’30-YOC Top Ten Lists’ – ‘Top Ten Recently Retired Hall Of Fame Signed Baseballs On My Want List’

’30-YOC Top Ten Lists’ – ‘Top Ten Recently Retired Hall Of Fame Signed Baseballs On My Want List’

If you missed my last list, I showed off the ‘Top Ten’ baseballs I would like from players that are in the Hall of Fame.  If you want to re-visit that post, you can do so by clicking here.

For this round, I will show you the ‘Top Ten’ guys in the recently retired list that I would like to go after as well.  And while I plan on waiting to attack until I can get the HOF inscription, I am still eager to go after these guys.

And while some of these players may not get into Cooperstown unless they buy a ticket, they will all (hopefully) make an appearance in my signed baseball collection!!

So, here we go….

Honorable Mentions – Jeff Bagwell, Mike Piazza, Trevor Hoffman, Andy Pettitte, Rafael Palmeiro, Manny Ramirez, and Curt Schilling.

10 - Mike Lowell

9 – Barry Larkin

8 – Roger Clemens

7 – Tom Glavine

6 – Randy Johnson

5 – Craig Biggio

4 – John Smoltz

3 - Frank Thomas

2 – Ken Griffey Jr.

1 – Greg Maddux

Nice list, huh?

I snuck in a few guys like Lowell and Schilling.  And while I don’t belive that either will be highly considered for membership at the Hall of Fame, I do really like them and respect their careers.

Next up – the ‘Top Ten Signed Baseballs I Would Like Of Active Players’.

Stay tuned and thanks for reading!!!

Fergie Jenkins 2005 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classic Game-Used Jersey Card

Fergie Jenkins 2005 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classic Game-Used Jersey Card

This is just one of the many Fergie Jenkins relic cards that can be had for very affordable prices on Ebay.  I paid just $0.99 for this bad-boy!  My patience paid off…

What I like most about this relic card of my favorite pitcher is the Bold Blue swatch of jersey used and how well it works with the color of Fergie, even though he’s wearing white in the picture.

Come see…

I told you.  The Big, Blue piece of jersey is an exceptional compliment to the cap on Fergie’s head, the sleeves on Fergie’s arms, and the stripes on Fergie’s uniform.

A great, and very affordable, addition to my Jenkins collection!!  YES!!!

Bo Jackson 1988 Donruss

Bo Jackson 1988 Donruss

An absolutely fantastic looking baseball card, with a horrible border!!!

The picture used of Bo Jackson on this 1988 Donruss card is exactly what I remember when watching the dynamic Jackson at the plate.  Quick wrists, powerful legs, and power for days, Jackson was a force each and every time he approached the plate.

He just struck out a lot too…

But when he did connect, it was a sight!!  When it was in the air, it was launched hundreds of feet.  And when on the ground, he blazed a path towards first base.

Great card (minus the crappy border) and great player (minus the strikeouts)!

1989 Headline: Slugger Schmidt Retiring From Baseball

1989 Headline: Slugger Schmidt Retiring From Baseball

21 years ago today, Mike Schmidt retired from the game of baseball. 

Watching this video still gives me chills…

I remember this press conference like it was yesterday.  Even as a 13-year old kid, I understood how hard it was for a player like Mike Schmidt to leave the game of baseball.  One of the game’s biggest stars for close to 2 decades, Schmidt solidified himself as one of the greatest power hitters of all-time.

With a resume filled with elite milestones, Schmidt was able to leave the game as one its greatest players but that did not make the final decision any easier for him.

Cheers to you Mike Schmidt – A baseball hero and a class act!!! 

Jeter Passes Henderson As Yankees’ Steals Leader

SEATTLE — Derek Jeter’s stolen base in the third inning on Saturday was the 327th of his career, surpassing Rickey Henderson for the most in Yankees history.

Jeter swiped second base at Safeco Field against the battery of right-hander Felix Hernandez and catcher Miguel Olivo. He had tied Henderson on May 22 against the Mets at Yankee Stadium.

“It’s hard to believe. Rickey was only here what? A year-and-a-half?” Jeter said then, with a laugh. “But if you play long enough and try to be consistent, I guess good things happen.”

Henderson stole a Major League-record 1,406 bases during his 25-year, Hall of Fame career. He appeared in 596 games for the Yankees from 1985-89.

Jeter has four stolen bases this year and logged a career high in 2006 with 34. He and Henderson stand ahead of Willie Randolph (251), who owns the third-most steals in pinstripes.

Happy Birthday Eric Davis!!!

Happy Birthday Eric Davis!!!

Amazingly, Eric Davis turns 49 years old today!!!

Wow, I remember the hype around Eric Davis as he began his career with the Cincinnati Reds.  He was a ’5-Tool player’ that could do it all and he was going to rescue the Reds franchise and deliver them back to baseball glory.  Davis had the speed, power, charisma, and personality to carry the franchise to the promised land!!!

After 7 remarkable seasons with the Reds that were littered with All-star appearances, Gold Glove trophies, Silver Slugger awards, and even a World Series championship, Davis was on his way to becoming one of the games biggest stars.  Talk about becoming baseball’s second ’40/40 Man’ was a daily occurrence in baseball circles.  As one of the game’s premier players, ‘Eric The Red’ was riding high.

Unfortunately, a terrible string of injuries and then an unfortunate battle with cancer stalled Davis’ ability to dominate the game.  This 1-time hero became just a regular role player.  On occasion, Davis gave us more memorable moments to add to his impressive highlight reel, but he was never able to recapture and string together seasons of success like he had in the late 1980′s when he was on top of the baseball world.

Happy Birthday Mr. Davis.  You are remembered fondly!!!

Did You See What Don Mattingly Said About ’30-Year Old Cardboard’???

Did You See What Don Mattingly Said About ’30-Year Old Cardboard’???

UPDATE – Gary Carter’s Tumors Likely Malignant

UPDATE – Gary Carter’s Tumors Likely Malignant

Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter has a brain tumor that is likely cancerous.

Doctors performed biopsies on a tumor in Carter’s brain on Friday morning and Duke Medicine says in a release that preliminary results show it ”appears to be malignant.”

”Once the pathology report is available, which will take several days, we will discuss treatment options with Mr. Carter and his family,” said Doctors Allan H. Friedman and Henry S. Friedman, the co-deputy directors of The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke.

”In the meantime, Mr. Carter is in excellent spirits and good physical condition. He is resting comfortably, surrounded by his family. We hope that his friends and fans will continue to pray for Mr. Carter and his family during this time.”

The 57-year-old Carter, who just completed his second season as Palm Beach Atlantic University’s baseball coach, announced last Saturday that an MRI had revealed four small tumors on his brain. The Duke Medicine release says the biopsies were performed on a single tumor.

Carter hit .262 with 324 homers and 1,225 RBIs in 19 seasons in the majors. The 11-time All-Star played his last game with the Montreal Expos in 1992 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003.

The effervescent Carter, nicknamed ”Kid,” is perhaps best known for helping the Mets win the 1986 World Series. He had 24 homers and 105 RBIs that year, then drove in 11 runs in the postseason.

”We have to wait and see what kind of treatment there is. We are praying for him and his family,” said Mets first base coach Mookie Wilson, a former teammate of Carter’s. ”It’s tough for any of us. Gary was one of the happiest guys in the world every day. That’s why they called him the Kid.”

Wilson said he has texted Carter since hearing about the tumors last weekend but hasn’t spoken with him.

”It’s shocking. We’re pretty much the same age. It could happen to any of us,” Wilson said. ”We know he’s a competitor and I think that gives him an edge.”