November 27
Ivan Rodriguez: 2009 Topps Update #1
It's hard to believe but Pudge has just completed his 21st year in the majors. He's currently a free agent but there is apparently a lot of interest in him, even though he missed a lot of time in 2011 with an injury. He has a career .296 batting average and 311 home runs and has played all those years as a catcher. He only played for the Astros for a few months but I picked this card because it is such an odd photo.
November 28
Sixto Lezcane: 1985 Donruss #529
There are literally no big time players born this date. When facing this situation, I like to either go with a player with an unusual name or a Phillie. Here I get both. Sixto played about half of his 12-year career with the Brewers. He played for the Phillies in 1983 and 1984.
November 29
Mariano Rivera: 2000 Upper Deck MVP Second Season Standouts #2
The Sandman has played his entire 17-year career with the Yankees. He's one of the most celebrated players currently playing. He holds the career record for saves with 603 and the career record for games finished with 883. He's a 12-time All-Star. I could go on but I'm running out of space.
November 30
Shane Victorino: 2008 Upper Deck Documentary Gold #1708
The Flyin' Hawaiian was drafted by the Dodgers in 1999 and came to the Phillies through the Rule 5 draft. He's played 7 years in Philadelphia and he is a big fan favorite there.
December 1
Walter Alston
I don't have any cards featuring Walter Alston but he is by far the most famous baseball person born this date. He managed the Dodgers from 1954 through 1976 amassing a 2040-1613 record, including 4 World Series Championships. And here is a trivia question for you. Name the Hall of Famer who has the fewest at bats of any player in the Hall. It's Walter Alston. He had one at bat with the Cardinals in 1936. He struck out.
December 2
Darryl Kile: 1995 Collector’s Choice Special Edition Silver #41
Darryl had a career 133-119 record over 12 years. He spent the first 7 years with the Astros, 2 years with the Rockies and 3 years with the Cardinals. He was a well liked player and his death of a heart attack in 2002 (at age 33) was devastating to his Cardinal teammates. All three of his former teams have a "DK 57" memorial in their stadiums.
December 3
Clay Dalrymple: 1964 Topps #191
Clay played for 12 years, the first 9 with the Phillies. He was their everyday catcher from 1961 through 1968. In 1963 he lead the National League in both stolen bases allowed (56) and runners thrown out (50). I wasn't a baseball fan when I was a kid and Dalrumple is one of the few Phillies I remember from the early 1960s.
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