A Possible One-Card Wonder and Some Heritage Help

Here we have a couple more packages, one of which includes a new player for my collection, and the other including a bunch of Heritage cards I needed and one vintage card that I am very excited about.

1.  Dalier Hinojosa.  I must have missed the fact that this card was released last year.  Hinojosa is a Cuban pitcher who signed with the Red Sox in 2013 as a free agent.  Unfortunately he had some trouble cracking the Red Sox roster until he made his Major League debut in May of last year.  He pitched in one game, encompassing 1.2 innings, giving up no runs while walking three and striking out two.  Boston was not terribly impressed and tried to pass him through waivers, but he was selected by the Phillies and had some success.  So I was shocked that he received a card at all, much less an autograph.

2.  Sammy White.  One of the more general items on my wantlist is cards of catchers from before 1970.  Well, this card certainly qualifies.  Sammy White was a pretty good catcher for his time and made an All Star team in 1953.  He was a pretty good defensive catcher, but was at the end of his Red Sox career when this card was released.

3.  Jon Lester.  This card shows the 2010 league leaders in wins.  Lester was third.

4.  Clay Buchholz.  This card shows the 2010 league leaders in ERA.  Buchholz was second.

5.  Darrell Brandon.  "Bucky" Brandon was a pitcher for the Red Sox in the late 1960's.  He had a decent year in 1966 and followed that up with a tough season in the Impossible Dream season.  He pitched mostly in relief.  He was left unprotected and was taken in the expansion draft by the Seattle Pilots after the season.

6.  Ryan Dempster.  Dempster was signed to be a back-of-the-rotation starter for Boston prior to the 2013 season on a two-year deal.  He had a rough season, but managed to come through a little in the postseason.  However, the next year he was hurt and retired.

7.  David Ortiz.  Geez, how do you pick just one walkoff moment from David Ortiz's career?  He had been a truly great player for Boston and will be missed.

8.  Jacoby Ellsbury.  His first hit was him beating out a routine ground ball.  He once scored from second on a wild pitch.  He stole home straight while Andy Pettitte was on the mound.  He broke Boston's single-season stolen bases record.  He became Boston's first ever 30/30 man.  Ellsbury was one of my favorite players, but I am glad that he will be declining for the next many years over with the Yankees.

9.  Brock Holt.  The super-utility man has seemingly found a full-time position this year.  We will see what happens, but Holt is one of my favorite players.    

10.  Pablo Sandoval.  After a terrible season for Boston in 2015, Sandoval is going to be watched very closely to determine if he can come back.

11.  Joe Kelly.  Kelly has been likened to a pre-Cy Young Jake Arrieta.  I guess we can only hope he turns out like Arrieta.

12.  Mookie Betts/Brock Holt/Jackie Bradley Jr.  This is Boston's starting outfield on Opening Day.  Time will tell if it is the outfield that keeps going throughout the year.

13.  Rick Porcello.  Another player who needs to come back from a bad season last year.  Porcello had some moments where he looked like he was getting better.  I am not as worried about him as I am Sandoval.

14.  Blake Swihart.

15.  Xander Bogaerts.

16.  Hanley Ramirez.  Hanley has looked good in Spring Training at first base.  He could surprise.  And if he is confident on defense, he could hit again.