Jeff Ballard, 1992 Donruss #74

I've been listening to Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan's Effectively Wild podcast for the past year, but today was the first time that I'd heard Jeff Ballard's name mentioned on the show. With Sullivan on vacation, Lindbergh was interviewing Forbes contributor David Seideman about his experiences reporting on baseball memorabilia. Seideman offered some details on his latest article, recounting Ballard's recent reunion with a memento from his big league career.

The lefty had long prided himself on his hitting prowess, having eschewed the DH in his college days at Stanford. Obviously he never got to show off his offensive chops during his five seasons in Baltimore, but he never lost the knack. When he joined the Pirates in 1993, Jeff took batting practice reps with the position players instead of joining up with his fellow pitchers. Working primarily in relief during his two years in Pittsburgh, he didn't get many in-game chances to hit, but still made the most of them. Thanks to five hits in thirteen tries, Ballard owns a .385 batting average for his MLB career.

On September 16, 1993, he even struck a ground-rule double off of Marlins reliever David Weathers for his first (and only, as it happened) big league extra-base hit. An unknown fan in Miami caught the ball after it popped over the wall, and for some reason happened to inscribe it with the date and other relevant details. Years later, it was obtained by Gary Stilinovich, a devoted Pirates collector from Texas. He decided that it might mean more to Ballard, and managed to track down the ex-pitcher's home address in Billings, Montana. As you can imagine, Jeff was pleased to have the physical proof of his lone two-base knock, and to share it with his eight-year-old son Kyren and his five-year-old daughter Kennley, both of whom were born well after his playing days.

Jeff Ballard, 1990 Donruss Baseball's Best #29

Something very rare and unusual happened last night, and I'm not talking about Ryan Flaherty reaching base twice in the same game. Tigers starting pitcher Rick Porcello shut out the Athletics on just 95 pitches, allowing four hits. What's more, he did it without any walks or strikeouts; every Oakland batter put the ball in play. The last time a big league pitcher did that, Porcello was not quite eight months old. Yours truly, who is not quite as young as these danged whippersnapper athletes these days, was seven years of age and for the most part blissfully unaware of the hometown Orioles and their underdog charge for the American League East crown. One of Baltimore's most valuable players in that 1989 "Why Not?" season was Jeff Ballard, a young lefty out of Stanford University whose pitch-to-contact approach gelled well with manager Frank Robinson's defensively-adept team. Ballard went 18-8 with a 3.43 ERA despite allowing 240 hits and striking out only 62 batters in 215.1 innings (2.6 K/9). But he limited his walks (57) and home runs allowed (16), and it all came together for that one charmed year.

Given this bit of background, it's not too surprising that the last no-walk, no-strikeout shutout before Porcello's gem last night was authored by Jeff Ballard on August 21, 1989. Facing the division rival Brewers on a Monday night at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium, the southpaw scattered six Milwaukee singles, a Gus Polidor double, and even a pair of hit batters in a 5-0 win. Three of those nine Brewer runners were wiped out via solid defense: a double play turned by the Ripken brothers and first baseman Randy Milligan, a Ballard pickoff of Glenn Braggs at second base, and a Phil Bradley left fieldassist that cut down Robin Yount at second as well. On offense, Cal Ripken hit a three-run homer and Stanley Jefferson (a mostly-forgotten O's mini-legend) added a solo blast and a double. Ballard was not quite as efficient as Porcello, needing 112 pitches to seal the deal, but I'm sure the end result was just as sweet to him. Incidentally, it was Jeff's only shutout of the season, and the second and final whitewash of his career. He posted a 13-25 won-lost record in the ensuing years of his career, with a gruesome 5.29 ERA. But for one night, he had kept the Birds in first place when their division lead had been hanging by a half-game thread. Plus, his name gets pulled out of the mothballs when something anomalous happens like Tuesday's Porcello effort.

Jeff Ballard, 1990 Leaf #118

The benefits of this pitching delivery are twofold: 1) By hiding the ball, Jeff Ballard created deception and left the batter guessing as to his pitching grip; and 2) if his left ankle ever started itching in the middle of his windup, he could surreptitiously scratch it without balking.

Jeff Ballard, 1989 Donruss #495

I haven't done a birthday post in a while, and I found myself saying, "Self, if you don't wish Jeff Ballard a happy 49th birthday, who will?". Then I was a bit staggered by the realization that Jeff Ballard is 49. Then I remembered that Jamie Moyer is also 49, and has thrown 3,073 big league innings and another 32 in the minors since Ballard last pitched in 1994. I also took note of Cory Doyne, who turns 31 today and pitched in 5 games for the 2007 O's, with disastrous results in a pair of those outings. Sadly, I've already featured Cory's superbly goony rookie card on this blog. Sometimes I think I should have shut this thing down in January 2011, because I'll never post a more sublime piece of cardboard than that one.

Jeff Ballard, 1991 Upper Deck #260

As I do from time to time, I am about to put way too much thought into a goofy baseball card:

-Jeff Ballard is wearing those fake stirrup socks. I hate those. Either go all the way with it or don't.

-Judging from the dirt and grass stains on his knees, whoever he's catching is a bit wild. My guess is Jose Mesa (5.2 K/9 IP in 1990).

-Last week, offensively-offensive backup infielder Cesar Izturis strapped on the tools of ignorance and caught Chris Tillman's bullpen session. This led to the revelation that Izzy is the current emergency catcher. That would have to be one hell of an emergency. I love those dumb little tidbits. Recent emergency catchers for the O's have included the likes of Ty Wigginton and Kevin Millar, who certainly fit the profile moreso than Cesar. I wonder what kind of emergency it would have taken for Jeff Ballard to suit up behind the plate.

-I can't even remember a time when baseball caps didn't have the ubiquitous MLB batter logo on the back of them.

-In the early 1990s, the crustier baseball types used to grouse about Ken Griffey, Jr. wearing his cap backwards during batting practice. It was disrespectful, apparently. Seems kind of quaint when you think about Prince Fielder and countless others untucking their jerseys as soon as the game ends.

Jeff Ballard, 1989 Fleer #607

In a possible sign of mental illness, I'm posting another one of these absolutely fetching 1989 Fleer things. Again, the photography just raises so many questions:

-Why is Jeff Ballard's jersey unbuttoned halfway? Was he coming on to the photographer?

-Why does he have two gloves? Did he run off with Bob Milacki's leather so he could stuff it full of potato salad?

-How did jersey manufacturer Rawlings feel about Jeff wearing a Wilson glove?

-Who is the man in the black coat and khakis standing in front of the backstop? What's in the briefcase? Is the the Red Sox team doctor, dispatched to medicate some unruly fans?

-Why am I spending so much time staring at a Jeff Ballard card from the 1980s?

Well, I can answer the last one at least...because someone has to do it, and I'm sparing you the horrors. You're welcome.

Jeff Ballard, 1991 Bowman #98

This Day in Orioles History: August 13, 1988

Orioles 5, Brewers 0 at County Stadium

Young Jeff Ballard provided a rare glimpse of promise in a bleak 1988 season, tossing his first career shutout and holding the host Brewers to three hits. The southpaw from Stanford had a fascinating pitching line, walking seven batters and striking out just one in his nine innings. It took him 140 pitches (only 74 of which were strikes) to complete the game, but he was helped out by two double plays which were turned in by the law firm of Rene Gonzales, Billy Ripken, and Eddie Murray. Terry Kennedy also chipped in, gunning down Rob Deer at second base on a steal attempt.

The O's got RBIs from Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken, Jr. to take a 2-0 lead after three innings. That would be all that Ballard needed, but outfielder Joe Orsulak wanted a piece of the action. His three-run home run off of Milwaukee's Bill Wegman boosted the Baltimore advantage to 5-0. In all, the Orioles mustered only six hits off of the three Brew Crew arms, but they made every hit count. This game is also notable as the fourteenth of Brady Anderson's tenure in orange and black. He would eventually total 1,759 games in fourteen seasons; only five Orioles have topped that mark. With the win, the Birds closed to within thirty games of first-place Detroit. Hey, I told you it was a rough year.

Jeff Ballard, 1990 Topps K-mart Super Stars #27

Although the Orioles fell just short of the AL East title in 1989, Jeff Ballard had a season to remember at the tender age of twenty-five. He went 18-8 with a 3.43 ERA, placing sixth in Cy Young voting. Of course he won only thirteen more games in his career after that, checking out five years later after a lousy season in the Pirates bullpen. But if you asked Jeff Ballard today, he would probably still tell you that it was all worth it just for the chance to be recognized by retail giant K-mart as one of the premier players in the game. When the lords of the Blue Light Special have taken notice of your mound prowess, you truly have arrived.