The Iconic Series: 1962 Topps Willie Mays

I was almost going to throw Mays in the rookie batch as his most iconic card, as his 1952 Topps card is well known. This was a very close call. I think it is the wood grain borders that convinced me to pick this one as the 1962 set had a classy feel to it.

I associate him more with the San Francisco Giants rather than the New York Giants, thus making this card more iconic that his rookie card.

There is a great big smile on Willie’s face that just gives it a feeling of fun.

Larry Bowa #63

It looks like Larry was about to hitter a chopper or already did. I can’t tell. Notice there is a photographer in the background in the dugout. It appears he is wearing a Philly hat.

Back Facts: Still the NL’s premier shortstop at age 36.

The new football card insert: The football football card

 I am not sure if it has been before, (I know there are jersey cards and autograph cards) but has any manufacture cut up an actual NFL game used football and inserted them into cards. I would love to own pigskin cards. I guess there some problems in doing this is as acquiring the football may be more difficult than acquiring a jersey. There is also less individualism in using a football as a relic piece. Since everyone uses the ball. However, would it not be just as interesting to pull a game used football Tom Brady card as a game used jersey card

Aerosmith – Sing Willie, Dream On and the Wonders of the Internet

In the mid 1970s, Aerosmith put out a song (that probably everyone has heard by now) called Dream On. I have to admit I have always had trouble understanding the lyrics. There is a part of the song, the chorus, that is sung a few times. What I know is that it begins with the word SING for about 30 years this is what I thought I heard:

1975-2005

Sing Willie, Sing for the years 

I always thought the words to the chorus was Sing Willie. I always wonder who Willie was(I was always a big Willie Stargell fan – the song could not be about Willie Stargell could it?). That is what I thought I was hearing (Willie) but really sure but about 5-6 years ago I talked to someone about the lyrics and he convinced me that the lyrics were Sing Women. Thus I now thought I was hearing this:

2005-2011

Sing Women, Sing for the years.

However, recently I discovered the wonders of Youtube and Pandora and I finally found out what he (Steven Tyler) was singing.  After looking at the lyrics I found out the Chorus was this

2011-

Sing With me, Sing for the years 

So after all these years I finally know the words to Dream On, (though I am not 100% positive sure the words are With me but how can the internet be wrong).

So the words for this song evolved for me from Sing Willie to Sing Women to Sing With Me which I think is its final resting place.

Ken Singleton #105

 A very nice action shot of Ken swinging the bat and connecting in this picture. What is strange about this photo is all the yellow in the background. You can see the Oriole players in the dugout but there is a long painted yellow line above the dugout and a few of the fans are wearing yellow (at least 3 in the background).

One thing I can say about this card, wherever it was it was cold as a lot of the fans seemed bundled up.

Bob Sykes #640

Bob had a couple of interesting action shots on 1982 baseball cards. His 1982 Fleer card was used in a post recently by Night Owl cards. The odd thing about this card is the angle. Where exactly is the photographer who took this card. Also the ball is mysteriously missing from this photo.

We need more kicker football cards

Jason Hanson just set an NFL record for appearing in the most games with one team. Hanson has been with the Detroit Lions since 1992. This 2009 Upper Deck card appears to be the last card made of him. He has had very few cards made of him over the years. In the 1990s, kickers were all but eliminated from most cards set. Topps and Score may put in one or two kickers in their sets now. 30-40 years ago numerous kickers appeared in Topps sets.  Today that is not so.