The Andrews Boys Part 2 (Reprised)

Aaaarrrrggh! I completed this post this morning work a couple hours worth of research, typing, and editing at a Starbucks. Then, as I was getting a refill, it somehow disappeared, morphing into a second copy of Part 3. It was weird and very aggravating. Not looking for sympathy but if I can't vent here where can I vent?

But I'm going to do it all over again. And it should be easier with having my browser history available. Here goes:

Shane Andrews was the 11th overall pick of the Montreal Expos in 1990. He made it to the majors after five seasons in the Expos' chain where he hit for power but not much else. He ended up staying in Montreal as a corner infielder for nearly five seasons. He later played for the Cubs and Red Sox and finished up with a season in the Mexican League.

He had 86 career homers which makes him the leader among the Andrews crew. He was an everyday player, or at least close to it, for five of his seven big league seasons. And yet I had no memory of him until I poked around looking at players for this collection. I then remembered seeing his rookie card once upon a time. But the second half of the 90s and on through about 2010 is my weak spot when it comes to baseball knowledge.

He has several dozen cards listed in the Trading Card Database. This Leaf Autographed card set me back about 2 bucks.

This Bowman even unsigned, is a much better card. I wish I had seen it first.

Fred Andrews played seven seasons in the Phillies chain before getting a look at the end of 1976 after they had clinched the NL East. He went four for nine and got himself another taste the next season. But after making the team in the spring he got off to a terrible start and was back in the minors again until another September call-up. But he failed to improve and he never returned to the big leagues. The Phils traded him to the Mets for Bud Harrelson but after a season at Tidewater Andrews was off to Mexico for a year and then out of baseball.

This 'card' is actually one of two stickers Andrews has from his winter baseball days in Venezuela. He has a couple of minor league cards and a Phils team-issued postcard as well. This was an eBay find that came from Venezuela via DHL...who knew they were still in business?

BTW...the sticker shows Fred with Los Aguilas de Zulia. The team has a long history in Venezuelan Professional Baseball League and some notable players who spent time with the team include Luis Aparicio, Ryne Sandberg, Greg Maddux and Cesar Tovar.


John Andrews was drafted three times in the late 60s (Yankees, Angels, Mets) but didn't sign a contract until he was offered one by the Cardinals in 1971. He impressed in his minor league seasons and got a shot with the Cards in 1973. Game logs show he made the team, was farmed out, came back at least once during the summer and got a September call-up. All told he got into 16 games out of the bullpen, went 1-1 with a hold and actually got a hit in his last at-bat (of two) which gives him a career .500 batting average.

There are no cards listed for John Andrews but eBay had a couple of autographs. I normally don't buy signatures. I always have doubt as to whether they are real. But in this case, well, who would forge John Andrews' autograph and try to make a living a $1.50 at a time?

Ivy Paul Andrews is the most accomplished of the Andrews Boys who made their living on the mound. He began his big league career with the Yankees in 1931 and finished with them in 1937. But between his two terms in the Bronx, he pitched for the Red Sox, Browns and Indians.

He won 50 games against 59 losses in his career and was a member of the 1937 World Champion Yankee team that defeated the Giants in five games. He pitched 5.2 innings in long relief in Game Four after starter Bump Hadley was knocked out early.

He went 13-7 for a Browns club that was 58-94 in 1935 and led the team in WAR.

This card is actually one-fourth of a 1936 Exhibits Four-in-One he shares with Harland Clift, Sammy West & Rollie Hemsley. It's also a good reminder to me that I need to read the fine print even when buying stuff on Net54. I thought it was a full-sized Exhibit until it arrived. Ivy has quite a few cards, postcards, and pins from his playing days as well as some TCMA cards. I'll grab a nicer piece for him one of these days.

This is what the full 4-in-1 looks like.

And finally, we have Jim Andrews. Jim doesn't have any cards or even any pictures that I could find. I am including the drawing that accompanies his Baseball reference page. I'll let his Wikipedia page tell his story.

James Pratt Andrews (June 5, 1865 – December 27, 1907) was an American professional baseball right fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) in 1890 for the Chicago Colts of the National League. He was a native of Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts.

In 1890, his only Major League season, Andrews was in the starting lineup for the first 2½ months (April 19 – July 4) of the 5½ month season. In 53 games he was just 38-for-202, a batting average of .188. He had 3 home runs, 17 RBI, and scored 32 runs. An average fielder for the era, he handled 90 out of 100 chances successfully for a fielding percentage of .900.

To give some perspective to his value to the team, the Colts were 29-28 during his time with them, and 54-25 after he was gone.

Andrews died at the age of 42 in Chicago of pulmonary tuberculosis, and was laid to rest at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

And that wraps up (again) the second installment of Big League Guys Named Andrews. One more post, four players, to go!