Complete Universe Facegen Pack

[LansdowneSt]

Amazin,

Being equally a completist, I found the missing 1983 Las Vegas Stars' card - and it had a straight on-shot of him (though they spelled Gerry with a "G" that year). I was able to lose the smile but it still had both purple and yellow in different parts of the face making it a challenge to get the coloring perfect. But given I show him in Padres colors, no one will notice his complexion whilst he wears these brown and mustard yellow classics...

Here's 45 seconds of Jerry reminiscing at a Stars game... https://youtu.be/hTvAzQsw7QQ

[luckymann]

Bud do you have any NEL players done? Specifically Martin Dihigo and Cristobal Torriente?

Plus a few more randoms please and thank you.

Tom Gettinger (1889-95)
Todd Dunwoody (1997-2002)
Steve Comer (1978-84)

[LansdowneSt]

luckymann, I have about 65 or so NEL's that I've done. Send me a DM with your email and I'll send you a .zip file as I already have the NELs in such a file. Here are the ones I've been using for Torriente and Dihigo.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by LansdowneSt

luckymann, I have about 65 or so NEL's that I've done. Send me a DM with your email and I'll send you a .zip file as I already have the NELs in such a file. Here are the ones I've been using for Torriente and Dihigo.

Sent, thanks bud.

[LansdowneSt]

“Comer, as the saying goes, couldn’t break a pane of glass with his fastball, but he knew how to pitch: He threw strikes and had a great changeup." - Don Zimmer, in his autobiography, Zim

Steve Comer was the definition of a "finesse" pitcher, often pitching entire games with quality outings without recording a single strikeout. He had a terrific 1979 season with the Texas Rangers, avoiding the sophomore slump in style by going 17-12 with a 3.68 ERA in 36 starts. He also had a solid 1981 as a reliever (8-2, 2.56, 6 saves in 77 1/3 innings).

But that's Steve in real life. I think we also both want to know what fate befell Steve on Amazin's Rangers replay. On your next request, Amazin' - let us know On the facegen, I couldn't shake the yellow, so I used the same photo and just redid it.

[LansdowneSt]

Todd Dunwoody was chosen in the seventh round of the 1993 amateur draft by the Florida Marlins. Throughout his 13-year professional career, he played for the Florida Marlins, Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs, and Cleveland Indians. In 1995, Dunwoody was named a Midwest League All-Star, and was named one of baseball's top 100 prospects by Baseball America in 1997 and 1998. However, he could not master the strike zone and hit just .233 in the majors.

I used a gettyimages spring training photo and NOT the most excellent, random sketch of him that is on his wikipedia page.

[LansdowneSt]

"That prime favorite Tommy Gettinger, who was with Grand Rapids last year, will be in right field next year. This splendid player . . . will be kept . . . Everyone is well aware that there is no better fielder in the League than this same Gettinger, and all concede him as a good, reliable hitter." - Sporting Life's Grand Rapids correspondent, Jan. 9, 1897

Tom was only 20 years old when he played with the 1889 St. Louis Browns but his pro ball career lasted at least until he was 39 years old in 1908. In between his first major league stint in 1889-90 and his second in 1895, Gettinger played for nine minor league clubs.

My default facegen made him look much older than his age in the bigs so I took the only photo of him and redid it. The same smoothing effect that eliminates the shadows on these older pic also helps make them look younger.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by LansdowneSt

"That prime favorite Tommy Gettinger, who was with Grand Rapids last year, will be in right field next year. This splendid player . . . will be kept . . . Everyone is well aware that there is no better fielder in the League than this same Gettinger, and all concede him as a good, reliable hitter." - Sporting Life's Grand Rapids correspondent, Jan. 9, 1897

Tom was only 20 years old when he played with the 1889 St. Louis Browns but his pro ball career lasted at least until he was 39 years old in 1908. In between his first major league stint in 1889-90 and his second in 1895, Gettinger played for nine minor league clubs.

My default facegen made him look much older than his age in the bigs so I took the only photo of him and redid it. The same smoothing effect that eliminates the shadows on these older pic also helps make them look younger.

You've put the spark back in his eyes!

[Amazin69]

Thanks for DeSimone. (The game calls him "Gerald", btw.) AI Jerry Coleman has decided to give up on Jack Perconte at 2B, after a disappointing sophomore campaign, slide DeSimone over, and play Gerry Davis at 3B. Meh. I'm thinking "Coleman" just wants as many players named "Gerry" in the lineup as he can get, possibly because it would be easier to remember their names.

Steve "Beach" Comer was an interest of mine, as well. One of the reasons I wanted these Rangers (besides all the Mayor's Trophy leftovers) was to see if I could help Steve avoid his back-to-the-minors 1980 flameout. I'm GM-only, though, so when "Pat Corrales" gave the #5 slot in the rotation (behind Fergie, Gaylord, Matlack and Medich) to a young Danny Darwin, I couldn't really object.

Comer spent the 1980 season in long relief. Even when the 40-year-olds got hurt, "Corrales" gave the spot starts to Dave Schmidt and (up from AAA) John Butcher, with good results. Steve struggled (2-1, 5.37, 4 saves), but at least he got some post-$ea$on in the deal.

1981 saw him crowded out, though. Rick Rhoden took Gaylord's spot in the rotation (Perry had the cojones to ask for a FOUR-year deal!) and FAs Bill Castro and Bill Lee were bright spots in the bullpen. Which left Comer at Wichita. (Even John Butcher only got one game in the bigs.) Steve did well, going 9-4, 3.62, but even if a spot opens up, there's no guarantee he'd get the first call. Sorry.

Meanwhile, the Yankees, looking to get ALL the pitching, just traded for Frank Tanana, sending San Diego four prospects, of whom only Cecil Espy made the bigs in OTL. (John Denny [15-5, 3.51] is now ticketed for the bullpen; Lynn McGlothlen, who got the save in the Series-clincher, may not make the squad.)

It makes sense for San Diego, though, since not only does it clear a spot for #1 picks Kevin Gross (#22, the compensation for Winfield) and Ron Darling (#35, from Pittsburgh for signing Jerry Mumphrey) in case they match their AA success at AAA and are ready to say "Aloha" to Hawai'i, but also, one of the other players in the deal is Brian Ryder, the Yankees' #1 pick in 1978.

In OTL, Ryder did well in the Pinstripers' chain, but flopped when flipped to Cincinnati for Ken Griffey. (Fred Toliver, originally a PtbNL, turned out to be the better acquisition.) Here, no doubt, the Friars are hoping Brother Ryder can bring his success from Nashville (18-10) and Columbus (17-7) to Jack Murphy. We'll see…



The Padres also sent Rollie Fingers to rejoin Winfield in LA, getting back four prospects, notably Orel Hershiser. Hard to condemn, even if OH IV stays the reliever he was during his minors career IRL.

[LansdowneSt]

Here's Brian Ryder settling in at San Diego. This was tough - at 6'6" and 175 lbs, the first attempt made him extremely thin once I loaded it into the game. Had to plump him up and widen the face in the facegen software so those physical specs wouldn't stretch him too much!

[LansdowneSt]

"THE GREATEST PLAY EVER MADE IN BASEBALL; How O'Hagan Put Out Three Men Unassisted on Monday Last -- A Feat Never Before Accomplished in the History of the Game -- Two Men on Bases and the Batter Put Out by One Man in a Few Seconds." - the headline of a lengthy article (with diagram) of Hal O'Hagan's unassisted triple play, from the August 24, 1902 issue of the New York Times

Same facegen but made less pink, mouth widened, and other incremental tweaks. Need to pull his hat down and get him to look disinterested/too-cool-for-this-team-photo to do a true comparison to the bRef photo...

[LansdowneSt]

"Danny Hoffman, the center fielder of the St. Louis Browns, is one of the speediest outfielders in the business. He is a fine heady batsman. Besides being a fine fielder, Hoffman is a base runner of first flight." - from The National Game

Danny Hoffman played nine seasons in the American League, sometimes hitting quite well. He came up with the Philadelphia Athletics and later plated for the St. Louis Browns. In 1904 he was knocked unconscious by a fastball to the temple. The pitch by Jesse Tannehill nearly killed him and damaged his eyesight, but he returned to play seven more seasons, although his hitting was affected.

Facegen colored a bit per request and thinned to better match the photos

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by LansdowneSt

"Danny Hoffman, the center fielder of the St. Louis Browns, is one of the speediest outfielders in the business. He is a fine heady batsman. Besides being a fine fielder, Hoffman is a base runner of first flight." - from The National Game

Danny Hoffman played nine seasons in the American League, sometimes hitting quite well. He came up with the Philadelphia Athletics and later plated for the St. Louis Browns. In 1904 he was knocked unconscious by a fastball to the temple. The pitch by Jesse Tannehill nearly killed him and damaged his eyesight, but he returned to play seven more seasons, although his hitting was affected.

Facegen colored a bit per request and thinned to better match the photos

Now, as we try for the threepeat in the '03 Series against the A's, he just needs to start hitting...

And Tannehill is a lot less selective in this save, he just beats all of us most of the time. I think maybe we've won once against him in three seasons.

[LansdowneSt]

Fred Klobedanz pitched five years in the majors, most notably going 26-7 for the 1897 Boston Beaneaters. The following year he went 19-10. Fred was also a decent major league hitter, with an OPS+ of 93. Except for one off-year in 1898, he was an above-average hitter each year.

Newspapers in 1897 and 1899 refer to a dispute between Klobedanz and the Beaneaters that ended his employment. The Beaneaters released him, and it was speculated that the reason had something to do with a labor dispute occurring at a theater where Klobedanz also worked (presumably during the off-season).

Facegen was redone from the picture

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by LansdowneSt

Fred Klobedanz pitched five years in the majors, most notably going 26-7 for the 1897 Boston Beaneaters. The following year he went 19-10. Fred was also a decent major league hitter, with an OPS+ of 93. Except for one off-year in 1898, he was an above-average hitter each year.

Newspapers in 1897 and 1899 refer to a dispute between Klobedanz and the Beaneaters that ended his employment. The Beaneaters released him, and it was speculated that the reason had something to do with a labor dispute occurring at a theater where Klobedanz also worked (presumably during the off-season).

Facegen was redone from the picture

Serendipitously, Fred has landed on the Beaneaters' squad in my Bucs save. His IRL success, however, has not followed him across. In 15 games over 3 years he is decision-free and beladen with an ERA up near 5. He is also 0-for-7 career at the plate.

[LansdowneSt]

Grant Thatcher pitched a couple years for the Brooklyn Superbas. He was a couple years older than teammate Jimmy Sheckard, who also lived in Lancaster County, PA. [Again, why does bRef Bullpen wiki always compare people's ages to Jimmy Sheckard?]

An article about Grant states that his appearance for the Superbas in 1904 occurred under interesting circumstances. It was a Sunday game and that was illegal at the time, so word circulated that the police were planning to arrest the starting pitcher and catcher. Brooklyn decided to use Ed Poole to start the game, and when he was arrested, Thatcher became his replacement (and was not arrested). After baseball Thatcher worked in a tobacco warehouse and as a bartender.

I had no "before" facegen but instead am showing what facegen gleaned from the newspaper photo bRef has for him. It was the only one I could find. But if I squint, I can see that face in there and so I colored it and tried to hold the imported look as best I could.

[LansdowneSt]

Frank Huelsman played three years in the majors, with 2 games at age 23 in 1897 and returning at age 30 in 1904. He was very successful in the minors, but is remembered primarily for being traded around like cigarettes in 1904 when he played for four different major league teams, including twice with the Chicago White Sox. At age 39, he led 1913 Union Association in just about every category except steals, winning the UA triple crown for a second time.

Kept the same facegen and worked it into shape. I debated using the photo of a younger him that's on bRef but given his one major league year was at age 30 and the man was running circles around folks in the UA approaching 40, I kept the veteran look intact for him.

[LansdowneSt]

Mike Lynch, who played seven games for the Chicago Cubs in 1902, is credited as possibly being the inventor of the forkball in Thorn and Holway's The Pitcher. Lynch spent many years playing for Tacoma in several leagues, starting as early as 1901. While mostly an outfielder, he also played third base and in 1904-05 pitched for them some.

Redid the facegen from scratch using the bRef photo

[luckymann]

Hey bud you got a Jack Sharrott already done?

[LansdowneSt]

Jack Sharrott was a two-way player who was more effective at pitching than hitting in the majors. His ERA+ in four seasons was 115 and his best year came in 1890 before the mound was moved back. Pinch-hitters were used so infrequently back then that when Jack Sharrott got two pinch-hits in 1893, it set a record. In the minors, Jack played four years for the Bangor Millionaires and also managed the Ilion Typewriters, which are two great minor league team names imho.

Here you go, luckymann. I opted to remake the facegen from scratch. Looking at the pics, smirking seems to be his thing, so I didn't try to erase it.