Names I Can’t Believe Aren’t Famous – Buddy Biancalana

1986 Topps – Buddy Biancalana

As it turns out, the name Buddy Biancalana actually was famous – albeit for only a short time in the mid-1980’s, and mostly because David Letterman made fun of him for being bad at hitting a baseball.  That said, he also ended up finishing second in World Series MVP voting as his Kansas City Royals won the championship in 1985.  That was not as a joke – that was mostly because of his .435 OBP in the seven game series.

If you don’t remember when Buddy Biancalana was famous, you’re certainly not alone.  I just thought he had a funny-sounding name, which is why I started this post.  If you want to have a full grasp of Biancalanamania, read this article from People Magazine, originally published on November 25, 1985.  That was 28 years ago, if you don’t already feel old. 

Also – White Wool?  Is that really what it means?

Newsworthy – 2012 MLB Home Run Derby

2012 Topps – Prince Fielder

As it turns out, Prince Fielder is a hitter, not a quitter (see Terry Tate, Office Linebacker), as he won the Home Run Derby at the MLB All-Star festivities in Kansas City tonight.  He certainly deserved it, hitting two that traveled 476 feet and several into the fountains at Kauffman Stadium (insert your own wet balls joke here).  As you can see in the image above, he also plays first base, although I think his body type is better suited to shortstop or centre field.

Toronto’s Jose Bautista finished second, putting on a good show as countless people across America asked themselves where exactly Toronto was and why the SkyDome/Rogers Centre kind of looks like an igloo, when Canadians are always making such a big deal of the fact that they do not, in fact, live in igloos.

1991 Donruss – George Brett

1992 O-Pee-Chee – John Kruk

The best moments of the evening, however, were provided by George Brett, for showing up on live television drunk, and John Kruk, for crushing a pile of Kansas City barbecue ribs as if he still had a mullet.  Now, that said, I am merely commenting, not judging.  If I was George Brett, I’d get drunk at an All-Star Game in Kansas City too, and KC makes some of the best barbecue out there, so I can’t blame Kruk for not waiting until the post-event spread.

All in all, a pretty entertaining evening.  Good on you, Major League Baseball.

Too Cool for Cardboard – Steve Balboni

1987 Fleer – Steve Balboni

I dare you to look at this picture and tell me that Steve Balboni wasn’t cool as hell.  Seriously.  He’s holding three bats.  THREE.  He’s also rocking a sick mustache and just wearing the shit out of that baby blue jersey.  Beat that, fools!

Interesting fact about Steve Balboni: he led various minor leagues in home runs in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, and then, after his Major League career stubbornly interrupted the streak, again in 1992 and 1993.

Also, he struck out 166 times in 1985.  This means that if batting average was calculated using strikeouts instead of hits (it’s not), he would have batted .277 in 1985 instead of .243.  If only, Steve Balboni.  If only.

Names I Can’t Believe Aren’t Famous – Pete LaCock

1978 Topps - Pete LaCock

Are you serious?  Pete LaCock?  There is no question that this guy should have been in porn.

Other interesting facts, obviously taken from extensive research at Wikipedia:

-Is the son of Peter Marshall, host of The Hollywood Squares from 1966 to 1981.
-Hit a grand slam off Bob Gibson’s last ever pitch in the Majors.
-Never played on the same team in the Majors as Rusty Kuntz… oh, what might have been.