Complete Universe Facegen Pack 2.0 (New)

[LansdowneSt]

One of the most hyped, and yet most overlooked, pitchers in Minnesota Twins history is Eddie Bane. Baine grew up in southern California and was offered a scholarship by Arizona State. In his three years at ASU (1971-1973), he became a pitching legend. The left-handed Bane went 40-4 with a 1.64 ERA and is still regarded as one of the best collegiate pitchers of all time. He pitched the only perfect game in Sun Devil baseball history on March 2, 1973, against Cal State Northridge, led the nation in strikeouts in 1972 and 1973 and still holds the ASU career strikeout mark. He was named first team All-American in 1973, and in 1994 Baseball America named him to their All-Time college all-star team. In 2008 Bane was selected to the Collegiate Baseball Hall of Fame.

With that track record, perhaps his rapid ascent, and the excitement that went with it, might have been anticipate. The Twins selected Bane with their first pick, eleventh overall in the 1973 amateur draft. A short time later Bane joined a very select group of only 20 players that were drafted and went on to play pro ball directly out of high school or college with no minor league experience. Amid a great deal of publicity and fanfare, Bane made his major league debut as a starter against the Kansas City Royals on July 4, 1973, at Met Stadium. Almost 46,000 fans attended for their first glimpse of the first-round pick pitch.

Bane didn’t disappoint that day. He threw 7 innings allowing 3 hits, 3 walks and striking out 3, but manager Frank Quilici took him out after 7 innings with the Twins trailing 1-0. The Twins took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the 8th inning but couldn’t hold on to the lead and ended up losing the game 5-4.

But if the throng thought that was just a first taste of a larger feast, they were likely disappointed. It's probable that overly anticipated first game was the highlight of Bane's professional career. He stayed with the Twins for the rest of the season going 0-5 with a 4.92 ERA in 23 games that included 6 starts. He spent all of 1974 and most of 1975 in AAA Tacoma before getting a September call up by the Twins. He found himself in Tacoma once again as the 1976 season opened but the Twins brought him back to Minnesota in late June and Bane started 15 games and put up a 4-7 record with a 5.11 ERA.

That was the last time that Eddie Bane pitched in a Twins uniform. - twinstrivia.com

The above seemed a fine story to tell given even I was pulled in and watched Skenes' start on Saturday. The old Bane is mine from two years ago and it replaced a raccoon-like one made from sunglasses. It's a tough one. Best I could do.

[AESP_pres]

Much better than any of my results... best I did was one using a picture when he was at Arizona State and it didn't felt right to me. Thanks!

[NYMike44]

Longtime Ranger and short term Phillie/Dodger Michael Young (2000-2013) has been missing from the facepack for many years. I have no clue why this is, as he was a 7x all star, gold glover, and has a batting title under his belt.

[AESP_pres]

I don't have the complete pack to check but... could he be listed under a wrong id? His real one is young-002mic but check if there is a young-001mic in the pack, that happen often. If this is indeed the case and the FG isn't that bad rename the fg under the correct id.

[LansdowneSt]

Michael Young is one of the best players in Rangers history, a seven-time All-Star and five-time club Player of the Year, and their all-time leader in just about every career offensive record not held by Juan Gonzalez. Beyond the trophies and accolades, he earned the respect and admiration of both teammates and opponents for not only his talent and accomplishments but by the way he played the game and the way he carried himself on and off the field.

That he twice was selected for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award by the players association speaks to the level of respect Young earned from his peers. Yet all those wonderful things, including the two trips to the World Series in 2010 and 2011, almost didn’t happen. Young’s journey to the Rangers Hall of Fame was almost derailed at the beginning and probably would have except for one person.

Manager Jerry Narron.

If there is anything that came out of the dreadful 2002 season for the Rangers, it was the manager showing faith in a player who would become an icon in Arlington. - jeffwilson.substack.com (rest is behind a paywall so I have no idea what the rest of the story is, but good for Narron - and Young!)

All ya had to do was ask Happy to oblige. Thanks for downloading the pack!

[Amazin69]

Eddie Bane, of course. was the Angels' Director of Scouting for forever and a day. Probably had something to do with signing Trout, albeit it all blends together in my memory.

Meanwhile, back in my game, the San Diego Padres are having a disappointing season (remember, Roger Craig had them at 84-78 in 1978) and are in last place. (Perhaps playing their free agents in the wrong position is the trouble? I'm pretty certain Del Unser is a CF and Mike Jorgensen is a 1B, not vice-versa.) However, much like the Mets, the Friars had a recent winning streak.

Of course, not everybody can be the 1979 Mets, so the San Diego streak fizzled out at 7 wins in a row. Still, it was enough to get the attention of the 4th place Braves, who have summoned Roger Alexander to bolster their bullpen.



Picked up from Milwauke in 1974 in trade for some guy named "Aaron", Roger soon climbed to AAA Richmond. But some struggles in 1977 had the Noc-a-Homas sending him back to AA Savannah to start 1978. However, Roger excelled there and did a decent job back at Richmond for the second half, which earned him a 1979 NRI visit to Atlanta's camp.

As told by Cusick in the Photopack thread (where I posted a "Fritsch" postcard of Alexander, shot during that camp), Roger rather duffed that chance, not only failing to make the team, but also hitting Dale Murphy in the head with a pitch during an intrasquad game. Little wonder that after returning to Richmond (see TCMA card above), his having a rough 1979 season was enough to sink Roger's Battleship™.

Don't hurt the high-end talent, Rog.

[LansdowneSt]

Here's my go at Roger Alexander. mouth closed.

[Amazin69]

Thanks for Roger! He's doing well in the Braves' pen: 1-1, 1.88, 6.9 k/9 in 6 outings. And he hasn't hit Dale Murphy again, so that's good, too.

********************
The Mets made it 14 straight by edging St. Louis 3-2. An RBI triple by Mazzilli, a sac fly by Joel Youngblood, and a Tim Foli solo shot gave Roy Lee Jackson all the runs he'd need, and while he gave one back in the 8th and another in the 9th, he went the distance for the W.

Alas, all good things end. The next day, Pete Falcone had a 2-1 lead against his old mates, and then the roof fell in. Homers by Keith Hernandez and George Hendrick, and it ended up 10-3 Cards. And the Mets, despite their recent good work, are still 30-41, and glad that the Cubs exist.

************************************

The Yankees aren't setting the world afire, either. They're in 2nd place and Reggie Jackson is leading the planet in HRs, but Milwaukee looks to be taking control of the division. And the Yanks seem to be running short on infield backups (where have you gone, Chicken Stanley?), so they've made Marv Thompson's dreams come true.

In reality, Marv was in the middle of 5 not-particularly-exciting AAA seasons. And he was an outfielder, rather than a 3B. But who knows what might happen now? (Probably nothing much. But dare to dream, Marv!)

[LansdowneSt]

Here's Marv Thompson. Excuse the Cubs uniform, I just wanted a "C" on the hat as I used the pics to guide me.

[Amazin69]

Thanks for Marv!

The Pale Hose have called up Michael F. Johnson (their 1977 15th-round pick out of Cal-State Dominguez Hills) as outfield depth. This seems questionable, as all Johnson has done is post a decent 1978 at two A-ball stops, but what concerns me is that Johnson has a facegen. I don't think it's the actual johnso004mic, though. We have 002 and 010 in the file, not 004.

Can you put your yearbook wizardry to work and see if this is the proper Johnson? Thanks.

[LansdowneSt]

No need for the yearbooks, I found his headshot in the Wisconsin papers and his 1979 Appleton Foxes' baseball card. I also corrected his birthday and ethnicity in the database. Don't know what is in the pack but this is him and saved as the proper Historical Minors code to tag to him.

What can I tell ya, his nicknames were "Skyke" or "Jonce", his hobbies were biking and jogging, and his off-season job was as a Dr. Pepper delivery driver. I should note that in Little League ('65) he pitched a no-hitter with 18 strikeouts.

In the newspaper article where I got the headshot (June 4,1979) he noted that he had nothing against Appleton - he just didn't expect to be there again. "When they told me I'd be coming back here, I told myself I was going to burn up the league, but I'm off to a slow start. I guess I lost a little confidence. I haven't been able to find myself yet."

Here's hoping his OOTP call-up gives him a second chance.

[Amazin69]

Yoicks! Can't believe I forgot to check TCDb for that Foxes card. (Well, I CAN believe it; I just wish I had remembered.)

And this definitely isn't the guy the game tried to use…that feller was a Caucasian, which Michael is not.

Indeed, the database incorrectly lists Michael F. as a "Caucasian", which is clearly not the case. Do you recall the link to that "report racial errors in the database" thread? I never was terribly good at finding it, I admit.

[AESP_pres]

Originally Posted by Amazin69

Do you recall the link to that "report racial errors in the database" thread? I never was terribly good at finding it, I admit.

When I found one I PM Lans to tell him (because I'm using OOTP24 at this time so I never know if the error is now corrected or not), but I'm positive it's the thread to report this for the current version.

[LansdowneSt]

I help fix the database now when little stuff like this comes up. Fixed it hours ago….

[Amazin69]

Thanks, Lans!

(Why do the Red Sox have Carlton Fisk on the Trading Block? Bad Sox! My Assistant GM says we can't put Julio Cruz in the package, but I'm tempted…)

[negroleagueenthusiast]

Does anyone have facegens for Nolan Schanuel, Logan O'Hoppe, or Caden Dana?

My game isn't loading any for them.

[LansdowneSt]

Originally Posted by negroleagueenthusiast

Does anyone have facegens for Nolan Schanuel, Logan O'Hoppe, or Caden Dana?

My game isn't loading any for them.

Nolan should be in the pack from a week or so ago. He was a new addition. I'll post the other two this weekend. I hadn't done O'Hoppe yet and Caden Dana, like most prospects, requires an ask.

Here's Nolan specifically though in case an auto-refresh in the player editor isn't bringing him up post-installation of the May updated pack.

[negroleagueenthusiast]

Originally Posted by LansdowneSt

Nolan should be in the pack from a week or so ago. He was a new addition. I'll post the other two this weekend. I hadn't done O'Hoppe yet and Caden Dana, like most prospects, requires an ask.

Here's Nolan specifically though in case an auto-refresh in the player editor isn't bringing him up post-installation of the May updated pack.

thank you! I need to install the may update pack I didn't see it sorry about that.

[LansdowneSt]

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 50

The Angels’ ability to save money in the first 10 rounds of the 2022 Draft left them with some cash to be aggressive at the start of Day 3. Dana, a New Jersey high school standout, was considered to be a top four-round talent but slid because of his commitment to Kentucky. The Angels went over the $125,000 slot in the 11th round more than tenfold, giving Dana $1.5 million to sign. While operating on a limited workload to ease him into pro ball, Dana still quickly made it up to High-A for most of his 2023 starts.

Dana is polished for a high school pitcher, especially one from a cold-weather state, already showing that he has an idea of what he wants to do on the mound. He has the potential for a three, or maybe four, pitch mix. His fastball averaged around 94 mph and topped out at 96 in 2023 and it’s not hard to see his 6-foot-4 frame and dream of more consistent velocity to come. He entered pro ball as a curveball guy, and he still has it, but his focus has turned to a slider with depth which has the chance to be an above-average pitch. He’s still working on the changeup, and it’s clearly his fourth pitch coming off a year that was fastball-slider heavy.

For someone his size -- he’s elicited comps to Noah Syndergaard both for his frame and his hair -- he does a decent job staying around the zone and strike-throwing shouldn’t be an obstacle in the future. The gloves could come off a bit in 2024, and especially if his stuff ticks up, he can reach his ceiling as a mid-rotation starter. - mlb pipeline

[LansdowneSt]

Logan O'Hoppe returns to Yankee Stadium five years after catching homer as a fan
Apr. 19, 2023

Monday marked a very special homecoming for Los Angeles Angels rookie catcher Logan O'Hoppe, as the Long Island native, who grew up a New York Yankees fan, got a hit in his first game back at Yankee Stadium as a professional during the Angels' 5-2 win Monday. But that was not his first highlight in the Bronx.

In 2018, weeks before the Philadelphia Phillies selected him in the 23rd round of that year's MLB Draft, O'Hoppe was decked out in Yankees gear and sitting in the second deck of Yankee Stadium when Manny Machado, then of the Baltimore Orioles, hit a home run off CC Sabathia — that O'Hoppe caught. And as a proud Yankees fan, O'Hoppe showed the arm that the Angels now count on to throw out would-be base stealers by chucking the ball back onto the field. "I was 17," O'Hoppe recalled. "I remember not being able to watch the rest of the game because it was the first time my phone was blowing up for anything. So, good learning moment for moments like tonight when my phone's blowing up."

Tuesday night was also not O'Hoppe's first time hitting at Yankee Stadium as a professional baseball player — he did so when he was still a member of the Phillies in a preseason game just before the shortened 2020 MLB season began. O'Hoppe went viral during that at-bat for the big smile he wore as he clearly enjoyed hitting in the stadium where he grew up attending games as a fan. O'Hoppe defended himself on Twitter for throwing Machado's home run ball back. No word yet on whether he still stands by this.