TTM Success: Former Florida Marlins Manager Jack McKeon!!!

TTM Success:  Former Florida Marlins Manager Jack McKeon!!!

You may recall that a few weeks ago I sent two baseballs out in hopes of obtaining some Florida Marlins inspired autographs.

Well, ball number one has been returned home.  And she is a beauty!!!

Have a look:

Signed perfectly by the former manager of the team, Jack McKeon gave me a sweet signature and a perfect complimentary inscription too!!!

McKeon took over the reigns of the team in 2003 when the Marlins were 16-22.  He led them to a 75-49 record once taking over the Marlins, and a Wild Card birth into the playoffs.

And as they say, the rest was history – a few lucky breaks, and some clutch performers.

And the Florida Marlins were the 2003 World Series champions!!!

This is a great autograph for my collection.  Now I just need to find Jim Leyland!!!

Thank you Mr. McKeon.

Andre Dawson 1991 Major League All-Stars Playing Cards – Jack of Clubs

Andre Dawson 1991 Major League All-Stars Playing Cards – Jack of Clubs

I already have a few of these playing cards that feature major leaguers, but this one is a new one for the Dawson collection.

Issued in 1991, Dawson was the ‘Jack Of Clubs’.

And I am one step closer to 1,000!!!!  Stay tuned.

1975 Topps MVP Commemorative – 1964 MVP’s – Brooks Robinson & Ken Boyer

1975 Topps MVP Commemorative – 1964 MVP’s – Brooks Robinson & Ken Boyer

In 1975, as part of their 25th Anniversary, Topps issued these fantastic MVP commemorative baseball cards – paying honor to the MVP players from each league from their first 25 years in the hobby.

This card pays tribute to the 1964 baseball season, and since I am a Brooks Robinson collector, this one will land in my collection that honors his fantastic careers.

Brooks’ numbers in 1964 were superb.  Check them out – .317 batting average, 194 hits, 35 doubles, 28 home runs, 82 runs scored, and 118 RBI.  Brooks was once again an All-Star in 1964, and he captured another Gold Glove Award as well.

A great card for my PC – one that pays tribute to Brooks’ most productive season in the big leagues!!!

Frank Robinson 2012 Topps Series 1 ‘Gold Standard’

Frank Robinson 2012 Topps Series 1 ‘Gold Standard’

I have seen that most of the reviews of Topps’ 2012 inserts are mixed – some love them, some hate them.

And while I have yet to state my stance, mainly because I am not actively collecting them, I have to say that I really like what I have seen from the ‘Gold Standard’ set.

I picked up this card of Hall of Famer Frank Robinson from the ‘Gold Standard’ set – and it looks GREAT!!!

Frank has always been one of my favorite retro players to collect, and I am happy to see him featured in his Orioles uniform on this card.

This card pays honor to Mr. Robinson joining the ‘500 Home Runs Club’ – an event that occurred on 9/13/1971.

Great work Topps – Keep it up!!!

1968 Topps Game – Jim Wynn

1968 Topps Game – Jim Wynn

I’m really not too sure how Jim Wynn landed in this 33-card set issued back in 1968.  Some of the other players were a little questionable as well, but it seems like each of them had a very solid 1967 campaign.

But, Wynn’s 1967 baseball season was far from spectacular.  Sure, he made the All-Star team, but his numbers do not indicate excellence…

The numbers – 148 hits, 29 doubles, 37 home runs, 107 RBI, 109 runs scored, and 16 stolen bases.

On second thought, that is a pretty solid season – maybe I let the .249 batting average and 137 strikeouts (league leader) cloud my judgement…

Here is Wynn’s card:

 

Progress – 19/33

April 8, 2012 Washington Nationals VS Chicago Cubs Commemorative Ticket Featuring Andre Dawson

April 8, 2012 Washington Nationals VS Chicago Cubs Commemorative Ticket Featuring Andre Dawson

Roughly two weeks ago I found this item on Ebay.  And the same day, I received an email from one of my favorite bloggers, Hackenbush who also found these special tickets.

It seems that the Chicago Cubs wanted to inject some Cubs’ history into their season tickets this year, and be Hackenbush (real name David) and I are the benefactors.

His favorite Cub is Ron Santo, so he scooped up one of the commemorative tickets that featured Santo’s 1968 Topps card.

And I picked up this little gem:

A very fun and affordable collectible.  And it just so happens to feature one of my favorite cards of Andre Dawson sporting his Cubs uniform – 1988 Topps!!

I know two Cubs’ fans that are very happy – A big ‘Thank You’ to the Chicago Cubs for preserving and honoring their former players!!!

Billy Williams 2006 Upper Deck SP Legendary Cuts

Billy Williams 2006 Upper Deck SP Legendary Cuts

For some strange reason, Billy Williams has not been included in any new releases for the last few years.

What that means is that I have to go back, go back to when Upper Deck was still in the game.  Hopefully I can continue to find ‘new’ cards for my collection that honors him – luckily I found this one.

This card comes from the 2006 Upper Deck SP baseball card set.  It seems like UD enjoyed putting Williams in their modern sets as he has a lot more cards issued by them than by Topps over the last ten years.

As for the card, it looks great – bold coloring, and a very sweet nameplate!!

And the picture used of the ‘Sweet Swinger’ is pretty sharp as well!!!

Kirby Puckett 1991 Fleer Pro Vision – ‘Dynamite’

Kirby Puckett 1991 Fleer Pro Vision – ‘Dynamite’

While I find cards like these to be a little silly at some times, I do like that they may attract a younger audience.

And as we all know, baseball cards certainly needs a younger audience…

So, my question is this – Would this baseball card excite a 10-year old kid in 1991 the same way it would in 2012???  Forget the player, because there are probably very few 1o-year olds outside of Minnesota that have ever heard the name Kirby Puckett (such a shame), but what about the card itself???

Hmmmm…..

Rollie Fingers 2006 Fleer ‘Greats Of The Game’

Rollie Fingers 2006 Fleer ‘Greats Of The Game’

NICE – there is a lot to like about this baseball card!!!

Let’s start with these parts:

1. old-school Athletics uniform
2. perfect border color to work with the Green of Oakland’s color scheme
3. a mustcahe-less Rollie Fingers
4. a solid and very impressive vintage nameplate

Oh yeah, baby!!!

Happy Birthday Luis Aparicio!!!

Happy Birthday Luis Aparicio!!!

Luis Aparicio turns 78 years old today.

Number 11 enjoyed a magnificent 18-season major league career.  One of the best defensive shortstops in the history of the game, Aparicio was dazzling fans with his glove work decades before anyone ever heard of Ozzie Smith.

At the age of 22, Aparicio won the 1956 AL Rookie Of The Year award.  He followed up his remarkable debut by making the All-Star team 10 times and capturing the Gold Glove Award 9 times.

A dynamic offensive player, Aparicio had a knack for stealing bases and scoring runs.  He has collected 506 career stolen bases, while leading the league in steals from 1956-1964.  He also scored 1,335 runs during his playing days, including 10 seasons of scoring at least 70 times.

A fantastic player and a Chicago legend, Happy Birthday Mr. Aparicio!!!