Friday, May 8, 2015

#422 J. T. Snow

About the Front: Nothing screams "rookie" like a position player wearing #60. Though in J. T. Snow's defense, the Yankees have retired almost every number from 1-50.

About the Back: Jack Snow caught 340 passes for 6,012 yards and 45 touchdowns in an 11-year NFL career (1965-1975), and led the league with an average of 26.3 yards per reception in 1967. In 2006, J. T. honored his father by wearing the elder Snow's football uniform number (84) during a 38-game stint with the Red Sox.

Triple Play:

1. From 1995 through 2000, Snow won six straight Gold Gloves at first base with the Angels and Giants.

2. His best offensive season was 1997, when he hit .281/.387/.510 (135 OPS+) with career highs of 36 doubles, 28 home runs, and 104 RBI for the Giants.

3. J. T. might be best-known for his quick reflexes in Game Five of the 2002 World Series, when he yanked Giants honorary bat boy Darren Baker (three-year-old son of manager Dusty) out of harm's way immediately after scoring on a Kenny Lofton hit.

11-Year-Old Kevin Says: Snow's reputation was mostly built around his defensive skills, so I'm surprised now to look back and see his .357 career OBP and handful of 20-plus homer seasons.

Bill James Said: "Switch hitter, good first baseman, should be a solid #5 hitter to back up Salmon until the end of the century." He may have been, but the Angels dealt him to San Francisco after the 1996 season for pitcher Allen Watson, who went 18-19 with a 5.28 ERA in two years with the Halos. D'oh!

On This Date in 1993: May 8. Four of this Saturday's 13 MLB games are decided in extra innings, highlighted by a brutal Yankees-Tigers tilt. Detroit starter Tom Bolton gets the hook from manager Sparky Anderson after allowing five straight hits to open the game, and the Tigers are trailing 6-0 before they even bat. But the home team claws back with runs in each of the first five innings to take an 8-7 lead. Mike Henneman blows the save by serving up a home run to Danny Tartabull on the first pitch of the ninth inning, and Matt Nokes adds a game-winning two-run shot off of Dave Johnson in the 11th. 10-8 final.

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