Allan Ramirez, 1984 Donruss #332

Today former Orioles pitcher Allan Ramirez celebrated his 57th birthday. As coincidence has it, I am also celebrating today. 365 days ago, I asked Janet to marry me and she said yes. What's more, she claims that she would have done so even if I hadn't sweetened the deal with ice cream cake, craft beer from Dogfish Head, and a fire in our backyard pit. At nearly eight months, our marriage has already lasted longer than Allan's brief big league career. A fifth-round draft pick out of Rice University in the 1979 draft, Ramirez filled in with the 1983 O's when they needed an extra starter during the summer. He held his own, going 4-4 with a 3.47 ERA despite walking 30 and striking out only 20 in 57 innings,  but his 11-appearance stint in Baltimore during their most recent championship season represented his only big league experience. He remained in the Birds' farm system through the 1985 season before throwing in the towel.

Happy birthday, Allan. I hope you enjoyed your day as much as I did.

Ken Singleton, 1984 Donruss #610

I don't like to repost cards that I've already featured, but the first time that I posted Ken Singleton's 1984 Donruss card, it wasn't autographed. This is a new-to-me copy of the card, courtesy of longtime reader and occasional trade partner Alan Diddle. Back in January, we arranged a swap: this Mike Devereaux card for ol' Singy here. I'm happy to add another O's autograph to my somewhat-leisurely collection. I don't put a lot of effort into gathering signed cards, but when the opportunity arises, why not? If someone is making a public appearance, or I get a trade offer, or (and this has happened exactly once) I pull one from a pack, I'll welcome that John Hancock Special into the fold. At present, I've got 32 O's autographs on cardboard, which is more than I would have guessed! Imagine how many more I'd have if I were trying hard. But there are only so many hours in the day, you know? Anyhow, thanks, Alan!

Tim Stoddard, 1984 Donruss #245

It was something of a happy accident, but I spent my first day without baseball out being social. Not even an onslaught of October snow - SNOW! - was able to keep me from my plans. There was a 5:00 PM birthday party for my cousin's little girl, where I caught up with the extended family and failed to suppress a few smirks while my uncle ranted about my ridiculous luck in fantasy football. (My Fightin' Igwebuikes are 7-0, and could run it to 8-0 with a good game by Michael Vick tonight.)

I didn't think I was going to have any Halloween-type activities to attend this year, but late in the game my sister invited me to a small get-together at her house. I swung by at 7:00 PM in my cost-effective and quickly-assembled costume, consumed much dessert, and watched the horrendous Halloweens 4 and 5. Pictured below: me in my hipster getup. I trimmed the beard down to my best ironic/absurd facial hair. I think Tim Stoddard wears it better, but I'm pleased with the way it turned out. My sister's friend Justin is visible in the background as Marty McFly.

Earlier in the day, I'd gotten an 11th-hour invite to a Halloween party that night in Greenbelt hosted by some friends from the Rude Mechanicals, a theatre troupe I acted with when I lived down that way. I haven't seen them much since I moved back to Baltimore, so I wanted to make an appearance. Knowing that their parties skew later in the evening, I bade my sister goodbye at 10:30 and made the hourlong drive south. I had a good time and made it safely back home at the responsible hour of 3:30 in the morning. Somehow I'm still in one piece, and I'm a bit relieved to be staying in and giving out candy tomorrow night.

Eddie Murray, 1984 Donruss #47

This is a pretty strange photo. It looks like the ball is getting ready to bury itself in Eddie Murray's cheek, yet Steady Eddie isn't flinching in the slightest. If I had to guess, I'd say that he stared the ball down, causing it to freeze in terror an inch away from his face. The ball then slunk away meekly, grateful that Murray showed mercy by not clobbering it into the stratosphere.

Ken Singleton, 1984 Donruss #610

I think that Ken Singleton is one of the most underrated players of his era. He played for 15 seasons, and posted an OPS+ of less than 100 only twice: his rookie year (when he was right on the cusp with a 99 in 76 games), and his final season. Overall, his OPS+ was a very good 130. Ken had that valuable combination of on-base skills and power that made him a highly productive player: he had five seasons of 20-plus homers and another seven in double digits, as well as an impressive .388 on-base percentage. He routinely carried an on-base percentage that was more than 100 points above his batting average, walking 90-120 times with regularity. For his career, he walked slightly more than he struck out. But you don't often hear Singleton discussed as one of the best hitters of his day.

I recently pulled out one of his cards and looked at the stats on the back. I knew that Ken must have been underestimated even when active, since the Mets and the Expos both let him get away in the early years. But I was still amazed to see that in 1973, as a 26-year-old fourth-year player, the outfielder hit .302 with 23 homers, 103 RBI, and 123 walks (that's a .425 OBP!) for Montreal. Sure, his power dipped the following year (20 2B, 9 HR), but he still got on base at a .385 clip in a "down year". How could the Expos turn around and trade him entering his prime? And how could they also give up on a solid 27-year-old starter like Mike Torrez? What could be worth that? Surely not a past-his-prime Dave McNally and a struggling Rich Coggins. Our gain, I guess.

Eddie Murray, 1984 Donruss #22

Dan Ford, 1984 Donruss #367

A series of open-ended questions about this card:

1. Why did Donruss choose a picture of what was undoubtedly one of Dan Ford's weakest, most uncertain swings of the bat?

2. Check out the biceps on that guy. Who knew that Disco Dan had such massive guns?

3. Why did they call him "Disco Dan", anyway?

4. How did he get trapped in an impressionist painting?

5. Why are the team name and player name in two different shades of yellow?

6. As nifty as those aviator glasses look, didn't Dan realize that Rec Specs were the way to go?

7. Aren't you glad that no one wears those crummy elastic waistband pants any more?

8. Doesn't it look like Ford's trying to pulverize the Donruss logo with his bat?