Wade Boggs 1996 Pinnacle

Wade Boggs 1996 Pinnacle

It was not often that you saw Wade Boggs uncomfortable or out of position while at the plate.

But, this card of him in his Yankees uniform from the 1996 Pinnacle baseball card set appears to have caught him in an uncomfortable spot.

Maybe he is simply stretching himself too far to get to the ball.  Or maybe he knows he is in the midst of swinging at a pitch that he should have let go by.

Whatever it is, it looks like his is not comfortable with this swing.

See for yourselves:

 

Still, he was a master at the plate!

Joe Morgan 2000 Topps Stars ‘Spotlights’ = YUCK!

Joe Morgan 2000 Topps Stars ‘Spotlights’

I don’t know what it is about the Topps product that was issued in 2000, but for me, it is certainly not worthy of the Topps stamp.

Sure, there may be a few nice cards scattered throughout their releases that are copy written as produced in 2000, but when compared to cards issued the following year, 2000 is a stinker.

This card of Joe Morgan from the 2000 Topps Stars set is just one of many examples.

Have a look:

 

It is so hard to identify what the theme of this card really is.  I get the ‘Spotlight’ theme and the shadow cast behind Morgan as it there was a spotlight being shined on him.

But, what is with all of the thin vertical lines that run throughout the card’s background?  What is the purpose of them?

If Topps had shifted the Spotlight design to a top-corner of the card and shined down on the player with a bright light while having faint and muted light around the main focus, that could have worked better and made more sense.

But this one just plain stinks.

1975 Topps Set Card 276/660 – #141 – Mickey Stanley, Tigers

1975 Topps Set Card 276/660 – #141 – Mickey Stanley, Tigers

Progress: 276/660

Card Number:  141

Player Name:  Mickey Stanley

Team:  Detroit Tigers

Position:  Outfield

Image Style:  Posed Hitting

Years In The Major Leagues:  15 seasons, 1964-78

Notes From His 1975 Season:  Mickey Stanley played in just 52 games for the Detroit Tigers in 1975.  He hit .256 on the year with 42 hits in 164 at-bats.  Of his 42 hits, Stanley connected for 7 doubles, 3 triples, 3 doubles, and 29 singles.

Notes From Career:  Mickey Stanley won four Gold Glove Awards for defensive excellence in the outfield during his 15-season major league career.  Stanley retired from the sport with a fielding percentage of .989 and he committed just 46 errors in 1,480 games played.  He is a lifetime .248 hitter with 1,243 career hits to his credit.  Stanley is a member of the 1968 World Series championship winning Detroit Tigers.

1975 Topps Set Card 275/660 – #131 – Toby Harrah, Rangers

1975 Topps Set Card 275/660 – #131 – Toby Harrah, Rangers

Progress: 275/660

Card Number:  131

Player Name:  Toby Harrah

Team:  Texas Rangers

Position:  Shortstop

Image Style:  Posed Hitting

Years In The Major Leagues:  17 seasons, 1969, 1971-86

Notes From His 1975 Season:  Toby Harrah appeared in 151 games in the 1975 baseball season for the Texas Rangers.  He hit .293 on the year with 153 hits in 522 at-bats.  Of his 153 hits, Harrah connected for 24 doubles and 20 home runs alongside 93 RBI.  Harrah stole 23 bases in ’75 while scoring 81 runs.  He was chosen as an All-Star for the American League.

Notes From Career:  Toby Harrah is a 4-time All-Star who played for three different clubs during his 17-season career.  Harrah is a career .264 hitter with 1,954 hits.  He offered a very versatile offense as he connected for 307 doubles and 195 home runs while also stealing 238 bases.

1983 HEADLINE: Jim Palmer Captures The Final Win Of His Major League Career

1983 HEADLINE: Jim Palmer Captures The Final Win Of His Major League Career

On this day in 1983, Jim Palmer secured the final win of his legendary major league career.

Getting the start in the second game of a double-header, Palmer was facing the New York Yankees at Memorial Stadium and in front of 44,000+ fans.

Palmer was his true vintage self in this outing.  He went seven innings and allowed just 2 hits and 2 runs versus the stacked Yankees lineup.  He walked three batters and struck out two en route to a 3-2 victory.

The win was the 268th and final victory of Palmer’s Hall of Fame career.

Happy Anniversary Mr. Palmer!!!

Here Is My 2014 MLB Playoff Bracket. Who You Got???

Here Is My 2014 MLB Playoff Bracket.  Who You Got???

Well, baseball’s second season is going to start up tomorrow night.

So, I thought it would be fun to quickly make and post my predictions through the playoffs to see either how close or how off my predictions (guesses) are.

First, I will start with my American League bracket:

		Kansas City Royals
Oakland Athletics
				LA Angels
		LA Angels
						Baltimore Orioles
		Detroit Tigers
				Baltimore Orioles
		Baltimore Orioles

And now, for my National League bracket:

Pittsburgh Pirates
		San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
				Washington Nationals
		Washington Nationals
						LA Dodgers
		LA Dodgers
				LA Dodgers
		St. Louis Cardinals

Yes, I have the Baltimore Orioles and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series this year.  I won’t tell you yet who I think will win it all, but what I will say is that I think the Orioles will breeze through a lot of the AL match-ups they face while the Dodgers are in for a fight against each and every team in front of them.

And now I want to hear how you think that this is all going to shake out too.  So, give me your picks for all of the AL & NL rounds of action as me march towards the World Series.

Enjoy the games, everyone!

Bryce Harper 2014 Topps Gypsy Queen ‘Glove Stories’

Bryce Harper 2014 Topps Gypsy Queen ‘Glove Stories’

While he has not been the ‘poster boy’ for defense in 2014, Bryce Harper still had a fantastic season in the field, it was just interrupted by injuries.

Harper had a career low in errors in 2014 with just 4 over the span of the full season.  His fielding percentage of .976 is solid, and he is still learning about how to play all of the different fields around the National League.

I fully expect Harper to get even better.  I am just a little concerned with how the rotation of outfielders shakes out in Washington as it is going to be crowded if Ryan Zimmerman makes that transition a permanent one in 2015.

Still, Harper is a superb athlete.  And with his speed and arm strength, I think he could contend for a Gold Glove Award if he consistently plays in the same spot throughout the course of the year.

I love how he is depicted on this card from the 2014 Topps Gypsy Queen baseball card set:

 

I hope he makes the cut in 2015 again!

Dave Winfield 1990 Fleer Update

Dave Winfield 1990 Fleer Update

Take a look at this mighty swing:

 

I love it.

And while I can appreciate how large Dave Winfield looks on this 1990 Fleer baseball card due to the card design and cropping of the image, I do wish that we got to see more of the action – especially the bat!

I want to know if he mad contact.  I want to know if it was fair or foul.  And I really want to know what kind of cleats ‘Big Dave’ was wearing back in 1990 when he was playing for the Angels.

I want the details.  Give me the detes…

1975 Topps Set Card 274/660 – #155 – Jim Bibby, Rangers

1975 Topps Set Card 274/660 – #155 – Jim Bibby, Rangers

Progress: 274/660

Card Number:  155

Player Name:  Jim Bibby

Team:  Texas Rangers

Position:  Pitcher

Image Style:  Posed Pitching

Years In The Major Leagues:  12 seasons, 1972-81, 1983-84

Notes From His 1975 Season:  Jim Bibby played for both the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians during the 1975 baseball season.  Combined, he pitched in 36 games and compiled a 7-15 record with 6 complete games, 1 shutout, and 1 save.  Bibby worked 181 innings in 1975, allowing a total of 172 hits and 89 runs.

Notes From Career:  Jim Bibby is an All-Star pitcher that played for four different clubs during his 12-season career.  Used as both a starter and reliever, Bibby amassed a record of 111-101 with 8 saves during his playing days.  He has a lifetime ERA of 3.76 alongside 1,079 strikeouts in 1,722 innings of work.  Bibby is a member of the 1979 World Series championship winning Pittsburgh Pirates.

1996 HEADLINE: Andre Dawson’s Final Major League Game Of His 21-Season Career

1996 HEADLINE: Andre Dawson’s Final Major League Game Of His 21-Season Career

On this day in 1996, Andre Dawson played in his final major league game capping a 21-season career.

Dawson and his Marlins teammates were on the road in Houston taking on the Astros.  Regulated to a bench role in his final season, Dawson did not make start in the game, but he did make an appearance as a pinch hitter.

Dawson did not get a hit, he popped out in foul territory to record the final out of his major league career.

The Marlins lost the game 5-4 and Andre Dawson’s career was over.  Dawson was one of the most well-rounded players from his generation – a guy that displayed all of baseball’s ‘5 Tools’ en route to being a Rookie of the Year Award winner, an MVP, an 8-time All-Star, an 8-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a 7-time Silver Slugger Award winner.

Congratulations on a fantastic major league career Andre.  And ‘THANK YOU’ so much for the amazing memories!!!