Tom Wilhelmsen Tucson Toros Card

I don't have anything to add to the Tom Wilhelmsen story. He and I lived in Tucson during an overlapping period, but we never met. I did once go to see the Tucson Toros at Hi Corbet field. It's a good baseball experience, and I wonder why I didn't go more (a good bet is that I hate both the sun and the heat and Hi Corbet is in Tucson while baseball is played in the Summer.)

Anyway, The Kaiser is my favorite current Mariner*, owing to a wonderful narrative, great 2012 performance, and a perfect inability to disappoint. If the guy suddenly loses his command and just throws god-knows-where at 95, it's a miracle he ever made it to the majors and a sad that he didn't succeed more, but I don't feel invested in his success. If Dustin Ackley flops, I see the opportunity cost of drafting him (for example, Mike Trout, at twenty-five.) Opportunity costs associated with Wilhelmsen were basically zero and always will be.

Here's what I have to add about Tom Wilhelmsen. Being in Tucson in 2009 meant being in the right place and time for a few things:

(see the back after the jump...)

Thanks to my friend Elias, who owns this card, and his dad, who scanned it for me.

*Guys like Ichiro and Felix are in a special class of Mariner.