TTM - Paul Molitor

**Update**

Well I've been working off and on for the past 10 hours but I have my entire want list done. Tomorrow I tackle the doubles list. From there I can finally start contacting you all about the double I have for you all.

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I was very excited to receive this one back in the mail. It's always nice when you can add a Hall of Famer to your collection. I give you....Paul Molitor.



Paul was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota on August 22, 1956. He played 21 seasons in the majors with the Milwaukee Brewers, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Minnesota Twins. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, in 2004, with 85.2% of the vote.

Molitor was selected in the 28th round of the 1974 free agent draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, but instead opted to go to college at the University of Minnesota. He was a three year starter for the Golden Gophers, earning All American honors as a shortstop for his sophomore and junior years. After his junior year in college, he was selected third overall in the 1977 free agent draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. He signed with the Brewers and began his professional career in Iowa, playing for the Class A Burlington Bees of the Midwest League.

He played numerous positions with the Brewers including 2nd base, shortstop, third base and what he was most known for, the DH. Molitor played 44% of his career games as a DH. In 1987 he had a 39 game hit streak which still stands as the fifth longest in modern day baseball and is the longest since Pete Rose's 44 game hit streak in 1978.

Molitor signed with the Blue Jays as a free agent in December 1992. He was a key part of the Blue Jays winning their second World Championship as he batted .500 in the series and was named World Series MVP. He is also the only person in World Series history to have 2 doubles, 2 triples and 2 home runs in an individual series.

In 1993, with the Blue Jays, he led the league in plate appearances with 675 and hits with 211. In 1994 he lead the league in games played with 115 and singles with 107. He also stole 20 bases that season without ever being caught. That is just one behind "Misunderstood Met" Kevin McReynolds 1988 major league record of 21.

In 1995 he left the Blue Jays to join his hometown Minnesota Twins. He acquired his 3,000th hit in Minnesota and is the only person to ever hit a triple for that milestone hit. In 1996, Molitor was the first 40-year old to have a 200 hit season. He led the league that year with 225 hits. Molitor also remains the last Major League player to drive in 100 or more runs in a season while hitting fewer than 10 home runs (9 HR, 113 RBIs).

Molitor's lifetime statistics include 2,683 games played, 1,782 runs scored, 3,319 hits, 234 homeruns, 1,307 RBI's, a .306 batting average, and 504 stolen bases. He batted .368 in 5 postseason series, and was an all-star seven times. Molitor recorded these statistics while missing nearly 500 games due to various injuries throughout his career.

Molitor is one of four players in major league history with at least 3,000 hits, a .300 lifetime batting average, and 500 stolen bases. The other three are Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner and Eddie Collins, none of whom played the game beyond 1930. Molitor is the only player ever to accomplish those feats and hit at least 200 home runs.

Words can't express how happy I am to add this card to my collection. It's not that I mind having a collection full of Gary Varsho's and Andy Benes', hell I'm just happy to get an autograph. I think we all are. We're all fans for a reason and getting that piece of cardboard with a sharpie squiggle means a lot to us no matter who it is. But adding a legend of the game like Paul Molitor means that much more. Thank you Mr. Molitor.