Todd Zeile, 1997 Score #257

Zach was the first to comment on my initial blog post of the year, so I have fulfilled his request to feature Todd Zeile. As you can see, his 29-game stint with the Orioles in 1996 (38 if you include the postseason) was not long enough for the folks at Score to bother depicting him in orange and black in the following year's card set. Instead, he is pictured with the Phillies, who shipped him and Pete Incaviglia to Baltimore on August 29 of the previous season. In return, the Phils received minor league pitchers Calvin Maduro and Garrett Stephenson. Stephenson, incidentally, was a 16-game winner for the Cardinals in 2000, which I certainly could not have told you before looking it up just this moment.

You may remember Todd Zeile showing off his acting chops as "Mullet" in the 2005 Adam Sandler movie "Mr. Deeds", or as "High Roller" in the 2011 comedy "Zookeeper". I certainly don't, but to each his own. Todd also dabbled in film production, and had a few guest starring spots on the Kevin James sitcom "The King of Queens". Because you asked (yes, you did), Zeile's Kevin Bacon Number is 2. He was in "Zookeeper" with Donna Glee Reim, who was in "R.I.P.D." with Kevin Bacon.

So...if you have a problem with seeing guys in Phillies unis on this O's blog, or reading about awful Adam Sandler and Sandler-adjacent movies in this space, take it up with Zach.

Todd Zeile, 1997 Topps #473

Here we see Todd Zeile following through on a swing in one of his 29 games for the Orioles, his fourth team. He would play for eleven different clubs by the end of his career (and hit a home run for each of them, setting a ML record); he even suited up for the Mets on two separate occasions. His stint with the O's in late 1996 was the shortest stop in any one place in Todd's career. It wasn't that memorable; he hit .239 with 5 home runs and 19 RBI. He was, however, the lone offensive star for the team in their five-game ALCS loss to the Yankees (.364, 3 HR, 5 RBI). The next year it was on to Los Angeles, where Todd hit a career-high 31 home runs.

I chose this card today because I'm feeling a little wanderlust myself. Despite some unseasonable warmth in Maryland this week, we're still in the doldrums of winter and I've spent the past few weekends cooped up in my apartment. Fortunately, I have plans on Saturday to drive across the Bay Bridge to my alma mater.

The first few years after I graduated college, I was a frequent visitor, keeping in touch with friends who were still there, seeing plays, and avoiding the Real World for a weekend at a time. Eventually most of those friends graduated, I found other ways to keep busy, and the trips became less frequent. This will be the first time I've visited since the fall, and I'm looking forward to it. Making this particular 90-minute drive is usually therapeutic, as I enjoy seeing all of the familiar landmarks along the way and just having time to clear my head.

So when I'm in my favorite college bar on Saturday night, I'll raise a draught of Dogfish Head to you, Todd Zeile.