then spent the last two years of his career in the Royals' organization. Wellman retired after the 1989 season.
  • Brad Wellman now owns Wellman Sports in San Ramon, CA and teaches baseball to youngsters.
  • Brad has a son (Casey Wellman) who plays for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League.
  • Brad Wellman had a pretty good minor league career (.298 lifetime average in eight seasons).
  • Stats:
    • 1982 - .250 (1 for 4)
    • 1983 - .214 in 82 games
    • 1984 - .226 in 93 games
    • 1985 - .236 in 71 games
    • 1986 - .154 (2 for 13) in 12 games


Happy Birthday Will Clark!

  • Today is Will Clark's 48th birthday.
  • He had a great nickname --- Will the Thrill
  • Clark was one of the players who really helped turn around the Giants franchise in the late 1980s
  • Will  homered off of Nolan Ryan in his first major league at bat on 8 April 1986
  • Clark was a five-time NL All-Star (1988-1992). He also made the AL All Star team in 1994 after leaving the Giants
  • Will was the MVP of the 1989 NL Championship Series
  • Happy birthday Will!!!


Friday, March 9, 2012

Happy Birthday Terry Mulholland!

  • Terry Mulholland turns 49 today.
  • Mulholland started his career with the Giants. Here are his stats with the Giants organization:
    • 1984: First round draft pick of the SF Giants 
      • was 6-2 with a 2.04 ERA in 12 starts for two teams (Everett and Fresno)
    • 1985: 9-8, 2.90 ERA in 26 starts for AA Shreveport
    • 1986
      • 8-5, 4.46 ERA in 17 starts for AAA Phoenix
      • 1-7, 4.94 ERA in 15 games (10 starts) for San Francisco
    • 1987: 7-12, 5.07 ERA in 37 games (29 starts) for AAA Phoenix
    • 1988
      • 7-3, 3.58 ERA in 19 games (14 starts) for AAA Phoenix
      • 2-1, 3.72 ERA in 9 games (6 starts) for San Francisco
    • 1989
      • 4-5, 2.99 ERA in 13 games (10 starts) for AAA Phoenix
      • 0-0, 4.09 ERA in 5 games (1 start) for San Francisco
  • Terry was traded (with Dennis Cook and Charlie Hayes) to the Philadelphia Phillies for Steve Bedrosian and a player to be named later (Rick Parker) on 18 June 1989
  • I hadn't realized that Terry had pitched for so long in the majors. His career went from 1986-2006 -- that's 20 seasons!
  • Happy Birthday Terry!

Saturday, March 3, 2012

1987 Donruss #66 - Will Clark


  • Johngy from Johngy's Beat sent me this card. This was the one card I needed to complete my 1987 Donruss Giants team set. Thanks a lot Johngy!
  • Night Owl has a "One Card Challenge" where a collector can ask for one card to complete a set (or a team set). I asked for the 1987 Donruss Clark and Johngy sent it along. Thanks for starting this program, Night Owl!