#424 John Valentin

About the Front: The mustache isn't a good look for John Valentin...or most people, really. You've got to have a thick, Selleck-esque soup strainer to even have a chance.

About the Back: Though his home run on September 30, 1992 (off of David Cone, no less) provided the winning margin, Valentin never did hit a walkoff homer in his career.

Triple Play:

1. July 8, 1994 was a memorable date for John: he went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run, and executed an unassisted triple play in Boston's 4-3 win over Seattle.

2. He was the 1995 AL Silver Slugger at shorstop, thanks to a line of .298/.399/.533, 108 runs scored, 37 doubles, 27 home runs, and 102 RBI. Two years later he led the American League with 47 two-baggers.

3. He has coached in the Mets and Dodgers organizations, and is currently manager Don Mattingly's assistant hitting coach in Los Angeles.

11-Year-Old Kevin Says: Why was his name pronounced "VAL-en-tin", and the Brewers shortstop's surname pronounced "val-en-TEEN"? I guess it's the difference between being born in New York and being born in New Jersey.

Bill James Said: "The new Eddie Bressoud, a righthanded hitting shortstop who had almost the same numbers for the Red Sox in '93 that Bressoud did in '62." There's a comp you don't see often.

On This Date in 1993: May 12. Calvin and Hobbes comic strip time!