Monday, March 17, 2014

2014 Topps 1989 Topps Mini Die-Cuts #TM-16 Mike Schmidt

Pirates 5, Phillies 0
Spring Training Game 19 - Sunday Afternoon, March 16th in Clearwater
Record - 5-12-2

One Sentence Summary:  The offense couldn't come up with any clutch hits as the Pirates shut-out the Phillies, 5-0.

What Happened:  Sean O'Sullivan did a decent enough job in his four innings of work (2 runs on 4 hits), but it might not be enough to catapult him past Jeff Manship or Dave Buchanan in the race for the fifth starter's spot.  There were five batters hit in this game, and things apparently got heated after Jonathan Papelbon hit a batter and then got high and tight with Andrew McCutchen in the fifth inning.

Featured Card:  I read with shock yesterday about Mike Schmidt's revelation that he had been undergoing treatment for Stage 3 melanoma after a routine visit to his dermatologist in August turned up a questionable mole on his back.  Since then, Schmidt has gone through two operations along with radiation and chemotherapy sessions.  He appeared in Clearwater yesterday morning to address the media and to assure everyone that he was feeling good.

Schmidt will join the broadcast booth this season for all Sunday home games, which is yet one more reason for me to actually listen to the TV broadcast this year.  I hope nothing for the best for him, and I'm glad it appears that he's got cancer beat.

I already have two new Schmidt cards in my collection from the 2014 Topps release, and this is his 1989 Topps-inspired Mini Die Cut card available in packs of Series One.

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