2004 Topps, Jeff Cirillo

#585 Jeff Cirillo

So far, I think I have posted ten cards from 2004 Topps Series 1. Here is the one card from Series 2 that I have signed and it was given to me by Rod of Padrographs. Guess which series I collected in 2004.

Jeff played in the Major Leagues for fourteen years. He spent time with the Brewers, Rockies, Mariners, Padres, Twins, and Diamondbacks. He is probably best remembered for his time as a Brewer as he played for them for eight seasons and represented them at the All Star game in 1997. He made one more All Star team in 2000 as a member of the Rockies and that season may have been the best of his career. He finished that year with career highs in average (.326), RBI (115), runs (111), and doubles (53).

2007 was Jeff's final season in the Major Leagues, and that year, he got to do something that every position player dreams about. He got to pitch. On August 20th of that season, the D-Backs were losing to the Brewers 9-0. Rather than throw another pitcher into the fire, Bob Melvin sent Jeff to the hill in the ninth inning. While it wasn't a perfect ninth, it was a hitless one. Jeff made it through the inning without surrendering a run while walking two and striking out one. In case you are wondering who struck out against Jeff Cirillo, it was Craig Counsell (who led off the inning).