2014 Topps NL ERA League Leaders Card w/Fernandez, Kershaw, and Harvey – Yellow Border Version

2014 Topps NL ERA League Leaders Card w/Fernandez, Kershaw, and Harvey – Yellow Border Version

These retail-exclusive Yellow beauties have been tough to come by but I finally snagged one for my collection.

And since I have no immediate plans of going after the full Yellow Miami Marlins team set, this card will happily find a home in my Jose Fernandez player collection.

Have a look:

 

The Yellow is a bit rough – not really a good match for any of these teams, especially the Dodgers and Mets.  And while the modern Marlins logo does have a hint of Yellow in it, this border color does nothing to bring it out…

If you’re counting at home, this card is now the fourth version I have picked up.  I have the base, Blue, Red Foil, and now the Yellow.  We’ll have to see if I can grab any of the others…  Wish me luck!

1975 Topps Set Card 62/660 – #279 – Milt May, Astros

1975 Topps Set Card 62/660 – #279 – Milt May, Astros

Progress: 62/660

Player Name:  Milt May

Card Number:  279

Team:  Houston Astros

Position:  Catcher

Image Style:  Posed Batting

Years In The Major Leagues:  15 seasons, 1970-84

Notes From His 1975 Season:   May played in 111 games for the Astros in 1975, catching in 102 of them.  He hit .241 over the course of the season as he collected 93 hits in 386 at-bats.  Of his 93 hits, he has 15 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs, and 73 singles.  He helped drive in 52 runs for the Astros in ’75 while also scoring 29 times.

Notes From Career:  May played for 5 teams during his 15-year major league career.  He is a lifetime .263 hitter with 147 doubles and 77 home runs.  He appeared in 1192 regular season games during his playing days, catching behind the plate in 1,034 of them.  May made it to the postseason at the end of the 1971 and 1972 seasons with the Pirates.  He won a World Series with the team in 1971.

Happy Birthday Phil Niekro!!!

Happy Birthday Phil Niekro!!!

Today, Phil Niekro turns 75 years old!!!

Still being seen around Spring Training facilities, Phil Neikro has had baseball pumping through his blood for more than 50 years. A Hall of Fame pitcher with 24 major league seasons under his belt, Niekro put on a pitching seminar through the 1960’s, 1970’s, and 1980’s. With a career record of 318-274, one has to wonder how many more victories Niekro would have notched if he had played on some of the better teams from his playing days.

In 24 seasons, Niekro only made it to the post-season twice, and neither time was to the World Series.

Happy Birthday Mr. Niekro!!!

30-YOC’s Opening Day Contest Winner Is…

30-YOC’s Opening Day Contest Winner Is…

YOUNG BLEED

On a night in which pitching ruled, and with a guess of 217 strikeouts, YOUNG BLEED was just 1 strikeout off the actual number of 218.   That’s some pretty solid guess work right there!!!

Congratulations to YOUNG BLEED!!!

Here is one more look at the prize:

Thanks to everyone that played in my ‘5th Annual Opening Day Contest’.

The next contest is right around the corner!!!

2014 Topps Series 1 “Topps All Rookie Cup Team” – Albert Pujols

2014 Topps Series 1 “Topps All Rookie Cup Team” – Albert Pujols

Topps’ All-Rookie Team means a lot of different things to a lot of different collectors.  But, one thing is for certain – If your card is tagged with the All-Rookie Team logo, you did something during your first season in the big leagues to make yourself stand out from the rest.

And for that reason alone, I can totally support a set of cards that picks ‘The Best Of The Best’ from these teams.

In 2014, Topps issued a subset in their Series 1 release that took one player at each position, naming them to the ‘Topps All Rookie Cup Team’.

Representing the catcher is Albert Pujols:

 

Albert Pujols burst on the scene for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2001.  He appeared in 161 games for the team and hit .329.  Pujols connected for 194 hits in his rookie campaign including 47 doubles, 4 triples, and 137 home runs.  He was responsible for driving in 130 runs for the Cardinals while scoring 112 times.

During his rookie season, Pujols was an All-Star, a Silver Slugger Award winner, an MVP candidate and the NL Rookie of the Year.