Jay Tibbs, 1990 Score #480

I bought two 36-card packs of 2015 Topps today, just to scratch that new-card itch. I figured that I'd post my first Orioles card of the current year. Naturally, I got none. Not a single Baltimore-centric card out of 72. In my indignation, I chose to feature a 1990 Score card of goony ol' Jay Tibbs, with all of the primary colors represented in the bright contrasting borders. Take that, 2015 Topps. I also determinedly sorted the new stuff by team, to see just how effective Topps was in trolling me:

-Five cards each: Dodgers (two inserts!), Giants, Phillies

-Four cards each: Astros, Indians, Nationals, Tigers

-Three cards each: Angels, Cubs, Padres, Pirates, Rockies

-Two cards each: Blue Jays, Brewers, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Mets, Rangers, Yankees

-One card each: Athletics, Braves, Mariners, Marlins, Rays, Red Sox, White Sox, Dr. Jonas Salk

-No cards: Orioles, Reds, Royals, Twins

Yep, I got an insert card highlighting the freaking polio vaccine, but nothing doing when it came to my favorite team. On the one hand, at least I didn't get bombarded with Yankees and Red Sox for a change, and there were no K.C. players to rub salt in the still-open wounds of the 2014 ALCS. On the other hand, four stinking Nationals? Barf. At least the irritation I felt after opening these packs strengthens my resolve to deny Topps more of my hard-earned dollars.

Jay Tibbs, 1989 Score #262

There's something rotten in the state of Denmark when I'm posting a second Jay Tibbs card in the span of three weeks. Jay probably wishes that I wasn't mentioning him, since I'm now bringing up his ten-game personal losing streak during that season. He actually started out 2-0 and 4-5 in 1988 before dropping the rest of his decisions that year. Strangely enough, he went undefeated for the O's in 1989, running up a 5-0 record in an injury-shortened campaign.

This brings us to current O's starter David Hernandez, who has now surpassed Tibbs' 10-game skid by losing 11 straight since starting his career 4-4. His is the longest ongoing skein in the major leagues, as you might suspect when it's May and a guy is winless since the previous August. David hasn't had much help, of course. The anemic Baltimore offense has put up a total of 21 runs in his seven starts, with only six of those tallies coming while he was actually in the game. The second-year hurler could use a break soon, or at least before he mounts a serious challenge to ex-Met Anthony Young's record string of 27 losses.

Of course, with Chris Tillman and Jake Arrieta knocking on the door, he might not get the chance to make such dubious history anyhow.

Jay Tibbs, 1990 Fleer #192

You see that big ugly old green wall behind Jay Tibbs? Right about now I'd like to burn it to the ground and then write my name in the ashes.

Jay Tibbs, 1989 Upper Deck #655

Jay Tibbs holds an odd place of honor in Orioles lore. On May 2, 1988, he was recalled from Rochester and became the first O's pitcher to win a home game that season. This was, of course, the team that set an American pro sports record by starting the season 0-21 before eking out a win in Chicago. They then lost the last two games of that road trip to return to Baltimore with a 1-23 record. 50,402 ridiculously loyal fans packed Memorial Stadium to watch Tibbs and the Birds outlast the Rangers by a score of 9-4. Of course, the righthander went on to tie with Jose Bautista for the team lead with 15 losses. In my mind, Jay takes the booby prize as the worst starter on that team by the tale of the tape: 4-15, 5.39 ERA as opposed to Jose's 6-15, 4.30 line.

That 1988 team was back in the headlines last week, which is an unusual occurrence in December. They found their record for early-season futility being challenged by the NBA's New Jersey Nets, who set a new pro basketball mark by losing their first 18 contests before finally grabbing that first "W" last Friday against the Charlotte Bobcats. As the Nets got within spitting distance of the Orioles' dubious milestone, I was conflicted in my rooting interests. On one hand, any time your favorite team becomes a little less synonymous with failure, that's a good thing. But there's something about that "0-21" that is like a perverse badge of honor. If nothing else, it's a constant reminder that things should never be as bad in Birdland as they once were.

Still, when you compare the respective streaks, the Nets' 0-18 holds a bit more weight than our 0-21, what with the NBA season being half as long as MLB's schedule. That's to say nothing of last year's 0-16 Detroit Lions, who did not win a single NFL regular-season game. I suppose crumminess is all relative.