Immaculate grid

This is a great thing to do every morning. I've picked up a renewed interest in collecting baseball cards, getting late '70s and '80s cards, and that's helping me remember some obscure players for the team matches. However, I always run into trouble if they include one of the four most recent expansion teams, because I can't recall a lot of the obscure names from those teams.

One thing I would like to see: One day, have a managers grid. The team matches would be guys who managed both teams and you could add other critera like "1,000 wins" and "2+ World Series titles."

 

That would be good. Closest I've seen to that was when I was able to use Bobby Cox to match Yankees and Hall of Fame, even though Bobby is in the HOF as a manager, and certainly not his two-year playing career in the Bronx.

 

On the baseball one today for the one of the teams and 200+ hits in a season.
I guessed a longtime HOFer from the first half of the 20th century and was wrong, to my surprise. I looked the HOFer up, and he had 198 hits in his best season with the team. I wanted to kick myself.

 

No joke I use Gaylord Perry at least three times a week. He checks off so many boxes it's insane. Moreover, he usually comes in at 2 or 3 percent. Him and Al Oliver are on my All-Immaculate Grid team.

 

Mariano Duncan is one of mine. Played for five teams, made an all-star team, won a couple of World Series and hit a couple of statistical milestones. Feels like I can use him at least once a week.

Another good one is George Metkovich, a completely nondescript first baseman/outfielder who played for six teams in the 1940s and 50s. Discovered him while hunting through old rosters one night. Doesn't check any of the statistical or accomplishments categories, but he's guaranteed to get you less than one percent when he's a potential answer.

 

In the hockey one I use Jarred Tinordi regularly. 6 teams in only 150 games means he’s guaranteed to be 3 per cent, max.

 

Kelly Johnson and Brad Hand, the patron saints of the AL and NL East.

 

Matt Herges and Steve Finley the same in NL West.

 

I wish this came out 10-15 years ago. I would have nailed it daily. I don't have that kind of memory any more. I get all the Dodgers and Angels, and most of the awards and Hall of Fame matches, but just can't recall a guy who played on the Blue Jays and Cardinals.

 

You can do what I do and check your answers against Baseball Reference. I don't go roster hunting. I'll think of a potential answer and if I'm not sure I'll go there and check to see if I'm right. I'm playing for the rarity score more than the 9/9, so I really don't care if it's considered cheating. I try to pass up the most obvious answers.
And I'm like you, where my wheelhouse is 1970s/80s/90s players. Fortunately, those work as well as 2000s/2010s players.

BTW, Chris Carpenter is your Blue Jays/Cardinals answer.

 

Actually, it is Troy Glaus.....or Scott Rolen.