The Nutcracker

These are the stories that former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher Keith Comstock shares.

They are pranks, oddities and, “Did that really happen?” moments.

They include remembrances of loss; analysis of pain, both real and simulated; and eyewitness accounts that twist the ears of baseball fans.

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In The Cards: 1986 Calgary Cannons

The second season of Calgary Cannons baseball at Foothills Stadium featured some good talent.

But the team couldn’t replicate the success they had their first year.

The baseball cards created for them, however, allow fans to reminisce about some of the future MLB players who donned the red, yellow and white.

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In The Cards: 1986 Edmonton Trappers

As a team, the Edmonton Trappers didn’t accomplish a great deal in 1986.

The Triple-A Pacific Coast League (PCL) squad went 68-73 in front of 229,682 fans at John Ducey Park that season, falling short of a postseason berth.

That said, the primary purpose of minor-league baseball teams has never been about winning championships. Player development and converting young athletes into Major League Baseball (MLB) talent has always been the underlying goal of these feeder squads. In that regard, this Trappers team had plenty of success stories. 

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In The Cards: 1985 Calgary Cannons

There was a lot of hope in 1985 surrounding the newly-created Calgary Cannons.

The Pacific Coast League affiliate of the Seattle Mariners had just moved in from Salt Lake City and were hoping to improve on their semi-final appearance with much of the roster still in tact.

We take a look at some of those players on that roster with the baseball card set featuring 25 members of that inaugural version of the Cannons.

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In The Cards: 1993 Lethbridge Mounties

When you see some of the last names – Bonilla, Segura and Sizemore – you could easily mistake the 1993 Lethbridge Mounties for a team with talent. 

Alas, they were neither a good team, nor was their roster stacked with players who would go on to do great things in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Be that as it may, sometimes you have to just go with the hand you’ve been dealt. In this case, the cards on the table feature a squad that went just 29-44 in the Pioneer League. Only one of the players would suit up in the major leagues after graduating from this rookie-level team.

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In The Cards: 2001 Calgary Cannons

It was the 100th anniversary of minor-league baseball and the Cannons were close to the end of their run in Calgary. 

The Triple-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins was competitive enough to win a few games in front of the 246,991 fans who went to Burns Stadium that season, but their 72-71 record was nowhere close to good enough for a postseason appearance.

Regardless, there were plenty of MLB-calibre players on the field that year, including Jason Grilli, who holds the distinction of being the last Calgary Cannon to pitch in the majors. 

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