#290 Dave Stewart

About the Front: Dave Stewart is "mean-mugging", in today's parlance. You can see why he had a reputation as an intimidating pitcher.

About the Back: Stewart's no-hitter was one of two thrown that day, with former Dodgers teammate Fernando Valenzuela blanking the Cardinals as well. It was the first time in MLB history that two no-nos occurred on the same day.

Triple Play:

1. He was a catcher in high school, but the Dodgers decided that his strong arm was better suited for pitching. Good call, guys.

2. Dave had many postseason successes. He was the 1989 World Series MVP (2-0, 1.69 ERA, 14 K/16 IP), and was also the ALCS MVP in 1990 (2-0, 1.13 ERA, 0.625 WHIP) and 1993 (2-0, 2.03 ERA). Overall, he allowed 45 runs (41 earned) in 133 postseason innings.

3. Stewart has stayed active in baseball since retiring as a player in 1995. He has worked as a pitching coach for the Padres, Blue Jays, and Brewers, and also worked as an assistant general manager in San Diego and Toronto. He started a sports agency, and his clients included Matt Kemp and Chad Billingsley of the Dodgers. Just last week, Dave was hired as the general manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

11-Year-Old Kevin Says: Given how imposing "Smoke" was on the mound, I was always surprised by how soft and high-pitched his voice was.

Bill James Said: "He hasn't had a losing record since 1985, and I see no reason to think that he will in '94." Whoops. Stewart backslid to 7-8 with a 5.87 ERA for Toronto in 1994, and after an even worse 1995 season back in Oakland, he was finished.

On This Date in 1993: September 30. An earthquake strikes in Killari, Maharashtra, India. 52 villages are demolished in the 6.2-magnitude quake, which kills 10,000 people and injures 30,000 more.

#289 Jesse Orosco

About the Front: In this photo, Jesse Orosco is still a spry young man of 35. He still had a lot of baseball ahead of him. In the background, we can see a quite dumpy umpire. Maybe it's Ken Kaiser.

About the Back: Orosco entered that game on April 22, 1979 in the seventh inning with the Mets down 2-0 to the Phillies, and was the benificiary of a three-run New York rally against Steve Carlton.

Triple Play:

1. The Mets initially acquired him in a trade for pitcher Jerry Koosman. That's just one of many "Jesse Orosco is SO old" fun facts.

2. Jesse was a workhorse out of the Mets' bullpen in the 1986 postseason, earning the decision in three of the team's four wins in the NLCS (including the wild 16-inning clincher) and tossing 5.2 scoreless innings over four World Series appearances. He saved two Fall Classic games, including the decisive seventh game.

3. He pitched through the 2003 season, finally retiring at age 46 with a record 1,252 games pitched. In the back half of his career, Orosco epitomized the lefty specialist, totaling just 504 innings pitched in 701 appearances from 1991 through 2003.

11-Year-Old Kevin Says: It was great fun watching the grizzled veteran Orosco pitch for my Orioles from 1995 through 1999. He had a 15-11 record, 11 saves, and a 3.35 ERA in 336 games with the O's.

Bill James Said: "His 1993 strikeout rate was by far the best of his career." 67 K's in 57 innings is not too shabby.

On This Date in 1993: September 29. A Bronx Tale, a crime drama written by Chazz Palminteri and directed by Robert De Niro (and starring both men as well), premieres in theatres.

#288 Dave Cochrane

About the Front: Dave Cochrane is pictured hunkered down at third base, where he played 10 games in 1992. He also appeared in 21 games as a catcher, 16 in left field, nine in right field, three at first base, two as DH, and one game at second base. Have gloves, will travel.

About the Back: Two straight players living in Yorba Linda! What are the odds?

Triple Play:

1. In 1987, Cochrane pitched in eight games for the White Sox' AAA Hawaii club. He allowed 15 hits and nine runs in 11.1 innings, with 11 walks and six strikeouts, and that was the end of that experiment.

2. On June 15, 1991, he went 2-for-4 with a double, a bases-loaded walk, and a career-high five RBI as Seattle trounced the Tigers 15-2.

3. Dave played his final big league game on July 30, 1992, collecting a pinch single in the ninth inning before exiting for a pinch runner.

11-Year-Old Kevin Says: I always wondered if he was related to Hall of Fame catcher Mickey Cochrane. As near as I can tell, the answer is no.

Bill James Said: He didn't say. Dave was out of baseball after the 1992 season.

On This Date in 1993: September 26. The first mission inside the research facility Biosphere 2 ends after two years.

#287 Mike Gallego

About the Front: I wonder if Mike Gallego is getting annoyed with all of the attention being paid to Derek Jeter's farewell tour, and especially the retirement of his #2 jersey by the Yankees. Mike Gallego blazed that trail, Jeets.

About the Back: Yorba Linda, listed here as the city of residence for Gallego, is also the birthplace of Richard M. Nixon.

Triple Play:

1. Mike made the A's roster at the beginning of the 1985 season, but didn't have his first plate appearance until May 15. Prior to that, he appeared in 11 games as a pinch runner or defensive replacement. He didn't start a game until August 1, and singled off of Detroit's Bill Scherrer for his first career hit on August 22.

2. Despite totaling just 42 home runs in parts of 13 seasons, he had a pair of two-homer games with the Yankees: April 27, 1993 (both vs. Chuck Finley), and April 7, 1994 (vs. Kenny Rogers and Jay Howell).

3. He spent four years as third base and infield coach for the Rockies before returning to Oakland in that same capacity following the 2008 season. He's been with the Athletics ever since.

11-Year-Old Kevin Says: I think it's entirely possible that Mike Gallego and Randy Velarde are the same person.

Bill James Said: "His good on-base percentage and ability to play three positions make him an invaluable part of the Yankee roster." Gallego had a career year in 1993, batting .283/.364/.412 for New York.

On This Date in 1993: September 25. Yes, I'm talking about the Reds and Rockies for the second straight day. Jose Rijo goes the distance in a 6-0 Cincinnati win; the only hit he allows is a broken-bat single by Charlie Hayes in the second inning. Rijo strikes out eight and does not issue any walks.

#286 Ron Karkovice

About the Front: This is probably the most flattering photo of Ron Karkovice I've ever seen. It's a candid photo, so he looks relaxed and he's smiling pleasantly. You can't see the pockmarks on his cheeks, his pot belly is hidden from view, and even his hair and his bright white mustache look good. If I were Karko, I might have this card blown up and framed.

About the Back: How do you give up a run in a no-hitter? In Cowley's case, seven walks did the trick. One of my mom's former coworkers was a big baseball fan, and I remember hearing that he once gave Joe Cowley a ride from the airport for a golf tournament. So I researched Cowley, and found that he was something of a whipping boy for Phillies fans during his short, career-ending stint with them. He is also the only MLB pitcher never to win another game after throwing a no-no.

Triple Play:

1. One of his high school teammates was Joe Oliver, who also went on to become a big league catcher.

2. Karkovice had five career grand slams. One of them, hit off of Minnesota's David West on August 30, 1990, was also the only inside-the-park home run of his career. How did that happen? Outfielders John Moses and Danny Gladden gave him a healthy assist.

3. In recent years, Ron coached in the independent Atlantic League. He managed the Camden Riversharks in 2013, though the team finished in eighth place with a 54-86 record.

11-Year-Old Kevin Says: To me, Karkovice is the poster child for the surprising spate of power-hitting catchers in the 1993 season. There were seven backstops who slugged at least 20 homers that year, and he was the most unlikely name in the group.

Bill James Said: "He threw out 50% of opposing base stealers (48 of 96), the best percentage for a regular catcher."

On This Date in 1993: September 24. The Rockies cruise past the Reds, 9-2, to set a National League record with their 65th win in their first season as an expansion team. Charlie Hayes homers, doubles, and drives in three runs as Colorado surpasses the win total of the 1962 Houston Colt .45s. They'll finish the season with a grand total of 67 wins and 95 losses.

#285 Bob Tewksbury

About the Front: Bob Tewksbury is another one of those Greg Maddux types, in that he looks more like a math teacher than a pro athlete.

About the Back: The Yankees dealt away Tewk in a typically savvy 1980s trade, swapping him along with two other young pitchers to the Cubs in exchange for Steve Trout (0-4, 6.60 ERA in 14 games in NY).

Triple Play:

1. Bob appeared as himself in the 1994 comedy The Scout.

2. On June 28, 1998, while starting for Minnesota against the Cardinals, Tewksbury resorted to lobbing eephus pitches at soon-to-be home run king Mark McGwire. Big Mac could only laugh as he grounded out on one 44 mph offering, and popped up another.

3. He has been a sports psychology coach for the Red Sox since 2004, when he earned his Masters degree in psychology from Boston University.

11-Year-Old Kevin Says: I didn't pay much attention to strikeout rates when I was younger. Now I wonder how I could've overlooked something like Bob's total of 50 strikeouts in 145.1 innings in 1990. You've got to have pinpoint control and a good defense behind you if you're allowing that much contact.

Bill James Said: "He has pretty clearly established the ability to win if the league hits .300 against him, and to win big if they hit .270."

On This Date in 1993: September 23. The International Olympic Committee chooses Sydney, Australia as the site of the 2000 Summer Olympics.

#284 Henry Rodriguez

About the Front: Henry Rodriguez has his hands positioned oddly on the bat during this follow-through. It looks like he's only gripping the handle with two fingers of his bottom hand.

About the Back: He blew away the Texas League competition in 1990, hitting 28 home runs and driving in 109 to earn MVP honors. No one else topped 21 homers or 88 RBI.

Triple Play:

1. Henry got started with a bang, hitting his first two big league home runs off of Jose Rijo and Dwight Gooden in August of 1992.

2. He became a fan favorite in Montreal, where he had his lone All-Star season in 1996 while reaching career highs of 42 doubles, 36 home runs, and 103 RBI. Fans used to throw "Oh Henry!" candy bars onto the field after he went deep.

3. In 2005, three years after playing his last MLB game, Rodriguez led the Atlantic League with a .322 average for the Long Island Ducks. He also homered 27 times in 92 games.

11-Year-Old Kevin Says: I was surprised when he finally broke out in 1996. As a fan of an American League East team, I'd heard next to nothing about Rodriguez during his previously unimpressive years in Los Angeles.

Bill James Said: "He is only 26, but it is becoming increasingly apparent that he isn't going to get beyond the part-time outfielder status, at least unless somebody gets hurt."

On This Date in 1993: September 22. An Amtrak passenger train derailed on the Big Bayou Canot bridge in northeast Mobile, Alabama. 47 people were killed and another 103 injured, making it the deadliest crash in Amtrak history.

#283 Mike Jackson

About the Front: Unlike Michael Bolton, the character in Office Space, Michael Jackson chose to go by "Mike" to avoid irritating quips about the pop singer. Okay, maybe that's not the actual reason for his nickname, but it couldn't hurt.

About the Back: I wonder if Mike ever combined his hobbies. Synchronized swimming, anyone?

Triple Play:

1. Jackson and Paul Assenmacher tied for the most pitching appearances in the 1990s with 644. The former's total of 1,005 career games pitched currently ranks 14th in MLB history.

2. He spent two seasons as Cleveland's primary closer, saving 40 games in 1998 and 39 in 1999. In each season, he ranked fourth in the American League in saves.

3. Mike faced Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire a total of 49 times, and neither slugger ever collected an extra-base hit off of him. McGwire had three singles and seven walks in 29 tries, and Sosa went 2-for-17 with a pair of walks.

11-Year-Old Kevin Says: I'm sure I was blown away by the fact that Jackson pitched in 81 games in 1993. That's a full half of the Giants' schedule, after all! Imagine my surprise when I learned that Mike Marshall appeared in 106 games with the 1974 Dodgers.

Bill James Said: "Led the major leagues in game appearances, with 81, and holds, with 34."

On This Date in 1993: September 18. Frasier debuts on NBC. The Cheers spinoff, starring Kelsey Grammer, will air for 11 seasons and earn 37 Emmy awards.

#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.