Pack Thirty-Four

Pack 34 +6
(duplicates are indicated by bold text)
440 Pedro Guerrero
241 Mike Flanagan
118 Mike Macfarlane
46 Dick Schofield
122 Frank White
200 Dave Henderson
441 Milt Thompson
309 Chris Sabo
249 Bob Brenly
439 Tim Jones
76 Greg Swindell
87 Mark Lewis

Here's an interesting block of doubles. The Guerrero was first pulled in pack 25 and it's all alone here. The next five cards were pulled first from pack 29. Strange.

The only rookie of the pack is Mark Lewis.


If you had told me that Mark Lewis stuck around in the Major Leagues until the 2001 season, I don't know that I'd have believed you. Honestly the only thing I remember about Mark Lewis is a grand slam he hit during the '95 play offs against the Dodgers while a member of the Cincinnati Reds.

Thanks to the power of Baseball Reference...

Heading into the bottom of the 6th on October 6, 1995 at Cinergy Field in Cincinnati, the Reds had a 3-1 lead over the Dodgers. LA had Hideo Nomo on the mound due to face Hal Morris, Benito Santiago and Bret Boone.

With a one and one count, Hal Morris hit an infield single. A wild pitch to Santiago moved Morris to second and Santiago's single to left put runners at first and third, thus ending Nomo's night.

Kevin Tapani came in to face Bret Boone and walked him on six pitches, loading the bases. Mark Guthrie was brought in to replace Tapani with no outs and the sacks full o' Reds.

At this point, Jeff Branson was scheduled to hit, but was pulled in favor of Mark Lewis. With the count even at two balls and two strikes, Lewis homered to left center, giving the Reds a 7-1 lead.

The next inning, this time facing John Cummings, Mark Lewis was intentionally walked. He later scored when pitcher Mike Jackson hit a three run double. Strange game.

Cincinnati won the game 10-1 to complete the three game sweep and advance to the NLCS where they faced the eventual world champion Atlanta Braves.

Doing a little more digging around, I found that Mark Lewis' pinch hit grand slam was the first in post season history. Have there been others since then?

Two packs left, and if you recall that I predicted the Braves would be 9-6 the day the box was finished. That means they have to sweep the series with Washington that begins tonight. Here's hoping...