Wow, Pujols and Paul come to Los Angeles and good bye Pau Gasol

Joe Simpson #55

This appears to be a blurry spring training photo shot. For some reason the Mariners players photo tend to be dark or blurry (even though in this shot this is a daytime photo.) Joe would became a radio announcer after his playing days were over.

Star Wars vs. Star Trek

It has been a question that I have been contemplating since the early 1980s probably since just after Star Trek 2, the Wrath of Khan came out. The Simple Question that I ask is Who would Win. Who would Win in a battle. Which Technology was more advanced.  I think the tide for me turned on that question in the late 1980s, when the Star Trek the Next Generation was on TV. Star Trek TNG was set about 70 year in the future of the original Star Trek. The Enterprise was new and improved.  I felt that that Enterprise could take out any Imperial Cruiser that the Emperor could throw at the Federation. I mean that Raggedy Tag Millennium Falcon was able to outrun the Empire. There are three major problems that I had with my theory.

1. In the Star Wars universe, forces seemed to rely on a multitude of single piloted fighter. While in the Star Trek universe, they were non-existent. The Answer: Maybe in the Star Trek Universe the ships phasers would take out a fleet of ships. Remember,  It seemed to me that in Star Trek it was a lot easier for them to reach warp drive then in Star Wars for them to reach hyperspace.

2. The Force: This seemed to be an initial problem for me but then I thought what the premise of the Force was. An Aura around us that controls all living things. I think the Key is living things. That is where Data (from TNG) comes in. I think Data some how or way would come up of some sort of way to negate the Force. Or at least make it a neutral factor by explaining it.

3. The Death Star. This is a real problem for the theory. I don’t recall any weapon in the Star Trek universe that matches the Death Star. However, I thought about one of ST adversaries, the Borg. The Borg basically went planet to planet and extracted all resources from the planet and assimilated in to the collective hive. They seemed  just as powerful as what the Death Star could do and just as ruthless.

Still today, I think the Star Trek universe would beat the Star Wars universe but it would be a very close call. Oh, but I would love to see the Movies. 

Pat Putnam. (Yesterday’s Chris Davis)

There was a great Star Trek TNG episode called Yesterdays Enterprise. It was about a temporal distortion (I love that phrase) that cause a rift in the space time continuum (another great phrase) in the past and changed the Future, which was the present. Pat was Yesterdays Chris Davis. Both were big strong lumbering Texas Ranger first baseman separated by 30 years. Both started fast and both fell quickly. It is eerie to see their number  similarities – Putnam 1979 (18-64.277), Davis 2008 (17-55-285) in their first full season.

Shane Rawley #352

Yet another card with the Phillips 76 sign being prominent in the background. I cant figure out the other advertisement on his left side, This is one of the few clearly focused Seattle Mariners cards in the set. In fact it is a very nice shot the captures most of the player and a large portion of a distinghable background.

This shot looks like it was taken just before the game as a large group of people can be seen filling up a portion of the outfield seats.

Mike Parrott #226

Poly want a Cracker. Coming Right At You. That is what is great about this shot of Mike in full windup. You look like you are the catcher on this play. Mike is also wearing some decent shades.

Back Facts: WON his opening game in '80, THEN LOST 16 IN A ROW TO SET ANOTHER CLUB RECORD HE WOULD JUST AS SOON FORGET.

Alan Bannister #159

 We continue with the close up shots of the players in this set. Not sure of the stadium but this photo also seems to be taken at the same time as Bonnell’s and Al Woods Donruss cards as you can see the red and yellow up deck seats.

Back Facts: Was the first player chosen in the nation by the Phillies in Jan ’73 amateur draft.