Happy Anniversary Eddie Murray!!!

On this day in 1994, Eddie Murray broke Mickey Mantle’s record of hitting switch-hit home runs in the same game.  Mantle’s record of 10 was dropped down to second place as Murray accomplished this incredible feat for the 11th time in his career.

It was 15 years ago that ‘Easy Eddie’ blasted a home run from both the left and right sides of the plate.  And the rest is baseball history!!

Anytime you can surpass a record set by Mickey Mantle you’ve accomplished something grand in baseball.  Congratulations Eddie.  You are 1-in-a-million!!!

John Olerud Autograph TTM Success!!!

 74 was well worth the wait for John Olerud’s cards to come back to me!

I always enjoyed watching Olerud at the plate.  He had a classic lefty swing, and his style reminded me of players from generations prior to his.

Olerud had a very sound offensive game.  With a career batting average of .295 with 2,239 career base hits, Olerud was consistent offensive threat during his 17 seasons in the big leagues.  He also amassed 500 doubles, 255 home runs, and 1,230 RBI.  Olerud was a 3-time Gold Glove winner, a 2-time All-star, and a 2-time World Series champion with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Thank you for the great autographs Mr. Olerud!! 

Happy Birthday Don Mattingly!!!

That’s right, ‘Donnie Baseball’ is celebrating his 48th birthday today!

As time passes, my appreciation for Mattingly grows considerably.  First off, one of my blogger-buddies is a huge Mattingly fan and he has pointed out how valuable of a player Don was to the Yankees during the 1980′s and 1990′s. 

From an offensive standpoint, there was nothing Mattingly could not do.  A blend of contact and power hitting were some of Mattingly’s greatest strengths.  And defensively at first base there was no-one better during his playing days.  9 Gold Gloves, 3 Silver Slugger Awards, and an MVP Award later and you have an extremely solid career from one of baseball’s biggest stars during the 80′s.

For his birthday, I would like to invite Mattingly to South Florida for the National League championship series with the winner earninga shot at a World Series title.  He’s coaching with the Dodgers these days which means he will have to get through my Marlins, but if there is one team that is playing as well as us, it is Mattingly’s Dodgers. 

Happy Birthday to Donnie Baseball!!

Damn, These Marlins Are Fun To Watch!!!

3 straight games.  3 days of edge-of-your-seat drama.  3 consecutive games going down to the wire…

And each with the Florida Marlins coming out victorious.  The Florida Marlins could very well be on a 3-game losing streak right now.  Instead, they have won 3 in a row and all are the result of 9th inning heroics and game winning hits!!

What’s most amazing is that it seems to be a new guy every that day that pushing the team over the top.  Whether it’s Cody Ross, Jeremy Hermida, Hanley Ramirez, Jorge Cantu, Dan Uggla, or John Baker, this baseball team is full of player that live to compete and never quit. 

There is no better time to be a Marlins fan than right now!!!   GO FISH!!!

3 Andre Dawson Cards From The Upper Deck 1970′s Series

I had never seen these cards before, but when I was able to grab each one for a quarter a piece I jumped on the chance!!

As best I can tell, in 2001 Upper Deck put out a series of cards celebrating player achievements from yesteryear.  This 3-card Andre Dawson set commemorates the following:

Card #1 – this is the base cad

Card #2 – this card celebrates Andre’s 1977 Rookie Of The Year award

Card #3 – this card celebrates the great rookies of the 1970′s as it’s tagged ’1970′s Flashback’

Not too bad for just 75 cents…

1983 Topps Super Veteran – Jim Kaat

1983 Topps Super Veteran – Jim Kaat

25 years spanning over 4 decades.  Debuting in 1959 and playing into the 1980′s, Jim Kaat’s career has a very long wingspan!!!  Jim Kaat really is a ‘Super Veteran’!!!

The numbers – 283 wins, 237 losses.  2,461 strikeouts, 16 Gold Glove awards, 3.45 ERA, 3-time All-star, and 1 World Series championship!!! 

Happy Anniversary Mike Schmidt!!!

On this day in 1987 Michael Jack Schmidt hit the 500th home run of is incredible career!!

I remember watching the highlights of this game.  The joy that Schmidt shared with us as he rounded the bases while pumping his fists is one of the greatest memories I have of baseball from 1980′s.  Rarely do you see a player emit so much joy during a game, but Schmidt did not hold back and I am thankful that  I was able to enjoy his moment with him.

Schmidt finished his career with 548 home runs placing him in 13th place on the all-time list. 

Congratulations Mike and Happy Anniversary!!!

BREAKING NEWS – Gary Sheffield Joins the 500 Home Run Club!!!

You heard if here first.  Sheff just blasted #500!!!

Congratulations Gary!!!

Chicago Cubs Greats Of The Game Update

8 down and just 2 to go.  Ryne Sandberg & Ron Santo – You’ve been warned.  I’m coming after you!!!! 

Trade Time!!!

Recently a reader of ’30-Year Old Cardboard’ sent me a picture of an autographed Andre Dawson card he was willing to trade me.  Of course I had to act on this and now I can show off the goods.

Take a look:

I turned this…

Into This….

Great Stuff!!!!  Thanks Jake!!!