My Tim Raines Player Collection Is Complete!!!

My Tim Raines Player Collection Is Complete!!!

I have finally completed my tribute to Tim Raines – and 1 thing resonated with me throughout this process of putting together a set of all of Raines’ Expos cards.  And that thing is that Tim Raines deserves more recognition and consideration for Hall of Fame enshrinement.

Raines is one of the greatest lead-off hitters of all-time, and his numbers are very comparable, and even better than most of his peers.

Raines was able to combine the skills of a great runner, classic hitter, and brilliant defender into his all-around  game.  His desire to be the best and help elevate his team’s amount of wins was clear in every base he stole, run he scored, and play he made.

Finally, my Tim Raines collection is complete:  

And as I do with all of my newly completed player collections, I will select and rank my ‘Fab 5’ all week next week.  Stay tuned, card #5 will debut next Monday…

Thanks.

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Orel Hershiser 1994 Topps Stadium Club

Orel Hershiser 1994 Topps Stadium Club

Can this be the worst non-baseball, baseball card of all-time??

I cannot believe that Topps released something like this for public consumption.  I mean, what in the world is Hershiser, a former CY Young and World Series MVP, doing in this picture???

Did You Know…

Rafael Palmeiro, with 569 home runs through the 2005 season, holds some unique distinctions from the rest of the 500-Home Run Club sluggers.  Palmeiro never led the league in either home runs or RBI and never hit three home runs in 1 game(despite 24 two-homer games).  Palmeiro also led the AL in 1990 with 191 singles, making him the only one of the group to lead the league in that category.

**factoid courtesy of ‘Big League Trivia’

My take – it takes a very rare and unique talent for a player to amass both the 500 homers and 3000 hits.  And when you consider the fact that Palmeiro never led the league in either category; it just shows how consistently good he was!!!

Happy Birthday Frank Robinson!!!

Frank Robinson turns 75 years old today.

Still one of the most underrated players of all-time, Frank Robinson compiled a career of accomplishments that are on par with the game’s greatest offensive players.

2 of the more notable feats are his 2,943 career hits and 586 home runs.

In baseball, the measurement of an excellent hitter is the 3,000s hit plateau.  Robinson fell just 57 hits short of that mark.  And the measure of a supreme power hitter is the 500 HR threshold.  Robinson crushed 586 and fell just 14 dingers short of the rare 600 HR club.

For his birthday, I would like to give Mr. Robinson another half season’s worth of games in his prime to try to amass both of these incredible records.  His numbers are extraordinary now, but if he were to join the 3,000 hits and 600 home run clubs, his numbers would rank him as extra-extraordinary and that is a place I think he belongs!!

Happy Birthday Mr. Robinson!!!

My First 2 Vintage Ernie Banks Cards!!! YES!!!!

My First 2 Vintage Ernie Banks Cards!!!   YES!!!!

1 of my goals for growing my collection in 2010 was to add more vintage cards to my collection.

And as we sit here at the very end of August, I think that I have done pretty well with that specific goal.

But now, I can say that I am 100% confident that I have achieved that goal.

Check out these two beauties:

That’s right.  A 1968 & 1969 Topps Ernie Banks baseball card!!!

I am so shocked that I was able to score both of these.  I am more shocked that they are both in really, really good condition.  And I am even more shocked that I was able to bring both of these home for less than $10, combined.

Let me say that again – I paid less than $10 to bring home 2 vintage, classic baseball cards of one of the most legendary players of all-time!!!

YES!!!!

Three Andre Dawson Classics!!!

Three Andre Dawson Classics!!!

The brand ‘Claasic’ put out baseball cards in a time when there was room to compete for part of the market share in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

The cards were always basic in design, and they usually used quality pictures with bright borders.  I have scooped up several cards of Andre Dawson from the Classic sets that were issued of him.  

And as I look to bulk up on my collection honoring ‘The Hawk”, I found three more Classics for the collection!

Here they are: 

These cards won’t win any awards for originality or design, but they offer up more for the player collectors to go after.

And that is exactly what I needed!!!

Tony Perez 1984 Donruss

Tony Perez 1984 Donruss

When someone in 1984 yells ‘Hey Tony’, this is what you get… 

Just a terrible baseball card…