Carlos Baerga Auto via Private Signing

It’s been a slow year for me TTM-wise – or at least I’ve slowed down significantly since the Spring/start of the pandemic. But, I’ve participated in a lot more through-the-mail private signings.

The latest return is Carlos Baerga, through a signing run by Jamie Blye spotted on SportsCollectors.Net.

Carlos Baerga was the switch-hitting second baseman on those slugging Cleveland Indians teams in the early- to mid-1990s. He was a three-time All-Star (1992, 1993, 1995) and two-time Silver Slugger (1993, 1994). He was the first second baseman since Rogers Hornsby to have back-to-back 200+hit, 20+ home run, 100+ RBI, and .300+ batting average seasons.

Baerga (and Sandy Alomar Jr.) had joined the Indians through an unpopular deal that sent Joe Carter to the Padres.

His peak, however, was cut short as the lavish lifestyle of a budding star took its toll. He blames his off-field appetite for discos, drink and women for on-field struggles.

His time in Cleveland came to an end mid-1996 when he was delt to the Mets in a swap that returned Jeff Kent. I have absolutely zero recollection of Jeff Kent playing for the Indians. None.

After two seasons more seasons with the Mets, Baera had a brief stint with the Padres, returned to the Indians, played in Korea, retired, served as player-manager of the Cangrejeros de Santurce (Puerto Rico), unretired, and played four more Major League seasons with the Red Sox, Diamondbacks, and Nationals.

All told, Baerga had 1,583 hits and a .291 batting average over 14 seasons. In 2013, he was elected to the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame.