The Facegen Thread

[Outlaw Jim]

Originally Posted by Amazin69

It's been a lousy six weeks (and still is ) but let's at least go to the happy place for a while, shall we?

Most of us recall 1987 and the Haitian baseballs that went flying out of the park. (Well, relatively. The difference being that when Darryl Strawberry hit 39 HR in 1987, he was tied for the NL lead. When Straw repeated that feat in '88, he led the league by 10. Remember, nobody hit 50 HR in the majors that entire decade.) But those weren't the only lively baseballs in play that decade; the Mexican League had started using the "commando ball" in 1986, and kept it rocketing around for several years afterwards.

Which was a good time for Pirates farmhand Nick Castaneda to head south of the border. He'd been trapped at A-ball for three seasons and then got released at age 22, despite posting a .908 OPS at Prince William in 1984. Castaneda hit .318 with 15 HR for San Luis Potosi in 1985, his first year in Mexico, but then he (like the commando ball) really took off the following season.

He hit 53 HR (2nd only to Jack Pierce's 54), batted .412 (2nd behind Willie Mays Aikens and his ridiculous .454) and drove in 147 runs, behind only Aikens and Pierce. He led the league in runs scored, was third in doubles, second in walks, first in slugging, and first in OPS…yes, the actual numbers are 1930 National League-level diluted, but to be at the top of the league in so many categories still speaks to his accomplishments.

Injuries limited Castaneda to 55 games in 1987, but he bounced back in '88 to win the Mexican batting title, hitting "only" .374 and posting a still-absurd 1.161 OPS. This brought him back to the affiliated minors where he spent 1989 as a DH/1B at Omaha; he left a good deal of his power down south, but still posted an .892 OPS. However, he suffered an injury in a brawl and was limited to 52 games and missed his chance at a September call-up.

Castaneda returned to the Mexican Liga in 1990, and won another batting title. A stint at AAA Louisville in '91 was his last try up north, but the Cardinals only used him as a back-up (he was 29 by then) and despite the .391 OBP there was never any real chance for him to reach St. Louis. He returned to Mexico for a few more seasons before injuries curtailed his career down there, too. Still remains the Mexican League's all-time slugging and OPS leader.

Attachment 561526

A four-year graduate of Pepperdine University, the worst bit of luck that Ruben Gonzalez had was playing first base and always being one step behind Tino Martinez in the Mariners' chain. With Alvin Davis holding down 1B in Seattle, the M's weren't terribly interested in speeding Tino along, much less Gonzalez behind him. So Ruben put in a full year at Beloit…and then one at Wausau…and then finally he reached San Bernardino in 1989, where he won the California League's Triple Crown, the first to do so since Jose Vidal at Reno in 1963. This got him to AA Williamsport the next year, where he played for a week before breaking his wrist.

When he recovered in late July, the Mariners sent him back to San Bernardino (what's the point? He'd already proven he could dominate that league) and despite the .937 OPS he put up in his six weeks back with the Spirits, didn't bump him any farther than AA, again, the next year. A slow start with the relocated affiliate (Jacksonville, now) and Seattle cut Gonzalez loose, done with him at age 25.

Attachment 561527

Skillful shortstop Mike McDonald was a teammate of Gonzalez at San Bernardino in 1989, and posted a nice .281/.362/.479 slash-line, knocking 18 HR for a second consecutive year. However, he had a bit of a hole in his swing, having whiffed 102 times at Wausau the previous year and 99 more for the Spirits in '89. When he went with Gonzalez to Williamsport in 1990, he could only wish for the broken wrist that Ruben suffered, as his AVG plunged to .210 and his strikeouts stayed high (92 K). His skill in the field kept him around for a few more seasons (always better to be a shortstop than a first baseman) and the M's even let him sniff AAA Calgary for a couple of weeks at the end of '92, but that was as far as he got.

Attachment 561525

Casey Close starred for Michigan in college, winning Baseball America's Player of the Year honors in 1986. The Yankees' 7th round draft-pick that same year, he quickly washed out of the Pinstripers' organization in just three seasons, after a horrific 1988 split between AA Albany-Colonie and AAA Columbus. Still, the Mariners gave him a new start in 1989 and he hit a strong .330 as a Calgary Cannon. But he wasn't called up and after losing 60 points off of his average the next year, he was let go. So it was Close, but no career for Casey.

Attachment 561524

The good news for Close is that he went into sports management, becoming an agent for IMG, and within a couple of years was representing the Yankees' #1 pick of 1992, another ex-Wolverine…some kid named Jeter. So Casey ended up being more successful off of the field than he ever could have been on it. And thus we Close on an up note. Cheers!

Here they are - can't tell you how difficult it was to do Casey Close. The minor league cards are low res to begin with, and the headshot was VERY small. Had to change this and then had to resize the image to fit a 180x270 headshot image. Got it to work and it looks good.

These are always fun to do - I always research these historical guys because most I have never heard of..... I might even do a historical minor league that I create and try to have facegens for all the players I have in my league. The trading card database has a lot of the images - and those that are not found will just get a fictional image (not the same image for all fictional images) until I can find one.

[Outlaw Jim]

Don't know how quick I can get to some of these. I have over 40 of my own to do and having my computer crash was a mess. I do recommend to some that want to try making their own to purchase the FG Artist program. It has the photofit program and it appears to create the facegens faster than Modeller. It is only $69 - much less than modeller at $299 - FG Artist has all the tools necessary to create the fg files other than the ability to create a jpg of the image.

I still plan on helping when I can, just wanted to let others know the program to create these is now relatively cheap. You also would need a graphics program to edit the photos to your liking, and creating headshot from the photos. Simple process takes me about 10 minutes total, including photo editing and facegen creation.

James

[Amazin69]

Thanks as always, and I can hardly complain about delays, given that I just took a six-week break. I'm just thrilled that you can do them when you do them.

Is your new program Windows-only, the way the original FaceGen modeller was? Because, as I've written, I'd give it a shot myself, but I'm on a Mac.

Once again, thank you so much.

[Outlaw Jim]

Originally Posted by Amazin69

Thanks as always, and I can hardly complain about delays, given that I just took a six-week break. I'm just thrilled that you can do them when you do them.

Is your new program Windows-only, the way the original FaceGen modeller was? Because, as I've written, I'd give it a shot myself, but I'm on a Mac.

Once again, thank you so much.

Unfortunately Windows only.

[Amazin69]

RHP Dera Clark was drafted by the Braves in the 5th round of the 1983 draft, but chose to attend the University of Oklahoma, instead. Four years later, he turned up in the Royals' chain, despite not having been drafted in either '86 or '87. Did he suffer some injury at college and fall so cataclysmically that no team would even take a 50th-round flyer on him? Or had he somehow managed to become a free agent and not be subject to the draft a second time? I couldn't find out.

Anyway, Clark had two decent seasons in relief despite not being much of a fireballer (highest K/9 rate was 7.7) and by 1989 had earned a slot with the AA Memphis Chicks. There he cut his walk rate so it was less than one-third of the K/9 and moved into the starting rotation with success, earning an invitation to the major-league camp for 1990.

I'm not sure if Clark was on the 40-man (and he didn't make Kansas City, obviously), but he had been promoted to AAA Omaha, where he spent the next two seasons in the rotation. Only 17 starts in 1990 (injuries again?), but he went 8-3 with a 133 ERA+, and so might have felt he deserved a promotion to the big club. (Omaha crushed their division, the American Association South, romping home by 14 games over the Iowa Cubs. Then they beat Nashville 3-2 to win the AA title, and put away Rochester, 4-1, to win the AAA World Series.) He followed that up with a more-mediocre 1991, as he went 6-9 with a 98 ERA+, but still acceptable.

But there were problems ahead in 1992, as Clark got off to a slow start and, on April 23, the Royals released him. This happened as Kansas City purchased the contract Rico Rossy to fill in for the injured David Howard, so apparently Clark was on the 40-man by this time and they needed to clear the spot. (Howard only being moved to the 15-day DL and thus still on the roster.) The Royals were able to swiftly re-sign Clark to a minor-league deal, but his struggles continued, as he went 1-6 with a 7.95 ERA in 9 AAA starts and then likely went on the shelf with an injury, before bouncing back with five strong appearances in Florida. (WHIP under 1.00, ERA not far over.) These last few outings encouraged the Dodgers to take a chance on Clark's 90+ mph fastball and split-finger, and they took him in Round 1 of the Rule 5 draft.

And so began Clark's march (or rather, March) to his greatest glory…

March, 1993. Clark was throwing for his new team in spring training, but not exactly impressing manager Tommy Lasorda. Lasorda began to razz Clark, claiming "I could hit this guy!" Clark bore down, but Lasorda kept it up, eventually grabbing a bat and getting in the left-handed batter's box. Naturally, Clark eased up on his next pitch. (I mean, what's the good result here? Either you embarrass the manager or you get embarrassed by him. Both outcomes suck.)

Lasorda, even more unimpressed, yelled out at the mound again. So Clark reared back…and knocked Fat Tommy on his ass.

Lasorda got up, took an annoyed swing at the next pitch and popped up. And that was that…or would have been, if not for the Chicken Court.

This was the Dodger players' version of the traditional "Kangaroo Court" to enforce team discipline, the difference being that those found guilty in the Dodgers' court had to buy a chicken for the entire training staff. Which could run as much as $300. So when Tim Wallach decided that Clark should be prosecuted, he was in a bit of a pickle, since that was a decent chunk of change on minor-league spring money. But if you fought the charges and lost, you had to pay double. Even worse.

Luckily for Clark, Lance Parrish agreed to back him financially, so that he could plead his case. Clark's argument in his defense was that dusting his skipper proved that he wasn't afraid of anybody, and that therefore he would stand up for all of his teammates, regardless of the circumstances. Judge Eric Davis was impressed and ruled in Clark's favor, keeping him from getting plucked.

But, understandably, he was still f*cked. Tommy Lasorda, I mean "the Dodgers", promptly sent Clark to AAA and the Royals reclaimed him. (To be fair, these were the same cuts where the Dodgers sent down a young Pedro Martinez, so it probably wasn't purely about revenge. But it didn't hurt…) So it was back to Omaha, for a fourth consecutive season. The Royals decided to move him back to the bullpen, despite almost all of the successful rehab outings from the year before being starts, and Clark struggled to a mediocre 4.22 ERA in a career-high 51 appearances. So at least he had his health.

By this time, Clark was eligible to be a minor-league free agent and he signed with the Braves, 11 years after they had originally drafted him. But the arm troubles returned, and he only managed 8 mediocre outings before being done for the year.

1995 saw the continuation of the MLB players strike and Clark, his arm healed but his moral compass broken [/SCABS ARE EVIL ], crossed the picket line and attended Braves camp. Where, with the real players still out, he did an interview with The Palm Beach Post and at least got the "did I ever tell you about the time I knocked down Tommy Lasorda?" story recorded for posterity. Of course, the moment the strike was settled and Chipper/Maddux/Glavine etc. came back, the Braves dumped Clark's backstabbing butt. He didn't even get a minor-league deal. Karma!

No longer able to find a spot at AAA, Clark hooked on once more with Memphis, now a Padres farm. He had a very effective 1995 out of the pen (2.15 ERA, 1.09 WHIP) but only made 23 appearances…I don't know if it took a while for him to get a contract or if the arm troubles came back.

In 1996, he moved back to the rotation and made nine good starts (3.13 ERA). But only nine, indicating that either the arm problems came back or the Padres decided they didn't really need 31-year-old starters, even at AA. And that was the end of that.

But at least he'll always have the Chicken Court…

[Outlaw Jim]

Originally Posted by Amazin69

RHP Dera Clark was drafted by the Braves in the 5th round of the 1983 draft, but chose to attend the University of Oklahoma, instead. Four years later, he turned up in the Royals' chain, despite not having been drafted in either '86 or '87. Did he suffer some injury at college and fall so cataclysmically that no team would even take a 50th-round flyer on him? Or had he somehow managed to become a free agent and not be subject to the draft a second time? I couldn't find out.

Anyway, Clark had two decent seasons in relief despite not being much of a fireballer (highest K/9 rate was 7.7) and by 1989 had earned a slot with the AA Memphis Chicks. There he cut his walk rate so it was less than one-third of the K/9 and moved into the starting rotation with success, earning an invitation to the major-league camp for 1990.

I'm not sure if Clark was on the 40-man (and he didn't make Kansas City, obviously), but he had been promoted to AAA Omaha, where he spent the next two seasons in the rotation. Only 17 starts in 1990 (injuries again?), but he went 8-3 with a 133 ERA+, and so might have felt he deserved a promotion to the big club. (Omaha crushed their division, the American Association South, romping home by 14 games over the Iowa Cubs. Then they beat Nashville 3-2 to win the AA title, and put away Rochester, 4-1, to win the AAA World Series.) He followed that up with a more-mediocre 1991, as he went 6-9 with a 98 ERA+, but still acceptable.

But there were problems ahead in 1992, as Clark got off to a slow start and, on April 23, the Royals released him. This happened as Kansas City purchased the contract Rico Rossy to fill in for the injured David Howard, so apparently Clark was on the 40-man by this time and they needed to clear the spot. (Howard only being moved to the 15-day DL and thus still on the roster.) The Royals were able to swiftly re-sign Clark to a minor-league deal, but his struggles continued, as he went 1-6 with a 7.95 ERA in 9 AAA starts and then likely went on the shelf with an injury, before bouncing back with five strong appearances in Florida. (WHIP under 1.00, ERA not far over.) These last few outings encouraged the Dodgers to take a chance on Clark's 90+ mph fastball and split-finger, and they took him in Round 1 of the Rule 5 draft.

And so began Clark's march (or rather, March) to his greatest glory…

March, 1993. Clark was throwing for his new team in spring training, but not exactly impressing manager Tommy Lasorda. Lasorda began to razz Clark, claiming "I could hit this guy!" Clark bore down, but Lasorda kept it up, eventually grabbing a bat and getting in the left-handed batter's box. Naturally, Clark eased up on his next pitch. (I mean, what's the good result here? Either you embarrass the manager or you get embarrassed by him. Both outcomes suck.)

Lasorda, even more unimpressed, yelled out at the mound again. So Clark reared back…and knocked Fat Tommy on his ass.

Lasorda got up, took an annoyed swing at the next pitch and popped up. And that was that…or would have been, if not for the Chicken Court.

This was the Dodger players' version of the traditional "Kangaroo Court" to enforce team discipline, the difference being that those found guilty in the Dodgers' court had to buy a chicken for the entire training staff. Which could run as much as $300. So when Tim Wallach decided that Clark should be prosecuted, he was in a bit of a pickle, since that was a decent chunk of change on minor-league spring money. But if you fought the charges and lost, you had to pay double. Even worse.

Luckily for Clark, Lance Parrish agreed to back him financially, so that he could plead his case. Clark's argument in his defense was that dusting his skipper proved that he wasn't afraid of anybody, and that therefore he would stand up for all of his teammates, regardless of the circumstances. Judge Eric Davis was impressed and ruled in Clark's favor, keeping him from getting plucked.

But, understandably, he was still f*cked. Tommy Lasorda, I mean "the Dodgers", promptly sent Clark to AAA and the Royals reclaimed him. (To be fair, these were the same cuts where the Dodgers sent down a young Pedro Martinez, so it probably wasn't purely about revenge. But it didn't hurt…) So it was back to Omaha, for a fourth consecutive season. The Royals decided to move him back to the bullpen, despite almost all of the successful rehab outings from the year before being starts, and Clark struggled to a mediocre 4.22 ERA in a career-high 51 appearances. So at least he had his health.

By this time, Clark was eligible to be a minor-league free agent and he signed with the Braves, 11 years after they had originally drafted him. But the arm troubles returned, and he only managed 8 mediocre outings before being done for the year.

1995 saw the continuation of the MLB players strike and Clark, his arm healed but his moral compass broken [/SCABS ARE EVIL ], crossed the picket line and attended Braves camp. Where, with the real players still out, he did an interview with The Palm Beach Post and at least got the "did I ever tell you about the time I knocked down Tommy Lasorda?" story recorded for posterity. Of course, the moment the strike was settled and Chipper/Maddux/Glavine etc. came back, the Braves dumped Clark's backstabbing butt. He didn't even get a minor-league deal. Karma!

No longer able to find a spot at AAA, Clark hooked on once more with Memphis, now a Padres farm. He had a very effective 1995 out of the pen (2.15 ERA, 1.09 WHIP) but only made 23 appearances…I don't know if it took a while for him to get a contract or if the arm troubles came back.

In 1996, he moved back to the rotation and made nine good starts (3.13 ERA). But only nine, indicating that either the arm problems came back or the Padres decided they didn't really need 31-year-old starters, even at AA. And that was the end of that.

But at least he'll always have the Chicken Court…

Attachment 562199

Hera ista Dera

[Amazin69]

In 1962, Robert Benjamin was a promising catcher in the Pirates chain, hitting so well (.315) that the Pirates traded their other left-handed catcher, Smoky Burgess, to make way for him.

(At least, that's what Benjamin told The Deseret News in 1992. Except that research shows it was 1964, not 1962; that Benjamin was hitting .298, not .315; that Benjamin was an outfielder, not a catcher, and that Burgess wasn't waived out of the NL until December. But other than that…)

But one day, Benjamin was caught in a rundown, didn't see the throw coming, and got hit in the eye, ending up with a detached retina and a ruined career. Frustrated, he played four years of semi-pro football (or so he says…), took up coaching, and started living vicariously through his son, Bobby, who was the Brewers' 7th-round pick after three years at Nebraska. Bobby posted a very nice .990 OPS in his month at Helena (Pioneer League) and followed up with a .911 in the Arizona fall league.

A full-season of work at Beloit (Midwest League) in 1991 saw a still-impressive .857 OPS. But then there was a change in the Brewers front office in the off-season, and the team decided to emphasize looking for more athleticism and speed in their outfielders. The "We've already got a Greg Vaughn" theory, I guess.

This seems a bit foolish to apply throughout the system…who knows how the team might evolve as the years go by? Plus Milwaukee was in the AL at the time, where they have this handy thing called the DH, so even if Benjamin (6'0", 220 lbs) proved not to be what they were seeking in the field, there were still other options. It seems more logical to keep watering all your prospects, IMO. Worst comes to worst, you can always make some trades.

But the Brewers disagreed, and it only took one bad month at Stockton (OPS .683) before Benjamin found himself released, at age 24. Feeling down, he spurned an offer from the independent Salt Lake City Trappers of the Pioneer League and headed home to Columbus, OH. But his dad, not ready to turn loose of the dream, objected:

"If he wanted to, he could come home and get into the family business," says Robert Benjamin, who, along with his father, runs Robert & Company, a record store in Columbus that boasts the world's largest collection of phonograph records, more than two million of them at last count. "But why do that if you have the opportunity to play ball?" he says. "You can work the rest of your life. If you have the opportunity, take it. You only go around once. Basically that's what my advice was to him. I didn't tell him what to do. I advised him what to do."

Another weak month for the Trappers (.674 OPS) and a dispirited Bobby went home for good, to help dad and granddad stack those stacks of wax, after all And that was that…sorry, Dad.

[Outlaw Jim]

Originally Posted by Amazin69

In 1962, Robert Benjamin was a promising catcher in the Pirates chain, hitting so well (.315) that the Pirates traded their other left-handed catcher, Smoky Burgess, to make way for him.

(At least, that's what Benjamin told The Deseret News in 1992. Except that research shows it was 1964, not 1962; that Benjamin was hitting .298, not .315; that Benjamin was an outfielder, not a catcher, and that Burgess wasn't waived out of the NL until December. But other than that…)

But one day, Benjamin was caught in a rundown, didn't see the throw coming, and got hit in the eye, ending up with a detached retina and a ruined career. Frustrated, he played four years of semi-pro football (or so he says…), took up coaching, and started living vicariously through his son, Bobby, who was the Brewers' 7th-round pick after three years at Nebraska. Bobby posted a very nice .990 OPS in his month at Helena (Pioneer League) and followed up with a .911 in the Arizona fall league.

A full-season of work at Beloit (Midwest League) in 1991 saw a still-impressive .857 OPS. But then there was a change in the Brewers front office in the off-season, and the team decided to emphasize looking for more athleticism and speed in their outfielders. The "We've already got a Greg Vaughn" theory, I guess.

This seems a bit foolish to apply throughout the system…who knows how the team might evolve as the years go by? Plus Milwaukee was in the AL at the time, where they have this handy thing called the DH, so even if Benjamin (6'0", 220 lbs) proved not to be what they were seeking in the field, there were still other options. It seems more logical to keep watering all your prospects, IMO. Worst comes to worst, you can always make some trades.

But the Brewers disagreed, and it only took one bad month at Stockton (OPS .683) before Benjamin found himself released, at age 24. Feeling down, he spurned an offer from the independent Salt Lake City Trappers of the Pioneer League and headed home to Columbus, OH. But his dad, not ready to turn loose of the dream, objected:



Another weak month for the Trappers (.674 OPS) and a dispirited Bobby went home for good, to help dad and granddad stack those stacks of wax, after all And that was that…sorry, Dad.

Attachment 562718

here he is. looks good in facegen

[Amazin69]

Bronx-born Bill Drohan may have been raised in Florida (Orlando Nova HS, Broward Community College), but he still fell victim to the same curse that claimed Jim Bouton and Tim Leary…pitching in the cold and having his arm freeze up. Like Bouton at Minnesota in '65 or Leary at Wrigley in '82, the early-season frosts did damage to Royals prospect Drohan's arm.

Drafted by KC in the 15th round in 1987, Drohan struggled in his first half-season in the GCL, but was well-coached by Guy Hansen at Eugene in '88, and posted a very nice 7-1, 2.10 season, with good K and WHIP numbers, as well. This earned him a promotion to Appleton for 1989, where, unfortunately, the snows were waiting for him.

``The first six games of the season were canceled because of snow,`` Drohan said. ``I threw in one game with the temperature 18 degrees. That can be tough on your arm.``

What had happened was that Drohan had strained his rotator cuff. For a while he couldn't even put on a shirt without wincing.

Still, Drohan pitched through the pain and posted even better stats (6-1, 1.19, 0.92 WHIP) in 9 starts, although his diminished strikeout rate (from 8.8/9 in '88 to a mere 5.2/9) showed the strain on his arm. The Royals were ready to move him up to AA Memphis (Drohan has the plane ticket) but decided to first bring him into Kansas City to be checked out by the team doctors, who recommended that Drohan rest and rehab for a while.

Back in Florida, about a month later, Drohan gave a very cheerful interview to The Orlando Sun-Sentinel, where he thought he'd be back in action shortly. But in fact the arm was still tender, and the Royals held him out of fall and winter ball.

When Drohan didn't look so good in spring training of 1990, either, the plans for him to go to Memphis were scuttled. Instead, they kept him at Baseball City, where he got smacked around in seven Florida State League starts (1-5, 7.22, more walks than strikeouts) and was released.

Kids, don't play in the snow or your career will end up on ice.



Sorry about the cap-shadow and the angle of the head hiding one ear. Hope that you can work around it.

[Outlaw Jim]

Originally Posted by Amazin69

Bronx-born Bill Drohan may have been raised in Florida (Orlando Nova HS, Broward Community College), but he still fell victim to the same curse that claimed Jim Bouton and Tim Leary…pitching in the cold and having his arm freeze up. Like Bouton at Minnesota in '65 or Leary at Wrigley in '82, the early-season frosts did damage to Royals prospect Drohan's arm.

Drafted by KC in the 15th round in 1987, Drohan struggled in his first half-season in the GCL, but was well-coached by Guy Hansen at Eugene in '88, and posted a very nice 7-1, 2.10 season, with good K and WHIP numbers, as well. This earned him a promotion to Appleton for 1989, where, unfortunately, the snows were waiting for him.

What had happened was that Drohan had strained his rotator cuff. For a while he couldn't even put on a shirt without wincing.

Still, Drohan pitched through the pain and posted even better stats (6-1, 1.19, 0.92 WHIP) in 9 starts, although his diminished strikeout rate (from 8.8/9 in '88 to a mere 5.2/9) showed the strain on his arm. The Royals were ready to move him up to AA Memphis (Drohan has the plane ticket) but decided to first bring him into Kansas City to be checked out by the team doctors, who recommended that Drohan rest and rehab for a while.

Back in Florida, about a month later, Drohan gave a very cheerful interview to The Orlando Sun-Sentinel, where he thought he'd be back in action shortly. But in fact the arm was still tender, and the Royals held him out of fall and winter ball.

When Drohan didn't look so good in spring training of 1990, either, the plans for him to go to Memphis were scuttled. Instead, they kept him at Baseball City, where he got smacked around in seven Florida State League starts (1-5, 7.22, more walks than strikeouts) and was released.

Kids, don't play in the snow or your career will end up on ice.

Attachment 562795

Sorry about the cap-shadow and the angle of the head hiding one ear. Hope that you can work around it.

It looks good, but the eyes are a bit off due to the angle, not really noticeable - but I tend to be picky. When reduced in facegen to a farther distance like the image size in game you don't notice anything wrong with it.

James

[Amazin69]

Drafted in the 8th round out of Bradley by the Padres in 1984, smooth-fielding shortstop Mike DeButch got more chances than his femme-like hitting skills might have warranted. (Sorry, couldn't resist.) After struggling in his debut half-season at Spokane (allegedly due to difficulties adjusting to wooden bats), he was nonetheless promoted to Reno in the California League for 1985, where he rebounded to hit .270 with an acceptable .725 OPS

Then DeButch really struggled at the plate in 1986, as the Padres tried to make a switch-hitter out of him, yet he was still promoted to Beaumont in the Texas League. And the next year (at Wichita, where the Padres had switched their TL affiliation) saw him hit a career-high .291, although his week power stats (ISO of .039) kept the OPS under .700.

DeButch got off to another slow start at the plate in '88 and the Padres dealt him off to the Mets (sorry, couldn't find details on the transaction), where he stayed in the Texas League (with Jackson) and made history of a futile sort, playing shortstop for the Generals in their record-setting 25-inning 0-0 game against San Antonio on July 14th. This was the longest scoreless game in baseball history, the Missions eventually scoring to break the deadlock in the bottom of the 26th when it resumed after a two-day suspension. DeButch contributed to the parade of goose eggs by being thrown out at the plate trying to score in the top of the 5th.

Despite more banjo-hitting, the Mets brought DeButch to big-league camp in 1989 and he got a few starts. He keeps the box score to his first game on his desk at work:



Not sure what's more shocking, Billy Ripken taking Doc Gooden over the wall in the 3rd, or the 5 innings of 1-hit relief the Met got out of Jeff Musselman and Jeff Innis to save it for the Doctor.

Anyway, DeButch got a return ticket to Jackson, but he'd learned some strike zone judgement (30 walks in 31 games in AA) and coupled with at least developing some vestige of power, he posted a .828 OPS there. So when Keith Hernandez's knee injury made a full-time first baseman out of Dave Magadan and the Mets brought up Keith (A.) Miller to fill Magadan's utility role (and maintain the Keith Kwotient at Big Shea), DeButch was promoted to AAA Tidewater to take Miller's spot.

At first it was thought the promotion would be short-term, but with Hernandez taking longer than anticipated to heal and with DeButch off to a hot start (.308 through his first few weeks), the Mets made the promotion permanent, even once Miller returned to Tidewater and DeButch's hitting returned to mediocrity. And next year he started in AAA…the bright lights of the big Apple were only one lucky break away!

However, instead of cracking the big league roster, DeButch cracked a vertebra in his back. His bat was already aching (.239, .639 OPS) and after missing the rest of the season, he lost his spot at Tidewater as well.

He signed with the White Sox, but spent the off-season coaching in Taiwan, where he ate something that disagreed with him and missed almost all of 1991 with a blood disorder. He thought about retiring, as he no longer had any AAA offers, but decided to drop down to the AA London (Ontario) Tigers, anticipating that the upcoming 1993 expansion would open up new slots at AAA and even the majors.

It did. But with DeButch only managing at .710 OPS at London, none of those new spots were for him. And that was that.



(Sorry about the super-giant box score. If I knew how to adjust image sizes, I would.)

[Outlaw Jim]

Originally Posted by Amazin69

Drafted in the 8th round out of Bradley by the Padres in 1984, smooth-fielding shortstop Mike DeButch got more chances than his femme-like hitting skills might have warranted. (Sorry, couldn't resist.) After struggling in his debut half-season at Spokane (allegedly due to difficulties adjusting to wooden bats), he was nonetheless promoted to Reno in the California League for 1985, where he rebounded to hit .270 with an acceptable .725 OPS

Then DeButch really struggled at the plate in 1986, as the Padres tried to make a switch-hitter out of him, yet he was still promoted to Beaumont in the Texas League. And the next year (at Wichita, where the Padres had switched their TL affiliation) saw him hit a career-high .291, although his week power stats (ISO of .039) kept the OPS under .700.

DeButch got off to another slow start at the plate in '88 and the Padres dealt him off to the Mets (sorry, couldn't find details on the transaction), where he stayed in the Texas League (with Jackson) and made history of a futile sort, playing shortstop for the Generals in their record-setting 25-inning 0-0 game against San Antonio on July 14th. This was the longest scoreless game in baseball history, the Missions eventually scoring to break the deadlock in the bottom of the 26th when it resumed after a two-day suspension. DeButch contributed to the parade of goose eggs by being thrown out at the plate trying to score in the top of the 5th.

Despite more banjo-hitting, the Mets brought DeButch to big-league camp in 1989 and he got a few starts. He keeps the box score to his first game on his desk at work:

Attachment 563627

Not sure what's more shocking, Billy Ripken taking Doc Gooden over the wall in the 3rd, or the 5 innings of 1-hit relief the Met got out of Jeff Musselman and Jeff Innis to save it for the Doctor.

Anyway, DeButch got a return ticket to Jackson, but he'd learned some strike zone judgement (30 walks in 31 games in AA) and coupled with at least developing some vestige of power, he posted a .828 OPS there. So when Keith Hernandez's knee injury made a full-time first baseman out of Dave Magadan and the Mets brought up Keith (A.) Miller to fill Magadan's utility role (and maintain the Keith Kwotient at Big Shea), DeButch was promoted to AAA Tidewater to take Miller's spot.

At first it was thought the promotion would be short-term, but with Hernandez taking longer than anticipated to heal and with DeButch off to a hot start (.308 through his first few weeks), the Mets made the promotion permanent, even once Miller returned to Tidewater and DeButch's hitting returned to mediocrity. And next year he started in AAA…the bright lights of the big Apple were only one lucky break away!

However, instead of cracking the big league roster, DeButch cracked a vertebra in his back. His bat was already aching (.239, .639 OPS) and after missing the rest of the season, he lost his spot at Tidewater as well.

He signed with the White Sox, but spent the off-season coaching in Taiwan, where he ate something that disagreed with him and missed almost all of 1991 with a blood disorder. He thought about retiring, as he no longer had any AAA offers, but decided to drop down to the AA London (Ontario) Tigers, anticipating that the upcoming 1993 expansion would open up new slots at AAA and even the majors.

It did. But with DeButch only managing at .710 OPS at London, none of those new spots were for him. And that was that.

Attachment 563622Attachment 563621

(Sorry about the super-giant box score. If I knew how to adjust image sizes, I would.)

I did one of each image. It is funny because both images were identical when I brought them in to edit. Same glare on the chin and the shadow on the cheek was also the same. Looks like one these was a photshopped image for the card. My guess is that the smaller card was the original. Both images are good, one has more tan coloring. I am not really going to tell anyone which is which from the cards.

James

[Amazin69]

And sometimes the game just flat gets one wrong. Dan Kite, the big (6'3") righty from Shaler High in Pittsburgh and LSU, posted a nice 7.8 K/9 for the Red Sox Winter Haven farm in the Florida State League. Unfortunately, he was also walking 8.3 per nine innings. And while he managed to scrape his way to a 4-9, 4.00 stat line despite those hideous walks, 1990 saw a complete collapse as Kite went 1-10, 7.16 and the walks actually increased to 9.8! (Ks were hanging at 7.3/9)

The problem was that, shock of shocks, Kite had hurt his arm at LSU (this was the period when Skip Bertmann was pitching guys until their arms fell off). In compensating for the pain ("for a while, my arm was just hanging there"), Kite had completely messed up his mechanics, according to his high school coach, Jerry Matulevic. Moved to the bullpen in 1991, Kite got his main stats back to respectable levels (3-2, 4.33) and even reached a career-high 8.7 K/9, but the walks were now over 1/inning (10.4/9) and after three years of this crap, the Red Sox decided they'd lost interest in seeing just how high Kite could fly his walk totals, and let him go.

So Kite became a successful real estate agent in the Pittsburgh area. (A top seller in 2010 and 2012, according to one report.) But in the alternate universe of the game, he built off of his semi-decent 1989 (remember, my game started in 1990, so '89 is the most recent data the AI has to work with), got his control at least a little under control (stats at AA New Britain in '91: 10.9 k/9 and "only" 7.8 walks/9) and has had a couple of call-ups to the big team. Where alternate-universe Chris Berman has, no doubt called him Dan "Go Fly a" Kite. ("High as a" Kite? Nah, not unless he gets a drug suspension…)



One blurry pic, one pic with the face in deep shadows. And both missing an ear. Sorry about them.

[Amazin69]

Looking at that box score ^ again. Damn, 24,597 in attendance for a spring training game at Joe Robbie? Miami was hungry for that expansion team.

I mean, what's that, nowadays? Three Marlins games? I'm just saying.

[Outlaw Jim]

Saw this player in the minor league thread. Did a facegen from a better image I found. Why did I do this one???? Not a good player, but had a cool name. Named after Dizzy Dean.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/r...d=higgin001diz

Posting 2 facegens and a photo image to put in game if any one wants a bad pitcher/cool name player....... I like the first fg better - a calmer skin tone.

[Outlaw Jim]

Disappointed a bit in some of the historical facegens and just wanted to see what I could do with them.

Here is my Steve Rogers redo. The one in the historical package was done many years ago and facegen is better now and using a photo editing program really helps.


I had been cleaning up the shadow on most of the ones I have done, but now have let the shade on the image, looks more realistic when the image is done in game or when you create a baseball card of your favorites.

[Amazin69]

Nicely done!

Did you see Dan Kite, above, or did my subsequent post ragging on the Marlins about their "attendance" move you further down the page?

[Outlaw Jim]

Originally Posted by Amazin69

Nicely done!

Did you see Dan Kite, above, or did my subsequent post ragging on the Marlins about their "attendance" move you further down the page?

Wow! how did I miss that. You caught me at good time to do these.

James

[Outlaw Jim]

Here is an old time done with the shadows. I like this new style. It allows for many more acurate pictures from old timers. They used to turn out with raccoon eyes. The procedure is not hard but is time consuming. I basically put the photo in multiple layers and color each one then blend the colors and merge the layers. I then use facegen on a somewhat colorized image and modify the facegen as I see fit. Well ere is Zack Taylor - did not research him yet, just wanted to test one and his photo looked like the perfect candidate to do this. If I were to do the facegen with the photo on the right in b/w he would also have the raccoon eyes. I deleted the colorized version of the picture - it was not photo quality, it just was used to fool facegen that it was a color image and after I modify the outcome with facegen I get a decent image and facegen.

It will be nice to have the old freeky raccoon eyed players out of the collection.

In game it just lookes like the player was photographed in the sun because of the cap coverage.

James

[Outlaw Jim]

Originally Posted by Amazin69

And sometimes the game just flat gets one wrong. Dan Kite, the big (6'3") righty from Shaler High in Pittsburgh and LSU, posted a nice 7.8 K/9 for the Red Sox Winter Haven farm in the Florida State League. Unfortunately, he was also walking 8.3 per nine innings. And while he managed to scrape his way to a 4-9, 4.00 stat line despite those hideous walks, 1990 saw a complete collapse as Kite went 1-10, 7.16 and the walks actually increased to 9.8! (Ks were hanging at 7.3/9)

The problem was that, shock of shocks, Kite had hurt his arm at LSU (this was the period when Skip Bertmann was pitching guys until their arms fell off). In compensating for the pain ("for a while, my arm was just hanging there"), Kite had completely messed up his mechanics, according to his high school coach, Jerry Matulevic. Moved to the bullpen in 1991, Kite got his main stats back to respectable levels (3-2, 4.33) and even reached a career-high 8.7 K/9, but the walks were now over 1/inning (10.4/9) and after three years of this crap, the Red Sox decided they'd lost interest in seeing just how high Kite could fly his walk totals, and let him go.

So Kite became a successful real estate agent in the Pittsburgh area. (A top seller in 2010 and 2012, according to one report.) But in the alternate universe of the game, he built off of his semi-decent 1989 (remember, my game started in 1990, so '89 is the most recent data the AI has to work with), got his control at least a little under control (stats at AA New Britain in '91: 10.9 k/9 and "only" 7.8 walks/9) and has had a couple of call-ups to the big team. Where alternate-universe Chris Berman has, no doubt called him Dan "Go Fly a" Kite. ("High as a" Kite? Nah, not unless he gets a drug suspension…)

Attachment 563662Attachment 563663

One blurry pic, one pic with the face in deep shadows. And both missing an ear. Sorry about them.

Well you have a choice. made a facegen from both cards. There are pros and cons on each image. The image with the blur and light skin tones when darkened and worked on in my photo editing program darkened the right side and when manipulated in facegen caused the right side of his face to be shadowed a bit. Now the one with the shade I was able to get a good facegen. The only problem with it is there is a slight darkening around the eyes and facewgen probably did not get the eye shape right.

Overall both turned out pretty good and as the pictures will show the images came out very similar which surprised me based on the input I had. Well here they are with the facegen image output. I do have a preference and I am betting that you will select the same one for your league. With a cap on either one will look good in game.

James