Monthly Archives: March 2010

Paul Molitor 1985 Topps

Paul Molitor 1985 Topps

Ah, one of my favorites – 1985 Topps!

Molitor looks larger than life in this photo.  Not a big man,  by the sport’s standards, the photographer that took this shot must have been on one knee.  Standing at just 6 feet tall, Molitor carried a big bat and matched, if not exceeded, what some of the ‘big’ guys did at the plate.

For the 1985 baseball season, Molitor hit .297.  He collected 171 hits, scored 93 runs, smacked 28 doubles and 10 home runs, and stole 21 bases. 

Molitor also made his second All-star team in 1985.

Mystery Box Headed Andre Dawson’s Way!!!

Taking a small break from my ‘Inscription Set’, I still have a few items I would like to get signed by ‘The Hawk’.

Since I don’t want to give it away, let’s just say that I sent a ‘mystery’ box out this morning  to Andre Dawson.

I’ve got my fingers crossed that my items are signed quickly so I can show them off!!!

Wish me luck.

1985 Topps Record Breakers – Card #7 – Nolan Ryan

1985 Topps Record Breakers – Card #7 – Nolan Ryan

Headline – “Ryan Finishes Season As Game’s All-Time Leader In Strikeouts”

The Story – Cincinnati, Ohio, September 30, 1984:  Astros’ Nolan Ryan finished the season as baseball’s all-time strikeout leader.  The flame-thrower has recorded 3,874 whiffs during his illustrious career, surpassing the total of Phillies’ southpaw Steve Carlton.  The mark has changed hands several times between the two since midway thru 1983 season.

My Added Notes – Ryan finished his amazing career with 5,714 K’s.  Now that Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens(#2 & #3 all-time) are gone from the game it is safe to say that Ryan’s record will remain his for at least the next 20 years.  The current player with the highest mark is 37-year old Pedro Martinez, with 3,154.

Baseball Card Show Purchase #14 – George Foster Autographed Baseball w/1977 NL MVP Inscription!!!

Baseball Card Show Purchase #14 – George Foster Autographed Baseball w/1977 NL MVP Inscription!!!

Each one of my previous 13 purchases came from one dealer at the show.  And no, I did not really ‘cash out’ thirteen times with him…

My last purchase came from one of the guys that was peddling just autographs.

He had roughly 70-80 official Rawlings game balls signed and a prominent sign that read ‘BASEBALLS $20.00′.  A sign like that is bound to get my attention so I pounced.  There were some great names on display – and some not so great ones too…

And then I started to see some real superstars…

And then I saw this:

And I absolutely had to have it.

I jumped into my wallet, forked over an Andrew Jackson, and took George home with me!

He now sits comfortably in my office alongside his buddies Pete and Tony!!

Baseball Card Show Purchase #13 – Andre Dawson Game-Used Jersey & Bat Card

Baseball Card Show Purchase #13 – Andre Dawson Game-Used Jersey & Bat Card

Ahhh, the final card I picked up at the show – and it is AWESOME!!!

Numbered 16/50, this card comes from the 2004 Donruss Studio ‘Diamond Cuts’ set.

Featuring pieces of game-used jersey and bat used by Andre, this card is a welcomed addition to my ‘Ultimate Dawson’ collection.

Alfredo – I cannot thank you enough for pointing this one out to me!!!

Baseball Card Show Purchase #12 – 1975 Topps Rod Carew

Baseball Card Show Purchase #12 – 1975 Topps Rod Carew

I don’t know why, but it really feels like these 1975 Topps cards are stalking me.  And I am having incredibly good luck in finding them in mint condition – and cheap too!!

I nabbed this ’75 Topps card of Hall of Famer Rod Carew for just $2.00.

During the 1975 baseball season, Carew hit .359 while collecting 192 hits.  He also tallied 24 doubles and 14 home runs.  Carew scored 89 runs, drove in another 80, and struck out just 40 times in 617 plate appearances.  Carew was again an All-star in 1975 while also winning another batting title.  He finished in 9th place in the MVP race as well.

Great picture!!

Baseball Card Show Purchase #11 – Modern-Day McCoveys!!!

Baseball Card Show Purchase #11 – Modern-Day McCoveys!!!

Willie McCovey was a stud during his playing days.  A Rookie of the Year and MVP award winner, McCovey’s dominance lasted throughout his 22-season big league career.

A power hitter, McCovey launched 521 homers during his career.  He eclipsed the 30 home run mark 7 times during his career, while smacking 40 or more twice.

Willie McCovey was a 6-time All-star and was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986.

Each of these cards cost me just a dime.  Of them, my favorite is that Upper Deck Timelines one.  It’s a bad-boy – just like Willie McCovey!!

Baseball Card Show Purchase #10 – Dennis Eckersley Game-Used Jersey Card

Baseball Card Show Purchase #10 – Dennis Eckersley Game-Used Jersey Card

The most dominant closer to ever play the game – not named Rivera??  For me, it is Dennis Eckersely!!!

Starring in an era when stoppers and their roles were not as magnified, Dennis Eckersley was the star of the show.  A fireballer, who debuted in the big leagues as a starting pitcher, ‘Eck’ was the man who closed games for the mighty Oakland A’s during their dominance of the late 1980′s and into the 1990′s.

Boasting a career record of 171-151, Eckersely was a solid and very serviceable starter.  And after he transitioned to the bullpen, he dominated.  Tallying 390 career saves, ‘Eck’ collected 30 or more saves in 8 of the 12 seasons in which he was the team’s closer.  During a 5-year stretch from 1988-1992, Eckersely notched ERA’s of 2.35, 1.56, 0.61, 2.96, and 1.91 respectively.

Dennis Eckersely won the American League Cy Young Award and MVP during the 1992 baseball season.  He was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

And I paid just $2.00 for this card featuring a piece of jersey from his dominant days in Oakland!! 

Baseball Card Show Purchase #9 – Rod Carew Greatness…

Baseball Card Show Purchase #9 – Rod Carew Greatness…

Rod Carew is another player I would love to collect.  And while his rookie cards are well out of my price range, you have to start somewhere…

So I started with the ‘Dime Bin’ to gather a few cards of this Hall of Famer.

In total I scored 13 different cards of Carew, all from the 1980′s.

If I end up selecting him as a future player I would like to honor by collecting all of his cards,  I may have to go backwards.  That rookie will cost more than $200.00 – OUCH!!

 

Baseball Card Show Purchase #8 – 1973 Topps Joe Morgan

Baseball Card Show Purchase #8 – 1973 Topps Joe Morgan

While I have not declared myself as a ‘Joe Morgan Collector’ just yet, I do see that tagline in my future.

My favorite member of ‘The Big Red Machine’, I find Morgan’s output on the baseball diamond to be heroic!  Always the smallest guy, and playing on a team of dominating talent, Morgan held his own – oftentimes trumping the bigger stars.

Morgan could do it all on the field – hit for average, hit for power, run the bases, draw walks, score runs, steal bases – he had all-around game!!

I love this 1973 Topps card of Morgan – and I love that it cost me just $1.00 even more!!