Thursday, December 30, 2010

Years ending in 1.

Have been great for Baseball. Something Great has usually happened or can be associated with Baseball during these years.

1901 - The First year of the American League.

1911- Ty Cobb out duels Joe Jackson for Batting title as both bat over .400

1921 - Maybe Babe Ruth's greatest year 59-171-378.

1931 -Lefty Grove 31-4 and the end of the A's destiny.

1941- .406 and 56

1951 - The shot heard around the world

1961 - Maris and Mantle

1971 - Clemente world series performance

1981 - The Strike

1991- The one year nothing stands out but the 1-0 game 7 world series win by the Twins

2001- Bonds 73 (Maris Redux), games after 9/11

2011- what will it be.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Baseball Price Guide History - 1974 Topps Baseball Set

About once a month Wrigley Wax (check it out) presents the average price of Topps sets (1969-present) sold on ebay.  I have decided to compare that with what price guides have listed the sets for over the years. Second set up is 1974 Topps Baseball Set. (listed by year, source, price)

1982 Renata Galasso                          $110.00
8/1985 Baseball Cards Mag               $68-150.00
11/1988 Baseball Cards Mag             $350.00
10/1996 SportsCards                          $600.00
10/1998 SportsCards                          $550.00
2/2005 Beckett Baseball                    $250-400.00
2/2009 Beckett Baseball                    $200-400.00
11/10 Ebay 12 month average           $209.00 (Wrigley Wax 12 month history through 12/1)

The numbers again are interesting. The 1974  set had been selling at $400.00  less than it listed at 14 years ago. Wow. Note Beckett states there Was a factory set produced in 1974, Which is listed for a higher price.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Dan Petry

A great spring training shot. Look at that American Flag flying in the background. God bless America. Also, check out the 2 palm trees in the background, as Dan posed for this picture.

Dan Petry

A great spring training shot. Look at that American Flag Flying in the Background (God Bless America). A couple of palm trees can be seen on this very blue sky day as Dan posed for this card.

Checklist (post 22)

The first Donruss Checklist (outside of the Diamond King) in the 1982 and in the first 50 players or so -I count 6 hall of fame players -Fingers Winfield, Brett, Carlton, Yaz and Molitor - and a couple of great managers Weaver and Anderson - All the names are regonizable to me except Chris Welsh but I am pretty sure he Was a Padres pitcher.

Jim Wright #490 (P-21)

I have decided to try to post 24 blogs in the next 48 hours. This will give those of you for which the next 2 days are only Friday and Saturday something to enjoy. My other goal is total domination of the Sports Card Blogroll. Yes that is right, about every hour or two (or three) for the next 2 days My blog will be the top  post on the Blogroll. Yes Total Domination of the Sports Card Blogroll will be MINE!!!!!
I present you Jim Wright. (Who?). The back of his card tells it all "Began last year what he hopes to be the longest comebacks in recent years....First Developd arm troubles in Aug. of 1977 and finally had to undergo surgery for a bone defect in his arm in '78.

The last 2 sentenaces got me thinking - in 1982 where did Donruss get the info on Jim Wright. There was no internet at the time, did they go out and buy all 26 year books for all the MLB teams.

Bob Forsch #91 (Post 20)

May the Forsch be with you. This is a great action shot that captures (is that Ken Oberfell in the background?) Bob just after the pitch. The Cards Blue uniform just works great with this card design (the yellow bat and yellow 82). Back Facts: Pitched a 5-0 no hitter against Phillies 4/16/78.

Doug Flynn #427 (Post 19)

I will always remember Doug for being apart of the Tom Seaver deal with the Reds in 1977.  This picture I am pretty sure was taken at Wrigley Field. That has to be Wrigley in the background. Back Stats: Had a disappointing year at the plate last season after turning n one of his best campaigns in '80. Works as a country and Western singer in the off-season.

Steve Dillard #174 (Post 18)

The second Cubbie in a row. I don't think this photo is from the same game as Hector Cruz's card. I am guessing the Cubs are playing the Phillies because there seems to be a guy on the bench wearing a dark red warmup jacket. Back Facts: A valuable utility infielder who can play second, third or shortstop (which is the code phrase for he is not good enough to start).

Hector Cruz #57 (Post 17)

Hector has some dirt on his uniform. The fan in the lower right corner of the card may be wearing a Pirate hat. I remember that Hector hit 13 HR in 1976 to lead the Cardinals, whom as a team hit I think 69 HR, which of course was one less than Mark McGwire hit in 1998 (at the same Busch Staduim). Back Stats Cubs got him from the Reds 12/12/80 for OF Mike Vail.

Mark Bomback #559 Post 16 (24 in 48)

Duh, nice warmup jacket (and hair?). Not much to this card. Back Facts: in a surprise trade was sent from Mets to Blue Jays 4/6/81 for  OF Marvel Wynne and P John Skinner. As a side note Wynne would make splash with the Pirates as a rookie in 1983.

Rufino Linares #310 Post 15

Clouds, Clouds, Clouds, this card has a great shot of a lot of clouds in the background of the cards as Rufino is standing in his classic batting stance baseball card mode. There also appears to be a very strange looking tree to the right of his bat in the photo. I always thought Rufino was a defector from Cuba and started in the majors at a very old age of 26. But I was wrong as the back of the card states he signed with the Braves on 12/30/73.  This is his rookie card.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Tony Bernazard #143 Post 14

I have decided to try to post 24 blogs in the next 48 hours. This will give those of you for which the next 2 days are only Friday and Saturday something to enjoy. My other goal is total domination of the Sports Card Blogroll. Yes that is right, about every hour or two (or three) for the next 2 days My blog will be the top  post on the Blogroll. Yes Total Domination of the Sports Card Blogroll will be MINE!!!!!
Tony looking very stoic standing on the foul area along the first base line at a major league ball partk (I dont think it is Comisky).  This is a pre game shot with all the empty outfield seats in the back ground. A White Sox player appears to be standing on first. One of the White Sox' happiest surpries of '81.

Floyd Bannister #100 Post 13

There is a large shadow on this card the tends to obscure half of Floyd's face. There is a decent shot of the ball in his hand, is he about to throw a curve.  On the back it states...Was the first player in the nation chosen  (by Houston) in the June '76 amatuer draft after sensational collegiate career at Arizona State in which he was 38-6 with 1.88 ERA for 61 games.

Benny Aylala #581 Post 12

Benny is pictured in this photo in his follow through swing. It appears he may have actually hit the ball as his eyes gaze off into the field. There are about 5 Toronto Blue Jays sitting in the dugout watching the action.

Back Stats: Hit .333 in the '79 World Series with a homer and 2 RBI. Orioles use him LF as defensive replacement besides as a pinch hitter.

Bill Campbell #487 Post 11

I don't like this card. It has a strange pink hue background and this shot is very very boring. Bill is wearing some bling around his neck.

Back Stats: Became a free agent for the second time after last season. ERROR - Set a Red Sox club record for saves in '77 when he led the AL with 33. (His statistical stat line for saves in '77 was 31 - so one of these are wrong. )

My Favorite Martin John #343 (Post 10 of 24 in 48)

I have decided to try to post 24 blogs in the next 48 hours. This will give those of you for which the next 2 days are only Friday and Saturday something to enjoy. My other goal is total domination of the Sports Card Blogroll. Yes that is right, about every hour or two (or three) for the next 2 days My blog will be the top  post on the Blogroll. Yes Total Domination of the Sports Card Blogroll will be MINE!!!!!

I have no recollection of this player and I followed baseball intently all my live. I love the huge Cardinal logo prominently displayed on his jersey. I like card designs that features the team logo but this card does not need it.

Back Fact: Did not move into the starting rotation until 5/21 of last year when he beat the Astros 4-1 on a 4 hitter.

My Favorite Martinez Tippy #205 (Post 9)

Tippy is in full windup mode (trust me). Back Stats: Is signed to five year contract through the 1986 season (Wow). Retired 23 consecutive batters 7/23/80 vs. Oakland

My Favorite Martinez Denny #79 (Post 8)

Love that large light tower in the blue sky blackground on this card. Denny was only about 26 years old at the time but looked about 10 years older. On the Back of the card it states the Orioles reward him with a five year contract

My Favorite Martinez Silvio #469 Post 7 (24 in 48)

Silvio is wearing that classic Blue Cardinal Uniform. If you take a good look at his right hand it appears to be that he is about to throw a two finger fastball. This photo I think was taken at Busch Staduim.

Back Facts First encountered elbow problems in June of 80 and spent a month of that season trying to shake them. (What?, I could just imagine Silvio walking around the Cards clubhouse for  a month shaking his elbow).

Dave Tobik Post 6 (24 in 48)

I have decided to try to post 24 blogs in the next 48 hours. This will give those of you for which the next 2 days are only Friday and Saturday something to enjoy. My other goal is total domination of the Sports Card Blogroll. Yes that is right, about every hour or two (or three) for the next 2 days My blog will be the top  post on the Blogroll. Yes Total Domination of the Sports Card Blogroll will be MINE!!!!!

Dave has a really sly look on his face. I wonder what he is thinking about.  How he fooled everyone to become a major league pitcher.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

My Favorite Martin Jerry Post 5 (24 in 48)

Jerry is at the plate awaiting a pitch. The photo is kind of blurry. As with most Donruss 82 cards the player takes up most of the photo. I can't tell if this was taken at a spring training game or regular season game. Back facts states he was originally signed by the Phillies

My Favorite Martin Renie #238 Post 4

Renie lives in Delaware but I swear I think he is from Canada. He is wearing a cool Royals warmup jacket in this photo. This looks to be a Spring Training shot. The coloring on this card is just great.

Back Facts: Graduated in 1977 from U of Richmond with a degree in finance.

Dave Rozema #259 (Rhymes with Nozema) Post 3

I have decided to try to post 24 blogs in the next 48 hours. This will give those of you for which the next 2 days are only Friday and Saturday something to enjoy. My other goal is total domination of the Sports Card Blogroll. Yes that is right, about every hour or two (or three) for the next 2 days My blog will be the top  post on the Blogroll. Yes Total Domination of the Sports Card Blogroll will be MINE!!!!!

What s there to say about this photo not much. At least Dave was smiling and wearing some kind of gold chain around his neck. Is that Bling. This is a spring training photo that appears to be taken as the sun was setting.

Back Stats: Named Sporting News Rookie Pitcher of the Year in AL (1977, he was 15-7 at age 21)

Phil Niekro Diamond King 24 in 48 Post 2

I have decided to try to post 24 blogs in the next 48 hours. This will give those of you for which the next 2 days are only Friday and Saturday something to enjoy. My other goal is total domination of the Sports Card Blogroll. Yes that is right, about every hour or two (or three) for the next 2 days My blog will be the top  post on the Blogroll. Yes Total Domination of the Sports Card Blogroll will be MINE!!!!!

This larger picture of Niekro really does look like him (the way he looked back in 1982). However, who in the heck is that smaller figure on this card. Tommy Boggs? I really don't know who that is but it is not Phil Niekro.

Tom Burgmeier #361 (The Burger Meister) 24 in 48 Post 1

I have decided to try to post 24 blogs in the next 48 hours. This will give those of you for which the next 2 days are only Friday and Saturday something to enjoy. My other goal is total domination of the Sports Card Blogroll. Yes that is right, about every hour or two (or three) for the next 2 days My blog will be the top  post on the Blogroll. Yes Total Domination of the Sports Card Blogroll will be MINE!!!!!

First up The Burger Meister. This is a spring training shot with a nice shot of a huge telephone poll to Burgy's left. Burgy is staring intently into the camera.

Back Fact: Named to the 1980 All Star team - (No kidding!!!)...Had one of his best seasons in 71 with ROyals when he was 9-7 with a 1.74 ERA and 17 saves. (He was dominating that year)

Why Topps Why

Why did Topps put cards of Jason Heyward, Buster Posey, Austin Jackson etc.... in the Bowman Draft Picks and Prospects Set, players who had already received a card in the regular Bowman Set. Why do these players now have 2 Bowman cards with the rookie card logo on it. The BDPP sets between 2006 and 2009 only contained 55 cards(with rookie card logos) instead of the 100 this year and no duplicates (except I think in 2008 there were 2 cards of Joey Votto). My only thought on why they would do this is greed. Making a larger set means you now have to buy more packs in order to complete the set.  Buying more packs means that you have to spend more money. Spending more money on Topps cards means Topps makes more money.



I love Topps compared to the Sleazy practices of Upper Deck, but Come on Topps, now. 

Of course my second Why Topps Why questions is why did you release a different baseball set every week AFTER the season was over. But that is a topic for another day,

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Larry Parrish #466 (is this Beardy's Father?)

The greatest baseball card photo of a beard. I estimate that Parrish's beard takes up about 22 percent of the photo on this card. We also be the classic Expos colors/logo on this card. What more can you ask for.

Larry Parrish #466 (is this Beardy's Father?)

The greatest baseball card photo of a beard. I estimate that Parrish's beard takes up about 22 percent of the photo on this card. We also be the classic Expos colors/logo on this card. What more can you ask for.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Football Card Mystery - 2003 Topps Ross Tucker #92

In the 1970s Topps football sets were 528 cards. The sets usually contained over 50 cards of offensive lineman. In the 1980s the Topps sets were reduced from 528 to 396.  The sets still contained around 30 or 40 cards of offensive lineman. With the advent of the 1990s, the demographics of Topps football sets changed where by 1996 not one veteran offensive lineman was included except for a couple of high draft picks.

Since the mid 1990s, outside of a few high draft pick cards Topps rarely had more than 2 or 3 veteran offensive lineman in there sets. The 2 or 3 veteran offensive lineman who got cards were usually great player (an all pro or pro bowl player). Though for example, a player like Alan Faneca, an 8 time pro bowl player never had a Topps football card. 

This of course brings us to the 2003 Topps football set. Ross Tucker (who later did some work a few years ago for Comcast sports and is now a host of Football Today on ESPN podcast) got a football card in the 2003 set. There were approx. 150 starting offensive lineman in the NFL in 2002 (including about 5 all pros and 15 probowlers) and none of them I believe got a 2003 Topps football card. Ross got a card after being cut by the Redskins and then being picked up by the Cowboys in October of 2002. On the back of the card it states he replaced all-time great Larry Allen (who never received a Regular Topps Cards) for the final seven games. 

Ross originally played late in the 2001 seasons. This was Ross's rookie card.

Why did Ross Tucker get a card this year. I have one theory. He was born and lived (according to the back of his card in) Wyomossing, Pa, which was about 95 miles from the Duryea, Pa Topps plant. My guess is that some how he obviously knew some one at Topps and they decided to put him on a football card. He was an Ivy leaguer and went to Princeton which is about 125 miles from Duryea.

My guess is that a Topps employee with some pull (probably a Princeton grad, about the same age as Ross and lived in the same area and who knew Ross) put him in their regular set.

I have listened to his podcast on occasion but I don't know if he ever addressed his 2 appearances (Yes, he also appears in the 2004 Topps set) in Topps Football sets. Does anyone out there know or have a theory.

The Answer (No not Allen Iverson)

The answer to my question from my December 4, 2010 post of which position player that played the longest without achieving 300 official total at bats in a season is Jim Dwyer. His baseball card is a classic head shot.

Tom Herr (Potato Chips taste good) #530

Herr's potato chips are one of my favorite. Tommy had a great year in 1982, I think he had over 100 Rbi with 10 hr on the World Champion Cards.

Photo Front: I think this is a spring training photo but I am not sure. Tommy sure did have a wide batting stance.

Back Stats: An excellant bunter, he won one game last year with a suicide squeeze.

Terry Forster #362

Photo Front: Terry is in full windup before unloading a ball. I am guessing this is a spring training shot.

Back Facts: Dodgers signed him as a free agent 11/18/77 after he played out his option with Pirates

Rich Dauer #257 (I know Rich and he ain't no Eddie Murray)

Because of a malware problem I was knocked off the computer for a few weeks. I am now trying to make up for it.

Photo Front: Rich is about to drop his bat on a follow through after hitting the ball.

Back Stats: Oriole Insides will tell you Dauer ranked right up there with Eddie Murray as the MVP of the club last year.

Elias Sosa #466

Photo Front: A great shot of the old Expos logo on his cap. This does appear to be a night game card. A nice shot of his follow through on a throw.

Back Stats: Got into 2 games in the 1977 World Series for the Dodgers

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Don Zimmer the Gerbil #195

According to Wikipedia A gerbil is a small mammal of the order Rodentia. Don is not small but looking at those cheeks it is hard to not mistake him for one. I still remember the battle royal that he had with Pedro Martinez in the 2003 playoffs.   This is a great shot of him wearing the Rangers warm up jacket.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Jim Kern #89 (Captain Caveman)

 I believe Jim was known for eating glass.

Photo Front: Hello Captain Caveman, He has a full beard and lost of curly head hair in this posed shot.
Back Stats: He had assorted injuries in 1980, including a sore elbow, Pinched nerve in neck, a head and mouth injury that was the result of being hit by a ball (of course the glass did not cause a problem at all).

Sunday, December 5, 2010

WERTH DEAL IS CRAZY!!!!!!. (Mistakes of the Past)

The Deal that Jason Werth got is crazy. Werth got a 7 year - 126 million dollar deal. First off - Werth was born in 1979, Thus he will be 32 in 2011 and he will be 38 in 2017 at the end of the deal. I doubt he will even be in baseball by then.

Werth is known as a late bloomer, he did not come into his own until 2008, when he was 29. Late bloomers tend to have shorter peak in career performance.  Players that are good at 20-21 years old tend to have long careers think Griffey, Pujols, Williams. Players who are really good for the first time in the late 20s tend to be like Eric Byrnes and Aaron Rowland.

Also, Werth was protected in that Phillies lineup with all those all-stars. This looks like Aaron Rowand all over again.  Rowand made the All-Star team at 30 in 2007. He then signed a huge deal with the Giants. He spent good amount of time on the bench during the World Series.  Here are the Giants,  they waste all this money on Rowand, but they still win the World Series. That does not make any sense and that is REALLY CRAZY. Maybe the Nats are hoping for the same.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Who Am I?

This player in the 1982 Donruss set is the answer to the trivia question of which positional major leaguer played the most seasons (18) without accumulating at least 300 official at bats in one season

Photo Front: A posed head shot with him holding his bat on his left shoulder. This shot was taken at a MLB ball park( Memorial Stadium?)

Back Stats: Signed a 3 year deal with xxxxxxx as a free agent 12/23/80.

Answer at a Future Date.

Friday, December 3, 2010

The Decision

Larry Bird did not win any championships after his seventh season. Magic Johnson won his last championship in his ninth season. It remains to be seen how many championships that Lebron James will win, he is now in his 8th NBA season He may want to take a queue from  Michael Jordan. Jordan won championships in his seventh, eighth and ninth seasons. He missed a year,  played a partial tenth season, then won championships in his eleventh, twelfth, and thirteen seasons.      

I always liked this 1990-91 Fleer basketball card. I always wonder if the photo was intended to include Magic or that it was by accident. When I first saw the card it did not occur to me that was Magic defending Bird.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Breaking News - Big Ben has a Broken Foot

This just in, Steelers Starting QB Big Ben (I wish I knew how to spell his last name) has a broken bone in his foot. The Steelers have been reporting this as a sprain foot all week but now it does not appear to be. Goodby Super Bowl hope Steelers?