Thursday, March 5, 2015

2015 Topps #67 - Hunter Pence


  • It was disheartening to see the blurb on my phone from MLB.com. Hunter Pence was hit in the arm by a pitch in the sixth inning of the Giants' third exhibition game. He's expected to miss 6-8 weeks due to a fractured ulna bone. At least it happened in spring training so he won't miss as much time when the games count. The Giants will have a tough time replacing him for the first part of the season.
  • This is a great shot of Hunter going after a ball in the outfield.


Tuesday, March 3, 2015

1983 Donruss #605 - Guy Sularz

  • Guy Sularz was an infielder who played in parts of four seasons with the Giants from 1980-1983.
  • Sularz was drafted by the Giants in 1974. He played in the minors from 1974-1980. Guy's best minor league season was with AAA Phoenix in 1978. He batted .294 in 144 games and had a .370 on base percentage. Sularz was always good at getting on base - he had a lifetime .370 on base percentage in 11  minor league seasons.
  • Guy got his first taste of the majors as a September call-up in 1980. Sularz started 23 games at second base and batted .246 in 25 games. Guy didn't show much power -- his slugging percentage was only .292.
  • In 1981 Sularz spent most of the year in Phoenix. He was called up in September and batted .200 (4 for 20) in 10 games.
  • Guy spent most of the 1982 season as a backup infielder for the Giants. He batted .228 in 63 games.
  • Sularz was in Phoenix in 1983. He was called up in September, but Guy didn't get to play much. He batted .100 (2 for 20) in ten games.
  • Guy was in Phoenix for the entire 1984 season. After the 1984 season he was offered a contract to be a player-coach in Phoenix. Sularz turned down the offer and retired.
  • Sularz used some money he saved up during his playing days to enroll in junior college. He decided to become a firefighter and worked in Phoenix in the early 1990s.
  • Guy retired as the all-time Phoenix Giants/Firebirds leader in games, hits, doubles, and total bases.
  • Sularz returned to his roots as a fan and rooted for the Dodgers (ugh!) after he left the Giants organization.
  • Guy is now a real estate agent in Mesa, AZ.