Lee Smith ‘Fab Five’ – Card #2 – 1984 Topps

Lee Smith ‘Fab Five’ – Card #2 – 1984 Topps

Now that my Lee Smith collection is complete, it is time to show of my favorite five cards from the set.

Card #2 – 1984 Topps

It’s not hard to see why this card made nearly to the top of my list.

Have a peek:

I’ve always been a big fan of the 1984 Topps baseball card design.  On a side note, I was very excited to see that one make it into the 2012 Archives set.

The photo is great; the cameo is sweet, and I like seeing a young and fit Lee Smith dominate teams late in games!

Thank You Topps!!!

1993 Headline: Rickey Henderson Starts Double Headers With Homers!!

1993 Headline: Rickey Henderson Starts Double Headers With Homers!!

On this day in 1993, Rickey Henderson and his Oakland A’s teammates battled against the Cleveland Indians in a double-header.

What is so special about that you ask?  Double-headers are a normal part of a baseball schedule you say…

Well during this double header, a man by the name of Rickey Henderson led off both of these games with home runs, a feat that had not been accomplished in 60 years.  In game #1, Henderson launched a homer off of Paul Abbott.  And then just a few short hours later he did it again, this time of off Mark Clark.

Happy Anniversary Rickey Henderson, a true one-of-a-kind player!!!

Happy Birthday Rich ‘Goose’ Gossage!!!

Happy Birthday Rich ‘Goose’ Gossage!!!

The ‘Goose’ turns 61 years old today.

The man known for his famous facial hair has an equally impressive baseball resume.  With a career that spanned 22 seasons, Rich ‘Goose’ Gossage put together a Hall of Fame caliber list of accomplishments.

124 Wins, 310 saves, 3.01 ERA, 1,502 strikeouts, a 9-time All-star, 5 Top-6 finishes for the Cy Young Award, and a World Series champion!!  Not too shabby, not too shabby at all…

Happy Birthday ‘Goose’!!!

Finally, Al Kaline Returns A Signed Baseball For ’30-YOC’!!!!

Finally, Al Kaline Returns A Signed Baseball For ’30-YOC’!!!!

Yes, I know that there was no mail delivery today.  I got a TTM return back last night, but I had too much family stuff going on to be able to compose a story about it…

I have 4-5 baseballs out in the mailstream, so I had no clue who the return was from.  And the USPS did not stamp the outside with the mailing zip code prior to sending it back to me.

But, once opened, I was relieved!!!  Al Kaline finally hooked me up.  And this was ‘Strike Three’.

First, I sent to the Tigers in Lakeland during Spring Training – Strike One!

Then, I sent to Kaline’s home in Michigan – Strike Two!

Finally, Kaline signed for me courtesy of the Detroit Tigers.

And the autograph looks great.

Have a peek:

Thank you Mr. Kaline.

It may have cost me more postage than I normally would spend for a TTM baseball, but overall I am very happy to finally have a signed ball back in my collection.

🙂