Jim Palmer 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen – Blue Paper Frame

Jim Palmer 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen – Blue Paper Frame

I keep chipping away at the 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen cards for my player collections.

Of the three guys that I am going after (Dawson, Jenkins, and Palmer), it is Jim Palmer who got the extra Blue and White Paper framed cards this year.

I pulled the White version in a rack pack when the set was released.

And now, I have finally added the Blue Paper version to my collection.

It is serial numbered as 11/499 and it is NICE!!!

Check it out:

I really had hoped that both Dawson and Jenkins got the ‘Paper Frame Treatment’ this year, but 1-for-3 is not bad.

As a matter of fact, 1-for-3 gets you a $150 million dollar contract – LOL!!!!

Did You Know…

Greg Maddux and Cy Young are the only pitchers in major league history to win 15 or more times in 18 big league seasons – the most in the history of the sport.

1965 HEADLINE: Orioles’ Jim Palmer Wins 1st Major League Game And Connects For Home Run

1965 HEADLINE: Orioles’ Jim Palmer Wins 1st Major League Game And Connects For Home Run

On this day in 1965, the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees battled in front of 25,000+ fans in Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium.

Pitching in relief, a 19-year old Jim Palmer was making just his seventh appearance in a major league game.

He threw four innings of relief for the Orioles and the team supported him by scoring five runs and taking the lead against the Yankees.  Palmer also hit a 2-run home run in the game, off of Yankees’ pitcher Jim Bouton.

The O’s held on for the win, and Palmer secured the first victory of his major league career.

Palmer’s stat line looked like this:

Mound: 3.2 inning pitched, 2 hits allowed, 1 earned run, 4 walks and 1 strikeout
Plate: 1-for-1 with a 2-run home run

Happy Anniversary Mr. Palmer!!!

Happy Birthday John Smoltz!!!

Happy Birthday John Smoltz!!!

John Smoltz turns 46 years old today!!!

One of the most versatile and team-oriented players to play the game in the last 20 years, John Smoltz is a rare breed. A player that is willing to accept any role that the team wants him to perform in, Smoltz personified what the ‘Team-First’ mentality is all about.

Smoltz has 213 career wins alongside 154 saves. Had he not spent 4 seasons in the bullpen during his days with the Atlanta Braves, Smoltz could have been in line to win 300 career games. Instead, he did what was asked of him and saved an incredible 154 games in 4 years for the ‘Bravos’.

Happy Birthday Smoltzy!!!

Happy Birthday Roy Halladay!!!

Happy Birthday Roy Halladay!!!

Roy Halladay turns 36 years old today!!

Halladay is one my favorite pitcher in today’s game that has never been affiliated with the Florida Marlins. His style and approach on the mound reminds me of Fergie Jenkins and I believe that the 2 of these guys were and are very under-appreciated in comparison to their peers.

This 16-year veteran is a 8-time All-star that has already won 2 Cy Young Award and placed in the Top 5 five more times. ‘Doc’ was the picture of consistency for the Toronto Blue Jays for more than a decade now and he continues to deliver impressive numbers with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Roy recently won the 200th game of his major league careeer.  It would be nice to see him get to #250 before his career ends.

Happy Birthday Roy!!!

1984 HEADLINE: Jim Palmer Pitches In Final Game Of His Major League Career

1984 HEADLINE: Jim Palmer Pitches In Final Game Of His Major League Career

On this day in 1984, Jim Palmer pitched in the final game of his major league career.

At home and playing in front of more than 27,000 fans, Palmer took the mound for the last time at Memorial Stadium.

The Orioles were hosting the Oakland Athletics and Palmer was used in a relief effort after the game go out of control.  The A’s were leading the Orioles by the score of 7-1 when Orioles manager Joe Altobelli injected Palmer into the game for the final time.

Palmer’s effort was certainly not his best – he allowed five hits and four runs during the final two innings of the game, and the Orioles lost by a score of 12-2.  Palmer did not factor in the decision.

It may not have been the way that he wanted to end his superb career, but Palmer retired from the game and from the sport as the best pitcher in the history of the Baltimore Orioles franchise.

A fantastic career from a supremely talented athlete – Cheers to James Alvin Palmer!!!

Fergie Jenkins 2005 Leaf Limited ‘Limited Legends’ Game-Used Jersey Relic Card – #’d To 31

Fergie Jenkins 2005 Leaf Limited ‘Limited Legends’ Game-Used Jersey Relic Card – #’d To 31

I’m on a bit of a ‘Hot Streak’ when it comes to landing some rare Fergie Jenkins cards for my collection.

I’m not sure of the reason for all of this luck, but I do hope that it does not end any time soon as I am hauling in some great beauties for my player collection that honors Fergie’s magnificent career.

My latest score comes from the 2005 Leaf Limited set.  The card is part of the ‘Limited Legends’ subset and features a nice piece of jersey framed in the shape of Fergie’s jersey number – #31.

The card is also serial numbered to just 31 copies so that it pretty neat too.

Have a look:

 

Looks nice, huh??

The card is a little dark in the scan, but it is much brighter in person.  Where you are seeing dark Brown, it is actually a vibrant Gold.

 

Jim Palmer 2013 Topps Retail Exclusive Manufactured Rookie Card Patch – NICE!!!

Jim Palmer 2013 Topps Retail Exclusive Manufactured Rookie Card Patch – NICE!!!

As soon as I saw this card, I knew that I was going to have to have one for my collection.

My first attempt was purchasing the retail blaster that these special commemorative cards were inserted into.  Sadly, that did not go as planned so I had to settle for ‘Plan B’ and find one on the web for a suitable price.

At first, they were selling for much more than I would pay, especially when I could still pull one from a box and nab a bunch of extra cards as well in a blast for $19.99.

So, I waited.  And I watched them sell day by day, week by week, and eventually month by month.  And as the months passed. the prices started to drop.  and pretty soon more and more were going unsold.

And finally, I was able to bring one home at a great price!!

And now I have my Jim Palmer 2013 Topps Manufactured  Rookie Card Patch!!!

Patience pays off and this is a great addition to my Palmer collection!

YES!

2001 HEADLINE: Randy Johnson Strikes Out 20 Batters In One Game!!!

2001 HEADLINE: Randy Johnson Strikes Out 20 Batters In One Game!!!

On this day in 2001, Randy Johnson struck out 20 batters!!

That’s right 20! And it came against the Cincinnati Reds.

In that contest, Johnson pitched 9 innings while allowing just 3 hits and 1 run. He struck out 20 batters, while walking none. For the Reds, every starter struck out at least one time with two of them racking up three K’s a piece against ‘The Big Unit’.

Congratulations on this incredible feat – and Happy Anniversary!!!

Oh, Johnson’s team ended winning the game 4-3 in 11 innings. Johnson was awarded with a no-decision for his amazing efforts…

Dwight Gooden 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen – Base

Dwight Gooden 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen – Base

I pulled this one from one of the retail blasters that I bought when the 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen set debuted.

Of the cards that I scored, this one is easily one of my favorites.  The card features a great picture of a very young Gooden.

My guess is that this portrait of Gooden was based on an image from either the 1984 or 1985 baseball season.

And at that time, there was absolutely no player in the sport as exciting as Dr. K!!!!