Thursday, May 14, 2009
1989 Topps Major League Debut #87: Jaime Navarro
Jaime Navarro
PHOTO: There's something very strange in the background of this photo. There appears to be a guy in the stands talking on a cell phone. Kids today might not find that weird, but in 1989, cell phones were about the size of a shoe box. I'm guessing that in fact the guy is just holding his empty hand in a way that's casting a shadow that looks like a cell phone.
STAT: Despite missing most of 1994, Navarro still ranked #11 in innings pitched from 1991 to 1997. Check out #1, #2, and #3. No wonder the Braves were so good.
ANAGRAM: Jaime Navarro = A major ravine
CAREER: 4/10
Navarro had a very mixed career. On the one hand he pitched a lot of innings early on. On the other hand, he also led the league in earned runs a couple of times and often had an ERA below league average. Counting just his time with the Brewers and Cubs (first 8 seasons) he was a productive, slightly-above-average starter. Once he went to the White Sox, he became a lot less productive, in particular because his K/BB ratio went to just about 1.0.
The Brewers let him go when his stock was high but reacquired him late in his career in this awful trade:
January 12, 2000: Traded by the Chicago White Sox with John Snyder to the Milwaukee Brewers for Cal Eldred and Jose Valentin.
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He was cursed by every Chicago fan at one point.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be some wierd airbrushing or fading in the background of the photo as well.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that too but didn't know what to make of it.
ReplyDelete