Nick Hundley, 2014 Topps Update Series #US-140

Nick Hundley may have been in Baltimore for less than a full season, having already departed for the thin air of Denver's Coors Field, but at least we've got this excellent card as a way to remember him. It depicts the aftermath of a pie attack, most likely perpetrated by Adam Jones, with an assistant to Charm City's own Dangerously Delicious Pies. (That's right - no lame-ass aluminum tins full of shaving cream or Cool Whip for these Birds.) I love that the pie is suspended in midair, having fallen off of Hundley's face and bound for the dirt. Still, there's a telltale mask of whipped cream and pie chunks left on the catcher's face.

With a quick Google search, I know that this photo was taken on Friday night, July 11, 2014. Nick Hundley had just roped a one-out single off of Adam Warren in the bottom of the tenth inning to score Manny Machado for a walkoff 3-2 win over the Yankees. You can see an animated GIF image from Camden Chat here.

Hey, whaddaya know? I was there for that game! Don't bother looking for me on the card, though; I was up on the third level.

Delmon Young, 2014 Topps Update Series #US-160

Hey, Delmon Young is back for 2015! I would not have imagined a year ago that I would be legitimately happy to type that. But Delmon was a model citizen for the Orioles in 2014 as a backup designated hitter, pinch hitter, and occasional theoretical outfielder. His 120 OPS+ was his highest since 2010, and he batted .302/.337/.442 overall. He was 10-for-20 as a pinch hitter in the regular season, and he had one more important pinch hit in the postseason that you might remember. I'm fairly certain that it was the most exciting thing I've ever witnessed in person at Camden Yards. The best part is that, as the eighth inning of Game Two of the ALDS unfolded, I could see it coming. When three straight batters reached against Joba Chamberlain, I turned to my sister and said, "How many guys have to get on base before Delmon bats?". By the time Buck Showalter sent his pinch hitter extraordinaire to the plate in place of Ryan Flaherty with the bases loaded and the O's down by two, I had absolutely no doubt that he would deliver...the rest is history.