Identity Crisis: Ervin "Johan" Santana

Topps just can't seem to make up it's mind on which Santana plays for the Los Angeles Angels.
To make it worse, 2007 Topps Opening Day uses the Ervin Santana signature, while the regular 2007 Topps uses Johan.

According to this Orange County Register Article the less talented Johan Santana, decided to avoid any confusion, and changed his name.

"I just came up with Ervin," Santana said. "Ervin Santana, that sounds good."

Now somebody please tell Topps!

Welcome Back Bernie Williams

Bernie Williams is back on the baseball field playing for his native Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic.

He never really retired from baseball, and last played for the New York Yankees in 2006.

He's kept busy working on his jazz music, and is contemplating a return to the majors at the ripe old age of 40, if he does well at the WBC!

Bat Man is Dead!

John C. Odom became an overnight sensation not because of what he accomplished on the field, but instead for the trade that happened on May 20, 2008 when he was traded for 10 Prairie Sticks Baseball Bats.

The Calgary Vipers, a team in the independent Golden Baseball League, signed him to a contract, but he was not allowed to enter Canada because of a prior aggravated assault conviction, the team was forced to trade him, but were not interested in any of the players that the Laredo Broncos of the United League had to offer. They decided that Calgary could use some extra bats, and the trade was made.

Little did everyone know that 6 months after the trade, John Odom would be dead. Some who were close to him feel that the trade bothered him, and put him on a path of drugs and alcohol, which eventually contributed to the 26 year old's accidental overdose on Nov. 5, 2008.

The 10 bats are worth around $665, but ironically were were never used, and were eventually purchased by Ripley's Believe it or Not!

Tommy John Scar: Mike Hampton

When you look closely at this card, the first thing you notice is that someone was actually able to get a picture of Mike Hampton while he was on the field. The second is the badge of courage on his left arm. The Tommy John calling card!

Identity Crisis: Rich Harden

His first Topps Cards had his name as James Harden, and his signature as James Richard Harden. Then Topps decides to use two different signatures for Bowman and Bowman Chrome, and they look nothing alike!

Identity Crisis: Carlos Carrasco

I'm not quite sure why Topps put "Philadelphia Phillies" and "Carlos Carrasco on the front of Chris Denorfia's baseball card.

Identity Crisis: Boof Bonser

Forget the fact that he was born "John Paul Bonser"
Forget the fact that he legally changed his name to Boof after the 2001 season.
Topps decided to spell his last name Bosner!

Identity Crisis: Eric Bedard

That's not Eric Bedard on his Topps card!
It's Oriole teammate Brian Burres!

Identity Crisis: Homer Bailey

Talk about an Identity Crisis.
Christian Bale | Homer Bailey| Batman!

Get A Grip: Burt Hooton

Get A Grip: Tim hudson 02

Get A Grip: Tim hudson 01

Steroid Era: Ivan Rodriguez

Ivan Rodriguez was one of the players named as a steroid user in Jose Canseco's book Juiced. Canseco claims that he showed Ivan Rodriguez how to use steroids, and purchased steroids and HGH for him.

When a member of the Associated Press recently asked Ivan Rodriguez on whether he was one of the 104 players who failed the steroid test administered in 2003, his response was a puzzling "Only God Knows"

In 2005 after being named in Canseco's book, and MLB's Steroids testing was put into place, Ivan Rodriguez showed up to Spring Training 20 pounds lighter. The weight loss seems to have impacted his power numbers significantly, and he has failed to hit more than 14 HRs since then.

Steroid Era: Juan Gonzalez

Juan Gonzalez was one of the players named as a steroid user in Jose Canseco's book Juiced. Canseco claims that he showed Juan Gonzalez how to use steroids, and purchased steroids and HGH for him.

In 2001 Juan Gonzalez' trainer, Angel Presinal was linked to an unmarked bag containing anabolic steroids at the Toronto airport, which came off a come off a Cleveland Indians charter flight. When questioned, he told the police that the bag belonged to Juan Gonzalez.

Angel Presinal was banned from private areas of every MLB ballpark after the event, and his name has once again surfaced during the ARod steroid scandal.

Steroid Era: Ken Caminiti

Ken Caminiti
Born: Sunday, April 21, 1963
Died: Sunday, October 10, 2004 (drug overdose-induced heart attack)

In the May 28, 2002 Sports Illustrated issue, he admitted to using steroids during his 1996 MVP season with the San Diego Padres (.326 40 HR 130 RBI)

Tragic Tales: Tim Crews

It was Spring Training 1993, and the Cleveland Indians were getting ready to head up north and start the baseball season.

On March 22, 1993, three of their pitchers had decided to go on a fishing trip in Little Lake Nellie, located in Clermont, Florida.

Free Agent signee Tim Crews (31 Years Old) drove his bass boat into a dock, instantly killing teammate Steve Olin (27 Years Old), and leaving Free Agent Signee Bob Ojeda (35 Years Old) with severe head lacerations.

Tim Crews Died the following day on March 23, 1993, while Bob Ojeda sat out most of the season recuperating.

An investigation revealed that the darkness, combined with Tim Crews being legally drunk while operating the boat at high speeds, was the cause of the tragedy.

BAD TIMING

>After pitching six seasons for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tim Crews signed with the Cleveland Indians for the 1993 season.

>Bob Ojeda also signed with the Indians after playing with the Los Angeles Dodgers the previous year.

>The Cleveland Indians trained in Tucson, Arizona from 1947-1992, and moved to Winter Haven for their 1993 Spring Training.

MLB Sign-and-trades?

Supposedly the Major League Baseball Commissioner's Office will allow the Arizona Diamondbacks to Sign-and-trade their Type-A Free Agent Juan Cruz.

Type-A Free Agents require a First Round Draft pick as compensation, and this seems like a way to get around having to give up the draft picks.

Juan Cruz's agents would approach the Arizona Diamondbacks with an offer from a potential suitor, and then the two teams would negotiate a trade.

As if this off-season hasn't dragged on long enough, this just keeps getting interesting. Who would have thought you'd still be talking hot-stove baseball after teams have begun reporting to Spring Training!

Ichiro Suzuki Clubhouse Cancer?

According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer the clubhouse chemistry issues the Seattle Mariners endured last year may have been due to the preferential treatment that Ichiro receives.

J.J. Putz, Jim Riggleman, Carlos Silva, and Adrian Beltre have all hinted that Ichiro was at the center of it all.

Some of the more telling quotes quotes which seem to be about Ichiro include:

"Some Guys Just Get Special Treatment"
Apparently Suzuki stays in different hotels during road trips.

"Take a walk if you need it. If you can run ... just little things like that"
Ichiro managed a whole 51 walks in 700+ Plate Appearances last year.

Get A Grip: Rick Vanden Hurk

Get A Grip: Fernando Valenzuela

Get A Grip: Chase Utley

Get A Grip: Dan Uggla

Get A Grip: Justin Verlander

Kazuo Uzuki Topps Card

With Spring Training now upon us, we can look forward to the beginning of April, and the beginning of the 2009 baseball season.

But let's focus on one particular day April 1st (April Fool's Day).

One of my favorite April fools day jokes was telling a friend to look out the window because it was snowing, and he looked!

Topps has tried to put the fun back into collecting. The hobby has become too much about opening packs and looking for an insert card. Topps made everyone stop and wonder about one particular card last year, a 2008 "Future Star" card of Japanese high school pitcher Kazuo Uzuki Rookie Card numbered FS1.

By turning the card around you see that it appears to be from an insert set, but when you start reading the back of the card, you'll find this.

Already being called "The Uzi" by some for his 104 MPH fastball, Kaz will be the first Japan-based high-schooler to jump straight to professional baseball in America when he graduates in 2009. "He is, hands down, the best pitching prospect I've seen in 30 years," said one MLB scout. And one unnamed American League GM said, "The contract this kid is going to get will be astronomical." At age fourteen, he was the youngest player invited to the WBC squad trials and -- though he was cut on the last day he made a lasting impression with his 17 Ks in 7 innings of work during intrasquad matches.

The 5-foot-11 165 pounds pride of Sarufutsu Japan and his 104 mph fastball seemed destined to become the first Japanese Born high-school player to jump straight to the Big Leagues.

The card which could be found one in every 72 packs was being gobbled up on eBay in the $10-$20 range.

How did nobody ever hear of him?
How did he fly below the radar for so long before finally being noticed?

He was destined to be the greatest kept secret since Toe Nash, a High School drop-out, emerged from the swamps of Louisiana to hit 500 foot home runs, and throw 95 mile an hour fastballs in front of scouts (after being signed by Tampa Bay He managed to get arrested 5 times within one year).

Topps would go on to announce that the Kazuo Uzuki card was an April Fool's joke.

Some Collectors immediately felt as though they were under some personal attack, but i found it amusing. It's great to see that a company as old as Topps definitely understands that in todays world of Web 2.0 it's all about generating a buzz. I almost wish Topps had gone all out and actually published a viral video on YouTube to back up the Hoax.

Welcome to the world of Collecting 2.0!

Michael Bourn Autograph

I pulled this Michael Bourn from a 2007 Topps Finest box.

Topps Finest Delwyn Young Autograph

I pulled this Delwyn Young autograph from a 2007 Topps Finest box.

2007 Topps Opening Day

The biggest difference between the normal 2007 Topps and the Opening Day issue is the White Border and the Opening Day logo.

Albert Pujols 2007 Topps Opening Day

The 2007 Topps Opening Day cards just came out, and I like them more than the original 2007 topps cards. This horizontal Pujols card is a great shot of him.

Derek Jeter / George Bush Card

Here is the Gag card which can be found in the 2007 Topps packs available ata store near you. It features Derek Jeter finishing his swing at the plate, Mickey Mantle in the dugout waiting for his turn to bat, and a one-armed George Bush waiving in the stands.