Complete Universe Facegen Pack 2.0 (New)

[LansdowneSt]

Originally Posted by AESP_pres

Guess I missed the deadline with the small update I sent you this weekend... not that it's a big deal for must users since it's just some early 19th century player updates and some missing Union Association players.

I got it in there

[pstrickert]

Originally Posted by LansdowneSt

An update to the CUF pack is up (and technically has been since the wee hours of Monday night). Links in my signature block and the first post in the thread are updated. Steam is updated - be sure to download AND reinstall the pack after downloading it in the Workshop Central.

AESP's updates through the late 70's are in there. I went ahead and redid a couple dozen earlier historical faces as I am doing a Random Debut from all eras and wanted to redo some of the players. I then went on a kick to try and finish off all the 2019 debuts as well as keep current with this year's debuts. Last time I updated in May, I did so without posting some before and after so this time I have a few. I have no idea why I put Fournier on the Braves before putting him a correct Brooklyn uni... I assume it was late.

The audit continues and of the 48,129 facegen files I started with 5,401 have been removed so far for being dead files, duplicate files, players never available in the game (2016 NCAA project) and players with old, scary facegens. I'm about 40% done reviewing what's in there and plodding along... but it adds up More of those types of files will be removed going-forward too as I am going alphabetically and am only in the H's.

On behalf of both AESP_Pres and myself, thanks for your support and encouragement. It's easy to burn out and the support is appreciated!

Your work is second to none. Thanks, guys!

[pstrickert]

I believe Wid Conroy's file name should be conroy003wil rather than conroy001wil.

[AESP_pres]

You're right... I just checked BBref and it is indeed conroy003wil

I guess the game is the culprit since I have the FG under the correct id (conroy003wil) in my folder... Lans can fix that easilly in the main database file.

I add my FG just in case the one in the database would be different... I highly doubt it but just in case it was.

[Amazin69]

(Sorry I've been slacking. Thanks for Gleckel.)

Of course, the Brewers, having seen their lead vanish and desperate to reclaim the top slot, are not going to just sit around and let the Yankees deploy Scott Gleckel! They've called in some big guns of their own, and have summoned Billy Severns from Vancouver!



Sure, you can say that with the Brewers' starting outfield of Ben Oglivie, Gorman Thomas, and Sixto Lezcano all hitting for higher than .800 OPS (Sixto over .900) and averaging 31 HRs and 85 RBI (and we're only in early September), the Brew Crew doesn't need another OF, but Billy has been having a heck of a season at AAA Vancouver (as he did in OTL, coming off strong years at AA Holyoke and AAA Spokane in previous years.)

IRL, it didn't get him the call (of course) but it did get him invited to Spring Training in 1980, where, as Billy tells it in this video, George Bamberger actually told him he'd made the team!

And the man from Topps took his picture, resulting in the Topps Vault image displayed in the video. I don't have that image (because I don't have the Vault archived as others do), but you may.

Alas, Harry Dalton soon pointed out to Bambi that returning Rule V draft pick Mark Brouhard would cost them $25,000 for nothing (and Brouhard was also having a good spring), so Billy got a "hey, you really like Vancouver, right?" speech.

Billy sulked, even though you can argue that he should have been glad he didn't get a "did you know you're 27?" speech, since he was. So he had a mediocre 1980 season, aggravated by his tweaking ligaments in his ankle, and got released.

He hooked on for 1981 Spring Training with the Giants and his pal Doyle Alexander tried to encourage him, but San Francisco decided they'd rather try to squeeze another season out of Bill North (who was only 33, and coming off a sizzling .665 OPS in 1980) and sent out Billy, who hung them up.

(They also sent out the young Charles Theodore Davis, which Billy cites as proof they were making a lot of mistakes, but for all I know, at that time Chili wasn't fully cooked.)

[clarkemi1]

Hello,

How about some love for Rich Monteleone? Traded by my beloved Tigers for Darnell "Over the 1B's Head" Coles. Rich could use some smoothing.

[LansdowneSt]

In the hours leading up to the 1982 draft, the Mets debated which Tampa prep righthander to select with the fifth overall pick: Dwight Gooden or Rich Monteleone?

Finally, veteran scout Harry Minor spoke up.

“Do you realize this other guy is 19 and Dwight is 17?” said Minor, a national crosschecker for the Mets at the time. “When Dwight is 19, he’ll be pitching in the major leagues. I was being facetious, but sure enough, he was.”

Rich Monteleone was the first-round pick (20th overall) for the Detroit Tigers that year. However, he began his major league career at 24 years old with the Seattle Mariners in 1987 and stuck in the majors as a relief pitcher. Monteleone holds the Major League career record for most pitching appearances without a start or a save with 210.

He was a smiler and the "before" pic looks to be off a picture of him as a coach later in his career. I had the AI take away the smile and smoothed him out a bit. I extended the mouth a little from the AI's pout, as well. Hope he works better for ya now.

[LansdowneSt]

Here is Billy Severns for ya, Amazin'. Had to use a photo restoration app to zoom in on the best image I could of him but looking all the selections there as a guide, he looks good to me.

[LansdowneSt]

For Reds fans, Cincinnati's loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday was one they'd just as soon forget. For relief pitcher Yosver Zulueta, it was a night he'll never forget.

The Cuban-born Zulueta struck out four in three innings of relief in his Major League Baseball debut. He was promoted earlier in the day from Triple-A Louisville. He returned to Louisville on Wednesday to make room on the Reds' roster for starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft. "Zulueta has shown an electric fastball and really tight slider," Barry Larkin said during Tuesday's broadcast. "I think the thing that has been most impressive is this moment does not seem to be too big for him at all. Another great major-league debut."

It's been a hard road to the big. Zulueta underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019, shortly after leaving Cuba to sign with the Toronto Blue Jays for $1 million. He didn't play in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A knee injury sidelined Zulueta in 2021, when he faced just one batter for the Dunedin Blue Jays. In 2022, he started posting big strikeout numbers. The Reds claimed Zulueta off waivers in March and he's posted a 2.93 ERA with 39 strikeouts and 20 walks in his 23 appearances for Louisville. - cincinnati.com

There are some newly debuted players that deserve new facegens. These guys made their debut just after the pack posted so am just uploading them lest you are playing a Live Start and see the old ones.

[LansdowneSt]

Bailey Horn is a left-handed pitcher Bailey Horn, and like all effective pitchers, he was let go by the Chicago White Sox. Prior to his time with Boston’s plain counterparts, he spent time in Craig Breslow’s pitching lab with the Cubs. Horn’s arsenal includes a sweeper, fastball, cutter, and curveball. The sweeper is a slow pitch with huge horizontal movement that provides high whiff rates. His fastball is the other attraction, coming in at about 95 MPH.

[This week h]e’ll make his major league debut, pitch in a few low-leverage spots, and try to fend-off Cam Booser for the second lefty spot in the bullpen. It’s a low-risk move, but it could pay dividends. Sometimes the baseball gods decide random relievers will turn in career years for seemingly no reason. Maybe Bailey Horn will have that year. - overthemonster.com

[LansdowneSt]

A Puyallup High School and UW Huskies product has reached the dream of playing in the show after a long journey through the minors. Levi Jordan was called up by to the MLB roster for the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, with his contract being selected from Triple-A Louisville. The 28-year-old Jordan made his big-league debut Monday for the Reds against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jordan was a Rule 5 pick by the Reds last offseason from the Chicago Cubs, who initially took him in the 29th round of the MLB Draft in 2018 out of UW.

Jordan is a versatile fielder who has played every position in the minors other than pitcher, catcher, and oddly enough right field, which is where he started Monday for Cincinnati. He checked in with his first MLB hit in a Reds win, driving a pitch to the wall in right field for a double. He spent six seasons in the minor leagues before finally getting the call Monday. He’s been enjoying a strong first year with the Reds organization, slashing .302/.384/.443 for an .826 OPS with five home runs, 10 doubles and six stolen bases in 54 Triple-A games. - sports.mynorthwest.com

[LansdowneSt]

Newest Royals infielder CJ Alexander is no stranger to the big leagues despite only being up with Kansas City since Monday.

His family ties are all over baseball, the most recent being his younger brother, Blaze Alexander, debuting this year for the D-backs on Opening Day. CJ and Blaze’s father, Chuck Alexander, was drafted by the Cleveland organization in the 15th round of the 1988 Draft, and spent four years in the Minors as a left-handed relief pitcher.

Chuck’s cousin, Dan Plesac, was a first-round Draft pick by the Brewers in 1983, and was a three-time All-Star reliever whose 18-year career took him through Milwaukee, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Toronto, Arizona and Philadelphia. Dan’s brother, Joe, was a second-round pick in 1983 by the Padres, and pitched for six years in the Minors.

Dan and Joe’s nephew, Zach Plesac, was drafted by the Guardians in 2019 and is with the Angels now.

So baseball was a constant point of conversation and activity whenever the family got together. Tons of emotion filled CJ when he got to the stadium Monday, from anxiousness to excitement, and no one knew the feeling more than his younger brother, who watched on TV in Arizona while the rest of the Alexander family made its way to The K. “I did tell him, ‘Don’t think too much about your first at-bat,’” Blaze said. “I mean, that’s all I thought about the whole entire day. And you got three, four more right after that. So don’t get caught up in the first at-bat, just go out there and be loose and have fun.”

I had no idea he was related to all those guys. Still learning things with these little facegen blurbs

[LansdowneSt]

With their depth chart depleted by numerous injuries, the Miami Marlins starting pitcher carousel keeps on spinning. Only halfway through the 2024 season, Miami has already used 14 different starters, including 10 in the last 30 days alone.

The newest addition to that not-so-exclusive club, Valente Bellozo, was arguably the least qualified. When he was acquired via trade from the Houston Astros in April, the Mexican right-hander had just four career games of experience above the High-A level. He had never been invited to a big league spring training camp. During the first half of the minor league campaign, Bellozo split time between Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Jacksonville, posting ERAs worse than league average at both stops. He wasn't even on the 40-man roster, but the decision to call him up prior to Wednesday's game against the Kansas City Royals speaks to the Marlins' desperation.

What makes baseball beautiful is how unpredictable it can be in small samples. Bellozo's results in his debut were excellent: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 72 pitches/46 strikes. If not for an abrupt Huascar Brazoban implosion, he would have earned the win. - fishonfirst.com

Glad ya made the bigs, Valente. Don't let the writers get ya down !

[AESP_pres]

Lans looks like you're on a roll today... Do you think you could use your AI tools on that picture so I'd be able to do a FG for that non career guy? I worked a bit on him with every tools I have access to but I don't have what is needed to have the guy look at me...

[LansdowneSt]

Bill Irwin was a pitcher who played for the Cincinnati Reds in 1886. He appeared 2 games and took an 0-2 record on the mound with an ERA of 5.82 and 6 strikeouts.

Man, you are keeping me on my toes, AESP!

I couldn't get Midjourney to turn it around in a way that worked so I twisted what you had so I could get a straight-on half of the face. Then I cut it, mirrored it, and reassembled it. Once in the facegen software I tried to use that base image and adjust it using the B&W original photo as a guide. With a pic like this, I think everyone realizes we are doing the best we can to get it as close as we can. Here's my go at him.

EDIT: I know he wasn't a Wolverine but that's the old-time team I have in the file atm, hence the screenshot showing him in Detroit...

[AESP_pres]

Thanks! Lot of works for a two games and gone guy from 138 years ago but it's one fake less in the game.

[Amazin69]

Thanks for Billy!

The Angels have lost 3 in a row and are only 5-7 in September. But of course they're 97-50 for the year and have long since clinched. Which means they can make a few dreams come true.



Whether you call him Rickey Foley (as BBRef and the game do) or Rick (as the cards do), he was a star at Santa Clara University, and a 3rd round pick of the Padres in 1977. But, perhaps understably, he decided he didn't want to be a Padre and went back for his senior season.

He wasn't successful in improving his draft position, being only a 5th round pick of the Angels in 1978, but he got on the fast track, being sent immediately to AA El Paso and then bumped up to AAA Salt Lake City after just 12 starts. He put in full seasons as a Gull in 1979 and 1980, mostly struggling, bounced back by going 15-7 for AA Holyoke in 1981, but fizzling out again at AAA Spokane in 1982.

At this point, the Angels cut ties with both Foley AND Spokane, moving the franchise to Las Vegas. And Spokane never saw the PCL again.

(At least Foley got a cameo with the Tuscon Toros at the end of 1984, getting a courtesy bump after two inoffensive seasons in the bullpen for the AA Columbus [GA] Astros. But that was as far as he got, too.)

Interesting to see that the Angels just let Holyoke keep using their old "we're a Brewers farm" uniforms after taking over that affilate, but sprang for brand-new Spokane gear (including the "haloed A" that's the organization's trademark), even though they only put in one season with Spokane as the top farm. Hadn't seen those before.

Thanks in advance.

[clarkemi1]

Originally Posted by LansdowneSt

In the hours leading up to the 1982 draft, the Mets debated which Tampa prep righthander to select with the fifth overall pick: Dwight Gooden or Rich Monteleone?

Finally, veteran scout Harry Minor spoke up.

“Do you realize this other guy is 19 and Dwight is 17?” said Minor, a national crosschecker for the Mets at the time. “When Dwight is 19, he’ll be pitching in the major leagues. I was being facetious, but sure enough, he was.”

Rich Monteleone was the first-round pick (20th overall) for the Detroit Tigers that year. However, he began his major league career at 24 years old with the Seattle Mariners in 1987 and stuck in the majors as a relief pitcher. Monteleone holds the Major League career record for most pitching appearances without a start or a save with 210.

He was a smiler and the "before" pic looks to be off a picture of him as a coach later in his career. I had the AI take away the smile and smoothed him out a bit. I extended the mouth a little from the AI's pout, as well. Hope he works better for ya now.

Thank you Lans. I always enjoy reading your background stories. Most PA without a start or a save. Wow.

[COYG316]

Are we able to get an updated CJ Abrahams and James Woods?

[LansdowneSt]

Originally Posted by COYG316

Are we able to get an updated CJ Abrahams and James Woods?

With his call up read ready to occur, I redid my old James Wood over the weekend. CJ looked fine but I'll try with a more recent pic since you asked.