In A Matter Of Days, Derek Jeter Will Climb Three Rungs On The All-Time Hits List!!!

In A Matter Of Days, Derek Jeter Will Climb Three Rungs On The All-Time Hits List!!!

If you haven’t been paying attention, Derek Jeter has been on fire since collecting hit number 3,000 of his career during the first weekend of July.

In fact, in less than two months he has gathered up 55 more hits and he now sits at 3,058.

Earlier this week, Jeter passed Rod Carew.  Entering today’s action he was tied with Rickey Henderson.  But after collecting three hits in this afternoon’s 22-9 win over Oakland, Derek is now resting in 21st place with Craig Biggio just 2 hits ahead of him.

It should be just a matter of days before Jeter overtakes Biggio for 20th place.  And with roughly 30+ games left in the 2011 season, he will likely remain in 20th list for the duration of the season.

Next on the list is Dave Winfield who is at 3,110.

The last few months have been a blast ‘Tracking Jeter’ and I look forward to doing the same in 2012 when he could possibly crack the ‘Top 15′.

Go Get ‘Em Derek!!!

Andre Dawson 1996 Leaf Signature Series – SILVER

Andre Dawson 1996 Leaf Signature Series – SILVER

Time to show off another sweet Andre Dawson autograph from the collection.

My latest one is a certified one too!!  Coming from the 1996 Donruss Leaf Signature Series set, these autos were issued in Bronze, Silver, and Gold versions – where the brand’s logo was matched to that theme.

I already own the Bronze version, so now I have 2/3 of the series complete as I have finally secured the Silver version.

Here it is:

Pretty nice, huh?  While I almost always prefer my signed cards to feature an autograph in Blue, the Black that this one was signed in looks perfect as it matches the player name and team colors very well.

So now begins the hunt for the even more rare, Gold version!!!

Bo Jackson 1990 Score All-Star Game Commemorative Card – Front & Back

Bo Jackson 1990 Score All-Star Game Commemorative Card – Front & Back

I have some very fond memories of Bo Jackson and All-Star games.

After all, it was Bo that started off the 1989 All-Star Game with a bang – two bangs actually…

In the top of the first inning, Bo made a dynamic defensive play off of a Pedro Guerrero line drive.  And then to lead off the bottom of the first inning with a solo home runs.

Bo’s efforts led to him being named the MVP of the All-Star Game, and now I have the baseball card that commemorates that historic baseball event.

And the card is so nice that I will show off both the front and the back.

Here it is.

The front:

And the back:

Enjoy. 

My First Time – Barry Larkin – August 13, 1986

My First Time – Barry Larkin – August 13, 1986

The Setting – Riverfront Stadium.  Cincinnati, OH.

From Larkin – ‘The Reds had taken care of getting my family there – my mom, dad, brother, sister.  They were all there to see it happen, but I forgot to even look for them until after the game.  I was just so worried about getting out there in my borrowed equipment and not embarrassing myself.’

The Box Score – Reds 8, Giants 6.  Larkins goes 0-for-1 with an RBI.

 

Happy Anniversary Mark McGwire!!!

Happy Anniversary Mark McGwire!!!

Mark McGwire hit the first home run of his major league baseball career on this day back in 1986.

Before ‘The Bash Brothers’.  Before #71.  Before the steroid allegations.  Before all of this, Mark McGwire was an athletic;y gifted player with a skill of hitting the long ball.

And on this day 23 years ago, home run #1 of 583 was smacked into the outfield seats of Tiger Stadium.    I doubt that the 20,000 fans in attendance thought much of this young kid from the opposing team.  To them he was the enemy.  And nobody knew that just 1 year later he would set the rookie record for home runs in a season with 49.  And nobody there thought for a second that this guy was going  to be the one to rescue the sport in 1998 when the game and it’s fan base were both spiraling downward…

But he did it.  Mark McGwire became ‘Big Mac’ right in front of our eyes.  And most of us enjoyed the thrilling ride that he took us on.

And it all started on this day back in 1986.

Happy Anniversary Mark McGwire!!!!

Happy Birthday Rollie Fingers!!!

Happy Birthday Rollie Fingers!!!

Rollie Fingers turns 65 years old today.

While Rollie Fingers may best be known for his famous facial hair, his solid baseball career earned him quite a bit of fame too.

A 17-year veteran, boasting 341 career saves and seven All-star appearances, Fingers was a dominant relief pitcher for more than a decade.

His best work was during the 1981 season while playing for the Milwaukee Brewers.  In that season, Fingers posted a 6-3 record while also collecting 28 saves.  He had a 1.04 ERA with 78 innings pitched.  And in those appearances he struck out 61 batters while walking just 13.  Fingers’ dominance was enough to earn him the league’s Cy Young and Most Valuable Player awards – a truly remarkable feat!!

Rollie Fingers is a 3-time World Series champion.  His efforts on the 1972-74 Oakland A’s teams help the team from ‘The Bay’ become one of baseball’s greatest dynasties!!!

With such an impressive resume, it is kind of shocking that Fingers has a losing record.  For his career, he is 114-118.  So for his birthday, I would like to give Mr. Fingers a ‘do-over’ of the 1978 season in which he went 6-13.  I am hoping for 5 more wins than losses so this Hall of Famer could hold his head even a little higher with his above .500 winning percentage!!

Happy Birthday Mr. Fingers!!!

My Cal Ripken Jr. Baseball Card Collection…

My Cal Ripken Jr. Baseball Card Collection…

My collection of Cal Ripken cards is tiny – teenie even.

It totals 5 cards, and I have not added to it in over 20 years.

But what I do have is an impressive 5-card collection of the ‘Iron Man’.  All of the cards were obtained during my youth, and I have carried them around with me from house to house and state to state as a prized possession of my collection.

Here they are:

 

Good stuff, huh??

And now that 30-YOC’s ’Cal Ripken Day’ has concluded, I all of a sudden feel the urge to add a few more quality cards of Cal to my collection!!!

Cal’s Hall Of Fame Plaque

Cal’s Hall Of Fame Plaque

And the plaque says – “Arrived at the ballpark every day with a burning desire to perform at the highest level.  Dedication and work ethic resulted in a record 2,632 consecutive games played from May 30, 1982 through September 19, 1988, earning him the title of baseball’s ‘Iron Man’.  In 21 seasons, collected 3,184 hits and 431 home runs, and was named to 19 consecutive All-star teams.  Won Rookie of the Year honors, 2 MVPs, and 2 Gold Glove Awards.  His Orioles won the 1983 World Series and he hit .336 lifetime in 28 postseason games.”

Sounds like a Hall of Fame resume to me!!!

I Really Want To Add An Autographed Cal Ripken Baseball To My Collection!!!

I Really Want To Add An Autographed Cal Ripken Baseball To My Collection!!!

I collect autographs.  And my favorite items to get signed are Rawlings game balls.

I have a nice collection, but I know something that would make it a whole lot sweeter…

I would LOVE to add one of these to my collection:

Nice, huh???

Cal Ripken Jr & ‘The 3000 Hits Club’

Cal Ripken Jr & ‘The 3000 Hits Club’

On April 15, 2000, Cal Ripken joined another elite class.  This time, it was the ’3,000 Hit Club’.

On the road in Minnesota, Ripken collected #3,000 by tallying 3 hits on the night.  He became just the 24th member of the club, and put himself into another elite category that is solely reserved for the game’s greatest and most durable players.

By the end of his career, Cal Ripken had 3,184 total hits.  He currently sits in 14th place on the All-time list.