Friday, June 7, 2013

#16 Dan Plesac

About the Front: Second Brewers player already? Whoever put together the checklist must have been from Milwaukee. Today I couldn't see the Brewers getting two cards in a set before the Yankees appear at all. Dan Plesac is halfway through his delivery on a sunny afternoon in County Stadium. It's probably not April, since he's wearing short sleeves.

About the Back: The personal tidbits are always a trip. Sure, Dan Plesac is the Brewers' all-time saves leader, but wouldn't you rather hear about his love of harness horses and R n' B?

Triple Play: 

1. This was Dan's last Brewers card. In 1993, he pitched for the Cubs, kicking off the journeyman phase of his career. He played through 2003, making stops in Pittsburgh, Toronto (twice), Arizona, and Philadelphia.

2. Among his career accolades, Plesac is still seventh all-time in total games pitched with 1,064. He was an All-Star in 1987, 1988, and 1989.

3. If you have cable, you've probably seen Dan as an analyst on the MLB Network, where he brings a mixture of amiable enthusiasm, occasional insight, and irritating jackassery to "MLB Tonight".

11-Year-Old Kevin Says: For years, the one and only 1992 Topps Stadium Club card that I owned was that of Dan Plesac. I always had an inexplicable fondness for that card. He just looked like a friendly guy.

Bill James Said: "He needs to pitch better." Indeed. After a 4.74 ERA in his Chicago debut, Dan pitched to a 3.95 mark over the last decade of his career.

On This Date in 1993: June 7. Prince changed his named to an unpronounceable symbol (dubbed Love Symbol #2). For a while, he was referred to as "the Artist Formerly Known As Prince", but today, he's back to being good ol' Prince. Exhale.

3 comments:

  1. I get the feeling he is either drunk or high when he's on TV. He also makes me feel to see if my wallet is safe. All that said, I kinda like him anyway; I guess that's his appeal.

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  2. Yeah, Plesac was especially wound up last night. He just kept saying that Sam LeCure's last name was French for "The Cure". Eh, I still prefer MLBN's babbling nonsense to ESPN's babbling nonsense.

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  3. Plesac was always an amiable guy in person -- even to the 14-year-old version of me in 1986 when he came up with the Brewers. He can be a bit grating on TV though!

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