George "Heavy" Wheeler

A couple of months ago, my wife had opened up an ancestry.com account and had some fun researching her family tree. I initially resisted the temptation to follow suit because clearly I have more hobbies than time. At some point, I gave in and installed the Ancestry.com app on my iPad. As expected... a passionate and time consuming addiction followed as I started building my tree. Through the process, I discovered many wonderful things about my family heritage including soldiers from the Civil and Revolutionary wars plus successful business and community leaders.

For me, the best discovery in the tree was a professional baseball player named George Harrison Wheeler. Nicknamed "Heavy", he is my great-grand Uncle (translation: he is my father's grandmother's brother).

Born in 1881 outside of Terra Haute, Indiana, he played minor league baseball for eight seasons from 1907 to 1914 for clubs located in South Bend, Terra Haute, Troy (NY), Jersey City, and Indianapolis. This 1912 Imperial Tobacco C-46 is the only baseball card of him I am aware of.

He was pretty good. According to his minor league Baseball-Reference page: In 1908, he played outfield for the Central League's Terre Haute Hottentots (love that name!) and hit .303 in 119 games. In 1913, he split 113 games between the Terre Haute Terre-iers (Central League) and Indianapolis Indians (American Association) he hit .320. For his minor league career, Wheeler hit .287 in 810 minor league games.

Today is a special day... it was 102 years ago today (July 27, 1910) my great-grand uncle George "Heavy" Wheeler made his Major League debut with the Cincinnati Reds. In his 4th season of professional baseball he was sold for $1000 to the Reds by the Terra Haute Stags. On this day, against the Pirates, he pinch hit for pitcher Jack Rowan in the seventh inning. The Reds lost 8-4.

Sadly, his major league career was short lived. George only appeared in a total of 3 Major League games, each of them as a pinch-hitter. He never recorded a hit and struck out twice. He was released by the Reds following their double-header on August 3rd against the Boston Doves.

He played another 4 minor league seasons before leaving the game in 1914. He died at the young age of 36 of Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Induction Weekend

Congratulations to former Michigan Wolverine All American Barry Larkin on his well deserved induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

1974 Topps Horizontal template here

Leaders and Best.

1974 All Star Project: NL Bench

My 1974 All Star Project continues with the National League non-starting position players.

	Lou Brock. Selected to six All Star squads during his 19 year Hall of Fame career, Lou Brock was still a few weeks away from breaking Maury Wills' single-season stolen base record of 104. He ended the season with a new major league single-season record of 118 stolen bases. He entered the game as a pinch hitter in the 5th inning and delivered a single. Appropriately, he stole second base, went to third on a throwing error, and scored on Joe Morgan's RBI sacrafice fly.
	Dave Cash. Originally a Pirate, Cash made the All Star team in all three seasons he played with the Phillies ('74, '75, and '76). In this game, he entered the game as a pinch hitter in the 7th, flying out to center. He replaced Joe Morgan an finished the game at second base.
	Cesar Cedeno. Never living up to the "Next Willie Mays" billing he was given by Leo Durocher... Cedeno made 4 career All Star appearances for the Astros.  He started in centerfield for the 1973 game. In this game, Cesar replaced Hank Aaron in the 4th inning and went hitless in 2 plate appearances.
	Ralph Garr. This was the only All Star game for the 1974 NL Batting Champion. Ralph had 149 hits heading into the All-Star break that year, a record that stands to this day. Garr was the first NL reserve to get into the game when he pinch hit for the starting pitcher Andy Messersmith in the 3rd inning. He stayed in left field through the 7th inning and went 0 for 3.
	Jerry Grote. Making his second and final career All Star appearance, Grote was a favorite of NL manager Yogi Berra. In the game, he replaced starter Johnny Bench to catch the 9th inning. He never came to bat.
	Johnny Grubb. Someone from the San Diego Padres had to make the All Star team in 1974, and Grubb was that man. It would be his only career selection. He popped out to the shortstop in his only at bat.
	Don Kessinger. Playing in his sixth and final career All Star Game, Kessinger was the starting shortstop for the NL four times. He made the most of his one at bat, tripling to the gap in right-center field in the bottom of the 8th inning, driving in Mike Schmidt. He later scored on Fingers wild pitch.
	Tony Perez. Overshadowed by his more popular teammates, Perez made seven All Star games in his career. He won the 1967 All Star MVP when he hit a game winning walk off HR in the 15th inning. He appeared as a pinch hitter in the 6th inning and struck out.
	Mike Schmidt. 1974 was the first of 12 All Star Games for the greatest third baseman in baseball history. He would go on to win his first of 8 NL HR crowns this season. Schmidt replaced Ron Cey in the sixth inning and walked in both of his plate appearances. He scored on Kessinger's triple in the 8th.
	Ted Simmons. Although he was overshadowed by Johnny Bench, made 8 different All Star teams in his 21 year career. He did not play in this game.
	Reggie Smith. In his 17 year big league career, Reggie Smith made 7 All Star Games with three different teams. He started the 1980 game as a member of the Dodgers. This game featured 17 future Hall of Famers, but Reggie Smith was the only player to hit a home run in this game.
	Chris Speier. 1974 was the third straight (and final career) All Star appearance for Chris Speier. He was the lone representative for the Giants. He did not play.

1974 All Star Project: NL Starters

Previously: AL Starters / AL Bench / AL Bullpen

Here are my redesigned 1974 Topps cards for the National League All Star starters (in batting lineup order):

	LF: Pete Rose. Leading off for the NL was the 1973 NL MVP and batting champion. This was one of the 17 All Star games and five positions Pete played in. Pete came to the plate twice in this game, striking out once and grounding out the other.
	2B: Joe Morgan. Joe was the MVP of the 1972 All Star game and this was one of ten midsummer classics he played in. In this game he struck out in the first inning, doubled in the third, and drove in the eventual winning run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth.
	RF: Hank Aaron. The HR King played in an incredible 25 All Star games over the course of his Hall of Fame career. After hitting the record breaker in April of 1974, the rest of the season was essentially a victory lap through the NL cities. He hit a deep fly ball to left in the first and grounded out to short in the third.
	C: Johnny Bench. Bench was a 14 time All Star and had previously homered in the 1969, 1971 and 1973 games. In this game he got 2 hits and walked in 4 plate appearances.
	CF: Jimmy Wynn. This was the second of three career All Star appearances for the Toy Cannon. He was named the NL Comeback Player of the Year in 1974. He had a single in 3 plate appearances.
	1B: Steve Garvey. This was the first of 10 All Star games for Steve Garvey. He made this start as the second ever "write in candidate" from the fans. He was named MVP of the National League at the end of the 1974 season. Garvey rewarded his fans with an MVP performance in this game, playing all nine innings going 2 for 4, driving in a run and scoring a run.
	3B: Ron Cey. Joining his teammate Steve Garvey at his first All Star game, this was one of the six All Star Games for The Penguin. He had a hit and 2 RBIs.
	SS: Larry Bowa. This was also Larry's first of five All Star appearances. He started at short in three of those games ('74, '78 and '79). He was hitless in to plate appearances.
	P: Andy Messersmith. Andy was selected onto four career All Star games. He led the NL in wins with 20 in 1974. He pitched the first three innings and gave up the only 2 runs the AL scored.

On this day... Pete Rose collects #3000

May 5, 1978. Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium. 37 year old Reds third baseman Pete Rose becomes the 13th player in big league league history, and the first since Al Kaline did ten years earlier, to record 3000 hits.

Needing two hits to reach the milestone and facing National League All Star pitcher Steve Rogers and the Montreal Expos, Rose beats out an infield chopper in the third inning to record hit #2999.

On his next at bat (in the fifth inning), facing a 1-0 count, Pete delivers a sharp single to left center field. The home town crowd erupts with a five minute standing ovation. The Reds dugout empties on the field and former teammate, and current Expos first baseman Tony Perez hands Rose the milestone baseball. Perez and Rose broke into professional baseball together in 1960.

Rose reaches the milestone in only his 16th major league season, quicker than any of the other dozen players before him to accomplished the feat. The Reds lose the game 4-3.

Six years and two teams later, Pete collects hit #4000... as a member of the Montreal Expos.

DAHOF Top 100 -- #45 Barry Larkin

From MGoBlue.com:

Former University of Michigan baseball All-American Barry Larkin (1983-85) has been selected as a member of the 2012 class to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, it was announced today (Monday, Jan. 9).

Larkin will become the fourth Wolverine to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. George Sisler was inducted in 1939 and lettered at U-M in 1913, '14 and '15. He played for the St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators and Boston Braves, and held the Major League record for hits in a season (257) until 2004. Charlie Gehringer played on the freshman team at U-M in 1923 and was awarded a freshman letter. He went on to become a six-time All-Star and American League Most Valuable Player in 1937 with the Detroit Tigers. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1949. Branch Rickey, who is credited with inventing the modern farm system, pioneering the utilization of statistics and breaking the color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1967. Rickey coached U-M from 1910-13 while attending the Michigan Law School.

During his three-year career at Michigan, Larkin led the Wolverines to the College World Series twice (1983-84) and was a two-time All-America selection (1984-85). As a freshman, Larkin had two doubles in a victory over Maine in the first game of the College World Series, leading the Wolverines to a third-place finish. The Wolverines finished seventh during his sophomore campaign as Larking picked up the first of two consecutive All-America citations. The shortstop hit a career-high .368 during his junior year to earn national recognition for the second straight season.

Larkin ranks among the top 10 in five different single-season categories at U-M. He is tied for second in triples (8), tied for sixth in home runs (16) and tied for third in total bases (150) while ranking third in runs scored (72) and fifth in runs batted in (66). He also ranks in the top 10 in four career offensive categories -- third in triples (13), fifth in runs scored (172), tied for eighth in stolen bases (44) and 10th in batting average (.361).

After leaving Michigan, Larkin was drafted fourth overall by the Cincinnati Reds in the 1985 MLB Draft. The shortstop spent one-and-a-half seasons in the minors before being called up to Cincinnati, where he played for 19 years, including helping lead his squad to the 1990 World Series title. In 1995, he was named the National League MVP while hitting .319 with 15 home runs and 51 stolen bases. The three-time Gold Glove winner was also a 12-time All-Star and nine-time Silver Slugger honoree. Larkin became the first Major League Baseball shortstop to join the 30-30 club in 1996 when he hit 33 home runs and swiped 36 bags. Larkin also has been honored for his off-the-field work, winning the Roberto Clemente award in 1993 in recognition of his philanthropic work.

In 2010, 25 years after leaving for professional baseball, Barry Larkin returned to Ann Arbor to finish his communications degree, delivering on a promise he had made to his grandmother. Hail!

DAHOF Top 100 -- #88 Joe Morgan

For someone that I have never actually met, my baseball relationship with Joe Morgan is very complicated. For almost 40 seasons it has morphed and developed, both good and bad for better and for worse.

It started in the early 1970s after I discovered this small, but dangerous second baseman in Cincinnati. Like anyone that saw him play, I respected his abilities as a ballplayer and feared what he could do to my team. There was no question about it: Joe Morgan made the Big Red Machine purr. He won the NL MVP in both 1975 & 1976 - the 1st time a second baseman had won back to back trophies. It seemed like overnight these clean shaven conservative Reds replaced the mustached green and gold drama in Oakland, delivering two straight world series wins and a dynasty of their own.

I think the first time I ever noticed Joe Morgan in the batters box "chicken" flapping his left elbow as he waited for a pitch was in the 1975 World Series. It looked to me like he was ratcheting his grip and increasing the tension for a more powerful swing. Of course, I tried to mimic it the next spring during little league practice before my coach convinced me it didn't help.

When the Reds dismantled the machine in after the 1979 season, little Joe reappeared as a free agent down in Houston wearing those ridiculous tequila rainbow stripes. He still scared me because despite the drastic change in his outfit, one thing looked the same, he kept winning. The 1980 NLCS between the Phillies and Astros remains the best playoff series I have ever watched.

In 1982, as a member of the San Francisco Giants he hit a home run in the last game of the season to eliminate the hated Dodgers from the playoffs.

My relationship with Joe moved from fearful respect to adoration when he joined his former mates Pete Rose and Tony Perez on my Phillies in 1983. I couldn't believe it... these three great former tormentors were now wearing the uniform of my team. It was surreal and Joe's late season heroics leading to the NL pennant cemented him as a baseball hero in my book. Sadly, he played only a single season in Philadelphia before the club decided to start a youth movement. It took a lot of restraint for me not to show him in a Phils uniform for this post.

His final season was as a member of the Oakland A's, where he became the only player to homer twice on his 40th birthday.

To me, his Hall of Fame numbers and position as one of the best second basemen in the history of the game is secondary the uncanny way he had of playing winning baseball. No matter where Joe Morgan went, his teams won. In 22 seasons in the big leagues, his teams made the post season 7 different times, with three different teams.

But that isn't the end of this story. Our relationship has now moved from fearful respect through joyful adoration and into contempt borne out of familiarity. After he retired, Joe followed the path of many former ballplayers into the broadcasting booth. He soon became a regular on national and post season broadcasts working for ABC, NBC, and finally ESPN. I am not a huge fan of national broadcast teams because they lack the intimacy of the local crew and many try to explain the game in a over-simplified manner. As it turned out, Joe Morgan went from the hall of fame directly into the realm of a kindergarten teacher. Much to my horror, behind the microphone Joe had the same effect as finger-nails on a chalk board.

On this day.... Red October

October 20th, 1990. The Cincinnati Reds complete an improbable four-game World Series sweep over the heavily favored Oakland Athletics. The A's were the defending World Series Champions and had rolled to their third straight AL pennant. Tony LaRussa's Oakland lineup featured all-stars at almost every position and were led by superstars like Rickey Henderson, Jose Canseco & Mark McGwire. Lou Pinella's Reds were predicted to be easy prey for the seemingly invincible green and gold A's but Chris Sabo, Barry Larkin, Eric Davis, Jose Rijo and a bullpen anchored by three nasty flame throwers (Meyers, Charlton, and Dibble) had other ideas.