Wade Boggs 2008 Upper Deck SP ‘Legendary Memorabilia’ Game-Used Jersey Card

Wade Boggs 2008 Upper Deck SP ‘Legendary Memorabilia’ Game-Used Jersey Card

When I add new players to my list of ‘Guys I Collect’ I try to also check out the new issues that the player is in.  It gives me some insight as to how relevant the player is in the hobby today while also giving me the chance to see what I have missed during my absence from the collecting world.

And it gives me the opportunity to hook up some great finds for my collection.

And that is what this card is:

Serial numbered 28/99, this is a great looking relic card of Wade Boggs.  I already had a few other cards from this set and I just added a sweet handful that I will unveil as time passes.

For this specific card, I like that the photo depicts Boggs playing defense at third – I really appreciate it when player is shown doing something in the sport that he was not best know for…

Orel Hershiser 1990 Fleer All-Stars

Orel Hershiser 1990 Fleer All-Stars

I am a huge fan of the cards that were issued during the mid-to-late 1980′s and into the 1990′s that payed homage to a player’s excellence on the field.

From All-Star cards to Team Leader cards to Record Breakers – I like them all!!!

And while I like them all, I have to say that not all of them are truly ‘likable’.

Take this card issued by Fleer in 1990 as part of their ‘All-Stars’ set.  A great theme, the card is just horrible.  From the terrible graphic design to the lousy color, this one is a dog.  But then they give you that picture and that just seals the deal – TERRIBLE!!!

While I am happy to add this card to my Orel Hershiser collection, I am even more excited to scratch it off  of my ‘Needs List’.

Gary Carter 1989 Bowman

Gary Carter 1989 Bowman

Yeah baby!  A little Super-Sized, but still classic, this shot of Carter chasing down Ryne Sandberg cannot help but bring a smile to my face.

Carter was an excellent defensive catcher, and I recall on more than one occasion watching him chase down runners between third and hom base.  This time it just happens to be fellow Hall of Famer, Ryne Sandberg…

On This Day, The ’40/40 Club’ Was Born!!!

On this day in 1988, Jose Canseco elevated his game to a place that no other player had been prior.

With 2 stolen bases against the Milwaukee Brewers, Canseco collected his 39th and 40th steals of the season and became the first player in major league history to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in the same season.

Canseco won the Most Valuable Player award during this season.  And it can be argued that this was the most impressive offensive season ever had by a player.  To date, only 4 players have gained entry into the ’40/40 Club’, with Canseco being the first.  And had it not been for Jose’s incredible year, it’s very possible that this baseball milestone never existed.

Congratulations to Jose Canseco – A Very Elite Player!!!

Happy Anniversary Steve Carlton!!!

On this day in 1983 Steve Carlton recorded the 300th win of his amazing baseball career.

‘Lefty’ and his Phillies teammates were on the road in St. Louis as they prepared to battle the Cardinals.  Ironically, it was the Cardinals that Carlton broke into the major leagues with…  In the game, Carlton was dominant.  He pitched 8 solid innings while allowing 7 hits and 2 runs.  And since he is one of the game’s greatest strikeout artists, he also added 12 more K’s to his resume while also collecting a hit as well.

Congratulations on #300!!!!

TTM Success: Hall of Famer, Phil Niekro!!!

TTM Success:  Hall of Famer, Phil Niekro!!!

Another great looking Hall of Fame autograph for my collection – and this one took just 12 days to get home to me!!

Signed perfectly by Phil Niekro, this is baseball number 37 in my collection, and my 18th by a member of the Hall of Fame.

Thank you Mr. Niekro!

TTM Success: Ryan Dempster

TTM Success: Ryan Dempster

Way back in February of 2010 I put roughly 75 TTM requests in the mail.  And within weeks, the results started to pour in. 

Now, 220 days later, I can add 1 more success to that list – Ryan Dempster.

I enjoyed watching Dempster pitch when he was a Marlin.  And I’ve kept up with him as his career took him to Cincinnati and now Chicago.

Thanks for the great autograph Ryan!!!

Paul Molitor 1987 Fleer

Paul Molitor 1987 Fleer

So Paul Molitor walks up to you at the bar at says, ‘Hey Pretty Lady, do you come here often’??

I mean seriously….

I have seen some terrible posed portraits on baseball cards, but this one of Molitor may be one of the worst.  I cannot believe that this one got the ‘OK’ by Fleer.

Tony Perez 1984 Topps Traded

Tony Perez 1984 Topps Traded

It always feels good to go home!!

And while Tony Perez was not born in Cincinnati, it’s pretty obvious that his greatest success as a major league baseball player came during his time in Cincy.

So it is very cool and fitting that he ended his career in the same place that it all started.

And Topps did a very good job in honoring that. 

Great photo choice too…

Did You Know…

Entering the final game of the 2004 season, 46-year old Julio Franco had 97 hits and was trying to become the oldest player to get 100 hits in a season.  Franco singled in each of his first two at-bats and walked in the sixth against Chicago’s Greg Maddux before he struck out looking in the eighth against Jon Leicester to end the year at 99 hits.

**factoid courtesy of ‘Big League Trivia’