1967 Topps Fergie Jenkins

1967 Topps Fergie Jenkins

 This is the ‘oldest’ card that I have added to my collection since getting back into the hobby a little more than 1 year ago.

The 1967 Topps Fergie Jenkins card is his second-year card and his first as a member of the Chicago Cubs.  In that ’67 season, Jenkins went 20-13 while starting in 38 games.  Amazingly, he pitched 20 complete games that year while also striking out 236 batters.

1967 was Fergie’s first full season in the big leagues and he surely left quite an impact.  Finishing second for the league’s Cy Young award, Jenkins also started a string of 6 consecutive seasons with 20 or more wins!!

I an thrilled to add this card to my Fergie Jenkins collection!!!!

‘Same Card, Different Paths’ – Card #7

‘Same Card, Different Paths’ – Card #7

1972 Topps – Card #79 – AKA – ‘The Carlton Fisk Rookie Card’

Mike Garman – Drafted 3rd in the 1967 draft, Garman hardly had the career one would expect of a 3rd pick in the draft.  Still, Garman enjoyed a 9-season career while playing with the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Dodgers.  Garman finished his career with a 22-27 record while collecting 42 saves.  With a 3.63 ERA Garman appeared in 303 games and pitched 433 innings. 

Cecil Cooper – Cooper played 16 years in the big leagues and enjoyed successful stints with the Red Sox and Brewers.  He was a 5-time All-Star, 3-time Silver Slugger winner and winner of 2 Gold Gloves.  Cooper has 2,192 career hits alongside 241 home runs, 1,012 runs scored, and 1,125 RBI.  With a career batting average of .298, Cooper had 7,939 plate appearances during his career. 

Carlton Fisk – A true baseball superstar, Fisk had an amazing 24-year baseball career.  Playing for both the Red & White Sox, Fisk pu up Hall of Fame numbers throughout his career.  His amazing numbers include 376 home runs, 1,330 RBI, and 1,276 runs scored.  Fisk’s trophy shelf includes the Rookie of the Year award, 11 All-Star appearances, 3 Silver Slugger trophies, and 1 Gold Glove award.

Happy Anniversary George Brett!!!

On this day in 1992, George Brett collected hit number 3,000 of his amazing baseball career!!!

On the road playing the Angels, Brett’s Kansas City Royals teammates were playing in front of 17,000+ fans.  If the baseball fans in the Los Angeles area knew that history was going to be made on this day, I would have to imagine that more people would have been in attendance.

For the day, Brett put on quite a display of hitting excellence.  Going 4-for-5, he hit 1 double and 3 singles.

George Brett finished his Hall of Fame career with 3,154 hits and ranks as 15th in baseball history for career hits. 

Happy Anniversary Mr. Brett!!!

He Did It Again. Cameron Maybin Launches Another Ball Into The Stands!!!

He did it again!!  And it’s the second time in less than a week too.

Cameron Maybin just launched a ball deep into the stands at Turner Field to give the Marlins a lead against the Atlanta Braves.

And just like last week’s blast against the Mets that gave the team a lead that they would not relinquish, this home run also gave the Marlins the lead in the ballgame.  Hopefully the result is the same…

 

Go FISH!!!

1985 Topps #1 Draft Pick – Harold Baines

1985 Topps #1 Draft Pick – Harold Baines

22 magnificent seasons, most of which were not held under the microscope of the big lights in a big city.

While Harold Baines played in some of the largest cities in the baseball world, he managed to escape national attention while still putting on consistent performances.

Baines’ numbers are extremely noteworthy, and his ability to deliver season after season is very evident by his impressive offensive stats.

Baines has a lifetime batting average of .289 alongside 2,866 hits.  He also has scored 1,299 runs, hit 384 home runs, and drove in 1,628 runs.  Baines was a 6-time All-Star and a 1-time Silver Slugger Award winner.  Lastly he has one major case of ‘Hat-Head’!!!

Overall ranking – 8 out of 10.  Points earned for being a 6-time All-star and Silver Slugger award winner.   More points awarded for 2,500+ hits and 300+ home runs.

One More Endorsement Job For Red Sox Star Dustin Pedroia…

Just another in the series of amazing commercial opportunities that have come Pedroia’s way since breaking into the and taking Red Sox Nation and the baseball world by storm!!!

Did You Know…

The only two brothers to ever win the Cy Young Award are Jim Perry in 1970 and Gaylord Perry in 1972 and 1978. 

** factoid courtesy of ‘Armchair Reader – Grand Slam Baseball’

My take – I did not know that…

Happy Anniversary Willie Mays!!!

On this day back in 1954, Willie Mays made ‘The Catch’. 

Often considered to be the greatest defensive play in baseball history, this outstanding catch still gets ‘air-time’ every year.  The fact that this catch happened in front of a national audience during the baseball playoffs only added to its legend.

One could certainly argue that more amazing catches have been made since, but this is ‘The Catch’ that still stands out amongst all others.

Happy Anniversary Mr. Mays!!!

Contest Time: ‘MVP For A Day’

Contest Time: ‘MVP For A Day’

OK, I figured I would squeeze one more contest in during the 2009 regular season.

This one should be fun.  ‘MVP for a Day’ goes like  this.  You select one player that you feel will be the most valuable player for the day.  On Thursday there are 11 games taking place – you can review the schedule here.  Pick the one player that you think will be the most valuable to their team.

Here are the rules:

1. The player must be an offensive player(no pitchers allowed)
2. Once a player is selected, he is off of the boards and cannot be used again
3. All picks must be submit into the comments section of this post no later than 11:59 PM on Wednesday

Here is how the scores will be tallied:

1. Hits = 5 points each
2. Home Runs = 8 points each
3. RBI = 10 points each
4. Walks = 3 points each
5. Stolen Base = 8 points each
6. Strikeouts = (-5) Points each

So take your time, but not too much time, and review the schedules.  And get your picks in so we can choose Thursday’s ‘MVP For A Day’!!!

 And now for the prize…  10 packs of 1989 Topps Baseball Cards.

Good Luck to everyone!!!!

Checklist Help Needed!!!

In my series’ of celebrating key anniversary dates in baseball history, I have found that the card below is a perfect fit when celebrating the offensive accomplishment of collecting 3,000 hits in a  career.

And of all if the amazing statistics kept in the sport, I find 3,000 hits to be the most impressive and elite!!!

So that is why I want to go after this subset that Fleer put out in 2000.  The set is called ‘Club 3000’ and there are several versions available.  I want to go after the ‘base’ version only but I am having no luck in finding a complete checklist.  Sure, I can find handfuls of these on some of the card buying sites that I frequent, but before I go ‘All In’ I would like to know what I am up against!!!!

Can you help me????  Please.