#282 Shane Mack

About the Front: I always assumed that Shane Mack was sliding headfirst into third base in this photo, but after a closer look, I think he might be diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt. Either way, he's safe; the Red Sox fielder doesn't have his glove hand anywhere near the Twins outfielder.

About the Back: Shane couldn't quite keep up his torrid pace against Detroit, but his full career splits vs. the Tigers were still impressive. In 55 games, he batted .376/.449/.640 with 43 runs, 15 doubles, 11 home runs, 47 RBI, and a 7-for-8 stolen base mark.

Triple Play:

1. His younger brother Quinn was a minor league outfielder from 1987 through 1997, primarily in the Montreal and Seattle organizations. He had a five-game stint with the Mariners in 1994, batting 5-for-21 with three doubles and two RBI.

2. Mack's amateur honors included back-to-back All-American selections at UCLA (1983, 1984), and he also was a member of the silver medalist U. S. Olympic Baseball Team in 1984.

3. After his career-best 1994 season (.333/.402/.564) was cut short by the strike, Shane spent the next two seasons in Japan with the Yomiuri Giants, batting .284/.356/.463 with 42 home runs and 127 RBI in 247 games. He then returned to MLB, spending two seasons as a part-timer with the Red Sox, Athletics, and Royals.

11-Year-Old Kevin Says: I had a small collection of those Kenner Starting Lineup action figures, including Shane Mack. Man, were those things crappy.

Bill James Said: "Dislocated his shoulder in spring training and never fully recovered, aggravated the injury several times and didn't play the last two weeks."

On This Date in 1993: September 17. Nolan Ryan whiffs Greg Myers of the Angels for his 5,714th and final career strikeout. The 46-year-old Rangers pitcher allows four hits and an unearned run in seven innings, striking out five without walking a single batter, but departs with the score tied at one. In the eighth inning, Craig Lefferts replaces Ryan and allows the winning run on a Stan Javier RBI triple. Nolan will make one final start on September 22, but allows five runs on four walks and two hits without retiring a single batter. He tore a ligament in his throwing elbow and departed in mid at-bat.