Closers | Episode 2: Mike Trout's Injury, Bryce Harper's Future, Summer Olympics 2024

welcome to this week's episode of closers I am uh the the former closer David arsan the da I've got my partner my co-host James kulos sitting there James you're looking all pretty with that perfect haircut I am jealous as always yeah but you have the pretty hair but I will say this I'm a little a little off puted by what you just said you know you said partner co-host not hetero lifemate not are we BFF for life are we there yet I we haven't had that talk I know you might feel it but James I I'm not ready yet okay it's you know time are changing man I I we got to have this conversation first don't just assume don't don't accept that I'm your life mate just because we're you know we're Partners okay just want to throw that out yeah just keep in mind though I did say hetero lifemate like James we're boys right now that's it you know it's like boys for life we need a little pump the brakes I might need some space um speaking of space there is a major league baseball player that is going to be getting plenty of space away from the field and that is uh me my personal feeling my player the generation a guy that is U completely changed Major League Baseball for me Mike Trout is out again with a torn miniscus again it is it hurts it hurts the see Mike Trout these injuries these happen how great of a ball player he was but he tore his meniscus again and James what is your initial feelings and thoughts of hearing uh Mike Trout getting hurt again my initial feeling my initial thought was okay it happened again why are we shocked by this he hasn't been healthy in over five years he hasn't played more than 150 games in five years and I know every year we're saying that this is the year that Mike Trout is gonna get healthy and he's GNA be the Mike Trout of old I don't think we're ever going to see that again I don't feel like it it hurts it it sucks it's yes that's the problem though too it's become so normal now that he's getting hurt so often that it just feels like it's just like every year you're just waiting for something you're holding your breath to let's let's back it up here 2017 he he tore a ligament in his thumb that was like the first injury he was sliding into second base tore the ligament in his thumb uh 2021 he had a calf strain which is sounds simple but man that'll stop you stop you really quick especially as a hitter and outfielder and stuff like that then he had back inflammation and I actually thought that was going to be a major problem like a big big problem with the back you know usually hitters you get that back stuff and that that ends up like just totally stopping you uh 23 he has a hamate bro breaks his hamate bone 24 meniscus and then uh then he tears the meniscus again while he was on a rehab assignment in I believe he was in Salt Lake City the AAA affiliate of the Los Angeles or the Los Angeles Angels of the Anaheim of California I don't know what it is it's his going out and setting records MVPs like he's got how many MVPs he have what does he have three four I don't even know but he's got like he's got like three or four number twos he's got like a couple like he's got number four number fives it's absolutely ridiculous when you look at his baseball reference page like how many of those MVP stuff you look at and you can see the Bold as the MVP but you got to look at like the number two number three number four how many times he's been like top five MVP is I don't know if I've ever seen a player on that type of list you know besides Barry who obviously has seven and let's not forget that he would have won more if it wasn't for Otani coming in cuz he was number two a couple times to Otani and I think of Miguel Cabrera and here's the thing too is I I was taking some time um last week when he had gotten hurt or whenever it was when he got hurt whatever whatever day it was and I was looking at baseball reference page and I'm sitting there and I'm looking at who he lost to and there were times when you're like dude like oh man that's yeah like that guy had a great year but some numbers you know Trout's better in in some of these categories Trout's leading the league in a lot of these categories and Trout's losing two guys I think he lost Miguel Cabrera and you look back and you're like outside of batting average like trout would had a better season you know stuff like that and so it's really interesting could have definitely had some more again because aani comes in and takes the World by storm uh he loses out to aani uh it became so normal the trout season so good became so normal normalized and now the injury uh has become no so normalized to him my question to you though is there a way to get him healthier is it a DH situation if he doesn't play Outfield again do does is there anything major league baseballs missing if he moves the DH and and and as a second part of his career do you think that could help him I think it is the absolute right move to make him into a DH if he's not running in the Outfield sliding for balls diving for balls trying to climb the wall for balls he will be much better off let him sit there let him take his hacks let him hit the ball and if he has to jog to the bases that's fine he doesn't need to slide I I I'll be just fine if he gets called out at second because he didn't slide as long as that guy is in the lineup he's hitting the ball and hitting the ball hard that's all that matters that's the only way we can possibly see trout be healthy for the rest of his career absolutely I I completely agree with you I I 100% agree with you I think DH first base whatever that is find a spot to him where he's not running around like a mad man doing his his normal stuff you have to take pressure off and it's going to suck because there's a new generation of kids watching that will never understand how good he was at everything every single thing that he did he was great at and so they're going to be missing it but at the end of the day the game is better because Mike Trout is on the field and playing James is Mike Trout a Hall of Famer that is a tough one because he's been in the league and he's definitely been the best player of his generation uh talent-wise but you look at it he hasn't hit those Milestone stats that you would expect the best player of a generation to hit I don't think he has 400 home runs yet he doesn't have 3,000 hits yes his average is north of 300 right at 299 guess the only way you 299 really yes but in a generation that 300 isn't you know the the the same as it used to be right the only way that I say yes he's a Hall of Famer is because while he was there he was by far the best player in baseball he was that mvp multiple times you can say there was no doubt that he was the best player in baseball so if I was going to vote Yes I would put him in but it's very interesting because he could get into that Don madingley territory where he just didn't re reach the Milestones who has a better War Kang griffy Jr or Mike Trout I think the answer is Mike Trout and it is Mike Trout It Is by three games well a little less than three games uh better War than Nolan Ryan Rod crew Tom glavin Jeff Bagwell Chipper Jones better War he is number 51 all time and he has played in far less games than a lot of those players ahead of him like an Al Kine is is is not many games War above him that's a season above him and he Al Kine has played nine more seasons than him Adrien Beltre is in reachable one good season reachable distance and Adrien Bel has played uh eight seasons more than him um that would drop him into the 30s in War of all time in the 30s and all he has to do is play one more season but let me ask you this though most players don't they end up getting negative War later in their career as their skills go down some yes because right now whenever Mike Trout plays he's amongst the best in baseball even now with all the injuries he hasn't hit that wall where when he plays he's hitting 200 striking out a whole bunch he's still a far superior player to everybody else when he's on the field my question is later on as he's getting older is he going to start getting that negative War to drop him down while he's trying to get some of those Milestones with how little he played this year he still had a one war he still was better than the league and then he played a tiny little bit uh yes most players do end up with some negative Wars or at least going down from their average and that's going to be an interesting one for him to see how that affects him if he go moves to a first space or moves to a DH type of situation but the he had a couple I mean again when he got hurt like 2020 he only had 53 games again that was a short season 1.8 War when he was hurt in 21 he still had a 1.8 war and he only played 36 games right at 6.2 in 22 but he had years where he had over 10 10 and a half and you start looking at his baseball reference page you start looking at the numbers when he led the league it's unreal it's un it there's no to me I've never seen a Hall of Famer be such a Hall of Famer than him and in such a short period of time I mean again we talked about the the MVP we talked about this but let's literally let's let's hear the numbers and his rookie year rookie the he won Rookie of the Year and with a Silver Slugger an allstar MVP 2 okay next year MVP 2 so that's two of them MVP 1 MVP 2 MVP 1 MVP p 4 MVP 2 MVP 1 MVP 5 and then an MVP 8 if he had four number twos and four number and three number ones that's Barry Bonds that's Barry Bonds you know that's to me aged and that he never he doesn't have any of the numbers he's short of 400 he's just short of 300 uh batting average doesn't have a crazy number of RBI it's just when you look across the league you just know who's all of F and this dude D there's never been somebody that I saw play the game quite like that griffy is the only one I've ever seen that that be like that and again Griffey's career got cut short because of injuries welcome Mike Trout yeah and in the very beginning of his career I think the first seven years of his career his numbers were so similar to Mickey mantel it's crazy absolutely insane and Mick same thing cut short of injuries I know I know Mick ended up playing more extended and stuff like that but he played through a lot of things and and was a half the player than he was uh earlier in his career but speaking of players that have play played injured gone through some major injuries young and had to make a switch Bryce Harper Bryce Harper uh was the starting first baseman for the National League this year his first year as a first baseman he was a right fielder his whole career ends up having Tommy John some injuries some other little things switches the first base and is starting the all allar game I know there starting is is a popularity contest but it's not really full popularity contest when you're out there just doing it James um is Bryce Harper the best first baseman in Major League Baseball today right this second I would take him over anybody the only guy that would come close as a first baseman to me would be Freddy Freeman but if I have to take somebody for the next three years a first baseman I'm taking har next three years okay I I'll give you that Bryce Harper you want to look at some of these Bryce Harper has half the war by the way of Mike of Mike Trout half Bryce Harper has the double his career right now and and he can't like compare like and they haven't been in the league much different I'm sorry that's crazy to think about that like 2012 was uh Bryce Harper's first year and uh 2011 was Mike Trout but really 2012 he's doubled him doubled him in war that's I I just saw that so that's almost doubled them almost D which is amazing which is which is amazing if you think about it because there's a very good chance that Bryce Harper is goingon to end up being a Hall of Famer so there's a guy who's gonna be a Hall of Famer and his his competitor doubled double his War almost dble again almost doubled 86 to uh 49 which is just absolutely insane but Bryce Harper as we're sitting here I mean the dude's already got you know over 20 home runs over almost approaching 30 home runs uh 270 average 270 is um you bring up a great Point Freddy Freeman Freddy Freeman to me is is kind of like the face of uh first baseman right now um he's been so good for so long I think it becomes boring a little bit I to throw some other names out there okay Matt olssen good not as not as good as Harper I would actually agree with you I think Harper overall has more skills and has been more consistent and we're seeing that at Matt mattt Olsen this year where Bryce Harper's playing Better Baseball than him but again I think Matt Olsson has the upside the same upside as Harper except for he's just not as consistent right we talking about Freddy Freeman and then we're going to go to another guy out in New York Pete Alonzo nope not even close to don't forget the dude's going to hit 40 this year I understand that but he's here's the crazy thing Pete Alonzo has been playing first base for a lot longer and Bryce haror is a much better defensive first baseman uh would you take uh Bryce haror offensively yeah absolutely Ely I think he's going to hurt you more Pete is home run or nothing Bryce Harper can hit a double uh Bryce Harper can steal a base if he wants to for me there is no question I'm going to take Bryce Harper over pet Alonzo every day and I'm a Met fan so you're going to take Harper over your boy over your met I don't like that I don't like the feeling inside but again I get it I think Alonzo has more a lot more holes than than um Harper and I think Harper brings more energy brings more excitement to the team but but I'll say this uh Alonzo's met I love him I love him as a met Vladimir Guerrero Jr oh God not even close I would take Harper Guerrero has had one good year two good years right now he's this year is is arguably better than Harper as it is okay but the year's not over so in his track record he's only had one good year give you that and a lot of down years a lot of years where you're sitting there going when is it going to happen but again Harper had some of those too uh without a doubt after his rookie year he had a couple years where where it was definitely down um and then he's come back and become a lot more solid player more consistent Paul Goldie gold Schmid gold Schmidt as much as I love him is at the end of his career I don't think he's ever going to be a great player any again I think he's a very good player I don't think there was ever a time where gold Schmid was going to reach the heights at his Peak that Bryce Harper can reach at his Peak I think I'd argue very strongly against that I think there are times where he's had better numbers overall where he was incredibly one of the most impactful baseball players in the game uh just like Harper I think Harper had a lot more Prestige around him and a lot more noticeability because he wasn't an Arizona Diamondback uh but you look back at the numbers I think it'd be very hard to disagree with some of the things that Bryce that uh that gmid has done and you can't argue with it uh with some of the numbers at the same time I think Harper just gets a little bit more noticeability because the impact in the position and what he is but um Goldman has been a centerpiece of a lot of lineups that are some of the best he's had some the best years in baseball during his Seasons uh at the same time I think right now without a doubt it's still Harper uh but I think there were times where gold Schmid was he was the cream of the crop guy I love Christian Walker who oh save it Christian Walker good but he's not Bryce Harper but again I'm a huge Bryce Harper Fanboy you know let's call it what it is I'm not I'm not going to deny that and even as a Met fan I love Bryce Harper because of what he does for the game the exuberance the way he wants to promote the game especially early in his career where he came in he's like you know what I'm just going to show off and I'm gonna make this game great again so I I can't think of anybody that you're going to say in all of baseball other than Freeman that can compare to him at first base I'll give you that there's some other decent decent players some interesting names you know guy like Nathaniel low you know some interesting guys you know there was a time where Jose AB bru was right up there would being incredibly talent I mean MVP guy um but has incred falling off faster than I've seen I think anybody in my entire life fall off especially in an in a opportunity like he had in Houston uh I don't know where that came from but yeah I'll give you that I'll give you I I I will arguably one of the best uh first baseman if not the best Freddy Freeman I'm still probably put my money on him as a better first baseman but Bryce Harper congratulations dude you had stepped your game up and you have show me something that brother I was not prepared for I I wasn't prepared for something like that and I love watching Bryce Harper play that energy exuberance something else I love to watch the Olympics I love the Olympics I love it I I love go watching it the Olympics right now are going on in in Perry it is uh fun I I enjoy it but James I don't think you like it I don't I have a feeling from some of our conversations that you are not a fan of the Olympics yeah I I I'm not a big fan of the Olympics and I'm a little surprised that you are but I guess maybe I shouldn't be because you know you're always rooting for the Netherlands and you know soccer tournaments which is just absurd but to me the the Olympics was based upon there being no opportunity for international competition now there's International competition every week you see the Canadian junior hockey team playing the US junior hockey team and it's all televised you know you can find it somewhere it's not that novelty that before oh these are the best athletes in the world okay but they're really not in in in most cases you know you look at take the Olympic uh basketball team okay fantastic they are the best American players but they're going up against guys the Greek national team for example they have Giannis but everybody else they're not competing to play in the NBA it's not even close so are you really seeing the best basketball players in the world facing off against the best basketball players no you're not you see that when you watch the Knicks play the Celtics not when the United States plays Greece heck I could probably play for the Greek national team all right that's dumb take that's stupid take no no you can't play I mean you can be water boy you be towel boy I bet Giannis would let you be towel boy you would like that look there's one thing that I can do in every sport where I can Dominate and in basketball just just put me to a free throw line I I can hit free throws all day unlike most of the players in the NBA now softball greatest pitcher ever so yes I could play on that Greek national team if I find the right position for me so where you're wrong in this conversation you're right in in in some of it the the where you're let me put this where you're right is when you're talking about basketball when you're talking about hockey and you know I don't actually agree with you on hockey I think hockey is BS in in your in your convers ation we talking about baseball um maybe a couple of the the bigger sports soccer basketball the Olympics are a secondary sport compared to their their actual competition because they have done such an incredible job even like prior to the Olympics becoming as what it is today creating tournaments for that um basketball itself just doesn't have the international power presence yet but again it is becoming a much more International game and where soon it is not going to be what we know it is and you're going to see Eastern block being a heck of a lot more represented you're going to see China be more represented hopefully they continue development of athletes but that that Europe side is going to become a beast of players and they're getting better as as we see it it's just there's so many smaller countries it's so much harder to build bigger Talent soccer wise World Cup that's it Euros even we we were watching the um the cup here in the United States I think that was a lot of fun it was a lot of excitement to see that for all of the Americas but they also created the world cup so long ago that there's it is a international thing Beyond International and the the Olympics not having professional athletes for so long has hurt that stuff baseball again not even in the Olympics yet until next until in four years and the and the World Baseball Classic is such a great thing right now fine let it be what it is but outside of those couple Sports this is it this is the competition and even hockey the hockey Olympics is incredible absolutely incredible to watch that is the best competition in hockey there is the world juniors if they play great they get to go the the the um the Olympics right they get to go up to to the national teams for the Olympics those are just the setting stage on who should get drafted that's the minor leaks the world the the the Olympics is the best Stage the best athlet and I'm sorry but when you start watching this what what I see and I this happens every four years sorry every two years with with the winner is I start watching stupid sports that don't matter and you start rooting for them and you start thinking that you're an expert you're like row row row like you're sitting there and you're watching the four the 100 meter uh race like dude that's the closest race in history they had more Runners closer than they've ever had it before photo finish doesn't even do it justice cuz you can't you still can't barely tell who won yeah everyone focuses on gymnastics and stuff s more B are cool whatever but like the swimming like the the sprinting uh like the sprint races and swimming uh the free Styles the team St I'm sorry I'm watching like synchronized swimming like I'm I'm watching guys doing diving and I'm just thinking like okay cool we got this man lock that in then you see him mess up come on how do you not lock that dive in hold on timeout I try to get you to do stuff for the show and you're always so busy but you have time to watch synchronized swimming why the hell am I working so hard and you're watching s i swimming because at 9:00 at night NBC is showing the replay of the whole day and they and they'll start it and then they'll switch to another Sport and switch to another Sport and I am locked in from the moment that thing is on at whatever time we turn on at 8:00 at night uh up until 10:00 we are locked in while we're eating dinner while we're cooking and and stuff like that and you're not and you're already asleep at that time so suck it okay then you can do some work during that time so that I'm not toiling I gotta be a dad I gotta be at least parent sometime but I'm loving it I think you are completely wrong I think it's more relevant and impactful now than it than it has been in a long time I think in four years when it comes out to LA it is going to be a blast so you are completely wrong and um the Olympics make memorable names household names of these people uh create uh people you never forget for your whole lifetime and you know what in baseball what the way we have that we have it is the Cooperstown collection and on this show that's what we're talking about right now the Cooper sound collection so Andrew bogish take it away when it comes to Legends on the mound Nolan Ryan stands alone known for his blazing fastball and Relentless competitiveness Ryan's career is a testament to Greatness Nolan Ryan's statistics are staggering he holds the record for the most strikeouts in MLB history with 5,714 and his seven no hitters are a record that may never be broken Ryan played 27 Seasons an extraordinary length for any athlete his journey began with the New York Mets followed by stin with the angels Asos and Rangers in 1999 Ryan was rightfully inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame his induction A fitting honor for a player whose career was defined by dominance and durability from his record-breaking strikeout to his legendary no hitters Nolan Ryan's Legacy is etched in baseball history a true icon of the game Nolan Ryan forever a legend on the mound thank you Andrew and that was Nolan Ryan our first member of the Cooper count collection this week and this is the card that I was able to purchase what do you think ards it is a game used jersey card of Mr Nolan Ryan um I'm loving it I'm loving the card obviously uh Nolan Ryan is a stud you know Hall of Famer amongst Hall of Famers from a pitching standpoint he's on he's on the Rushmore uh of pitchers um the Jersey car man that is cool okay so is that a the California Angels uh Jersey is that what the the Jersey is correct that is cool man like I don't have anything like that and the fact that like it was game War and back then it wasn't any BS where they're put in a on next day New Jersey next day New Jersey and they're just kind of sat saturating the market or whatever that's legit and to me um you bought this card for $20 blows my mind I don't get that's the crazy thing you can get a hall of famers baseball card and I I chose the Angels because that's where he really made his name at first because he wasn't anything with the Mets which is why they traded him and God forbid they keep a player who would be good for a long time yeah I I just I look at this card and I just see him in that Angels jersey that's where I see him and then later on you know I have that Vision in my head of him putting Robin ventur in a headlock as a Texas Ranger but to have a piece of his jersey is just so cool to me I think it's neat man I think it's cool and and like to be honest this is one of the best cards I've seen so far this is the best card I've seen so far and it's so neat that it's such a dude it's such a Hall of Fame such a guy you know we have our tier one tier 2 tier three players like Hall of Famer like dude he's a tier one he's a tier one if there was ever a tier one he was the best even though he didn't have like those like Seasons where he's just leading his team to wins and and going to the World Series and doing all that thing um never had a siong which is crazy but he I would say this he was such a fireballer and separated himself in such a way with the strikeouts and and dude I just think that's such a cool carard to know that Nolan Ryan wore that and you own it yeah and what's even crazier the the son of a [ __ ] he played for so many teams but he was still throwing a 100 miles an hour when he was in his 40s who's doing that now and he was throwing more Innings and he had seven no hitters in his career which you know like we said in the video no one's probably ever going to do that again how many complete games does Nolan Ryan have in his career CG's I'm looking at this C he 222 he's got more complete said shut up you're not allowed to talk about it anymore cuz he's got one he's got one CG in his entire career Two Sai Youngs one CG and you're not a and a no and a no hitter you're not allowed to talk about him because he went nine innings yeah congratulations Blake you have two sa Youngs you have one complete Game you have one sa young but you're still not even close to Nolan Ryan no and again Blake sn's not comparing himself to Nolan Ryan but but the dude talks about like CG and like completing one game and acting like he like he saved the the world and in like Avengers or something like this like you're not allowed to ever question me again um this dude like this was like CG's is just like another outing you know like just a another outing was a a complete game um just lead the world and everything um he's just a stud I I don't know what else to say is he a tier one for oh my God you mentioned Mount Rushmore of pitchers he's if he's not on that Mount Rushmore amongst the top four pitchers of all time he's damn close he be if he's not on it the problem is cuz he built it he made the Mount Rushmore uh and and you know what if he's not on the Mount Rushmore it's only because there might be just like there's too many guys to be able to put on like a fourman Mount Rushmore I mean but again top four pitcher yeah well real quick if you were going to put the top four pitchers of all time are you putting Randy Johnson ahead of Nolan Ryan oo if I had one game to win Randy Johnson Okay sandy kofax or Nolan Ryan noan okay Tom Siver or Nolan Ryan Pedro or Nolan Ryan noan really I might take Pedro I think him at his Peak was better than Nolan's Peak I think at at the peak I think I think every time no one stepped on the mound it was different I think it was his his normal everyday what you're getting it was better but but Pedro's Peak was probably maybe the best in baseball for like that twoe run two threeyear run there might not have been a better pitcher in baseball but again the the average the standard what you're what you're getting outside of that no one for the other 20 years Last Guy Greg Maddox or Nolan Ryan look like you're about to take a dump yes that's a that's a great one great question I would say I'm gonna take Maddox I'm G to take Mad Dog uh then it gets into like Bob Gibson Gibson right right you're talking about like a Walter Johnson a Sai Young you know like Feller you know what I have two more guys because at their Peak Clayton Kershaw at their Peak Peak Kershaw if I had to Peak Kershaw or Nolan Kershaw if I had to win a playoff game I don't know neither okay and last one this is going to really screw you up at their Peak Nolan Ryan or Jacob deg Grom oo the th the thing about noan dude he obviously no hitter any day the thing about Jacob deg Gro I'm not sure if anybody in the world could hit him at his Peak him or him or Pedro at their Peak I'm still probably taking dick R like like dude and that was just and by the way I I put Sandy kofax in that at their Peak better than Nolan Ryan oo yes maybe at at their Peak Sandy kofax better than Nolan Ryan again average everyday Nolan Ryan average everyday Sandy noan Ry all right let's move on to our second Hall of Famer here's Andrew bogish Nelly Fox a name that resonates with baseball Excellence known for his impeccable defense and steady bat fox was a Cornerstone of the game during the 1950s Fox spent his career as a standout second baseman compiling 2,663 hits a 288 career batting average and three gold gloves Fox played most notably for the Chicago White Sox with brief stins with the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Colt 45s his leadership and consistency defined his time in the majors in 1997 Nelly Fox was enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame a well deserved honor for a player whose impact went far beyond statistics with his remarkable career and Lasting influence Nelly Fox remains a beloved figure in baseball history Nelly Fox a true legend of the game remembered for his skill spirits and enduring Legacy and here it is another relic card this one happens to be the Nelly Fox game used bat card dude I how do you even get a nelly fox bat his grandchildren have it and they said hey I'll sell it to you for a couple bucks it's the only thing I can guess that's a crazy thing that that blows my mind when these like there's a bat card it's a $12 card 2005 $12 card which which again if this card was made in like 2025 or sorry 2022 2000 like next year's card whatever it'd be a $300 card or something like that I don't know about that but I mean but again hard the value of these cards it's insane um they would make it a one out of one they would do something stupid with it I just think it's so cool I mean this dude was a 1950s Legend I mean how many Allstars was he like a seven time Allstar like in a row nine time Allstar or something like that in a row um white socks um Philadelphia Athletics I mean that's when you're looking at how old this card is Philadelphia Athletics white socks and a couple years with Houston um it's just insane MVP he was MVP a bunch of years my thing about Nelly Fox I've heard the name forever uh I was I mean Hall of Famer you know he's a great player I look back and I'm trying to figure out how he had was so high in MVP voting so many years I mean there's a ton there's 1779 7 14 4 81 18 like even a 26 at the very towards the end of his career so that means like people respected him people loved him like he obviously was a great ball player I still can't figure out how he had so many high MVP votings because outside of at bats played appearances games and and four years where he led the league in hits but only one of them was a 200 hit season I'm trying to figure out where those where like where the hall like where the Difference Maker was right so you're going to lead the league in hits when you lead the league every year in that bats you're just going to have more chances you're going to have a higher chance to do that right like you can't have you can't be a number four hole hitter have 500 at bats and lead the league in hits it's just not going to happen but when you have 721 at bats in a season like you're going to just rack up hits it just if you if you don't you're not on the lineup because you're just you're on you're up so much and every year he's like 300 hitter I mean then it at 288 and but he never led the league anything else besides like hits I mean one year he leted it in doubles but 10 he hit 10 doubles like that's not many I don't know that's a weird number to be leading the league in doubles like some guys nowadays I feel like that's a great week you know like it's like where am I'm missing what am I missing here with Nelly Fox well what position did he play um he played that's a great position I'm seeing four so I'm seeing a first base or second base sorry second this yeah so for the most part he played second base I think he got that extra love because he played that position where nobody ever does anything you look at the history of baseball and second baseman in the Hall of Fame there's not very many of them and none of them really have huge numbers yes yeah that's interesting because you're looking at second baseman across Major League Baseball history there aren't many um I mean there's one that kind of jumps off the page there yeah I mean bill mazeroski got in and he not a great second baseman either he he didn't have gudy numbers but he got in I mean he got in I again it was um it was later on with the the errors committee or whatever he he got in he didn't get voted in originally I that's the only thing I'm so if we're talking with tier one tier 2 tier three I have to again I would love to have anybody who watched them grow up in that era tell me otherwise but I'm thinking of tier three because I outside of a guy who who's going to get on base that's all I'm seeing he must have played amazing baseball I mean he must have been a great defender all that stuff he won several gold gloves three gold gloves that I'm seeing so there had to be more there and maybe you know obviously those White Sox teams were very good teams at the time too all winning you know they they winning baseball games because I mean if you got to get dude like him get on base nonstop that's going to definitely help but there has to be something else there I know I'm missing it but for me he's a tier three maybe he was just really nice to the writers yeah I Barry Bonds very nice to the writers guys loved them yeah yeah Albert Bell right there too Kurt shelling all three all four of those guys in the same boat but so there's Nelly Fox for me he's a tier three is it tier three for you yeah it's tier three for me tier three for me so who else we got Hal newhouser a dominant force on the mound whose career remains a shining example of pitching Excellence known for his blazing fastball and outstanding control newuser left a lasting mark on baseball over his career newuser compiled a remarkable 207 wins 1,667 strikeouts and a 3.06 erra his Peak years were truly extraordinary winning Al MVP twice in 1944 and 45 newuser spent the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers where he became a key player in two World Series Championships he also had brief stins with the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 199 2 new Houser's Legacy is defined by his dominance during the 40s and his impact on the game Hal newhouser one of the great pitchers of his era remembered for his incredible talent and contributions to the sport a true legend on the mound how new Houser's place in baseball history is well earned and well deserved well like Andrew said the last guy this week is a guy that I never heard of until now Hal newhouser and in my hand and I have a 1955 Topps how news Houser how newhouser when he was on the Cleveland Indians with a really cool Indians logo by the way yeah I'm looking actually that was funny you said that I was looking at that right now and and I'm trying to figure out the hell is that logo right so you obviously it's Chief Wahoo and you're seeing the the Indian the feather in the back is that like a crown in the front yeah it looks like a crown we're going to have to do some research on this because that's really neat that's a cool card I love those 1955 tops 54 tops all the all those like 50s tops of have the coolest cards you know like you obviously get the picture of him you know what he looks but then you kind of see him in action too I I love those cards uh I don't know I everything about that that series I think it was really dang cool uh I agree with you and I love getting the old cards it's not a rookie card it's not anything special but it just it's a pretty card and that's what I really like about it it's just a beautiful looking card and it's from a guy that I've never heard of until I started this project when I looked at his stats I said damn I really should have known about this guy I'm looking at it and it's definitely a crown and even their um their yearbook um their 1955 yearbook it's got it it's a little different Crown but it says American League champions on it and so maybe they added that a little bit cuz they won the the the pennet in 54 um I would assume that'd be 54 and then 55 they they're advertis they want it um that's that's interesting yeah I'm seeing a pin here it looks like or something I know program tapestry I'm seeing the program yeah that must be a crown that they added for that I might be totally wrong on this so it's a good theory yeah it's a great Theory it's it's out there chap wah I'm trying to figure this out anyways I think it's cool I I love the card and getting into how new Hower any stats anything that jump off the page to you well now whenever I look at any picture from the old days it just complete games you know it's just crazy how many complete games the guy had 29 CGS 24 CGS one year he had 29 and did not lead the league in CGS you know right like this is insane uh he had a 29 and9 record 25 and9 record 26 and9 record uh 21- 12 I mean some incredible win and losses Seasons he had a couple I mean thing what's interesting is his first four years were not all that great N9 and N 9 and 11 8 and 14 8 and 17 by the way he was an All-Star when he was 8 and 14 and 8 and 17 and he had er's 304 and 245 so those might been a little little Str little tough years for the Detroit Tigers when he was on Detroit but then he ends up with a 1 181 A 222 a 1 194 erra he's thr on 313 Innings pitch I mean you he won the MVP backto back as a pitcher dude thank you new Hal newhouser for for kicking me in the and and waking me up because I was not aware of your game he was not aware of this and that's what I love about this whole project we get to learn about Hall of Fame Gamers that have gone under the radar and the fact that a guy like this I was able to buy his baseball card from 1955 for five freaking dollars kills me because I sold a card the other day which was a it was a team card for the Orioles from 20124 tops and I got $5 for it because it was a Father's Day colored card that's kind of cool though yeah I understand that but still what's the difference I would rather have the Hall of Famer than the Orioles team card how new Hower by the way postseason batting average of zero eight bats in case you wondering in case you're worried about that so he's got the same record as you at the plate zero yes yes much better though than me like overall I'm trying to see postseason pitching here he only went to the playoffs two years or three years went to the World Series in 45 got got the ring so he has a ring uh the last World Series for the Detroit Tigers I'm assuming in in 1945 let's let's just assume that um oh no they won uh didn't they win later I don't remember my name let alone who won that year but uh Detroit Tigers 1945 the World Series ring he did not he was two- one in the world series with the 61 ra not really his best outings in the world but he had four walks 22 strikeouts but really what jumps off to me again he he had four years of just utter dominance um one year he led the league in losses but he was 17 and 17 with a 28 ra he ended up with a 306 on his career he led in almost every category for a couple years to me what this is screaming if anything of Tim Tim winum um if there's anything it's just screaming at me he doesn't have a Sai Young I don't even know if a sa young existed back then but he has two world he has two MVPs as number one and then he had a number two so back to back and then went number two the next year uh he had a 207 and 150 record and so for me for pitchers in the 40s and 50s if you had 207 wins when you're out there winning 29 games in a season that screams to me injury that screams to me that something happened that just shortened your career CU he was he he was a 200 300 inning pitcher and then all of a sudden 96 150 21 46 and two and those were in his 30-y year like Seasons um his his career started off slow and then hit a giant explosion and then ended pretty quickly too which is kind of shocking yeah I mean what can you say about the guy he he didn't have the longest career he didn't dominate you know throughout his career but when he was great he was great yeah when we're talking about like pitchers at their primes this dude want two MVPs back to back and and and you're looking at like Le and FIP Le and whip leton um he also he also leton hits for nine I mean he he he was the lowest two years in a row three times out of his career was lowest strikeouts per nine you know LED he led with 5.4 strikeouts per nine one year it's really low you know but again he led led the league in strikeouts for two times um he also led the league in walks led the league in hits giving up hits uh a couple times so a couple interesting things to me how newuser uh incredibly impressed with your 4-year run there I don't know if there's many um or it a 5year run but there was you four years out of five were just incredible uh how new Hower to me you are a tier 2 and it's only based on the idea that you weren't able to continue some of those years if he was able to continue a couple of those years like three or more like three more times Jesus he'd be a 300 game winner and he'd be right up there in some of the best names in baseball yeah I'm with you tier two all the way all right so grand total for all three of these cards not including tax and shipping $36.96 sense it's pretty cool man the how new Hower card cool like that's just a card from when he played but when you're looking at Nelly fox bat and a and a game used bat and a Nolan Ryan game used Jersey dude that's so cool wait till you see what I got coming up soon I have some guys that have a patch and an autograph I have some guys who are just autographs I I managed to get myself a lot of Hall of Fame autographs and each one of them with the exception of one has been under 20 bucks that's awesome that's so cool I love this I love the Cooperstown collection uh we've had some great uh cards so far and I and I I love what you're doing with this yeah my wallet doesn't so guys out there if you have any cards that you want to donate to the collection I am not above begging I will beg give me some cards please my kids need to go to college please no but it's it's a lot of fun and I'm loving this you know I'm making labels for all the cards I'm putting them in uh in these schnazzy type you know holders so you know it's it's kind of cool to me what do the kids think so far well that's the reason why I started this whole baseball thing because my kid Francis he finally starting to know who some of these baseball players are and the funniest thing by the way I don't know if I told you this we were opening some 2024 cards and he tells me I think I'm going to find some cards of Uncle Ken I'm like dude Uncle Ken has retired a while ago so you're really not going to find a lot of Ken griffy Jr cards and damn it if he hasn't found like six of them I was about to say and I I yeah and I sent the cards to Junior and I'm like Junior you got to see he he's he finds all your cards and you know what he said to me boys got a nose for greatness right oh Junior Great's going to be great man it's awesome but this another great episode of closers James thank you for joining me and make sure everybody goes out there watches all the episodes tells their friends let them know that you're liking this if you are liking it leave a comment leave a like or if you're not liking it tell us what we can do better tell us what you want to hear uh any cool um segments of the show and we will hit it to you so for James I'm the da thanks