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!!!!

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 Jack Morris!!!

Happy Birthday Jack Morris!!!

Jack Morris turns 58 years old today.

The winningest pitcher of the 1980′s Morris compiled a 254-186 record during his career en route to 5 All-star appearances and 7 Top 9 finishes for the Cy Young award.

Morris won 3 World Series championship titles during his career – 1984, 1991, and 1992. In ’91 he won the World Series MVP award as he led Twins to the championship capturing 2 of the team’s 4 wins.

Happy Birthday Mr. Morris.

Happy Birthday Josh Beckett!!

Happy Birthday Josh Beckett!!

Josh Beckett turns 33 years old today!!!

I cannot believe that Josh Beckett is turning 33. It seems like just a few days ago I was watching this baby-faced fire-baller suit up for my Marlins team. Man those were the good old days, huh??

Today Beckett is pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers in a quest to get the Dodgers back into World Series contention. He has dedicated himself to the art of pitching and the hard work he has put in has paid off immensely. A 2-time World Series Champion by the age of 27, Beckett still has several quality years ahead of him. And that should include many more opportunities to hoist more World Series Trophies as well!!

Happy Birthday Josh!!! A baseball superstar today, and always a Florida Marlin in my mind!!!

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!!!

Happy Birthday Dennis Martinez!!!

Happy Birthday Dennis Martinez!!!

‘El Presidente’ turns 58 years old today.

A 22-season veteran, and solid pitcher throughout his playing days, Dennis Martinez was one of the most consistent performers during the late 1980s and into the 1990s.

With 562 career starts under his belt, Martinez amassed a record of 245-193 alongside 122 complete games and 30 shutouts. His lifetime ERA of 3.70 is solid as he faced some of the greatest sluggers in baseball history over the course of his playing days.

Martinez is a 4-time All-star, and has 2 Top 5 finishes for the CyYoung award. He never collected 20 wins in a single season, but he did capture at least 10 or more wins in fifteen big league seasons.

Suiting up for five different teams during his career, Martinez appeared in two World Series match-ups – losing both.

Happy Birthday ‘El Presidente’!!!

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.

 

Did You Know…

Al Benton was the only pitcher in major league baseball history to face both Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle in regular season games.  He faced Ruth in 1934 and then Mantle 18 years later in 1952.