Tony LaRussa Autogrpah TTM Request Success!!

I’d wait 42 days for a 2-time World Series manager to sign my cards through the mail.  So you have to imagine how happy I was to unveil 2 Tony LaRussa signed cards when I ripped open the envelope that was waiting for me in my mailbox.

 I’ve followed LaRussa’s career since his coaching days with the Oakland A’s.  I watched as he took one of the most talented teams during the 1980′s to 3 straight World Series contests.  And then a little more than 15 years later he took the St. Louis Cardinals to the pinnacle as well.

Thanks for the great autographs Mr. LaRussa!!!

‘The 40/40 Club’ – 1980′s – Card #9

‘The 40/40 Club’ – 1980′s – Card #9

Tom Glavine – 1988 Score

Tom Glavine could be classified as the most consistent pitcher to debut during the 1980′s.  From 1988-2007, Glavine started at least 29 games per season.  With the remarkable ability to stay healthy and remain in shape through each season, Glavine put up exceptional numbers.

Going into the 2009 baseball season Tom Glavine has 305 career wins.  In his 22-year career in the major leagues Glavine has won 20 or more games 5 times and 13 or more games 16 times.  His consistent play has provided his teams with 11 seasons of pitching 200 innings or more.  With 2,607 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.54 for his career, Glavine is primed for Hall of Fame entry after his playing days come to an end.

Tom Glavine has won 2 Cy Young awards.  He has also placed in the Top 3 for the award 4 more times during his career.  Glavine’s first Cy Young award came in 1991 when he went 20-11 with a 2.55 ERA.  Glavine pitched 9 complete games in 1991 and struck out 192 batters while walking just 69.  His second Cy Young award was won in 1998 where he went 20-6 with a 2.47 ERA. 

Tom Glavine is a 10-time All-star.  He has also won 4 Silver Slugger award and was often considered to be the best hitting pitcher in the game.  Oftentimes, he and his pitching peers on the Atlanta Braves would compete to see who could turn in the best hitting performances and Glavine finished on top quite a bit.

Glavine has made it to post-season play 12 times in his career while earning 4 trips to the World Series.  In 4 attempts, Glavine won 1 World Series title in 1995 as a member of the Atlanta Braves.  He was tremendous in that championship series as he won 2 games and had an ERA of just 1.29.  In 14 innings of play, Glavine allowed just 2 runs while striking out 11 batters and giving up only 4 hits.  Glavine’s performance was so dominant in that series that he was named the World Series MVP. 

2008 Goudey Florida Marlins Team Set

Ok, so I am a year late in this.  I just paid $1 for this 5-card Florida Marlins team set the other day and even though 1 of the players is no longer with the club, the set still impresses me.

I love the vintage look that this set offers, and these cards are begging for autographs.  So, I will pull the Josh Willingham card and possibly send it to him c/o the Nationals.  The other 4 are coming to Spring Training with me as I try to obtain a few more autographs of my favorite group of guys.

Of the 4, the Miller and Uggla cards really remind me of cards you would see issued 50-60 years ago. 

1989 Score Traded Rickey Henderson

1989 Score Traded Rickey Henderson

What a classic picture of the best base-runner the game of baseball has ever seen.  One of the things that card companies did right with Rickey’s cards is show him doing what he is known for.  There are great mix of cards featuring Rickey as he gets into his famous batting stance, driving the ball for power, and making trouble for pitchers and catchers on the base paths.

This Score card is great.  The design works and the photo is top-notch!!  I really wish Score was introduced in the early-to-mid 1980′s as I think that their product would have made other companies upgrade their photography and design.

‘The 40/40 Club’ – 1980′s – Card #10

‘The 40/40 Club’ – 1980′s – Card #10

Kirby Puckett – 1985 Topps

What could have been.  Man do I miss Kirby Puckett.  Easily one of the most enjoyable players to watch that debuted during the 1980′s, Puckett injected fun into the game that few could replicate. 

In what is considered to be a relatively short career, just 12 seasons, for a Hall of Fame player one has to wonder what more Kirby Puckett could have done in the game if he played for 20 years like many of his counterparts were able to do.

Kirby Puckett has a lifetime batting average of .318.  In his 12 years Puckett hit .300 or better 8 times.  And in 3 of the 4 years that he did not eclipse the .300 milestone he hit at least .290.  With 2,304 hits to his credit while playing in just 12 seasons Puckett amassed some incredible numbers at a torrid pace.  Kirby also has 207 home runs and 134 stolen bases on his impressive resume.  And in just 12 seasons, Kirby was able to score 1,071 runs while driving in 1,085.

Kirby Puckett placed in the Top 7 for the MVP award 7 times.  His best statistical season was in 1992 when he hit .329 while blasting 19 home runs, driving in 110 runs, and stealing 17 bases.  Kirby Puckett was also a 10-time All-star, a 6-time Silver Slugger winner, and a 6-time Gold Glove winner.

Kirby Puckett shined brightly on baseball’s grandest stage.  He played in 2 World Series championship match-ups in 1987 and 1991 and won 2 titles.  In 14 total World Series games, Kirby batted .308 while collecting 16 hits, 9 runs scored, 7 RBI, and 2 home runs.  Most importantly, he and his Minnesota Twins teammates collected 2 World Series rings.

1984 Donruss Jumbo Andre Dawson

This is the second Jumbo card I picked up of Andre Dawson.  It’s a 1984 Donruss issue.  You can see the first one I got, the ’83 issue, by clicking here.

I like this card but it’s hard to keep it with my collection due to it’s size, but I’ll manage to put it in a safe place.

Question: Since the Washington Nationals used to be the Montreal Expos, will they ever revert back to wearing the old Powder-Blue uniforms of the Expos during any of their ‘heritage’ nights?? 

Happy Birthday Shawon Dunston!!!

Yes, today we celebrate Shawon Dunston’s birthday as he turns 46 years old.

With one of the strongest arms of any infielder I have ever seen, I want to give Shawon a gift that can tell us just how strong his arm really was.  I want to get him a professional grade radar detector to test that arm of his.  My guess is that his arm strength could easily be compared to some of the pitchers that he called teammates and foes during his playing days.

Happy Birthday Shawon!!!

‘The 40/40 Club’ – 1980′s – Card #11

‘The 40/40 Club’ – 1980′s – Card #11

Craig Biggio – 1989 Donruss

It could be argued that there was no more versatile player in the big leagues that debuted during the 1980′s than Craig Biggio.  Debuting as a catcher and spending 4 seasons in that role Biggio was than transitioned to second base for the next 11 years.  In those 11 years, Biggio excelled and captured 4 Gold Glove awards for his defensive excellence at second base.  Then at the age of 37 and in his 16th season in the majors Biggio was made into an outfielder, a position he would fill for 2 years before returning to second base for 3 more seasons before his retirement in 2007.

Equally as impressive as his defense was Biggio’s offense.  Extremely versatile at the plate, Biggio offered the combination of speed and power that is rarely found in a second baseman.  Biggio has 291 career home runs and 414 stolen bases.  While never leading the league in either category during his 20-season career, Biggio’s consistency in both aspects of the game made him a constant offensive threat.  Biggio’s career batting average is .281.  And with 3,060 career hits, his well-rounded offensive game gave opposing teams nightmares during each at-bat.  Biggio has also scored 1,844 runs and is responsible for driving in 1,175.

In addition to his 4 Gold Glove awards, Craig Biggio is a 7-time All-star and a 5-time winner of the Silver Slugger award. 

Biggio only made it to 1 World Series championship.  In 2005, his Astros were swept by the Chicago White Sox.  In those 4 games, Biggio batted .222 while collecting just 4 hits, scoring 3 runs, and driving in 1 run. 

3 Dave Winfield Cards To Go….

Yep, just 3 more cards and my Dave Winfield player collection is complete.  I started out with just 1 card, his rookie, when I started this and I am now just 3 cards away from finishing off this set.

The 3 cards I need to get are:

1075 Topps

1976 Topps

1981 Topps Traded

Wish me luck.  If I can find the ’75 & ’76 cards in pretty good shape, I should be able to wrap up this tribute to ‘Big Dave’ within the next few weeks.

1983 Topps Super Veteran – Carl Yastrzemski

1983 Topps Super Veteran – Carl Yastrzemski

Simply known as ‘Yaz’, Carl Yastrzemski personified what being a consistent leader was all about.  Yaz spent every minute of his 23-season long career in a Boston Red Sox jersey.

Along with the droves of fans he established during his career, Yaz put up some amazing numbers too.

The stats : 3,419 hits, 452 home runs, 1,844 RBI, 1,816 runs scored, 168 stolen bases, and a career batting average of .285.  In Yaz’s 23-year career, he finished in the Top 20 for the MVP award 12 times, while earning the award in 1967 with his .326/44/121 performance.