BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Her set of baseball cards highlights players’ bizarre injuries

Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Her set of baseball cards highlights players’ bizarre injuries

A regular Achilles Heel Rizzoli, if you will.

These strange but apparently true injuries are captured for posterity on a set of cards called “Left Field Cards,“and this, the first set, aptly titled “Bizarre Injuries.” They are printed from Mancini’s own linocuts onto letterpress paper.

“It’s fun to have a quirky point of view,” says Mancini from her home in Brooklyn. The artist, who moved from Lyon, France, in 2006, says she fell in love with baseball when she moved to the U.S. Her art reflects it—in addition to the cards she’s done several paintings with baseball themes as well.

She decided to feature the players’ foibles after googling fun facts about baseball. She discovered, as did we when we did our own Internet search (after finding out about Mancini on Design Sponge), that collecting information about peculiar baseball player injuries is a popular pastime. Or making a list about other weird baseball player facts. Apparently it’s a niche.

“I found all these guys who had gotten hurt in very strange ways,” Mancini says, “and I compiled my 10 favorite injuries.”

Repoz Posted: December 22, 2011 at 12:44 AM | 43 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: history, memorabilia, products

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

1. UCCF Posted: December 22, 2011 at 12:59 AM (#4021542)

From her website:

COMING SOON !

SERIES TWO :
EDIBLE ALL-STARS

SERIES THREE :
CURIOUS SECOND CAREERS

SERIES FOUR :
REMARKABLE MUSTACHES

SERIES FIVE :
MEN WITH A VAN

I may hold out for Remarkable Mustaches.

2. Don Malcolm

Posted: December 22, 2011 at 01:05 AM (#4021544)

Don't hold out, Eamus. The girl is quirky and has a nice, primitive style. She'll be a great addition to the Baseball Reliquary's roster. Much more enjoyable than having to endure the neo-"success cycle" twaddle about the Yankees' $200 million austerity program.

And, yes, French film fans, her first name is...Amelie.

3. Zonk Knew This Would Happen Posted: December 22, 2011 at 01:14 AM (#4021546)

Hmmmm... Remarkable mustaches.

Figure Gossage and Fingers have to be locks. It seems like the list would be very reliever-centric... Hrabosky... Beck?

Hard to come up with many position players that stand out. Piazza and his pornstache? Eddie Murray maybe? I always liked Ron Cey's 'stache.

4. JJ1986 Posted: December 22, 2011 at 01:23 AM (#4021549)

Derek Holland is waiting for the list Unremarkable Mustaches.

5. The Long Arm of Rudy Law Posted: December 22, 2011 at 01:25 AM (#4021551)

I'd never heard about Nolan Ryan being bitten by a coyote.

6. ERROR---Jolly Old St. Nick

Posted: December 22, 2011 at 01:27 AM (#4021552)

I warned Kevin Mitchell about eating all that Vicks Vapo-Rub, but he said it makes him vomit like a champion.

7. deputydrew Posted: December 22, 2011 at 01:53 AM (#4021560)

I'm not sure what Eddie Murray had was technically a mustache, as opposed to sideburns that happened to connect between his upper lip and nose. Regardless of what you call it, it's well worth a place in the set.

8. bobm Posted: December 22, 2011 at 02:20 AM (#4021566)

How did Sammy Sosa not make the list?

From 2004:

ESPN Page 2 - Baseball's Full of Freak Injuries

Sammy Sosa was plenty embarrassed last week when he was forced to admit that the back injury that put him on the disabled list came from violent sneezing. ... Sneezes, which can travel through a person's body at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour, have taken many players out over the years. How quickly we forget that Juan Gonzalez's back acted up last spring after a bad sneeze. And at least three other players were scored "DL-Sneezing," pitchers Marc Valdes in 1995, Russ Springer in 1997 and Goose Gossage in 1985.

"I'm embarrassed as hell," Gossage said at the time. "But they say it's one of the most common ways (to hurt your back). You drop a bar of soap and hurt it. Or you put your shoes or socks on and hurt it. It happens."

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=rovell/040524

9. PreservedFish Posted: December 22, 2011 at 02:30 AM (#4021570)

These are terrific. A French hipster Mets fan artist who's selling a $3,500 painting of Harvey Haddix. Why not?

10. Esoteric Posted: December 22, 2011 at 02:41 AM (#4021573)

These really are terrific. Great link.

11. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: December 22, 2011 at 03:02 AM (#4021582)

I hadn't heard of Brett Barbarie's chili injury, but I believe it. The other night, my wife was slicing some habaneros for dinner and about 30 minutes later complained that her hand was "on fire." After looking on the net for solutions, she settled on lemon juice which calmed down the heat.

12. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: December 22, 2011 at 03:03 AM (#4021583)

SERIES FOUR :
REMARKABLE MUSTACHES

Even better - it's "Remarquable Mustaches"

13. Rowland Office Supplies Posted: December 22, 2011 at 03:26 AM (#4021594)

Terry Harper, while at bat, dislocated his shoulder waving a runner in on a wild pitch.

14. UCCF Posted: December 22, 2011 at 03:29 AM (#4021596)

I ordered the set - they're very cool and would probably frame well.

Edible All-Stars would be fun as well - off the top of my head, you've got Bob Lemon, Chili Davis, Dizzy Trout, Kevin Bass, Pepper Martin. Does Reggie Jackson count?

15. Random Transaction Generator Posted: December 22, 2011 at 03:30 AM (#4021598)

How does "Rickey Henderson got frostbite sitting in the dugout in August" not make the list?

But yes, those are great cards.

Oof. $15 (+ $6 shipping to Canada) for a pack of 5 cards.

16. What did Billy Ripken have against ElRoy Face? Posted: December 22, 2011 at 03:53 AM (#4021608)

I'd never heard about Nolan Ryan being bitten by a coyote.

Of course not; "coyote bites man" isn't news. Now when Chuck Norris bit the coyote, THAT was news.

17. PreservedFish Posted: December 22, 2011 at 04:12 AM (#4021616)

Oof. $15 (+ $6 shipping to Canada) for a pack of 5 cards.

The alternative craft fair I attended tells me that this is the going rate for woodblock hipster art. Although the lack of birds or giant squids seems unusual. The price seems totally reasonable to me. I just ordered a pack.

18. Tulo's Fishy Mullet (mrams) Posted: December 22, 2011 at 04:15 AM (#4021619)

Steve Sparks feels left out. If he only had a phone book to call her.

19. What did Billy Ripken have against ElRoy Face? Posted: December 22, 2011 at 04:40 AM (#4021626)

But they say it's one of the most common ways (to hurt your back). You drop a bar of soap and hurt it.

Um, Goose, I don't think your back is what they say hurts after you drop the soap.

20. Zonk Knew This Would Happen Posted: December 22, 2011 at 04:47 AM (#4021629)

Edible All-Stars would be fun as well - off the top of my head, you've got Bob Lemon, Chili Davis, Dizzy Trout, Kevin Bass, Pepper Martin. Does Reggie Jackson count?

Ever try one of those things? The obvious answer is 'no' -- otherwise, Travis Wood/Kerry Wood, Greg Booker, and James Parchment count as food, too.

21. Dale Sams Posted: December 22, 2011 at 05:09 AM (#4021636)

Oh yeah, you can totally pull a rib muscle sneezing.

22. Howie Menckel Posted: December 22, 2011 at 05:13 AM (#4021639)

I ate a "Reggie Bar" candy item every day one year for lunch in high school - and I hated the Yankees.

An odd-looking circle of chocolate, peanut, some sort of nougat, etc.

Not surprisingly, not so far from a Baby Ruth....

23. Don Malcolm

Posted: December 22, 2011 at 06:07 AM (#4021658)

Giant squids cost extra. There will be a bird series down the road, wait and see. It will cost extra, too.

24. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: December 22, 2011 at 06:43 AM (#4021660)

Edible All-Stars would be fun as well - off the top of my head, you've got Bob Lemon, Chili Davis, Dizzy Trout, Kevin Bass, Pepper Martin. Does Reggie Jackson count?

Darryl Strawberry
Rob Deer
Zach Wheat
Sam Rice (We'd all be too afraid to eat Jim Rice)

Sort of...
Pee Wee Reese
Matt Wise
Will/Jack/etc. Clark
George Foster
Ty Cobb

25. vortex of dissipation Posted: December 22, 2011 at 06:50 AM (#4021661)

Felix Pie

26. It's Spelled With a CFBF, But Not Where You Think Posted: December 22, 2011 at 06:58 AM (#4021664)

For the record, Smoltz has always denied the "ironed his shirt while he was wearing it" story.

27. Leroy Kincaid Posted: December 22, 2011 at 12:23 PM (#4021683)

Are they all the same artwork with different injuries?

28. The Long Arm of Rudy Law Posted: December 22, 2011 at 12:32 PM (#4021685)

She should have had a card that just said "Mark Prior."

29. Shooty would run in but these bone spurs hurt!

Posted: December 22, 2011 at 12:40 PM (#4021686)

Giant squid are awesome.

That is all.

30. depletion Posted: December 22, 2011 at 01:28 PM (#4021695)

The Mets had a Japanese pitcher in the late'90's - early 00's who ripped a finger tendon opening son porte de le garagiste. Did she use one of Jayson Stark's columns on this subject?
Great work by the artist. Extra points for her being French and a Met fan. Tres cool.

31. Shooty would run in but these bone spurs hurt!

Posted: December 22, 2011 at 01:31 PM (#4021696)

Series 5: Men With a Van should be...interesting. The mustache series should be a winner.

32. depletion Posted: December 22, 2011 at 01:42 PM (#4021700)

I want a series on famous Italo-French: Bugatti, Chinetti, Mancini.

33. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: December 22, 2011 at 03:21 PM (#4021785)

Great work by the artist. Extra points for her being French and a Met fan. Tres cool.

her personal website has some interesting stuff, also

34. Jonah Keri Posted: December 22, 2011 at 03:22 PM (#4021788)

Buddy of mine gifted me with the Barberie card. Don's right: It is decidedly not twaddle.

35. The Long Arm of Rudy Law Posted: December 22, 2011 at 03:54 PM (#4021838)

Her Roger Maris painting reminds me of the Mike Myers Sprockets sketches on SNL.

36. phredbird

Posted: December 22, 2011 at 04:20 PM (#4021864)

these cards are all kinds of awesome.

btw, if anybody cares, department of self-promotion:

i am having an exhibition of sports paintings in palm springs in february. its mostly boxers, but i'll also have a couple of baseball players.

if anybody would like details, email me via my bbtf handle.

thanks.

37. RJ in TO Posted: December 22, 2011 at 04:30 PM (#4021874)

For the record, Smoltz has always denied the "ironed his shirt while he was wearing it" story.

That doesn't mean much. If you had accidentally burned yourself while ironing a shirt you were wearing, wouldn't you deny it too?

38. The Long Arm of Rudy Law Posted: December 22, 2011 at 04:38 PM (#4021888)

i am having an exhibition of sports paintings in palm springs in february. its mostly boxers, but i'll also have a couple of baseball players.

She has some Pacquiao paintings to go with her baseball ones. You should invite her.

39. It's Spelled With a CFBF, But Not Where You Think Posted: December 22, 2011 at 05:51 PM (#4021976)

That doesn't mean much. If you had accidentally burned yourself while ironing a shirt you were wearing, wouldn't you deny it too?

I'm not saying I buy it. It's just worth mentioning.

40. The Long Arm of Rudy Law Posted: December 22, 2011 at 06:01 PM (#4021987)

Jack Morris accidentally burned himself while ironing John Smoltz's shirt better.

41. Bob Evans Posted: December 22, 2011 at 07:25 PM (#4022066)

The deer on Clint Barmes' card is LOL funny.

42. Don Malcolm

Posted: December 22, 2011 at 11:53 PM (#4022350)

Buddy of mine gifted me with the Barberie card.

Tsk, tsk. Breaking up a set ALREADY?

43. Karl from NY Posted: December 23, 2011 at 05:39 PM (#4022688)

It's criminal that a moustache thread went this long without a Keith Hernandez sighting.

As for weird injuries, I'm partial to Bobby Ojeda cutting off a fingertip with a hedge trimmer, although less partial to the fact that it kept him out of the 1988 playoffs.

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

<< Back to main

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Her set of baseball cards highlights players’ bizarre injuries

Reader Comments and Retorts

BBTF Partner

Support BBTF

Hot Topics