Orel Hershiser 1993 Donruss

Orel Hershiser 1993 Donruss

I love this card!!!

This is exactly what the catcher and umpire saw every five days when Hershiser took the mound.

And while he is not the most physically imposing player to ever throw a pitch, he was incredible to witness.  Hershiser’s desire to compete and excel at the highest level made him an ultra-competitive player.  You have to earn a nickname like ‘Bulldog’ and that is exactly what he did.

Great player.  Great card.  Great addition to my Orel Hershiser player collection!!!

Did You Know…

On July 23, 1991, Goose Gossage recorded his 308th career save – by preserving Nolan Ryan’s 308th career victory.  The Texas Rangers beat the Boston Red Sox 5-4 at Arlington Stadium with Ryan pitching seven innings of three-hit ball, giving up three earned runs and striking out seven.  Gossage entered in the bottom of the eighth to get the last four outs to earn the save – his only save of the season.

**factoid courtesy of ‘Big League Trivia’

My take – Fun with baseball numbers!!!

The Evolution Of My Collection – Part 7

The Evolution Of My Collection – Part 7

It has been more than 3 months since my last evolution post.  You can revisit ‘Part 6′ here.

Here is a picture of my current collection of baseball cards:

And as you can see from ‘Part 6′, my collection had taken on more life since that time.

Obviously, the glaring difference is that I have added a 5th box into the mix.  I was coming close to full capacity and moving players around to accommodate for growing player collections was getting tiring.  The 5th box has served its purpose very well as it has allowed me the space needed to grow my PC’s while keeping things somewhat organized.

Here is a description of what you are looking at:

Top Row, Row 3 – Reggie Jackson, Joe Morgan, Willie McCovey, Johnny Bench, Gary Carter, Ozzie Smith, Frank Robinson, and Kirby Puckett.

Top Row, Row 4 – Fergie Jenkins, Ernie Banks, Ron Santo

Top Row, Row 5 – Jim Palmer, Darryl Strawberry, Dave Winfield

Top Row, Row 6 – Billy Williams, Greg Maddux, Mark Grace

Top Row, Row 7 – Rickey Henderson, Eddie Murray, Dan Uggla, Cameron Maybin, Hanley Ramirez

Top Row, Row 8 – Paul Molitor, Tim Raines, Orel Hershiser

Top Row, Row 9 – Misc. Players, Dale Murphy

Bottom Row, Row 1 – Game-Used Cards, Autographed Cards

Bottom Row, Row 2 - Subsets

Bottom Row, Row 3 – Empty Storage

Bottom Row, Row 4,5,6 – Andre Dawson

I am thrilled with how my collection has filled out this year.  And I have so much more that I want to go after too!  Stay tuned, I promise it will just keep getting better!!!

Thanks.

‘On The Road With psugator02′ – May 21, 2010

‘On The Road With psugator02′ – May 21, 2010

Friday, May 21
Dunedin Blue Jays at Jupiter Hammerheads
Roger Dean Stadium
Jupiter
3:15-4:15 p.m.

I thought I had it timed perfectly. I arrived at 3:15 p.m. and only had to wait 15 minutes for the Jays. I asked a player getting off the bus if he could point out SS Adeinis Hechavarria. Wouldn’t you know it, Hechavarria, in what was supposed to be his first game in the FSL, missed the bus. He finally showed up at 4:15. It was hot so I sat in my air-conditioned car waiting for his taxi. It wasn’t a cab but an old man driving Hechavarria and another teammate to the stadium. That came as a shock to me as I was expecting a taxi. By the time I realized it was Hechavarria it was too late. I shouted at the two of them, asking them to sign. But this Rodriguez character that Hechavarria was with yelled back, “We can’t right now because we’re late.” I didn’t fret, considering I’ll have at least four years to graph Hechavarria if he ever amounts to anything.

Adeinis Hechavarria: 0/1..would’ve gotten him had I stayed but I wanted to get to the FHSAA state baseball tournament in Port St. Lucie. I do know that he signed later for graphgetter, who happened to be the only grapher there. He kept telling graphgetter that he could only do one, yet he eventually broke down and did a second only after graphgetter showed him a picture of his infant son. Dude just got to the U.S. and he’s already a 1-per. not good

FHSAA baseball tournament
Digital Domain Park,
Port St. Lucie, Fla.
4:45-7:15 p.m.
Archbishop McCarthy vs. Dunnellon

Archbishop McCarthy was practicing on the backfields behind third base when I arrived. I sauntered over to the seats that jutted out onto the field, hoping to get Nick Castellanos, who is projected to go in the first round of the 2010 MLB Draft. Former MLB pitcher Alex Fernandez is one of the team’s coaches, and even though I was the only grapher there, Fernandez insisted on getting in the way as I asked Castellanos for his graph. The kid was actually walking toward me as Fernandez shouted, “Not now, Nick. You’re going to have to sign for him after the game.”

Game was actually pretty exciting. As Archbishop McCarthy finished its on-field celebrations I waited for Nick, who came over to sign for me on his own (love when that happens). He happily did two (SS, ROMLB) and then another dozen Pro Sigs for graphgetter. I also got Fernandez, whom I’ve had some run-ins with as an umpire, to sign some cards.

Nick Castellanos: 2/2 (SS, ROMLB)
Alex Fernandez: 3/14 (cards)

A picture of the Castellanos balls can be seen below. He would’ve done everything I had.

Former MLB pitcher Alex Fernandez had me pick three cards for him to do. I chose the UM and draft-pick cards because they looked like they would hold signatures well.

If you would like to contact Mark, he can be reached at psugator02@yahoo.com.

Tony Perez 1970 Topps

Tony Perez 1970 Topps

I cannot get enough of the Reds and ‘The Big Red Machine’ from the mid-1970′s.  If I told you how much time I have spent shopping for stuff that honors the team, you would have me committed.

And every once in a while I find a bargain that I just cannot pass up.

And that is how I got this 1970 Topps Tony Perez card!!

I have to say that this set has started to grow on me.  With their dull(and boring) border color, Topps really didn’t bring their ‘A’ game to the table when it comes to design.  But what I have found is that the cards that feature Bright and Bold colors look great with the Gray border color.

And that is why this card featuring Tony Perez is a hit!!!

Andre Dawson 2004 Donruss Classics – ‘Legendary Lumberjacks’

Andre Dawson 2004 Donruss Classics – ‘Legendary Lumberjacks’

Of the several ‘Lumberjacks’ cards that I have of Andre Dawson that were issued by Donruss in the mid-2000′s, this is my favorite.

While others tried to be more creative by showing trees as their ‘lumber’, I will go with and enjoy the ‘lumber’ that made Dawson a Hall of Famer. 

This card, numbered 458/1000, captures the theme perfectly for me when I hear the term lumber as it relates to baseball.  And while close to 50% of the card’s surface area is plain, the two images used by Donruss on this card work very well in capturing the theme.

A great, new addition to my growing Andre Dawson collection!!!

1981 Topps ‘Record Breakers’ – Card #205 – Pete Rose

1981 Topps ‘Record Breakers’ – Card #205 – Pete Rose

“Rose sets new standard in at-bats”

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 5, 1980.

Phillies’ first baseman Pete Rose has added another record to his ever-increasing collection.  Nicknamed ‘Charlie Hustle’, he topped the 600 mark in official at-bats in 1980 marking the 13th consecutive season that he reached that plateau.  The former major league record of 12 consecutive seasons was set by Nelson(Nellie) Fox of the White Sox from 1951 through 1962.

My Take – Put this guy in the ‘Hall’ already!!!

Contest Winner!!!

Contest Winner!!!

And the winner of my ‘Shades of 89′ contest is – GERAD!!!

With 31 runs selected, Gerad is the only player to enter my ‘Shade of 89′ contest that selected below the actual number of hits during the 3-game series.  His guess of 31 was closest to the 36 hits that the A’s and Giants accounted for this past weekend

Congratulations, Gerad!!!  I already have your address – your cards will be mailed out shortly.

And thanks to everyone that participated in this contest.  The next one is just around the corner…  Stay tuned.

The Basketball Hall Of Fame Irks Me!!!!

The Basketball Hall Of Fame Irks Me!!!!

I haven’t had the best luck when it comes to chosing successful teams to cheer for and align myself with.  And in my 25+ years of being a sports fan, I could probably count my championship moments on less than two hands(and that involves all sports, including some individual ones too).

So with that being said, when a team or player that I have enjoyed during their career is honored, I gain a little more salvation from that than the average fan.

All of this leads me up to the 2010 Basketball Hall of Fame inductions.

The headliners of the class of 2010 are Karl Malone and Scottie Pippen. 

Pippen was an absolute joy to watch on the court, and is probably one of the most accomplished of the versatile players that the sport has ever had.  I enjoyed watching him play during his career in Chicago and I am happy that he will be honored as a Hall of Famer.

My admiration for Karl Malone goes well beyond that.  Malone is my Andre Dawson of the basketball world.  While everyone else was cheering on #23, I was hooked on ‘The Mailman’.  And while it was not an easy feat while living in Chicago, I was able to immerse myself in everything that was Karl Malone related.  He is one of the greatest scorers in the history of the sport and will be honored as a Hall of Famer with Pippen in a few months.

So what has me irked??  How about this…

Along with the Pippen and Malone inductions, the HOF has decided to enshrine the ‘Dream Team’ as part of the class of 2010 as well.  And while I have tons of fond memories of watching these guys play and dominate for the United States, I am quite frankly pissed that the Hall has chosen this year to honor them.  Is there something special about 2010?  No.  Does 2010 mark an anniversary of the team’s success?  No.  So, why this year?  Why 2010?  Why, Why, Why???

I just don’t get it.  Do they deserve to be honored as the greatest assembly of basketball talent ever seen?  Of course!  But, why now??  Give Malone and Pippen the same spotlight that you gave Robinson, Stockton, and Jordan last year.  Why not wait until the HOF doesn’t have a 1st ballot entrant?  Then give the ‘Dream Team’ the headline so the induction class is still relevant.  And that way it doesn’t take away from the joy that 2 of its members will get from their inductions. 

Personally I see this as nothing more than the HOF parading MJ, Magic, Bird, and the others around to keep people interested.  But I find it completely unfair to Pippen and Malone as well as their faimlies and fans who want to see them have this moment to shine on their own.  I just don’t see why they would do that this year when two of the greatest and most decorated players from the last 25 years have earned their chance to stand alone in the spotlight.

Will I watch?  Yes.  Am I already preparing myself for a let down?  Sadly, yes.

I, and many others as well, have been waiting far too long for this day to come to see ‘The Mailman’ and ‘Pip’ share a stage on this special night with Christian Laetner, Chris Mullin, and Clyde Drexler.

Frank Robinson 2004 Topps Memorial Stadium Seat Card

Frank Robinson 2004 Topps Memorial Stadium Seat Card

At first, second, and third glance, I thought that this was a game-used bat card.  And that is why I bought it.  I mean, who wouldn’t want a game-used relic card of one of the most dynamic offensive players to ever suit up in the big leagues?? 

I would.  So, I did.

And after much closer inspection, I realized that this card is not a chunk of wood from a baseball bat, but of a seat from the old Municipal Stadium.  Still cool, I think it is a nice addition to the relic-card collection I am putting together.  And if  I think of all of the incredible memories and championships won in that old stadium, it makes owning this card even more enjoyable!!

That fact that one of my favorite Orioles is on the card is simply icing on the cake!!!