‘On The Road With psuGator02′ – Don King – February 23, 2011

‘On The Road With psuGator02′ – Don King – February 23, 2011

Morton’s Steakhouse
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
6:23-6:25 p.m.
Wednesday, February 23

My source told me yesterday that Don King would be arriving at 7:30 p.m. I spoke to my source again today and he told me that King would be arriving a little earlier. That didn’t leave me enough time to pick up the 8x10s. Knew that I could be up against it so I high-tailed it down Interstate 95, arriving at 6:23 p.m. Walked up just as King was getting out of his car. He stayed on his cell phone throughout our brief interaction. He couldn’t have been nicer, even making sure to smile in the picture he took with me. He did both of my items and probably would’ve done 5-6 more. I was the only grapher there.

Don King: 2/2 (gloves) in black Sharpie

Andre Dawson 1991 Jumbo California Sunflower Seeds

Andre Dawson 1991 Jumbo California Sunflower Seeds

**ODDBALL ALERT**

Just another of the many companies that jumped into and then out of the baseball card game as they tried to stake a claim on a fraction of the hobby during its peak…

This one, an Andre Dawson card issued in 1991 is from the company that produces Jumbo California Sunflower Seeds.

And while not the best ‘Oddball’ issue from that time, it is far, very far, from the best as well…

Did You Know…

Frank Chance stole 67 bases for the Chicago Cubs in 1903 – and still holds the team record for thefts…

**factoid courtesy of ‘Big League Trivia’

1989 Upper Deck St. Louis Cardinals Team Checklist Starring… Ozzie Smith!!!

1989 Upper Deck St. Louis Cardinals Team Checklist Starring…  Ozzie Smith!!!

In 1989, Upper Deck gave us all such a treat when it came to checklist.  In fact, I think that it is fair to say that UD revolutionized the checklist game…

Gone was the boring lists, gone was the check boxes, and gone was the ‘un-collectible’….

Instead, they gave us thrills!!  A new card to collect that was a ‘team card’.  A card that could possibly feature your favorite player from that team too – like this one that was the 1989 Upper Deck checklist for the St. Louis Cardinals.

A great addition to my Ozzie Smith collection!!!

Baseball Card Show On Saturday!!!

Baseball Card Show On Saturday!!!

You may recall that I was supposed to attend a baseball card show at my local mall this past weekend.  But when I got to the mall, the card show, the cards, and the dealers were not there.  It was a rough moment for ’30-YOC’, but if you want to re-live that horror, you can do so by clicking here.

Well, the great news is that the promoter of the baseball card show found my post on ’30-Year Old Cardboard’ and emailed me telling me that the shows have now been moved to the fourth Saturday of the month – WHEW!!

So you know where I’ll be for an hour or so on Saturday.  And while I will not be bringing a list of cards that I am hunting for with me, I do have 2 goals this time around:

1. Inspiration for my next group of Player Collections
2. Card of Yogi Berra – I hear that he has been signing cards for free through the mail – I am going to test that

So, come back to visit on Monday as I will have a full baseball card show report for you as I highlight each of my purchases.

Thank you and have a nice weekend!!

Wow, the Internet really is a powerful tool, huh??

A Statue Honoring Ron Santo Is Coming To Wrigley Field!!!

A Statue Honoring Ron Santo Is Coming To Wrigley Field!!!

From ESPNChicago.com

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs will honor Ron Santo with a statue outside Wrigley Field and the team will wear a special patch next season to pay tribute to the former broadcaster and third baseman.

The Cubs said Saturday that Aug. 10 will be “Ron Santo Day” and they will unveil the monument before their game against the Washington Nationals.

“If you are at the field on Aug. 10 to celebrate No. 10, you will see a Ron Santo statue being unveiled and it will be a wonderful way to remember him,” Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said.

Santo died of complications from bladder cancer at the age of 70 on Dec. 3. A nine-time All-Star in his 15-year career, Santo hit .277 with 342 homers and 1,331 RBIs. He also won the Gold Glove award five times.

Santo becomes the fourth person with a statue of his likeness outside the cozy neighborhood ballpark, joining Ernie Banks, Billy Williams and Harry Caray. The location of the statue is still to be determined.

Ron Santo And His Glorious 1961 Topps Rookie Card!!!

Ron Santo And His Glorious 1961 Topps Rookie Card!!!

I had drooled over this card way before I declared myself as a Ron Santo player collector.

I have always enjoyed the 1961 set and its basic design.  The Santo card offers us a nice, large photo with Wrigley Field and the visiting team’s dugout in the background. 

And then there is the Topps ‘All-Star Rookie’ logo.  Santo played in just 95 games during the 1960 season, but his efforts were solid enough to earn him a 4th place finish for the NL Rookie of the Year award and a spot on the Topps ‘All-Star Rookie Team’.

It’s not too often that a player’s first major brand issue features such a nice achievement!!!

I’m beyond thrilled to have one of these beauties in my collection!!!

Ron Santo – From The Field To The Booth

Ron Santo – From The Field To The Booth

After an incredible 15-year baseball career, Ron Santo retired from the sport he loved as a kid and played professionally as an adult.

After retiring, he kept busy with other business ventures in and around the Chicago-land area.

And in 1990, the Cubs came calling.  This time they wanted him to be part of their broadcast team.  Santo has a undenyable love for the game, the Cubs, and the sport’s history.  His enthusiasm and passion were evident from his very first broadcast.

Ron Santo And That Damn Black Cat…

Ron Santo And That Damn Black Cat…

I don’t believe in hexes or hoaxes or jinxes.  But if you ask any of the players on the 1969 Cubs or Ron Santo about the night that a black cat crossed his path as he stood in the on-deck circle and you may get a different reaction. 

What resulted next was one of the biggest flops in major league history – a heart breaking tale for all Cubs’ fans!  The hated Mets, who were down close to 10 games, put it into over-drive and slowly pushed past the Cubs all the way to the World Series title.

Ron Santo’s Jersey Waves High Above Wrigley Field

Ron Santo’s Jersey Waves High Above Wrigley Field

On September 28, 2003, the Chicago Cubs retired Ron Santo’s #10.  He was the third player in Cubs’ history to receive that honor – behind Ernie Banks and Billy Williams.  Since then, Ryne Sandberg, Fergie Jenkins, and Greg Maddux have all had their jerseys retired by the Cubs as well.

Not bad company at all.  Nope, not too shabby…