Joe Morgan 1965 Topps ROOKIE CARD!!!

Joe Morgan 1965 Topps ROOKIE CARD!!!

This one is long overdue…

I declared my desire to collect all of Joe Morgan’s baseball cards from his playing days more than six months ago.

That is when the wit began.  So, patiently, I waited.  and waited some more.  And then waited even more than that.

That patience finally paid off as I am now the proud owner of a 1965 Topps Joe Morgan rookie card.

Check it out:

In very good condition, I am so happy to finally bring this card into my collection.  When I start new player collections, I try to not let the money a single card may cost deter me from what I am trying to do.  I am trying to pay homage to my favorite players from prior generations so opting to not choose a player because his cards are too costly is not something I let affect my decisions.  Instead, I wait and hunt and seek out the best options. 

And that is what I did, and now I have a great, possibly the greatest Joe Morgan card for my collection that pays tribute to his magnificent career!!!

Thanks.

‘On The Road With psuGator02′ – Ozzie Smith & Lou Brock – January 28, 2011

‘On The Road With psuGator02′ – Ozzie Smith & Lou Brock – January 28, 2011

Roger Dean Stadium
Jupiter, Fla.
Friday, January 28
4:30-5:20 p.m.
Cardinals’ fantasy camp

I feel like I’ve been loafing because I haven’t done much graphing lately. I think today may have made up for all of that. I wasn’t at the stadium 45 minutes when I saw Smith. He came out of the clubhouse for a few minutes, then walked back in. He was with a driver when he exited the clubhouse a second time. There were only two other graphers with me and both were amateurs. They waved at Smith, and he stopped his car and signed.

Ozzie Smith: 2/2 (baseball book in blue Sharpie, ROMLB in blue)….both with “HOF” inscriptions. I doubt he could have been any coolor. I was hoping for a picwith but that wasn’t possible considering he was still in the car
Lou Brock: 0/1, 0/1, 0/1 even refused the $40 I waved at him. He signed all day for campers, but to me: “I’m sorry, sir, but I am done signing today.” I don’t even know why I waste my time with him. I should just fork out the $75 to get my Perez-Steele poster done and then never worry about him again

1988 Fleer Superstar Specials – Card #626 – Bret Saberhagen, Mike Witt, & Jack Morris

1988 Fleer Superstar Specials – Card #626 – Bret Saberhagen, Mike Witt, & Jack Morris

“All Star Righties”

Bret Saberhagen, Mike Witt, and Jack Morris are three of the most dominant starting pitchers in the American League.  Each is the ace of his team’s pitching staff and all three were selected to the 1987 American League All-Star team.

After a disappointing 1986 season, Saberhagen reverted to his outstanding rookie form.  He won 18 games and hurled four shutouts.  He enjoyed a particularly impressive first half of the season, winning 15 games by mid-season.  He was the American League’s starting pitcher in the All-Star game.

Mike Witt won 16 games in 1987.  He has now was at least 15 games in the last four seasons.  On September 30, 1984, Mike became the 13th pitcher in baseball history to pitch a perfect game.

In 1987 Morris anchored the American League East Champion Detroit Tiger pitching staff.  He won 18 games and registered 208 strikeouts.  He has won more games in this decade than any pitcher in major league history.

Happy Birthday Nolan Ryan!!!

Nolan Ryan turns 64 years old today.

One of the most dominant and competitive pitchers that the game has even seen, Nolan Ryan was a player admired by many.  His hard work and dedication to his craft made him a very well respected player with his teammates, peers, and fans.

It’s hard to believe that we will soon be entering the 18th season since ‘The Ryan Express’ derailed his baseball career.  For any collector and baseball fan in general that was active in the 1980′s, we all have a Nolan Ryan moment ingrained in our heads.  For me, it was the speech I did in 10th grade about Ryan’s incredible feat of 5,000 K’s.  I actually had the game taped and used the strikeout of Rickey Henderson as the ‘ice breaker’.  It was pretty cool and I believe I got an A for the speech.  I remember saying something along the lines of ‘Nolan Ryan has done this 5,000 times.  Nolan Ryan did this 1,500 times before any of us were born.’

Anyways, ‘Happy Birthday’ to one of the game’s ultimate competitors!!!  Nolan Ryan is and will always be remembered as the guy that was unbelievably dominant yet was never rewarded with an individual honor for his pitching performances. 

Happy Birthday Ernie Banks!!!

Amazingly, Ernie Banks is turning 80 years old today.  I have seen recent pictures of Ernie at various Cubs and baseball related events and he looks great!!

‘Mr. Cub’ will always be the most popular and respected player from the Chicago Cubs organization.  His 19-seasons of perfection in a Cubs uniform still remain as fond and vibrant memories for the ‘North Siders’.  Banks’ 512 career home runs and season after season of MVP caliber baseball earned him a Hall of Fame induction in 1977 on the first ballot.

Unfortunately Banks never played 1 single inning, never batted 1 time, never took the field 1 time in the playoffs.  For someone that means so much the sport of baseball and specifically to the city of Chicago, it would have been great to see Ernie Banks play when the games counted the most!