‘Same Card, Different Paths’ – Card #40
1966 Topps - Card #424 – AKA – ‘The Lee May Rookie Card’
Lee May - May, a 3-time All-star and perennial MVP contender played 18 years in the big leagues. Splitting time between the Reds, Astros, Orioles, and Royals, May put up solid numbers for every team he played for. A career .267 hitter, May collected 2,031 career hits with 340 doubles and 354 home runs. He also scored 959 runs during his playing days while driving in an additional 1,244. May played in both the 1970 and 1979 World Series, but did not come away a winner in either match-up.
Darrell Osteen – Osteen has a brief 3-year career with the Reds from 1965-67. Appearing in just 26 contests with the team, Osteen was 0-4 with 3 saves. Osteen was traded to the Oakland A’s during the offseason of 1967 and made a relatively short comeback with the A’s during the 1970 campaign before calling it quits.
Categories: 'Same Cards, Different Paths'
Tagged: 2000 hits, 350 home runs, A's, all-star, Athletics, baltimore orioles, baseball, baseball cards, Cincinnati Reds, darrell osteen, houston astros, kansas city royals, lee may, oakland A's, Oakland Athletics, pitcher, rookie, rookie card, topps
February 9, 2010 · 1 Comment
14 days was all it took for former All-star Darren Daulton to return this wonderfully signed baseball card to me!!
From a far I had always admired Daulton’s game. Then he joined my Florida Marlins in 1997 as they drove towards the playoffs and soon I was a HUGE Darren Daulton fan. His World Series performance was incredible. In 7 games ‘Dutch’ racked up some great numbers – .389, 7 hits, 7 runs, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, and a home run. Most importantly he took home a championship ring!!
Thanks for the autograph Dutch!!!!
Categories: Autographs · Stars from the 80's
Tagged: 1997 world series, authentic, autograph collecting, autograph hunting, Autographs, autographs through the mail, baseball, baseball cards, catcher, Darren Daulton, Florida Marlins, Marlins, philadelphia phillies, phillies, sports autographs, TTM, ttm autographs, ttm success, world series
John Kruk turns 49 years old today!
A man with one of the largest personalities in baseball during his playing days, Kruk was always a fan favorite. Although Kruk did not look like the prototypical baseball player, or athlete for that matter, he was as talented a hitter as there was in the late 80’s. In Kruk’s 10-year playing career, he hit .300 or better 7 times. And when he retired from the sport, he left with a career batting average of .300 while amassing 100 home runs and 592 RBI.
But for Kruk’s birthday I want to give him something else. Something nobody else may think of to give him. I want to give him 1 more double. I mean, who wants to retire from the game with 199 doubles when 200 sounds so much better? So, ‘Krukkie’ my gift to you is 1 more ‘2-bagger’.
Happy Birthday & Enojy!!!
Categories: Birthdays & Anniversaries · Stars from the 80's
Tagged: all-star, baseball, baseball tonight, espn, john kruk, kruk, padres, philadelphia phillies, phillies, san diego padres
Now that my Eddie Murray player collection is complete I wanted to take the time to show off my favorite 5 cards from this set.
Card #4 – 1985 Fleer
A posed portrait, yet so different from the other posed photography we were hammered with during the 1980’s.
I love this card. I love the look on Eddie’s face. I love the bright and bold coloring!!
At first glance, Eddie kind of looks like Samuel L. Jackson from his Pulp Fiction days. In fact, if they were ever going to make ‘The Eddie Murray Movie’, Jackson would be a prefect fit strictly based on his uncanny resemblance to Murray.
While the 1985 Fleer issue is a rather bland one, the card’s sharp coloring and team-themed look makes the card a winner. And that famous O’s logo in the top-right corner of the card is the icing on the cake!!!
Categories: Eddie Murray Collection · Stars from the 80's
Tagged: baseball cards, baseball, Hall Of Fame, HOF, all-star, 3000 hits, baseball milestones, 500 home runs, baltimore orioles, baseball history, orioles, eddie murray, 500 HR club, 3000 hits club, switch hitter, 500 hrs
Andre Dawson 2009 Topps Tribute – Base
Finally, I have added a 2009 issue of Andre Dawson to my collection – YES!!!!
Of course it didn’t happen until 2010, but who’s counting?? Actually I guess I am counting…
Anyways, I am not sure when the 2009 Topps Tribute set was released but they have been all over Ebay for the last month or so. And ever since Andre’s Hall of Fame election was announced, the price of these and their availability on Ebay has steadily risen.
From what I can tell, there are Blue, Black, Gold, and Red versions of this card available too. Each is serial numbered and I am pretty sure that they are limited to 219, 99, 50, and 1 respectively. So while my desire to obtain the full set of these is strong, the likelihood of securing the Red version is pretty unrealistic at this point. But that won’t stop me from going after the other three versions…
As for the card itself, it is a beauty. With a nice, thick cardstock it won’t fit in a regular top-loader. The card is as shiny as can be and I am very happy with the photo that Topps used for this issue.
Blue, Black, Gold, and possibly Red – Here I come!!!
Categories: Andre Dawson Collection · Chicago Cubs · Stars from the 80's
Tagged: all-star, Andre Dawson, Andre Dawson Collection, Autographs, baseball, baseball cards, bat card, certified autograph, Chicago Cubs, collection, collector, Cubs, Expos, Game Used/Memorabilia Cards, gold glove, hobby, jersey card, memorabilia card, montreal expos, most valuable player, MVP, silver slugger, TTM, ttm success
Ron from “Section 36″ Offers Up Cards 2,3,4,5,&6 For My 1975 Topps Cincinnati Reds Team Set!!
About two weeks ago Ron sent me an email asking I would like a few of his extra ‘75 Topps cards featuring guys for my team set. With a checklist featuring more than 30 cards, I jumped at the chance to secure a few freebies!!!
Here they are:
Jack Billingham - Billingham was a solid part of the Reds pitching staff in 1975 and 1976. With 15 and 12 wins respectively, he set the pace for what would be 10 consecutive seasons with double-digit victories. Billingham was an All-star during the 1973 baseball season and he also finished in the Top 6 for the Cy Young Award during the 1973 and 1974 seasons. Billingham was on both of the Reds’ championship winning teams in 1975 and 1976.
Pedro Borbon - Borbon starred for the Reds for 10 seasons. During his days in Cincy, Pedro amassed a 62-39 record while capturing 76 saves. Used primarily in middle relief, Borbon figured in several wins because of the powerful offense of ‘The Big Red Machine’. Borbon’s career win percentage of .639 puts hi min 36th place on the all-time list. Borbon was a member of both the 1975 and 1976 World Series winning teams.
Clay Carroll – Carroll played 8 years for the Reds and enjoyed his greatest success as a major league pitcher with the team. During that time, Carroll won 71 games while losing just 43 – good for a .623 win percentage. Carroll was a 2-time All-star, and he finished in the Top 8 for the Cy Young award 2 times. Carroll won one title with the Reds, in 1975.
Terry Crowley – Terry Crowley’s career as a Red lasted just 2 seasons – 1974 & 1975. An outfielder, Crowley was used primarily as a utility guy to give the starters a break when needed. Playing in just 150 games as a Red, Crowley amassed a .250 batting average while collecting 49 hits, 31 RBI, and scoring 19 runs. Crowley was a member of the 1975 World Series winning team and he hit .500 in that championship match-up.
Dan Driessen - Driessen was a solid contributor to the Reds team for 12 seasons. A key, and underrated part of their offense, Driessen hit .271 as a Red while also scoring 661 runs, crushing 133 home runs, stealing 150 bases, and collecting 670 RBI. Driessen won titles with the Reds in both ‘75 & ‘76 – and in that 1976 series, he hit .357 as he went 5-for-14.
Caser Geronimo – In the right place at the right time, Cesar Geronimo played 9 of his 15 big league seasons in Cincinnati. A solid outfielder that could play both Center and Right very well, Geronimo won 4 consecutive Gold Gloves in Cincy from 1974-1977. With the team, he hit .261, but during the World Series he rose his average to .290 en route to winning championships in both 1975 and 1976.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Ron!!!
This was just the kick-start I needed to get going on this set. I appreciate your extreme act of generosity!!!
Progress 7/34
Categories: 1975 Cincinnati Reds Team Set
Tagged: 1975 topps, 1975 world series, 1976 world series, all-star, big red machine, cesar geronimo, Cincinnati Reds, clay carroll, cy young, cy young award, dan driessen, gold glove, jack billingham, pedro borbon, pitcher, reds, relief pitcher, reliever, Sparky Anderson, starting pitcher, terry crowley, world series
Jim Palmer 2008 Upper Deck Masterpieces
Taking a quick break from my strict player collection guidelines, I picked up this 2008 Upper Deck Masterpieces card featuring Jim Palmer.
I like the Masterpieces set – and I love how they brought back so many of baseball’s greatest players from decades past – Palmer included.
And while I would never really want to build sets issued today, I wouldn’t mind finding a few more ‘Masterpieces’ to connect me with some more legends of the game!!
What a beautiful card!!!
Categories: Jim Palmer Collection · Stars from the 80's
Tagged: 1966 world series, 1970 world series, 1983 world series, all-star, baltimore orioles, baseball, baseball cards, collection, cy young, cy young award, Hall Of Fame, HOF, jim palmer, orioles, pitcher, world series
Now that my Eddie Murray player collection is complete I wanted to take the time to show off my favorite 5 cards from this set.
Card #5 – 1983 Topps
When card number 5 of a ‘Fab 5′ list starts with the 1983 Topps base card, you know that the list is going to be good!!!
I love everything about the 1983 set, and if I had to rate all of the sets issued in the 1980’s, this one would be very close to the top. The card has it all - large action photography, small close-up cameos, and colors that coordinate with the player’s team.
On this card, we have a very focused Eddie Murray as he prepares to do battle from the left-side of the plate. As he gets into his batting stance, the look of focus and concentration is very clear. And even in the cameo on the bottom-left corner of the card, Eddie means business!! The Orange and Brown details of the card’s border and text are perfect compliments to the Orioles team colors!!
Categories: Eddie Murray Collection · Stars from the 80's
Tagged: 3000 hits, 3000 hits club, 500 home runs, 500 HR club, 500 hrs, all-star, baltimore orioles, baseball, baseball cards, baseball history, baseball milestones, eddie murray, Hall Of Fame, HOF, orioles, switch hitter
Super Bowl Sunday Is A Great Time To Shop On Ebay…
Yes, I tuned into the game just like most of the country. But I did it while sitting in my comfortable office chair. And I did it while surfing around on Ebay!!!
And you will not belive what I walked away with… I want to save it all for a forth-coming post and as soon as I get everything in the mail, I will be sure to post a special story on here featuring the cards so you can enjoy them as much as I know that I will!!!
1 hint – the oldest card is more than 30 years of age…
Even Drew Brees is happy for me!!!
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: 2009 super bowl, baseball, baseball cards, collecting, collection, drew brees, hobby, new orleans saints, saints, super bowl, super bowl sunday
1990 Bowman Darryl Strawberry
A very serious Darryl Strawberry poses for a picture during Spring Training as the afternoon skies turn a bit cloudy behind him.
For some reason, Bowman didn’t do that great of a job capturing good photos of Darryl. Maybe they disliked him – or maybe the Mets. Either way, the 1990 version below and this 1989 Bowman card are not too flattering.
Doesn’t that bat look tiny perched on the shoulder of the 6 foot, 6 inch slugger!!!
Categories: Darryl Strawberry Collection · Stars from the 80's
Tagged: 1986 world series, 1996 world series, 1999 world series, all-star, darryl strawberry, dodgers, los angeles dodgers, Mets, New york mets, new york yankees, Rookie of the Year, ROY, silver slugger, world series, yankees
