The Suicide Squeeze Bunt

It wasn't really all that far in the past when I would look at a card and put it away.  Now, I didn't really study cards, I just gave them a cursory glance and that was it.  If it wasn't a relic or an auto or a serial numbered card, it was just a card.  I never left a stack of base cards on a card shop counter like some people do, but I didn't give them the time they deserved either.

A few years back I discovered the card blogging community and all that changed.  I learned to give cards more than a passing glance.  I learned that some cards even had backs that were worth a look.

This card is one of those cards that might have gone under appreciated if I hadn't taken the time to really study it.

This 1993 Ted Williams Jim Gilliam Barrier Breakers card is extraordinary.  It appears Jim Gilliam and the Dodgers batter were trying to pull off the old suicide squeeze play.  The wasn't your average squeeze play because Jim is already sliding into home as the batter attempted to bunt the ball.  Unfortunately for Jim and Dodger faithful, the ball appears to have been fouled straight up.  You can see it just above the batters head.  I'm curious about what happened on the play.  Did the catcher catch it?  Was it actually in fair territory and Gilliam scored?  If the catcher caught it in fair territory, did he double Gilliam off third?  It doesn't look like there were many witnesses in the stands that day.

Here is another play at the plate, albeit a far less interesting one.  Partly because it's Alex Rodriguez and partly because there isn't any mystery.  Rodriguez obviously slid in ahead of a poor throw by...someone.  I look at this and I like to think that the third baseman noticed Arod tagging up and leaving third too early.  He protests, his manager questions the ump and sure enough, they call Alex out!  Yay, eveyone is happy!  Almost everyone.

This is more of an "I'm at rest at the batting cage" card than a play at the plate.  It's a 2002 Fleer Rusty Greer card I've never seen before.  I really like the current day Rangers, but I miss scrappy Rusty Greer.  He ranks in the top 5 on my all-time favorite Rangers.  Rusty and the other cards came to me courtesy of the cluttered desk of Jack over at All Tribe Baseball.

Thank you Jack!

Double Dip

How about a contest double dip?

First, a little pub.

You've probably already seen the College World Series contest being held by Autographed Cards, but I'm here to give you a little more incentive to give it a shot.

Two years ago I took second place in the contest and got to choose some great prizes.  It's a great contest everyone should check out.  If you win, you'll be glad you did!

The icing on the cake, or second scoop on the cone as it were, is my latest good fortune.  Brian over at  Pirates Treasure Room is holding a contest for every series the Bucs play.  All you have to do is comment "Go Bucs!" on the appropriate post and your entered.   The catch is, he's giving away cards for the team the Bucs are playing so if you're a fan of that team, you really want those cards, but you have to root against your team!  It's treasonous!  Never fear dear reader, I DID not root against the Rangers and I NEVER will!

Fortunately for me, I won cards for a team I can give away and Brian still sent me some good Rangers stuff.

He included this 2012 Bowman Alexi Ogando gold parallel.

He also sent over this Michael Young gold parallel.

The Rangers were anything but gold last night as the Mariners put a 21-8 butt-kickin' on us.

Thanks to Brian for the prize package and don't forget to check out the great contest at Autographed Cards!

Are you kidding me?

I'm working another double shift.  It is work, but we have 4 televisions we use to monitor major news stations like CNN, Fox News, etc.

Someone "accidentally" hit the remote and it ended up on the Mariners-Rangers game.  I looked at the score.  I calmly took my glasses off, cleaned them, and looked at the score again.  Not wanting to panic, I took my glasses off again, wiped my eyes, and looked at the score once more. Maintaining my composure, I got up to get a closer look at the television.  I sat back down at my computer, opened up Google Chrome and went to look at the box score.

Sure enough, it was the 5th inning and the M's were up 17-0.  That's not a typo, 17 runs.

Holy cow.  We, and yes, I'm including myself with the team because it's MY team, sweep the Blue Jays and now we're getting run-ruled by the Mariners!!  Unacceptable.

Excuse me while I go to the clubhouse to turn over some post-game food tables.

The Long Awaited, Comprehensive Pinnacle Rangers Wantlist

This is my Pinnacle Texas Rangers Wantlist.

It shows all my needs for Rangers Pinnacle sets from 1992 to . It's possible I missed some sets and I don't list most parallels. If you have a parallel or something serial numbered, there is a good chance I need it. I will put cards that are in pending trades in red. Thanks!

Pinnacle Rangers Wantlist

1992 PINNACLE 

150 Julio Franco

156 Ivan Rodriguez

294 Nolan Ryan Sidelines

340 Kevin Reimer

394 Dickie Thon

405 Kevin Brown

451 Bobby Witt

482 Kenny Rogers

516 Jeff M. Robinson

618 Nolan Ryan Technician

1992 Pinnacle Rookies

14 Monty Fariss

1992 Pinnacle Team 2000

8 Ivan Rodriguez

26 Juan Gonzalez

1993 Pinnacle

21 Ivan Rodriguez

49 Jose Canseco

104 Julio Franco

161 Dean Palmer

191 Juan Gonzalez

257 Barry Manuel

269 David Hulse

301 Ivan Rodriguez Idols Carlton Fisk

356 Kevin Brown

381 Kenny Rogers

459 Rick Helling Draft Pic

493 Manuel Lee

496 Jeff Frye

546 Tom Henke

555 Doug Dascenzo

586 Robb Nenn

590 Matt Whiteside

597 Benji Gil

603 Daniel Smith

1993 Pinnacle Cooperstown

1 Nolan Ryan

1993 Pinnacle Home Run Club

1 Juan Gonzalez

10 Jose Canseco

25 Dean Palmer 

1993 Pinnacle Team Pinnacle

3 Ivan Rodriguez / Darren Daulton

8 Juan Gonzalez / Barry Bonds

1994 Pinnacle

42 Tom Henke

71 Kevin Brown

101 Dean Palmer

194 Benji Gil

221 Kenny Rogers

233 Darren Oliver

1994 Pinnacle The Naturals  

 4 Juan Gonzalez 

1995 Pinnacle  

278 Juan Gonzalez

288 Will Clark

327 Kenny Rogers

361 John Burkett

375 Mickey Tettleton

1995 Zenith  

 25 Dean Palmer 

 39 Ivan Rodriguez 

 40 Kenny Rogers 

 59 Juan Gonzalez 

 96 Rusty Greer 

 110 Will Clark

1996 Aficionado

69 Ivan Rodriguez

1996 Pinnacle

13 Jeff Frye

38 Juan Gonzalez

156 Will Clark

159 Dean Palmer

163 Juan Gonzalez

1996 Pinnacle Foil

213 Will Clark

227 Dean Palmer

270 Will Clark

288 Benji Gil

302 Will Clark

348 Ken Hill

353 Darryl Hamilton

1996 Pinnacle Starburst Series I

23 Ivan Rodriguez

57 Juan Gonzalez

83 Will Clark NAT

86 Dean Palmer NAT

90 Juan Gonzalez NAT

1996 Pinnacle Starburst Series II

 113 Will Clark 

 127 Dean Palmer 

 170 Will Clark HH 

 186 Will Clark 300

1996 ZENITH

32 Dean Palmer

54 Will Clark

61 Juan Gonzalez

78 Benji Gil

1997 Pinnacle

4 Darryl Hamilton

18 Juan Gonzalez

1997 Pinnacle Totally Certified

7 John Wetteland

19 Dean Palmer

56 Rusty Greer

69 Juan Gonzalez

79 Ivan Rodriguez

97 Will Clark

110 Danny Patterson

142 Juan Gonzalez

1997 Pinnacle Express

Complete

1997 Pinnacle FanFest

FF9 Juan Gonzalez

FF15 Ivan Rodriguez

1997 Pinnacle Inside

50 Dean Palmer

70 John Wetteland

1997 Pinnacle Mint

Complete

1997 Pinnacle NEW

63 Rusty Greer

93 Dean Palmer

107 Will Clark

185 Ivan Rodriguez EMW

1997 Pinnacle Totally Certified

7 John Wetteland

19 Dean Palmer

56 Rusty Greer

69 Juan Gonzalez

79 Ivan Rodriguez

110 Danny Patterson

142 Juan Gonzalez

1997 Zenith

13 Juan Gonzalez

15 Ivan Rodriguez

1997 Zenith 8 X 10

9 Ivan Rodriguez

15 Juan Gonzalez

1998 Pinnacle

33 Will Clark

1998 Pinnacle Insiders

63 Rusty Greer

67 Will Clark

79 Fernando Tatis

1998 Pinnacle Mint

Complete

1998 Pinnacle Plus

116 Juan Gonzalez

124 Rusty Greer

179 John Wetteland

1998 Pinnacle Performers

11 Juan Gonzalez

43 Will Clark

86 Rusty Greer

120 Fernando Tatis

1998 Pinnacle Snapshots

TR1 Ivan Rodriguez

TR2 Fernando Tatis

TR3 Danny Patterson

TR4 Will Clark

TR5 Kevin Elster

TR6 Rusty Greer

TR7 Darren Oliver

TR8 John Burkett

TR9 Tom Goodwin

TR10 Roberto Kelly

TR11 Aaron Sele

TR12 Rick Helling

TR13 Mark McLemore

TR14 Lee Stevens

TR15 John Wetteland

TR16 Will Clark

TR17 Juan Gonzalez

TR18 Roger Pavlik

1998 Zenith

19 Ivan Rodriguez

33 Rusty Greer

41 Will Clark

100 Fernando Tatis

1998 Zenith 5 X 7

10 Rusty Greer

23 Juan Gonzalez

35 Ivan Rodriguez

A Little Piece of History

You may be tempted to click off this post without reading all the way to the end, but if you do, you'll miss out on a very generous act by a fellow blogger.

Ryan over at The Great Orioles Autograph Project was witness to history when he was at the May 8th game between the Orioles and Rangers.

He saw Josh Hamilton hit a two run homer in the 1st inning off Jake Arrieta.

He saw Josh Hamilton hit a two run homer in the 3rd inning off Jake Arrieta.

He saw Josh Hamilton hit a two run homer in the 7th inning off Zach Phillips.

He saw Josh Hamilton hit a two run homer in the 8th inning off Darren O'Day.

He and his wife witnessed an event more rare than a perfect game.  I sent him an email after he posted about the 4 homer game and asked him if he wasn't a ticket stub collector, I would love to have one of the tickets.  Well, it just so happens that Ryan does collect his stubs, but his wife was more than happy to donate her ticket to me.  This generosity will soon be rewarded when I find something appropriate to send his/her way.

I generally throw my ticket stubs in a box, but I'll treat this one a lot better.

Thank you Ryan and Mrs. Ryan!  I truly appreciate you sending this to me!!

The Long Awaited, Comprehensive Leaf Rangers Wantlist

This is my Leaf Texas Rangers Wantlist.

It shows all my needs for Rangers Leaf sets from 1985 to 2005. It's possible I missed some sets and I don't list most parallels. If you have a parallel or something serial numbered, there is a good chance I need it. I will put cards that are in pending trades in red. Thanks!

Texas Rangers Leaf Wantlist

1985 LEAF

9 Frank Tanana DK

35 Mickey Rivers

70 Gary Ward

96 Larry Parrish

174 Buddy Bell

201 Pete O'Brien 1986 LEAF 20 Gary Ward DK 46 Oddibe McDowell 86 Toby Harrah 110 Larry Parrish

1987 Leaf

7 Charlie Hough DK

51 Oddibe McDowell

225 Ruben Sierra

1988 LEAF 11 Scott Fletcher DK 89 Charlie Hough 119 Larry Parrish 132 Pete O'Brien 154 Oddibe McDowell 155 Scott Fletcher 206 Ruben Sierra 236 Jerry Browne 1990 LEAF 21 Nolan Ryan 47 Kevin Brown 100 Rafael Palmeiro 152 Jeff Russell 179 Steve Buechele 205 Julio Franco 231 Pete Incaviglia 257 Ruben Sierra 264 Nolan Ryan CL 265 Nolan Ryan SPEC 337 Bobby Witt 363 Scott Coolbaugh 390 Charlie Hough 416 Mike Jeffcoat 442 Jeff Russell 469 Gary Pettis 495 Brad Arnsberg 521 Jack Daugherty 1991 LEAF 17 Jack Daugherty 97 Ruben Sierra 386 Mike Jeffcoat 401 Scott Chiamparino 1991 STUDIO 121 Kevin Belcher RC  123 Julio Franco  129 Ruben Sierra  1992 LEAF 62 Juan Gonzalez 119 Julio Franco 173 Kenny Rogers 180 Dickie Thon 305 Bobby Witt 326 Kevin Brown 357 Geno Petralli 383 Ruben Sierra 440 Brian Downing 1992 LEAF Black Gold 41 Nolan Ryan 62 Juan Gonzalez 90 Jeff Russell 93 Kevin Reimer 119 Julio Franco 133 Nolan Ryan CL 173 Kenny Rogers 180 Dickie Thon 222 Jose Guzman 225 Dean Palmer 251 Jeff Huson 296 Rafael Palmeiro 305 Bobby Witt 326 Kevin Brown 354 Monty Fariss 357 Geno Petralli 383 Ruben Sierra 440 Brian Downing 511 Al Newman 1992 Leaf Gold Previews 25 Nolan Ryan 28 Dean Palmer

1992 Studio 243 Jose Guzman 246 Ivan Rodriguez 248 Nolan Ryan 250 Dickie Thon 1993 LEAF

137 Jeff Huson

170 Juan Gonzalez

202 Kevin Brown

204 Bobby Witt

278 Tom Henke

309 Craig Lefferts

407 Charlie Leibrandt

426 Gary Redus

443 Dan Peltier

508 Matt Whiteside RC

542 Doug Strange

550 Roger Pavlik

1993 Leaf Fasttrack  

5 Juan Gonzalez

15 Ivan Rodriguez

1993 Leaf Gold All-Stars

R1 Ivan Rodriguez & Darren Daulton

R16 Juan Gonzalez & Barry Bonds

R19 Nolan Ryan & Greg Maddux

R9 Tony Gwynn & Jose Canseco

1993 Leaf Gold All-Stars Update

U2 Ivan Rodriguez & Darren Daulton

1993 Studio

21 Kevin Brown 

71 Nolan Ryan 

103 Julio Franco 

133 Ivan Rodriguez 

210 Dean Palmer

1994 LEAF

249 Jose Canseco

261 Cris Carpenter

1994 LEAF LIMITED

70 Jose Canseco

71 Will Clark

72 Juan Gonzalez

73 Dean Palmer

74 Ivan Rodriguez

1994 LEAF LIMITED ROOKIES

47R Rick Helling

1995 LEAF

21 Dean Palmer

107 Ivan Rodriguez

202 Juan Gonzalez

222 Kenny Rogers

253 Benji Gil

322 Mark McLemore

355 John Dettmer

363 Mickey Tettleton

371 Kevin Gross

376 Otis Nixon

392 Bob Tewksbury

1995 Leaf Limited

20 Will Clark

47 Benji Gil

73 Rusty Greer

88 Mickey Tettleton

131 Ivan Rodriguez

136 Kenny Rogers

176 Juan Gonzalez

1995 Leaf Limited Bat Patrol

 11 Will Clark

1995 Leaf Limited Gold

8 Will Clark

1996 LEAF  

Complete

1996 LEAF LIMITED

1 Ivan Rodriguez

1996 LEAF PREFERRED

21 Ivan Rodriguez

43 Juan Gonzalez

76 Will Clark

96 Dean Palmer

1996 Leaf Signatures

2 Juan Gonzalez

40 Ivan Rodriguez

72 Will Clark

83 Dean Palmer

104 Rusty Greer

1996 Studio

42 Will Clark

97 Rusty Greer

139 Ivan Rodriguez

1997 LEAF

7 Will Clark

62 Mickey Tettleton

101 Juan Gonzalez

160 Darren Oliver

194 Ivan Rodriguez

214 John Wetteland

243 John Burkett

271 Mark McLemore

287 Benji Gil

309 Roger Pavlik

353 Juan Gonzalez

384 Ivan Rodriguez

387 Rusty Greer

1998 Leaf
73 Kevin Brown

1998 Leaf Fractal Foundation

1 Rusty Greer

52 Ivan Rodriguez

55 Will Clark

73 Kevin Brown

103 Lee Stevens

173 Juan Gonzalez GLS

189 Fernando Tatis GLR

1998 Leaf Rookies & Stars  

 22 Will Clark 

 36 Juan Gonzalez 

 49 Ivan Rodriguez 

 76 Rusty Greer 

 154 Juan Gonzalez PT SP 

 167 Rusty Greer TLU SP 

 199 Fernando Tatis SP 

2001 Leaf Certified Materials

1 Alex Rodriguez

9 Ivan Rodriguez

47 Rafael Palmeiro

89 Rusty Greer

91 Gabe Kapler

2001 Leaf Limited
52 Gabe Kapler
81 Rusty Greer
106 Rafael Palmeiro
108 Alex Rodriguez
130 Ivan Rodriguez
163 Rafael Palmeiro LUM/500
174 Ivan Rodriguez LUM/500
228 Carlos Pena
248 Juan Moreno RC
264 Craig Monroe RC
300 Justin Duchscherer RC
304 Travis Hafner AU RC
315 Mark Teixeira AU/500 RC

2001 Leaf Rookies and Stars

142 Carlos Pena

163 Juan Moreno RC

176 Craig Monroe RC

221 Mark Teixeira RC

233 Justin Duchscherer RC

243 Travis Hafner RC

246 Mike Young

2002 Leaf
49 Alex Rodriguez
121 Chan Ho Park
146 Frank Catalanotto
147 Gabe Kapler
149 Rafael Palmeiro
158 Justin Duchscherer RC SP
179 Mark Teixeira RC SP
186 Ryan Ludwick RC SP

2002 Leaf Certified
1 Alex Rodriguez
14 Doug Davis
77 Juan Gonzalez
122 Rafael Palmeiro
135 Ivan Rodriguez
158 Ryan Ludwick NG Bat
177 Hank Blalock NG Jsy
182 Mark Teixeira NG Jsy
187 Travis Hafner NG Jsy

2002 Leaf Rookies and Stars  

 43B Carlos Pena SP

 97 Chan Ho Park

 98 Alex Rodriguez 

 99 Juan Gonzalez 

 100 Rafael Palmeiro 

 102 Rusty Greer

 103 Kenny Rogers 

 104 Hank Blalock

 105 Mark Teixeira

 133A Sammy Sosa SP

 286 Juan Gonzalez 96 MVP

 295 Ivan Rodriguez 99 MVP

 296 Ivan Rodriguez 92-01 GLV

 337 Travis Hughes RS SP RC

 338 Kevin Mench RS SP

2002 Studio
38 Chan Ho Park
112 Gabe Kapler
118 Rafael Palmeiro
133 Doug Davis
167 Alex Rodriguez
195 Ivan Rodriguez
199 Juan Gonzalez
208 Hank Blalock ROO
225 Travis Hughes ROO RC
247 Mark Teixeira ROO

2003 Leaf  

111 Herbert Perry

2003 Leaf Certified Materials

185 Alex Rodriguez

186 Rafael Palmeiro

187 Hank Blalock

188 Mark Teixeira

189 Juan Gonzalez

190 Kevin Mench

191 Nolan Ryan

2003 Leaf  Limited

3 Alex Rodriguez

10 Juan Gonzalez

37 Juan Gonzalez

47 Mark Teixeira

55 Rafeal Palmeiro 

101 Ivan Rodriguez 

117 Rafeal Palmeiro

120 Mark Teixeira 

132 Alex Rodriguez

2004 Leaf  

88 Hank Blalock 

245 Rosman Garcia PROS 

284 Alex Rodriguez TC

2004 Leaf Certified Cuts  

187 Mark Teixeira

188 Hank Blalock

189 Michael Young

190 Laynce Nix

191 Alfonso Soriano

192 Kevin Mench

193 Adrian Gonzalez

2004 Leaf Certified Materials

10 Alfonso Soriano

70 Hank Blalock

134 Mark Teixeira

195 Ramon Nivar

197 Michael Young

198 Laynce Nix

208 Alex Rodriguez SP

211 Rafael Palmeiro SP

224 Nolan Ryan LGD

264 Nick Regilio NG AU RC

297 Edwin Moreno NG AU RC

2004 Leaf Limited  

5 Alfonso Soriano

40 Hank Blalock H 

83 Kenny Rogers 

91 Laynce Nix 

102 Mark Teixeira 

106 Michael Young 

162 Alex Rodriguez

172 Juan Gonzalez 

180 Rafael Palmeiro 

246 Hank Blalock A

2005 Leaf

216 Edwin Moreno PROS 

299 Hank Blalock TC

2005 Leaf Century  

9 Hank Blalock

12 Alfonso Soriano

37 Kenny Rogers

83 Francisco Cordero

110 Michael Young

159 Adrian Gonzalez

173 Laynce Nix

188 Mark Teixeira

2005 Leaf Certified Materials

7 Alfonso Soriano

95 Laynce Nix

105 Mark Teixeira

109 Michael Young

126 Richard Hidalgo

151 Hank Blalock

168 David Dellucci

179 Ivan Rodriguez

184 Rafael Palmeiro

202 Agustin Montero

2005 Leaf Limited

33 Francisco Cordero 

38 Michael Young 

53 Hank Blalock 

107 Alfonso Soriano 

112 Mark Teixeira 

171 Rafael Palmeiro SP