Saturday, August 23, 2014

1993 Select, Jeff Russell


#365 Jeff Russell

Here is the second of three cards that Jeff Russell signed for me earlier this season. Jeff is the pitching coach for the Grand Prairie AirHogs of the American Association and he signed three for me on Opening Night in Wichita. I posted the first card two and a half months ago and it can be seen here.

Jeff pitched in the Majors for fourteen seasons, spending a majority of the time with the Rangers. He made two All Star teams with Texas in the late '80s and was the AL Rolaids Relief Man Award winner in 1989 when he lead the league with 38 saves. That was one of three years of 30+ saves.

On the last day of Auguest, 1992, Jeff, Ruben Sierra, and Bobby Witt were sent to Oakland for Jose Canseco. Jeff's tenure in Oakland lasted for the last month of the '92 season before moving on via free agency. In that one month, he was 2-0 with 2 saves in 8 games. He gave up just 4 hits and no runs in 9.2 innings of work.

This '93 Select set was really made for the A's players. The border, even though it has two shades of green, really works for the A's. I like it when borders match the team color. Because of that, I really like the Topps Wal-Mart blue border cards for my Royals.

No comments: